Christmas wicka wicka wha?

Like my Christmas rapping skills? I had a lot of practice this year, wrapping I mean. But seriously, I think we look more like gangstas then shepherds (all I had was bandanas!).

We enjoyed a trip to Bethlehem at Grandma Monique's house on Christmas Eve, complete with "exotic fish" (swedish fish) and "goat cheese" (string cheese). The kids were amazingly reverant and Cooper even offered the opening prayer! You can kind-of see sweet little Candi's belly. She's 34 weeks so it was especially sweet to read the scriptures of Joseph and Mary and imagine how hard it was for them.Christmas day we opened presents, which mostly consisted of Cooper opening presents and Leila following his every move. After, we headed over to the "smoke house" (mom and dad almost burned their house down and now it invariably smells like smoke) for Christmas breakfast. Then, back to the Callahans for presents and a delicious brunch. BTW thank you, thank you, thank you Nikki & Sam for my new Martha Stewart's Cooking School :) I have been devouring every page and even though I'm still learning how to make chicken stock I have some very ambitious thoughts circling in my head, thank you!

yowzah

The last 24 hours have been some painful ones. Let me just start by saying I HATE needles, shots, iv's, anything that sticks in my skin is gross and painful and ewww. But, what do you do when it's your only alternative? ugh.
I haven't been able to keep much food or liquid down, so I went to the doc yesterday (the on-call doctor since mine is out of town till monday) and first he sent me to the lab to have blood work done (yucky needle incident #1), then to the IV therapy clinic to pump me full of fluids. The nurse burst the first vain she tried in my hand, and had to go through a vein in my arm (yucky needle incident #2). Though the veins in my hand are big and bulgy and look like they'll be an easy stick, my skin is tough so they have to push too hard to get it through and they usually burst the vein. Darn tough skin, my hand is all bruised and is still sore.
I had to go back in today for a follow-up with a completely different doctor, who recomended a vitamin B6 shot (yucky needle incedent #3) in my bum. I love modern medicine, and the fact that I don't just have to suffer through this part on my own; but you'd think by now they'd have thought of a better way than icky needles!!! I have 2 jabs in my arm, a bruised hand, and a sore bum, all from the last 24 hours. YOWZAH!!

Halloween 2008

Even if you're not much into Halloween, like me (GASP!) you still kind of enjoy it if you have kids. They get a kick out of it. (On a side note: I would probably normally enjoy Halloween, but this pregnancy sickness makes me a party pooper about everything.) So here's Cooper (Giraffe) enjoying halloween with his cousin Cash (dragon):

Cooper "Trick-or-treating":Leila was a little bummed that she didn't get to eat a lot of candy... but she coped.
Jesse had a play-off game, but ditched part of it to take the kids trick-or-treating. I guess you could say he dressed up as a Pine View football coach!

Later in the evening we hung out at the Callahans, this video is Cooper trying to dance but ended up doing push-ups:

Common Conversation

This conversation seems to be the norm lately:

Cooper: "mama, can we go outside?"
Me: "Sorry Coop, mama feels sick because of the baby in my tummy. When daddy gets home he'll take you outside."
Cooper thinks for a moment, comes over and kisses my belly, then says: "All better! Now can we go outside?"

I wish it were that simple! I love my kids... even though I'm so sick!

7 Interesting, Wierd-o things you might not know...

1. I donated my hair to locks of love when I was a teenager, twice.
2. I love cleaning my kids ears and clipping their nails. Wierd, but they don't mind.
3. When in a time crunch I can shower and get dressed, make-up and all in 7 minutes. (but it looks like it was a 7 min. job... that's the downside!)
4. I have double jointed thumbs, I can bend them backward at a 90 degree angle.
5. I still like to read the back of cereal boxes.
6. The only guy I ever dated that wasn't a loser turned out to be my husband :)
7. I used to shave my arms.

Now you know all kinds of stuff about me that you always wanted to.
The end.
( I was tagged by Beth, check out her wierdo things HERE)

Syphus Fam Sept. 2008

We haven't taken a picture of all my brothers and sisters for a long time, so this is close to miraculous. I think there is 25 of us including all adults and kids. We will be adding 2 more next year with Taylor's baby due May 14 and mine due June something. And perhaps Shawn will make another contribution???? Shawn??? eh? Look how happy I was before I got all pregnant and sickie!
I think this picture epitomizes their relationship: Cooper doing something that would bug any normal person, but Leila is too absorbed in something else to really mind. Too sweet.

No Food Allowed

I found the pregnancy sickness that was lost for a few weeks. It is now my constant companion as I go through my day. I have a hard time even thinking of food, let alone making it for my two little eaters. Jesse has found that the best way to get me to eat is to not tell me what he's making (the process of preparing food makes me want to.... you know!), and then just put the plate in front of me. I can usually force a few bites down, enough to lessen the nausea. I just hope I can make it through to the good part of pregnancy! Wish me luck!

My easy Dinner trick

I was sitting here, doing my blogging, thinking, that usually at this time of day I'm thinking of something to make for dinner. Not today however, because I put spaghetti sauce in the crock pot this morning! It's such an easy thing, as I finish dishes from breakfast, I throw this baby in the crock-pot and whamo! Dinner = Done! I know, I know, spaghetti is the easiest thing to make anyway, but really... it CANNOT be easier than this! I love it for the simple fact that when it comes down to dinner time, I do virtually NOTHING and I have a home cooked meal! So for the rest of you, trying to think of something for dinner, here's my mom's easy crock-pot spaghetti sauce recipe:

Crock-pot Spaghetti Sauce

2 cans tomato sauce

2 cans chunk tomatoes

1 onion, chopped

1 T. Garlic Powder

2 bay leaves

Cook on High (stirring occasionally) for 9 hours, or until onions are translucent.

Where did it go?

I'm 5 weeks along with our 3rd addition, and usually at this point in a pregnancy I'm so sick I can't even move. But I can't even tell a difference... other than slight fatigue. Every morning I wake up, my eyes pop open, and I do a little "sickness" check mentally, asking myself how I feel. But every morning, I feel fine! Hallelujah!!! I've known for a while that #3 needed to come soon. I was dreading it for 2 reasons: The sickness, and as a result of the sickness, being a grumpy/bad mom. I've been praying and praying that if I got pregnant again I would be able to still take care of my 2 other babies. Prayer Answered! But still one question... where did the sickness go?

Marathon 2008

Our DJ, Sam:It's darker than it looks, but it was also wetter than it looks too!
our cheerleader:
Taylor trying not to be sick :)
bright smiles at any hour:
That pretty much sums it up. It rained. We toughed it out. The runners were wet, but as always, cheerful and awesome! Go Annie! Woot Woot! (her official time was 3:39, I think it's because we cheered so loud... or the training, whatever.)

Just like Daddy

Cooper is at such a fun age right now. It seems like he learns everything he sees and hears, like a kid-shaped sponge. Jesse dropped his trailer in our driveway and moved a big rock in front of the tire so it wouldn't roll. He went inside and came back out to find this:

Cooper proudly positioned a smaller rock in front of the other tire.... just like Daddy. :)

5 years & 10 years

There is somewhat of an age difference between Jesse and I. He graduated PV in 1998, and I in 2003. Coincidentally, our High School reunions were held on the same day, at the same time, AT THE SAME PLACE... kind of. At Staheli Catering... different buildings (with a mexican wedding in between). We could tell a big difference between the 2 reunions just driving into the parking lot: there was an 81/2 x 11 paper with "class of 1998" written on it to announce the location of his reunion, while my class had hauled in the huge wooden maroon and black "graduation" PV for us to make our entrance through. AWESOME!! We made our way between the 2 reunions several times. Let me give you a few comparisons:
My Reunion: simultaneous sessions of "rock band" being played in each corner and punk music being played for everyone else.
His Reunion: no music.... at all.
My Reunion: real flower arrangements as centerpieces, and a photographer snapping everyone's picture as they entered
His Reunion: Silver streamers and tootsie rolls as centerpieces (Jesse prefered the tootsie rolls, I preferred the flowers), and a disposable camera on each table so guests could "photograph themselves".
My Reunion: A game show with Randy Denter as the host, started off asking contestants who "had the longest scar", and ending it by telling us we all had money or a gift certificate taped to the bottom of our chairs ( I got $5!!)
His Reunion: A chick up front was reading questions off of slides for people to answer: "What was the top selling car in 1998?" "Who was the girls soccor coach our senior year?".... Lame!
My Reunion: a bunch of drunk guys from my class tried to crash the party, but since it was such an awesome party... no crashing needed!
His reunion: No crashing attempted.

Anyway, they were both really nice, just mine was more nice :)
Here's a pic of Jesse and his friend Richard Heideman that he still lifts weights with:

Me & my Beth:
Beth, Jeff, Sarah, Vic, Levi, & me. Odd that I am still way shorter than everyone... even in heels!

Mine rocked, but it would have been better with one difference: Caci.... we missed You!!!! :)

This or That

These are the two choices for Leila's halloween costume this year, we've already picked our favorite, but we won't unveil it until I post Halloween pics. Can you guess which one we'll use?

Kids in a blanket

Still is, and always will be one of the sweetest sights in the world to me: not only are they getting along together, but they are being adorable together!

Out of nine, 2 are mine!

Can you guess out of all 9 grandchildren of Doug and Wendy Syphus, which 2 are mine?
From the back Left: Cohen, Kaylee, (next row) Cash, Maddie, Lyza; 2 babies on laps: Gabby, Leila; seated: Cooper & Crew. The ones in baby blue are my babies. What a handsome bunch!

And of course a picture of daddy with daughter.

Pony-tail... kind-of

Here it is! Her hair is barely long enough to clump some of it together to fit

an elastic around a 1/2 inch strand of it. 9 months I've been waiting! Actually, I've been waiting since I found out there was a girl in my womb. Such a small initiation into girl-hood (and it is small, really small, almost microscopic!), but what a milestone! Jesse came home from work and I emphatically gestured to his daughter's adorned head... he squinted, moved closer, squinted some more, and finally smiled at both of us, hugging us in the pride of the moment (I don't think he even realized what a momentous thing this is for me, he just knew from my gestures it was somthing to be celebrated). Congratulations Leila Belle! I dub your pony-tail the cutest (and smallest) in the land!

I

I am... a Callahan (now).

I think... politics suck rocks.

I know... I'm not perfect.

I want... my sore throat to go AWAY.

I have... an awesome kick-a husband.

I wish... my kids didn't grow so stinkin' fast!

I hate... stupid people.

I fear... not using my time here efficiently.

I feel... like something might be in my eye.

I hear... babies sleeping... ahhhh.

I smell... the air freshener I plugged in to cover up the diaper smell (it works!)

I wonder... how long I can procrastinate going to wal-mart... ugh...

I regret... wasting so many of my young days wallowing in insecurity.

I love... figuring out something new (even if it's fixing the pipe under my sink, I fixed it MYSELF!).

I always... have a plan.

I am not ... Martha Stewart (I just want to do the things she DOES, not BE her...ew.).

I believe... my family is the coolest out there.

I don't always... replace the toilet paper when I use it up.

I win... speed scrabble against my mom (but not against spencer, he cheats).

I lose... my car keys (for real, anyone, anyone?).

I never... know what to say when I have to "introduce" myself.

I listen...to Jesse when he talks about football and cabinet stuff (for reals, I dig it).

I am scared of... someone ever hurting my kids.

I read... graffiti, and try to figure it out... what the?

I am happy about... Leila's first "pont-tail" today.


If you read this, you're tagged!

Loved "The Four Loves"

Finished The Four Loves by C. S. Lewis a few weeks ago but I have taken the novelty of letting it sink into my mind for a while before I review it here. I still don't think I can write an adequate description. Yeah, it's THAT good. I loved that it made me think, and really analyze my life and relationships with people. Mr. Lewis describes things in such a familiar way that you really can't help but apply the concepts to your own thinking. The introduction and beginning chapters are reflective and engaging, but I didn't love love the book until I got to the chapter on Eros, or romantic love and then the last chapter on Charity, or the love of God.

The chapter on Affection was also among my favorites. Some notes I took on that chapter, and criteria for Affection:
-Affection: warm comfortableness, satisfaction in being together
-you never know it's beginning (when you're aware of it, it's already begun)
-humblest of all the loves
-is and can be taken for granted.... to a point (that's what makes it so comfortable, low maintenance)
-you may pick who you love but affection shows now favorites, it unites the most unlikely of people.
-it's presence does not guarantee happiness
-we both need and give affection
-change is a threat to affection


Notes on Friendship:
- least instinctive of all the loves
-friend means (or should mean) more than an ally, but can be an ally when alliance becomes necessary
-gratitude is not necessary in friendship, we say "don't mention it - and we mean it - now lets get back to what we want to talk about."
- friends "see the same truth"
- Friendship is not necessary for survival, but gives value to survival.
(may I say that this chapter resonantly affected me in how I view my friends. I count them as fewer than I did before, but dearer than ever. They are described in this book as individuals who would be brought together by circumstance, but found virtue in the other by "seeing the same truth" as Lewis would put it, or, working toward the same goal, sharing a mutual understanding. I feel as though I'm butchering the language to try and describe it... best just read the book to understand!)


I didn't take many notes on Eros (romantic love) but I will share my favorite lines (may I also say that Lewis liberally and appropriately quotes Shakespeare in this chapter):
"...Eros, of himself, will never be enough - will indeed survive only in so far as he is continually chastened and corroborated by higher principles."


"We must do the works of Eros when Eros is not present....And all good Christian lovers know that this programme, modest as it sounds, will not be carried out except by humility, charity and divine grace...."

My final and favorite chapter about Charity brought me to tears many times, and has affected me the most of any of the chapters (in this chapter Lewis appropriately refers to Jesus Christ as "Love Himself"):
"Do not let your happiness depend on something you may lose. If love is to be a blessing, not a misery, it must be for the only Beloved [Jesus Christ] who will never pass away."


"We shall draw nearer to God, not by trying to avoid the sufferings inherent in all loves, but by accepting them and offering them to Him; throwing away all defensive armour. If our hearts need to be broken, and if he chooses this as the way in which they should break, so be it."


"In God there is no hunger that needs to be filled, only plenteousness that desires to give."


There were many more powerful, wonderful points to this book. Many more than I could ever share here. I hoped to give a glimpse or a taste to you, and to save some for me ( I hate it when I know I've READ a book but then I don't remember READING it!). Check my "currently reading" spot for what I'm on to next.

For Sale

I'm selling my cute diaper bag on e-bay, if you're interested you can bid on it HERE

Cooper's Post

I think one of the best things we did for Cooper was to have Leila so close to him. For 2 reasons. 1) He knows the world does not revolve around him. 2) he has a little friend to play with all the time! If "play" in this case means tackle and wrestle.His favorite things lately are: popsicles, spongebob, tractors, "big-boy pants", books (Owen, Are you my mother?, and Go dog GO), and Daddy (always been his favorite... always will).I also can't do anything around the house without his help. Laundry - he has to help sort the laundry by color, change it from washer to dryer, AND help put it away... though not always in the right places. Dishes - he HAS to help wash, and along with the laundry, sometimes the putting away can be a little scary. Cleaning- this one's my favorite. Sometimes he'll mimick me cleaning and pull out a wet wipe and start wiping stuff down, but boy style. He'll shove the picture frames and kleenex off of the end table and wipe it down with his wet wipe and then leave all the stuff on the floor as he moves to another object to "clean". Also, there will be tears if he is not able to help with sweeping, mopping and vacuuming. I'm not sure if he actually LIKES cleaning... or if he just wants to be a part of whatever I'm doing... and that's usually what I'm doing. (*sigh*)
But Daddy and football are definatly his favorites. Once when we went to one of Uncle Sam's football practices he got scared of all of the Samoan's yelling, so now every time we pull up to the stadium and get out of the car he has to prove his bravery by saying " I not scared of football mama, I not scared!"
At JV games he even gets to go down on the field with Daddy. Lucky little guy!

Leila's Post

Check this kid out! I was hoping that my baby would stay... well, a baby, for longer than she has. I call a "NOT FAIR!" on babyhood.... they grow much too fast. Especially this one. Within the last few weeks she's started crawling (like really real crawling) and exclaiming "DADA!" at everything she likes... and sometimes at her Dada.She salivates and lunges at all the foods she can't have yet and scarfs down the stuff she is allowed to have (she can eat, that's really what I'm getting at. Don't be embarrassed later Leila, but really, you can put it AWAY!). I've noticed subtle differences between her personality and Cooper's that are typical "girl" tendancies. For one, she is very particular about how she is held when being put to sleep: Arm out, face up, sucking on her blanket. Her Daddy knows how to do this the best so she mostly prefers him to do it. In fact, she mostly prefers him for everything. I feel kind of bad for her that all day long she just wants daddy and she has to deal with me until he comes home. (Sorry Leila, I'll just have to do!)Also, she and Cooper have developed a funny sort of brother/sister relationship which is mostly defined by Cooper trying to play with her and she enjoying it, then getting hurt and looking to mom or dad and Cooper pretending like nothing's wrong.I mentioned previously that my children are "disarmingly" adorable. This has turned out to be literally true of Leila in several cases. Mid-July when she was a mere 7 months old we were at temple square for cousin Allison's wedding. Leila was enjoying the day on a blanket in the shade, when a group of 8 or so tourists stopped to listen to her cooing and jabbering and watch her smiling and grabbing at her feet. They stayed for a few minutes, all of them comenting on how sweet and bright she was and just as they were moving on ANOTHER GROUP (this time only 5 or 6) stopped to talk to her and smile at her. Talk about missionary experience!! If these people weren't members already I bet they want to be now just because of the cute baby at Temple Square!! Seriously, wouldn't you?!!
Also, our ward Chorister sat next to us in sacrament meeting last week and her daughters were holding and doting on Leila, as we stood to sing the rest hymn I was holding Leila as she grinned up at the chorister and (for the first time) started opening and closing her chubby hand in a primitive wave. The chorister smiled and continued leading the song with a grin and renewed vigor. The experience was nothing if not charming.
Leila seems to be a very personable personality. She is ingenious in her efforts to win over new acquaintances by constantly mastering new tricks just as the opportunity develops. Perhaps she'll join the circus.

My Couch is an indoor Sandbox

I love my kids, I really do; especially Cooper when he uses the under-seat compartment of his trike to smuggle sand into the house. When I found him, he was scooping it out of his trike in handfulls onto the ottoman for his trucks to have a realistic construction site. I have to laugh be cause honestly... in his mind it's just logical: trucks need sand, sandbox has sand, trike can carry sand.... BINGO! Sand comes inside. Once I explained sand does not come inside he was very helpful about cleaning it up... he didn't get upset or throw a fit, he methodically scooped it back up into his trike. When he saw how the vacuum lifted it up as if by magic, he was way more into that than the novelty of having sand inside. But still, for a moment, he had created his own little world of sand.... pity it had to be right on my couch!

Wedding... isn't it about... TIME?!!!

To be fair we really only waited 6 weeks (that's how much notice we had), but it seemed longer. I said before how beautiful the whole thing was. I'm not so good at taking pictures and having them turn out, so I didn't even attempt the reception. With all the candlelight I would have marred the whole thing. Best just remember it how it was: simply magical. But here's us *trying* to look our best in our formal attire. Yeah, and also, no pictures of Spence and Taylor. It was their day after all... but some dip-wad was handling my camera... ooops I mean...