Halloween 2016 and Lessons from Toddlers

The thing about children is that they always care more about enjoying the experience rather than having something go perfectly as planned. Such small things bring them such immense joy. They truly, innately, see joy and beauty in simplicity.

I've been taking a page from Juliana's book lately on that. My happiness is usually contingent on how well something has aligned with my ideal plan or how "perfect" it is, whatever that means. Not Julie. If she's with people she loves, doing things she loves, she's about as easy to please as they come.

My mom sewed this darling hooded ghost costume for Juliana's costume this year. For FOUR months Julie has said, "I wanna be a ghhoooooost for Halloween and scare ALL the kids!!" She was like white on rice: knew exactly what she wanted from the start.

But the second she tried on her ghost costume, which we all expected to be a smashing hit, she couldn't handle it. It has a big hood that ties around her neck. However, she got Mitch's lovely genes on that one and cannot handle ANYthing touching her neck or throat or she gags. Like truly gags and almost pukes until we pulled it off. HA HA. She hated it. Just flat out said, "no thanks. I don't wanna wear it. I don't yike it."

I was not into the idea of making another costume so last minute, so I spur-of-the-moment offered something off the top of my head: "a kitty... do you wanna be a kitty?" I knew that could be easy. "Yes!" said Juju. Okay then!

It was then that I realized that she wanted to just be with her little friends and have a fun Halloween. She didn't care about anything else, and neither should I. So I drew a little kitty face on her and we called it good. She loved it: thoroughly thought she was in full-costume. She was happier than she ever was in a big, grand costume. I was both relieved and surprised.

And so, our Halloween day followed suit. We nixed the unnecessaries out of our day and decided since, really, it's a day for kids to enjoy, we'd do what was fun for Julie. We ate dinner at chic-fil-a, and took our time trick-or-treating: not trying to beat any clock, schedule or bedtime.

Simplify, enjoy the experience, not the fluff.


Lessons from toddlers. They're usually pretty good ones.

I call this the "twonager face"

Picked up Mitch from class. Peas in a pod.

I think she makes about the cutest chocolate-faced kitty ever, don't you?

Old-Town Williamsburg, Virginia & a Few Updates

We have a thing for the east coast in the fall. It sucks us in bigtime. The best place to experience it, in our opinion, is in a colonial setting- it's seriously euphoric😍

I spent a lot of time here as a child, and its fun to bring my own little family here now that we live so close by.

We like driving up to Williamsburg (and Jamestown) and spending the day/weekend there. It's like taking a step back in time and it's a great way to slow down the modern-day fast pace of life. For the entire old-town area, there are no streets for cars, so you can let your kids run around with a lot more ease. Juju wanders around collecting acorns, running around the grassy fields, and playing with wood toys while Mitch and I (and my mom this time!) sit on a bench, eat lunch or sip hot cocoa.

I can't express how much I love the beautiful marriage of the natural almost year-round green foliage and the sharp pops of east-coast autumn colors. They contrast so beautifully and are what I think makes the fall season so breathtaking out here.

Sometimes you just gotta sit in a tree.

This is what I'm talking about. Beauty even on the ground, everywhere you look. 

She decided she wanted to lean against this post..? Ha ha. And wave to every person passing by. 

The MOSS, guys.

Not pictured, by this barn: Juju playing with a little baby lamb 😭

Already making plans to duplicate every detail in our next home. Don't black lanterns just make you so happy? 😍

In other news, we've accepted a full-time offer with a company that we are reeeeally excited about! For those of you not familiar with the process, Mitch interned with them this past summer and they made us a full time offer for when he graduates, which is next May- so he is in his LAST (!!!) year of school for FOREVER! Four years of grad school and we are done-zo! It's bittersweet.

We'll announce where we are moving soon!

Rejection of Generalizations Concerning Christianity, Judaism, Islam & Everything In Between

I want to write about something that has been a very pressing issue to me. Something I've observed among a few of my social media circles and that I feel the need to address and take a stand on. 

I was sitting on the plane from San Diego to Charlotte NC today. I'm actually writing this on my iPhone on my flight, so there will probably be a lot of editing issues.

We were on row 12 and he was in 11D in my direct line of vision. He was a Hasidic Jew. You can spot them fairly easily by their unusual dress and style. 

I have a special affinity towards people who openly and shamelessly practice their religion- any religion. 

In my own Mormon faith, not much more than 150 years ago, my ancestors were definitely a minority. They were different, difficult to understand and unrelatable to those around them. They were severely persecuted, driven out, discriminated against and killed simply for their beliefs and because of the fear of others. They had to flee their homes and try to find refuge in a new land. Many died and very few outsiders helped along the way. Rather, when encountered, others would frequently tar and feather them, rob them, burn their homes, or kill them. They received little mercy and much persecution. Because some were eventually successful and survived, they are frequently referred to as "pioneers"- but I believe they could also easily be netted under the term "refugees". 

Is that not happening today with other (specifically Muslim) faiths? Because it is no longer my own religion or culture being discriminated against, should I not care? Should I not show mercy because I don't believe the same things they do? Should I turn away and let them suffer, because it does not personally affect me this time? Because of a radical few, should I judge the entire religion unfairly and find excuses to not only ignore them in their despair, but hate them? 

To my fellow Mormons- because of our background and similar history, we should be among the first to reach out. And we shouldn't have to wait for direct instruction to do so. 

Elder Howard W Hunter of the quorum of the 12 in our Church said nearly 20 years ago, "if a bridge is ever built between Christianity and Islam, it must be built by the Mormon church." (Source below)

Also, Elder Parley P Pratt said, " upon the whole, Muslims have better institutions and better morals than many Christian nations." (Source below)

Keep in mind these quotes were far before the time of ISIS. This timeframe should illustrate the true nature and doctrine of the Muslim faith - untainted by modern day radicals. 

To read more about the Mormon church's perspective on Islam, read this: 

   

https://www.lds.org/liahona/2002/06/a-latter-day-saint-perspective-on-muhammad?lang=eng

The women who cover themselves so beautifully and carefully, the men who cover the top of their head, the people who choose not to participate in seemingly harmless activities, substances, or certain foods in the name of faith despite the commonplace in society, those who keep one whole day entirely sacred and dedicate it to God, those who trustingly send off their teenage sons and daughters to foreign lands to share their faith, the people who kneel in a corner of the airport or office and pray diligently to their deity multiple times a day - these are those whom I admire so greatly and look to as examples for my own personal faith. They are shameless and devout- things I should strive to be and strive to emulate. 

Anyone who openly practices their faith today is subject to almost guaranteed harsh scoffs and criticism and judgement. Today, to practice and believe any religion- let alone openly and physically- takes a lot of courage and a lot of dedication. I believe it shows a level of character that is so rare to find anymore. 

The man in 11D sat there very quietly. He bowed his head and clearly said a silent prayer. He raised his head and slowly peeled a ripe, red peach with a plastic knife. After finishing, he reached in his bag and pulled out a prayer card in Hebrew. He bowed his head once again and prayed silently for almost 10 minutes. 

The stewardess came with drinks. He got a water and smiled, and after she moved to the next row, he once again bowed his head and prayed over his insignificant little cup of water. For the remaining 3 hours of the flight he did simple math on a paper napkin- or prayed. Once- I am certain- over a young mother desperately bouncing and walking with her crying infant in the aisle. 

You could tell after brief observation that this was a good man. A faithful, kind man. A man who clearly received everything as a gift from God- and deliberately gave thanks for it. You could observe after that 4 hour flight that he lived an extraordinarily simple life. One of gratitude and devotion. A godly, good man. And he is not Christian. 

Is that not how I should live? What I should strive to be like? Is my way of life the only way?

No- I write this to openly reject the idea that Christians are the only "good" in the world. I reject the idea that my culture or my way of life is superior or the only way. I can not only diligently maintain my own beliefs while doing so, but even strengthen them by the examples of others from very different faiths than mine. Can we not join together- praise each other for our good efforts and actions and grow because of it? Can we not still serve and rescue one another even though we differ? Can we refrain from persecuting, judging and fearing those differently than us? 

To anyone with or without a deity: yes- I believe we can. 

To those with biblical roots, was the Good Samaritan not "enemies" with the man (Jew) whom he rescued? Was he not passed by twice by supposed good men (one a priest) before he was assisted? I believe we have those stories so we may not repeat the same mistakes today. 

Faith cannot reside in the same body as fear. If you are Christian, that is doctrine. I intend to take it to heart. I cannot pass by the proverbial dying man in the road- or weak Mormon pioneer family- again, without experiencing severe cognitive dissonance. Passing by with a shrug of pity isn't enough anymore, no matter how unpopular that may be with some I know. 

"Your beliefs don't make you a better person- your behavior does." - Sukhraj S Dhillion

Let's all be a little better and do a little more. 

Two & a Half

Fun fact: We have been nomadic/traveling gypsies/on the move/vacationing for going on FOUR months straight now. 😳😳😳

That means that, yes, we are definitely ready to be back in our Virginia home and settle in for year #2 at Darden. All of our stuff is still in our house there and we've been living out of suitcases, traveling everywhere. We are so giddy to be back, we can hardly stand it. 4 more weeks! And thinking of Virginia in the fall ha made my pinterest board completely blow up with fall pins and I make no apologies for it. I'm so over this Dallas summer heat.

We've had an incredible summer so far. We've been able to go on a few really great trips and maybe one day I'll get to moving those pictures from my iPhoto library to my blog! I only have one week between my spring and summer semesters for school so I am trying to squeeze the most out of it as possible.

On that note, I will be DONE with my undergrad in less than 1 year, which makes me happy, happy, happy. I am eyeballing a few master's programs right now though, so we will see how much of a break I catch from school after all.

So, 4 months into our 'summer' and that means Juju bean is almost 2 1/2 now! OH my heck she is a riot. Here is our update on Miss Julsies:

Juliana-isms:

+ Every. Single. Thing. We. Say. She responds to with, "why?" This is not a joke. Every single thing, no matter what, she has to ask about. I may or may not beat my head against my steering wheel a few times a day.

+Baby words:

+ Calls an octopus "oca-the-pus" and its so stinking funny to me.

+ Hamburger is "hang-a-bur"

+ Popsicle is "pop-as-cool"

+ Is a GIRL. Really enjoys changing her outfit (BY HERSELF.. she will let you know) multiple times a day and donning any jewelry at hand. She loves brushing her hair and watching herself dance in the mirror. She frequently says "look at my beautiful curly blonde hair, mommy." We may be really in for it. 😳

+ At the same time, she is very wild and free. She prefers her hair in a pony tail and loves ANYTHING resembling a risk or danger. Which is debatably great.

+ Developmentally, for her age, has phenomenal hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.  She can draw deliberately, such as circles and straight lines when asked, can nearly color in the lines of pictures, and colors for probably 90 straight minutes a day. She is thoroughly obsessed with that right now. We have probably gone through three full coloring books this week. She even holds pencils/crayons correctly which is super, and I only had to work on that with her a few times before she got it. It could definitely end up being a talent of hers.

+ She is very expressive in terms of her speech. She will frequently be heard saying, "I'm really angry right now" and fold her arms. HA ha. She will also say "Oh, that makes me so sad" when we tell her things like no, we can't get ice cream tonight.

The most inquisitive, curious girl on the planet.

+ On the note of speech, she has been speaking in full sentences for a few months now and doesn't use any contractions. It's so cute. She has never said "I can't" or "I don't" - she will say "I cannot!" or "I do not!" like always very, very enunciated and clear. I really need to post more videos of it because its so funny hearing a tiny person with a tiny voice speak like an adult.

+ She says multi-syllable words very well, like escalator, appetizer, hexagon or conditioner.

+ I took her to the nail salon with me the other day for the first time. I was a little apprehensive of how she would do, being two, but she listens to directions relatively well and ended up doing SO good!!! It was the most fun I have had all month. She literally sat there next to me with her hands out and smiled while they painted her little nails and she didn't move an inch. I was so proud of her! The older she gets the more fun we have!

+ Will either say "no thank you" very sweetly or "NO!!!!!!". She is very hot and cold. Ha ha.

+ We have a dine in theater next to us and one of our favorite family activities is to go see a movie there and order dinner. There are gigantic leather reclining seats, and she looks so little in her own. Its so cute watching her sit there with her little legs crossed, eating her food, reclined and totally chilled out. Ha!!

+ Has a little doll that she named all by herself (surprise)- "Raz" - we think its just so funny.

+ Impromptu ballet "baday", as pictured above. I have classical music on in her playroom a few hours a day and she will usually get a dress on and dance away in her own little world.

+ Is always asking if we are in a) Utah, b) Virginia, c) Chicago, or d) Hawaii. Poor thing doesn't even know she has a home. #gypsies

+ Any room remotely dark she will squeal "AH!!! MONSTERS!!! REALLY SCARY!!!"

+ Even when she doesn't like a food she will say, "mm, I really like it!" and grimace:) sweetest thing.

+ Loves to "read" all of her memorized books:)

+ Loves to sing to music, especially in the car. Occasionally, when I try to join in, she says "NO. SHHHHHHH. I'm doing it all by myself right now, okay??" and points her little finger at me. 😳

New Skills/Updates:

+ She is getting her first 2-year-old molar:( I just saw coming up today. It is still under the gum but per-Julie-style, has a big painful-looking hematoma. Her typically robust appetite has definitely taken a dive this week.

+ Has nailed her ABC's

+ Can count to 13 accurately, then it's all over the place after that. Ha ha.

+ Finally not having a conniption when we rinse her hair in the bath (any water on her head previously was a big freak out)

+ Getting really good at sharing!!! We have worked on it for a long time now and she is starting to do it more voluntarily. 

She really is just the sweetest thing and such a little spitfire. She lights up our whole world.

DESIGN

SHE'S TWO.

Why on earth do people call these the "terrible twos?" They are absolutely amazing twos! I know you might be thinking "oh just you wait! She's only a few months into them", but I'm here to tell ya that I love it and wish she'd stay two forever. Let me also mention that this does not mean she doesn't have her meltdowns or that she isn't opinionated at all- HA. Oh boy. This girl, you guys- she has MAJOR SASS. She is one bossy chick and she knows what she wants and how to get it. What this does mean is that I love this age despite that- even sometimes because of it. She's a stinking crack up and Mitch and I joke for hours after she goes to bed about the things she says and does all day. She's literally 2 going on 20. "The Twos" are definitely what you make them, and all about how you approach them. And this is reason #49228 why I love what I study. I feel like it has helped me so much in dealing with that. But that's another post for another time.

This Julsie girl is sweeter than ever. I need to take a minute and write down my thoughts about her at this phase in life before it slips away from me. These details are too precious to forget:

Juliana-isms:

+ She will occasionally look at me or Mitch and focus in on our face, reach her little fingers up, grab one of our eyebrows and say "Hey. A eyebrown", and wiggle it. No one knows what the fascination is all about. But it always cracks us up.

+ When its time to do something, we will say something like, "Okay Julie, do you wanna hop in the car now?" (Not that it's really a question). And she will say, "Eh, no thanks!" really sweetly. HA. No, that wasn't really a question, child.

+ She almost has no baby words anymore, which makes me kind of sad because they are so cute. She is extremely verbal, talking in complete sentences now. But one of my favorite 'baby words' she would say was from a few months before she was two. She'd try to say, "Ah, stuck!" But instead she'd say, "Ah, ducks!" Ha ha- Mitch and I will still say it all the time and I think it's here to stay in our family vocab.

+ She loves to be a helper and a cheerleader. She will watch me work out in the morning (sometimes trying to join in) and she will frequently squat down in front of me like a mini coach, and clap and say, "Yeah! Go mommy! You can do it mommy! Keep tryin! Good try, mom! Good try!" Ha ha! It really is the cutest.

+ Perhaps the funniest and most perplexing of all is her new little motto, as we've labeled it. She will hold her hands up and make a triangle in between her fingers, and say, "Never scared. Never scared, mom." HAHA. What? She started doing it a few weeks ago and she does it randomly throughout the day. No one knows. 

+ When she's bored or trying to make conversation, she'll say "Hey mama, whatcha doin mama?" or "hey daddy, whatcha doin daddy?" And then we will tell her what we are doing, and she'll say in the sweetest voice with a smile, "Oh! Me too!" 

+ She has lately been labeling things as her "very favorite ever, ever."

+ And she's been telling me that I'm he "best friend ever, ever." She's also sporadically been saying, "Aww, I love you."

+ Anytime Mitch and I have been talking for "too long" according to her, she will start to get really needy and make up stuff to say or say she needs something. Like a spoon. Ha ha. She sometimes gets really jealous when we start talking too long without including her in the conversation. She legitimately thinks it's a three-way relationship.

+ When we give her kisses or loves, she will say "Awww," and cuddle up to us and then say, "Meow" and try to lick our face like a cat. HA

+ When she's serious about something she will gently grab my chin and look me in the eye and say, "Look a me. Look a me" (look at me), and get almost nose to nose to my face. 

+ Eeeevvvvvverything lately- everything- is "do it all by myself, mommy." When asked if she's sure she doesn't need help (she usually does), she'll say, "Nope. No thanks." Except it sounds like, "No dakes."

+ She's extremely complimentary and it's to die for. She will see me getting dressed or something and she'll say, "Oooh. You look beautiful mommy! So pretty!" and "Ooh, I like it mommy!" when I wear something noticeably new like a hat or glasses.

+ Anytime she gets hurt, the second we kiss it, it's better. No matter how bad she's hurt. Kisses really work, folks.

+ The way she calls her uncles, "unkies." 

+ When she goes potty she gets seriously sooo excited and clenches her little fists and exclaims, "I did it!!!" 

Things Juliana Loves:

+ Singing.

+ Tutus.

+ Balls, playing catch.

+ BABIES. All the babies. And she's sooo sweet to them (real and toys). 

+ Her tools. She has a toy toolbelt with play tools and she 'fixes' everything all day.

+ Gymnastics. Every Wednesday.

+ Kisses and affection.

+ Being scared or teased. She loves when Mitch jumps out and scares her. She has the cutest squeal.

+ The park. Anything outside. So, we are outside all day.

+ Duke. And more Duke. Her 3 year old best buddy slash idol. She calls him, "my Dukey".

+ My friend Reagan (Duke's mom). About 6 times a day she'll just randomly ask, "where's Weagan?" They are soul sisters.

+ Story time at the library. Every Monday.

+ Sand and the beach. A few times a week she'll ask to go back to the beach with her friends (from our spring break trip to Outer Banks, NC, a few weeks ago).

+ Airplanes, and airports. We drive by it every time we go to church and she always points and says "airport! I love it!" She looooves airplane rides, too.

+ A little toddler game called "Seek-a-Boo". Super cute matching game. She is super good and fast at it.

+ BOOKS. We literally probably read for at least 90 minutes a day. It's one of her favorite pastimes and one that is so fun to do together with her because she gets so excited about the stories. Right now her favorite one is about a cat and a mouse that live in a church. 

+ Nursery rhymes. We sing/say quite a few and she has most memorized. She loves them.

+ Painting and coloring

+ Playing pretend anything. Her imagination is wild.

+ Swimming

New Skills:

+ She has been fully potty trained with #2 for a few weeks now and we are just wrapping up with #1. I need to just buckle down and finish it off for good this week. She loves it so much that she basically has potty trained herself so far. 

+ Counting to 13. Most of the time:)

+ Speaking in full sentences.

+ Usually saying "please", "thank you", "no thanks", and "sorry" without prompting. Usually:)

+ Going to sleep without needing to be rocked to sleep (as of 3 months ago..... finally)

+ Putting her clothes on (and off..... in nursery.........) all by herself

Goals:

+ Pedaling her bike all by herself

+ Learning her ABC's

+ Not freaking out when we have to rinse her hair in the bath

It's hard to write down everything she loves and is learning. She is so enthusiastic about so much and has so much vigor for life. I hope she never loses that. 

Gosh we love this girl.