Wow, there is absolutely no way I can fit into one post all the amazing things this woman has brought into my life in last eight years.  You can see her there with three of her finest works, but they’re just the beginning.  I am so happy that I get to spend every day of my life with my best friend that I can’t imagine what it would be like trying to do any of it solo.  Thank you for sharing your life, your dreams and your fears with me all these years.  You have given my life purpose and made me feel more useful than I ever thought possible.  I’m thankful for our past,  in love with our present and excited about our future.

While Chris was at SOS last month the kids and I drove to California to visit with family and friends. My mom was brave enough to fly out to Abq and drive with me. It was an adventure. The drive over there included a stop in Colorado Springs to see some friends, a trip to the emergency room when Calvin got both his legs full of splinters and an almost towing when Jonah managed to silently render the passenger side door of my van unclosable. Fortunately Mario at the Reno Kia service center was able to help me fix it over the phone. We were so close to Elk Grove we didn’t know if we could stand taking the rest of the day to get towed to Reno (from nowheretown, NV) and get the car fixed. After three days in the car with three kids and a dog I never thought I’d say “I’m so glad to be driving again!” But I did. So here are some random pictures, possibly in no particular order. If I feel like it I’ll do another post later with more pictures.

The boys took swimming lessons while we were there (I got the idea from reading sirmaxalot when Christen took her boys to swimming lessons in WA.)

Jonah is the one floating.

Calvin and I did a class together.

The last day of the class the kids were offered the chance to jump off the diving board. The boys were so excited to do it. There were not many kids that wanted to, so they each got to go a few times.

While the boys swam Hazel hung out with my mom and snacked it up. (more…)

I didn’t write down the birth of Jonah or Calvin like I did Hazel. And I hope it doesn’t sound bad when I say that Hazel’s birth was the best of the three, which is maybe why I was more motivated to write it all down.  Jonah’s birth was preceded by such a long labor, and colored by my frustrations with nursing.  And Calvin was born after months of seeing the awful doctors at Wright-Patt and was very medical.  It felt more like a procedure.  Hazel was an experience.  And it was wonderful.  So this is as much for me (and maybe future Hazel if she wants to read it) as it is for you.  If you don’t read it that’s okay, I’m glad I did it just the same.  And thank you for the gentle prodding Christen, I wanted to do this and I just needed some encouragement to sit at my computer.  Side note: I tried to put pictures in where they were logical, but in some places th

This story starts on Monday, November 23rd.  I am 41 weeks, 3 days pregnant.  I have spent the last two weeks doing everything I can to encourage Hazel to come see the world.  Apparently she wasn’t interested.  So, back to Monday — I have a 10:45 doctor’s appointment which Chris is able to attend while my mom watches Calvin.  I was very sad on Monday because my mom was leaving the next day and it made me feel terrible that she would not get to see Hazel.  I wanted to enjoy my mom’s last day so I was trying to stay upbeat, but I don’t think I did a very good job.  The doctor’s appointment didn’t help at all.  I had progressed very little since the week before and they wanted to talk about induction.  I was mostly okay with this because my doctor had told me the week before that they did not have any inductions available for Thanksgiving week so I assumed we would be talking about inducing the next week which would still give Hazel time to come on her own.  My biggest reason at this point for not wanting an induction was that I really wanted a natural birth and pitocin (the drug they use to induce labor) causes stronger, more painful contractions than natural labor.  I really did want a natural birth but, despite anything I may have said to the contrary, I really doubted my ability to do it and I felt adding pitocin would make it impossible.

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First off, I have to say that you should never ask a pregnant woman if she is having twins unless you have a REALLY good reason to do so.  Like she’s wearing a shirt that says “I’m having twins.”  Otherwise all you are really saying is that her belly is so big the only possible explanation is that there are two babies in there instead of just one.  And that doesn’t make anyone feel good.  I have been asked that question with all three pregnancies and it’s getting harder and harder to fake laugh and politely say no.  Just a little tip.

So I have been filled with a sense of expectation lately.  As though Hazel could be showing up any time, and it is hard to go to bed every night with nothing new happening.  I told myself at the beginning of this pregnancy to not get myself worked up or expect anything before I was 41 weeks, but my sense of discomfort has increased exponentially in the past week or two, so I look forward to hold her in my arms instead of my belly.  I feel enormous (looking at this picture doesn’t make that feeling any better, but you asked for a picture Sara, so here you go).  I actually took another picture from the front, which I think doesn’t look as bad, but it also doesn’t properly showcase my current state of hugeness.

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Sometimes a day can go so well that everything is literally tied up with a bow in the end. I hereby submit the following daily itinerary for this last Monday as evidence as to why IHJ posting has continued to lag even though we have no more excuses of work and unpacking out here on vacation. As you can see we have managed to pack so many good times into each day there really isn’t time for anything else. I’d apologize, but I’m making it my goal to continue to squeeze every last ounce of fun out of our families before we leave so that we can ride the good times high until we can escape New Mexico once again. So, let’s start with breakfast… (more…)

The set-up: It’s Thursday evening at the Richards’ dinner table (I think we were having chicken, but that’s not really relevent).  Chris and I are discussing our plans for an evening out the next night (Friday) and what movie we want to go see.

Chris: So have you decided what movie you want to see?

(We were trying to decide between Coraline and Taken.  We ended up choosing Coraline and it was a good choice, but definitely not a kids movie.  Pretty scary.)

Me: I don’t know.  I just can’t decide.

(At this point Jonah motions with his had like he is reaching into his pocket and pulling something out.  His hand comes up in a closed fist and as he starts talking he holds it out to me and opens his hand.)

Jonah:  Here Mama, you can have some of my decides.

Me (thinking this was pretty much the cutest thing I had ever heard): Thank you. 

(I motion taking it.)

Jonah: You have to eat it.

(I eat it.)

Jonah: Now you have some decides Mama!

So, I like watching the Olympics.  I don’t have much time to follow anything for long, but sometimes Calvin wakes up really early so I catch highlights on the morning news.  I like seeing a little gymnastics or swimming, but I’ll even watch track and some beach volleyball (that US team with over 100 wins in a row, amazing!).  I, for one, am amazed at the feats of strength, speed, and agility that the athletes display over and over again.  I think anyone should be proud and excited to make it to the Olympics and compete with people all over the world.  I just want to know when getting a silver medal in the Olympics became tantamount to losing.  I have heard so much commentary about athletes who were favorites to win gold and then got silver and how disappointed they should be, and how awful it is.  They got silver in the Olympics!  To even make it to the competition at all is amazing!  They should be so excited and proud of themselves and their accomplishments.  Yet the silver medal is treated like garbage.  You either get gold, or you might as well be a big pile of poop.  That’s stupid.  Whatever happened to “winning isn’t everything” and “it’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game” and being a good sport, and healthy competition, and playing for the love of the game and all that?  What are we teaching our children?  And for goodness sakes, you got an OLYMPIC MEDAL!  Who cares what color it is?  I would love to see someone go up to the podium and receive a bronze medal with a smile on their face and tears in their eyes and get a hug full of pride and love from their coach, team, family and friends.  I want to see someone who didn’t get a medal feel so proud of themselves that they were an Olympic athlete.  I don’t want gold medal winners to steal the show and make everyone else wonder why they even bothered to try.  Not everyone can be a winner, but they can choose not to be losers.

So I was supposed to write my guest post while I was technically still a guest, but I will have to fulfill my Auntly duties a little late back here in Seattle (while at work , mind you- the baby business is a bit slow going at the moment). So, my trip to the fantastical land of Ohio: let’s break down the joy, the tears, the triumphs, and the lack of sleep. Jenn, I know you were consistently up two hours earlier than me, but my sleep requirements are still those of a single, childless girl. I basically never evolved beyond the sleep needs of Calvin.

When I first arrived, I was so happy to hear Jonah in fact recognize me as his Aunt Liz. Although I did question his commitment to my identity at times as he would periodically ask me if I was Aunt Liz or if I was Kelly and once asking me if I was a boy. I suppose Christianity forces me to forgive three year olds their thoughtless words.

The last time I saw Jonah he hadn’t quite nailed the complete structure of a sentence, so it was amazing to hear his thoughts and questions. Plus he just seems to get cuter! And Calvin. I hadn’t yet met my newest nephew and I can tell you that his pictures do not do him justice. What a cutie! And forget about those colored diapers…

Friday Chris and Jenn hired a babysitter and we all went to see the Incredible Hulk at the drive in. We popped open the back of the van and somehow fit our four adult bodies into the small space. I had already liked the movie due to the fact that Edward Norton decided to get in one more paycheck before marrying me. But the real highlight of the night was my sister accidentally jumping into the back of another family’s van on her way back from the bathroom. I will use that visualization to cheer me up for some time to come.

Saturday morning we all headed out for a PJ breakfast. I have to say, though, Jonah beat us hands down with his Spiderman threads. The buffet, which is the only restaurant that can justify dessert at breakfast, is always good times. Watching Jonah carefully carry his Jello to the table at two inches per hour like it was plutonium was pretty precious. Even more so was him laying on all his charm for bites of my waffle, as influenced by his father. Here you can see him using his cutest faces to manipulate Aunt Liz.

Later on, Chris decided to join me on one of my runs in my preparation for the marathon. I think each mile of that run counted as two due to the fact that I sweat sweatier sweat than the sun. It was a little hot. We ran to the Base where Chris goes to school, which happens to be on the top of a hill. Chris just had to break our stride by stopping at the gate to salute the security. What a drag. Promptly after our jaunt through the burning streets of Hell, we all went to the water park I had heard so much about. The kids loved it of course and it was so refreshing to actually do a summer-related activity, as it will probably be my only chance this year. I think Seattle has decided it is too good for warmth this year. That or God is punishing us for something I’m unaware of. So I’ve decided to just repent for everything in hopes the sun will come out. My legs hurt too much to walk or sit or sleep, but all in all it was a fun day!

Sunday was Father’s Day so Caitlin and I figured what better gift to give the father of the house than to kidnap his only offspring. We took the kids before Chris woke up to get coffee and donuts as a surprise and to let him and Jenn enjoy a short kid-free morning. It was a success but I couldn’t help consider for a moment that I could just not give them back. I know how to adopt kids… uh, just kidding, that was totally a joke. Uh, yeah.

Moving on, we went to church and had a game night with some fellow Air-Forcians. It was all fun and games until everyone decided to break out the non-game Trivial Pursuit. We had to resort to a “Sudden Death” round before my team even had its second pie piece. I find it hard to believe I was ever in Knowledge Bowl in High School. I was a trivia poser.

My last full day on Monday we decided to do a backyard extravaganza. We fashioned a large awkward slip ‘n slide in hopes that liquid soap would make it slippy enough. But the wind pretty much dashed our plans and turned it into a slip ‘n sail (haha- I’m so funny sometimes). We BBQed a variety of tasty meat and promptly put in all in our bellies. Then we pitched a tent and roasted marshmallows on the BBQ. Jonah was past his bedtime by that point and started to get a little silly for sure. But at last we snuggled down for a few stories and was taken aback by my brother’s portrayal of Big Bird as an Aussie. Who knew he grew up in the outback.

Well, that was pretty much my trip. Happiness is spending time with four Richards and one Strizic. Why my nephews and brother and sister-in-law have to live so far away is pretty lame. The Air Force has no heart. The trouble about spending some quality time with my family I never see is that now I miss them too much. I should never have let my heart love.

I had the greatest time and Chris and Jenn were the best hosts ever! I hope I can visit again before Jonah learns he’s cooler than me. I guess regardless of how mature he gets I can always remind him of the fact that he peed on my lap when he was three.

I don’t know how long it has been since we have put up a post with actual updates about the kids, but I know it’s been a long time. I would look back and tell you exactly, but if I take the time to do that inevitibly one of the kids will wake up or some other thing will happen that will take me away from the computer and then it will be even longer before you get any kid info. I know this because that is what has happened every time I sit down to write this very post. The kids are sleeping and napping pretty well, but it seems like they are rarely asleep at the same time and when they are I am using that time to do laundry or dishes or actually have an uninterrupted conversation with Chris. I don’t know how you do it Christen. You’ve always been so good about posting regularly and I am impressed. I strive to be like you.

Well, enough with the excuses and apologies. Life is what it is, and at least I’m posting now. Today was a particularly trying day in the life of Jonah and Calvin, so I’ll do my best to remember the cuteness and good times for this post. Jonah has been needing extra sleep lately and the tiredness has not improved his disposition. Calvin has a yeast infection, I think he’s teething, and he’s at the age where he realizes that time spent in bed means time away from Mama and Papa. So he has not wanted to sleep. Today, for example he took two half hour naps. And there have been more than a few nights where I have been up for two or more hours trying to get him back to sleep. I’m not sure which is harder — a really tired Jonah or a really tired Calvin (Calvin I think, at least I can read Jonah books or let him watch a movie if he is particularly cranky). Both of them really tired tests Chris and my patience and parenting skills like nothing else. I also think it makes more of an impact because usually they are so smiley and happy that when they act like this I don’t even know how to react. I just keep telling myself this crankfest will be short lived and they will go back to the sweet boys I know and love. And if nothing else Liz and Caitlin are coming in two weeks and we CAN’T WAIT! I am so excited because they are both so fun to be around, I am definitely looking forward to the extra hands, and Jonah LOVES his aunts. On that note we will move on from the complaining and talk about happier times and what else these kids are up to. (more…)

I’m a dad, there’s no turning back.  As such, it is my sacred right, nay, duty, to document every single second of my childrens’ lives.  Unfortunately I accumulate material far faster than I have any outlet for it.  Plus, it doesn’t help that for some reason I seem to equate deleting a picture of my child with some kind of abuse, I just can’t do it.  On top of all that, we’ve arrived at the future (I always figured circa 2000 it started being ‘The Future’) and instead of a jet-pack or a flying car, I get a phone with camera and video capability to only further my addiction of filling the collective memory of the world’s computers with pictures of my son eating ice-cream.  So, in an attempt to clear my phone’s memory (I can’t fit all my new Beyonce ringtones on there otherwise), I give you the completely random and uncensored collections of videos and pictures stored on my phone.  I have no idea when any were taken or whether they currently make sense any more, but at some time in the past I apparently thought that they were the makings of precious moments which could not be lost at any cost.  If anyone else is feeling particularly brave (or bored) I’m sure there’s plenty of you with a phone full of equally compelling and … special, pics and vids, so dump ‘em on the interweb and give me an address so we can all gawk and wonder at your random moments.