Leaving Comfort Zones

I don't ever remember being accused of being outgoing.  I do, however, remember a few times when people have told me I'm the quietest person they've ever met (at least when they first met me).  Look up the word "introvert" in the dictionary and you should find a picture of me.  Growing up I made my sister do most of the talking for me.  I've gotten better though.  Or at least I keep telling myself that.

This month I officially started my term as vice president of Intermountain Healing Hearts (or IHH for short).  I have been very impressed with this group and when the opportunity came decided to submit my name for this position so that I could have an opportunity to give back and do my part in making sure the group keeps moving forward.  As I learn my new role I'm sure I'll make a few mistakes but I'm working with a great bunch of ladies who are very capable and talented and will hopefully put up with my errors.

With National CHD Awareness week coming up (Feb 7-14), we have been discussing what we need to do.  Every year a table has been set up on the 3rd floor of Primary Children's Medical Center by the group with brochures and things to help spread awareness.  We discussed trying to contact various media outlets to try to get the word out about CHD week and about IHH.  Well, I decided to send a message to my county's local newspaper.  A lady who works at the paper has emailed me back a couple of times,this last time requesting my phone number so that she can contact me further.  While I think it's really great that she seems interested in the story, there's a part of me that quite enjoys sitting in the comfort zone of the background starting to get a bit nervous.  If I listen close I can hear that part of me cry, "Oh, no! What if she wants to take my picture?!"  Okay, maybe it's more that I really don't like pictures of myself.  Then there's the part of me that isn't nervous.  I have to listen harder to hear that one, but I hear it roll the eyes and respond, "Oh, just put on some make-up and you'll do fine."

Is it any wonder why my favorite t-shirt saying reads, "Even if the voices aren't real, they have some pretty good ideas"?

Lend me Your Ears

Yes, I realize that this is a goofy picture.  Should have seen the other one.



For one of her Christmas presents, we gave Emma a "coupon" good for getting her ears pierced.  Well, yesterday I decided to take her to actually do it.  She was excited and a little bit nervous.  I was impressed how brave she was and that she really didn't flinch or make much noise with the piercings other than saying, "Ow."  For a kid who can be quite vocal about pain, that was quite amazing.  She picked out studs of her birthstone.  So far she's doing pretty well with them.

I asked Molly if she wanted to get her ears pierced then since she has been talking about wanting them too.  She surprised me by saying not then.  There was another girl there trying to decide if she wanted to get her ears pierced.  Emma told her it wasn't that bad to get them done.  As far as I could tell, the girl decided she wasn't brave enough to do it. 

Overheard...

The other day I overheard two of my daughters talking.  My 5 year old said to her 7 year old sister, "Jimmy's lucky.  He has 4 sisters."  Yeah, for some reason I don't think he quite feels the same way.

Recent Outings

We've gone out as a family recently a couple of times.  We don't go out a lot.  Probably largely due to inertia and pure laziness on my part.  Just easier to stay home most of the time.  That's not saying we don't have fun when we stay home.  We do. 

Anyway, last night we decided to take the kids on the train and head down to Salt Lake to see the lights at Temple Square.  I think the part the kids liked the most was the train ride.  They probably would have enjoyed looking at the lights more if we had eaten before looking at the lights.  We planned on finding a place to eat while we were out and decided to look at the lights first.  Certain children of mine get somewhat grumpy when they haven't eaten.  Funny how happy a little food can make him. 

It was nice going last night because it wasn't as cold as usual.  Which could be one reason it seemed a little more crowded than usual.  The train was full both going down and coming home. 

Saturday night we took the kids to Yogo Togo, a self-serve frozen yogurt place.  They had fun choosing which flavor they wanted and the toppings.  Almost seemed to have the most fun moving from chair to chair in the lounge-style seating area.  Anyway, here are a few pictures from both nights.

Emma in front of the Christus.

Molly in front of the Christus.  The others wouldn't turn around for a picture.

Dylan and Lys on the train.

Emma and Molly (and Lys in the background) at Yogo Togo.

Lys.

Dylan.  His eyes are closed because that's how he poses for pictures lately.  Says "Cheese!" and closes his eyes.

Russ and Jimmy.  I don't think either were thrilled that I was taking their picture.

In case you are wondering, this is how Rachel was both nights.

Happy Birthday Emma!

Emma turned 9 years old today.  I'd say that's crazy that she's 9, but I have a tendency to think she's older than she is.  So I've been thinking she's 9 for a few months now.  A few weeks ago I even said something about Emma being 9 and she corrected me. 

Anyway, happy birthday Emma!  Pretty soon I'm sure I'll start thinking you're 10 and you'll have to correct me again.

Rachel's 2 Month Check-up

I took Rachel in for her 2 month check-up this morning.  Before I left to go to her appointment, I had to wake up Dylan.  Told him we were going to take her to the doctor.  He immediately said, "I don't like the doctor."  I told him it wasn't for him, it was for Rachel.  That made him much happier.  Although he did keep checking to make sure it really was for Rachel.  Even told the nurse it was for Rachel when we went back to the exam room.

Rachel is now 24 inches long and weighs 11 pounds, 11 ounces.  She started out as our biggest and is staying that way so far.  Twenty-four inches puts her at the very top of the growth charts and her weight is around the 75%.  Her head size is just above the 50%.  So she's tall and skinny (skinny for her height, anyway) and has a little head.  Wonder how big she will be in 2 months at her next appointment.

She got three shots and one oral immunization today.  Didn't cry very long from the shots.  I didn't think she would stop crying before I could pick her up to comfort her, but she did.  She did start crying a little again, but seemed more hungry than sad.

Rachel is a very good baby.  Rarely gets upset and is smiling more and more.  She coos more and more as well.  Just the other day I had her laying on my bed and Emma was laying next to her and talking to her.  She cooed at Emma about as much as Emma was talking to her (yes, Emma was talking).

SEP Conferences

I attended SEP Conferences for my kids today. All went well. Jimmy's and Lyssa's were what I expected. Doing well, keep reading more, etc. I always worry a little bit going to Emma's because of her lack of doing work in kindergarten and in 1st grade. But hers was good. The AR reading has Emma reading a whole grade above where she is and her math is into the grade above as well. She just needs to get a little faster. Molly's also went about like I figured from the papers she's been bringing home. She gets 100% on almost everything and is very good at art. Her teacher wants her to have a goal of reading 2o minutes every day instead of the 5-10 that she suggests for the 1st grade.

When SEP Conferences are being held, the school holds a book fair. My kids love getting new books so we went to the book fair in between conferences. I broke down and let the kids get a little toy thing as well. Jimmy got a rubber fly. Walking out, he let Dylan hold it. Dylan happily held it to his chest. Then looked down at it. At that moment Jimmy really wishes we had been filming. Dylan started to scream and cry, "It's going to get me!" Jimmy had to take it from Dylan before he would stop.