It's a Wonderful Life

The Oscars were on last night! No matter what is going on in life, that is always a fun thing for me. This year was definitely lackluster in terms of the frivolity and fun surrounding it however. For the first time in 7 years I didn't correspond our menu to the nominated movies (can you believe it??) I guess it's hard to really get into menu planning if you don't know you can keep it down :) The other bummer was that we don't even get the channel the Oscars are on! Ever since we left Rexburg we haven't paid for dish or cable (well there was a 3 month period in Visalia that we got a great promotion and had it). Anyway, between netflix and hulu that we hook up to the TV, I feel it's pointless to pay. Also, we have a couple of digital antennas that manage to get the NBC and the PBS stations (yahoo!)  Last year in CA, we were able to pick up all the local channels so it wasn't an issue at Oscar time. I actually did debate getting cable just for this, and then I...

I'm sure this blog is going to ramble way too much for its own good, but I don't feel like seperating my thoughts into seperate posts.  Our week has been really busy, but busy with good things . . . I like that.  We had preschool at the house, and it went really well.  We only do a lesson on one of the days (the other day is strictly a playgroup).  It was on the 5 senses.  I loved coming up with things that fit that theme.  Wednesday and Friday the boys also had friends over as well, so they were quite the happy little social bugs! I found lots of pictures on the camera that Jackson had taken during one of his play dates . . . grrr, but still kind of cute. Wednesday was our ward's New Beginnings.  I was so so thankful that Janet had baked the sugar cookies while she was here.  All I had to do was frost and decorate them.  Jackson thought it was great fun to help.  He especially loved helping me make the seven different colors of f...

Thursday: 70 degrees and playing in the park Monday: splashing in rain puddles Wednesday: Snowy and cold, brr!  I found Wyatt out here by himself this morning-- he looked freezing (he was only outside for like a minute-- don't worry).  I hope Mother Nature makes up her mind soon, and she steers clear of the snow :) 

This past weekend we were treated with a visit from Bob and Janet.  As soon as I found out at Christmas time, that they were flying out here I was so excited.  I was happy to have something to look forward to post-holidays, and it's always nice to forget about pregnancy annoyances when there is family around!  Erik took Friday and Monday off, which added to the fun! On Friday, we went to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.  I've been wanting to go there for a while.  It's amazing how much history is there.  It really takes you through the whole of aviation history, the history of planes in wars (it has the actual plane that dropped the nuclear bomb in Japan), and the history of our space program-- so interesting! It was a great place to take kids to as well: lots of open space and nothing breakable within reach! "Grammy" helped out so much by staying with the boys when I needed to sit down for a minute.  This place was big and my poor f...

1. It is GORGEOUS outside today!  So mild and sunny.  The windows are open and the boys are playing in the backyard-- I love it!! 2. Valentine's Day.  Always fun to celebrate any holiday.  The boys loved waking up to their little Valentine's surprises.  Erik got me a box of chocolates (insert Forrest Gump quote here).  I combined his Valentine's and anniversary present and got him cologne and some music downloads for his new, fancy-shmancy phone.  More than the little presents though, it's just fun to have a day that celebrates love in all of its varieties. 3. Today I went to see a specialist, because my Dr. has been concerned with an excess amount of amniotic fluid I've had.  The specialist did a detailed ultrasound and didn't find a problem at all-- that was a relief.  Even better she did a 3D ultrasound.  I didn't think I would get one this pregnancy, so I was so excited.  It's amazing what seeing "baby Nyholm" did to m...

Looking back we've had a pretty good week, but in the middle I wasn't so sure.  A lot of it was the usual: feeling sick and throwing up a few times, not enough hours to get everything done, busy with our new callings, etc.  BUT I have to say that for some reason Jackson seemed bent on being extra "curious" (ie destructive!). On Monday morning while I was getting ready for the YW presidency to come over (my new calling is beehive advisor), I asked Wyatt what Jackson was up to.  He told me that Jackson was cutting Maverick's hair?  What?  Sure enough I went downstairs to find that Jackson had indeed cut Maverick's hair.  In the laundry room.  With my kitchen scissors.  And there was a disgusting trail of dog hair ALL OVER THE DOWNSTAIRS. I had Jackson clean up the mess in the laundry room, and I tried to clean up the rest as best as I could before everyone got to the house . . . didn't quite work out.  (By the wa...

The library here did a really cute groundhog day celebration on Wednesday.  It was their kickoff to their winter reading program. The puppet show was really cute.  I thought they looked a lot like Muppets, and I love the Muppets!  One of the songs they played was the Steve and Greg freeze dance.  I have the most vivid memory of going to a Steve and Greg concert in kindergarten and watching Joey Rocha rock out . . . seriously I don't why I remember some things! I also loved the lady that did the story telling.  She kept the kid's attention so well.  The library hasn't done story time for a couple of months, so we had never gone.  I'm excited to go now. My little groundhogs :)  They had so many cute games and activities there.  Wyatt's favorite was a "groundhog race."  The kids controlled little zui zui pet hamsters on a race course.  I think Jackson liked the tunnel they made that you crawled through.  They ended the ac...

Jackson had his first "friend's birthday party" on Saturday.  We only invited his primary class plus one other little girl.  Because of the snow storm and some other events, just 3 came --the perfect primer for throwing a party for little kids :) Can you guess the theme?  I couldn't believe that I ran out of black decorating gel, but I did, so only 8 cupcakes had the spider webs on them! Oh well :) The best streamer and balloon hanger :) Playing "musical spider webs."  I didn't get a picture, but they also played pin the spider on the web.  It was fun to see how excited Jackson was to play those simple party games. Jackson, Elijah, Taryn, and Wyatt at a safe distance while Joseph swung at the pinata.  4 and 5 year olds swinging at a pinata is always a little scary! Jackson had quite the swing! Wyatt's was more of a gentle tap :) After multiple rounds, I suggested Erik help nudge things along.  They loved it when it finally broke. ...