My Megan

Here are the pics I promised of Meg and her hats.

Yesterday was the primary program. Megan didn't have a speaking part, thank goodness, that would have been stressful! All she had to do was stand and sing the primary songs. They had the sunbeams sit on the front row in the congregation and then walk up to the front for every song. I was worried that Megan wouldn't walk up there but was pleasantly surprised when she came marching up for the first song. She looked in my direction and then locked eyes with me and hardly blinked for the whole song! Even though she knows all of the words to the songs (we have a CD with the presentation music on it that they listen to all of the time) by heart and sings them all of the time at home, her lips did not move. She just stared at me intently. She did this for every song! I would make faces at her in an effort to at least get her to smile but she was too focused.
After church I said to her, "Megan you were sooo brave to get up there in front of everyone!" She said, " I know that! I know that I was sooo brave in front of everyone." She smiled and was so proud of her accomplishment.

I just have to remind myself, baby steps, don't panic Kathryn. Someday she won't be afraid of everything outside our front door.

At least she is not afraid of the camera. We sure love our sweet little Megan! :)

Tis the Season

Well, I've spent the last few days fixing my Christmas template and picking out Christmas music for my playlist.

What is it about this time of year that just brings my emotions to the surface? Christmas music is especially dangerous for me. All you have to do is play Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" and I am a puddle on the floor. I don't know if it makes me feel happy or sad, it just makes me feel.

It truly is the "most wonderful time of the year" and Hallie reminded me why, "because of Jesus" she said. She is right, and I am so grateful.

A shot in the arm

I took Hallie to the Pediatrician today to get a flu shot. She was not happy about it! She got a Winnie the Pooh sticker and when we got home she put the sticker on a piece of paper and wrote this...



-My sticker with Pooh Bear and the Heffalump

I got this sticker at the doctors office and I got a sucker and we went to DQ to get a ice cream and I think that sticker was the only sticker like that there and I loved that sticker so much and for a second I couldn't get it and then I got it and I got the flu shot and she counted to five and I screamed and cried and it didn't hurt very much.

It was a traumatic experience for all of us which is interesting since apparently "it didn't hurt very much." ;)

Something Red

Ever since we moved here I have been looking for some red hanging plants to put on my front porch. I looked all over and just couldn't find anything I loved so I gave up hope on red flowers and talked to Trevor about painting our door or our swing red. Unfortunately Trevor doesn't share my passion for the color. I just wanted something RED! Today I looked out the window and had to catch my breath when I saw this... Isn't it beautiful?!? I don't even know what kind of tree it is and I know that it will only last for a little while which is why I will be looking out my windows and swinging on the porch swing and pulling out my camera a little more... enjoying our beautiful red tree.

Tagged

Okay, I've been tagged (thanks a lot Christina ;) and these are the rules I have been given.
A. Each player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves.
B. At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.


Seriously, I can't think of anything that anyone would want to read about me so I've decided just to make stuff up that is interesting ;).

That brings us to fact #1 about me, I am a rule keeper, always have been. So I guess that means I will actually have to write this about me... sorry. (1 down, 5 to go, think hard Kathryn)

#2 Favorite Jobs
- Inkleys (a photo store) I worked up front selling cameras and doing the register and then I was moved to the back where I printed the 1 hour photos... some people take really weird pictures! Our boss was a total softy and let us do just about anything, including go to the store after hours and watch movies on the big screen ( have you seen the new show Chuck?) and take pictures in the studio etc. but that is a whole 'nother story, huh Steph.;0
- Apple Village, assisted living. I was a CNA and loved to work in the Alzheimer's Unit. Every night was a new adventure. I was often part of their delusions so I was everything from a hotel bellhop to a Primary 1st councilor (she was the Pres. and it was the primary presentation). I just played along because that is what you do with Alzheimer's, you can't bring them back to reality so I would try to help make their delusions pleasant and just be whoever they thought I was. I loved those people.
-Labor and Delivery Nurse at Utah Valley Hospital- Can you say PUSH!!! This was what I always wanted to do and worked so hard for. I loved being part of such a monumental moment in peoples lives and celebrating with them the joy of a new healthy baby. I worked the graveyard shift so I also had lot's of opportunities to help deliver babies when the doctor just couldn't get out of bed quick enough. I worked there until one night when I was contracting more than my patient and decided that I better get my own bed. I had Hallie a few hours later (before my patient had her baby, not that it was a competition ;))...push!!

#3 Things I will never wear again
- Stone washed jeans
- Banana clips
- electric blue mascara
- a fanny pack
- my pre-Campbell jeans :( Okay, I haven't totally given up hope on this one yet

#4 My claim to fame
When Trevor and I were first married our home teacher was none other than Brian Blosil. Who is Brian Blosil you ask... only Marie Osmonds husband (now ex-husband)... hello!

#5 Things I've learned as a mom
- Barney loves me
- Showers are underrated
- TV is indeed a good babysitter
- Spit-up goes with anything, at least my babies think so
- A mother's love is limitless

#6 My favorite things
- raindrops on roses... sike
- anything pumpkin
- sleep
- anything chocolate
- shopping without kids
- jeans that fit
- brown paper packages tied up with string ( I really do like that one)


Okay, that's more than enough about me. I tag Melissa L., Stephanie, Marla, Aprilyn, Traci, Heather D..
P.S. I just came up with my own 6 facts etc. I'm making up my own rules, so just share any 6 things you want.

Campbell Update

I've had a lot of people ask me how Campbell is doing. Happily he is "all better". We are sleeping again and life is back to normal... normal is good. :)

I took this picture and some others (I put them in the slide show on the right) of Campbell and the girls a few days ago. Megan had so much fun with our "photo shoot" she asked if we could do it again and today she gathered up like 8 hats and told me she wanted a picture in each hat. She's my poser. I'll post those pictures soon.

FLY GIRLS

Well, today was a good one. I had the day off and we went to the model airplane park. Hallie and Megan went with me. It was fun - the first time I have flown my F-27 Stryker (it is a cool remote control jet) since we moved here. It was bitter sweet. I was able to hang out with my fly girls, but it made me homesick. I have some great memories with Dad, Todd, Bill, Grandpa, and Ty. We had many excursions when we were supposed to be working. Thanks to Todd for making it possible, to Dad for driving the Jeep for the ultimate fly test (it is hard to explain, but imagine sitting in an old jeep without a seatbelt zooming down a rocky windy dirt road in the wind and trying to keep up with a remote control airplane - guess who's idea that was)!

Trevor

Baby Darth Vader

Campbell's 1st Halloween.
I recorded Cam so you can hear him wheezing. In order to hear it you have to pause the music at the bottom of the sidebar on the right and you may need to turn up your volume.

Halloween 2007

Happy Halloween Everybody! These are the pumpkins we carved this year, you will notice that there are only four, that's because I was so exhausted after we did everybody elses I was done! It's hard to tell in the picture but the 3rd one over is Campbell's and it has a binky in it's mouth... Trevor and Hallie's cute idea.
Hallie was a cowgirl this year. Yeehaw! She looked so cute with her freckles. Megan was Ariel from the Little Mermaid. She felt soooo pretty! I caught her looking at herself in the mirror several times and just smiling and playing with her long red hair.
This is a pic of the whole family at the trunk or treat last week (yes, I know the picture is crooked, I did not take the picture, just tilt your head slightly to the right ;)).
Trevor was a "babe magnet". This is the only picture we got of Campbell in his Halloween costume (see below). He was a policeman. Halloween night we had dinner with some friends in the neighborhood. It was fun to get together with them. To be honest, Halloween was a bit of a blur to me, I was stressing over Campbell the whole night. He has been sick and yesterday he started wheezing and just seemed miserable.
Campbell's first Halloween, poor kid. We didn't even attempt to dress him up or take him trick or treating. He sounded like he could barely breathe. After a terrible night of pacing the floor with him and almost going into the ER but then talking myself out of it (several times) I took him to the pediatrician today. His bloods oxygen level was lower than it should be so they gave him a breathing treatment and sent me to the hospital to get a chest x-ray. The final diagnosis is bronchitis and an ear infection. They sent us home with antibiotics and a machine to give him 3 breathing treatments a day. He does not like them but hopefully they will help, at least enough that we can get a few more hours of sleep... pretty please.

Just a reminder

Well, it happened. I knew that eventually I would forget to set my alarm and I don't naturally wake up at 6:30am so I knew that if I did forget we would definitely be very late for school.
I rolled over and forced my eyes open to check the clock, it was 7:35am. I screamed "Field Trip!" Today is Hallie's first field trip. Of all the days to sleep in!
The next 15-20 minutes are a blur. I put some clothes on, rushed upstairs and encouraged the girls to move very, very quickly. Hallie was so worried and on the verge of tears, she did not want to be late! We rushed about, getting dressed, combing hair, making lunch, brushing teeth etc. It was a mad house! At one point I rushed around the corner yelling to Megan to put on her shoes and stopped mid-sentence when I found Hallie on the front room floor kneeling in prayer.
I stopped and just stared for a moment. In all of this chaos and worry Hallie stopped and prayed for help. I was filled with warmth and gratitude for my beautiful, sweet children. I am often humbled by the lessons I learn from them.
How thankful I am to know that when they leave the shelter of our home they are not alone and are protected by a loving Heavenly Father and they can always go to Him for help.
Hallie stood up and smiled and was giggly and happy the rest of the way to school. She didn't miss the field trip and everything turned out just fine. I guess all it took was a little prayer. Thanks for the reminder Hallie.

P.S. On the way home from the school Megan told me she thought Campbell's full name should be Campbell Bubba Spitter-up Carrot Grubbs. Sounds good to me Mega-moo hunny-bun sweety-pie Grubbs.

Giggles

This will make you smile.

Kentucky Roads

These are some pictures I took the other day on the way to Megan's preschool (which is about 2 miles away). This is one thing I love about Kentucky, the roads are thin and winding but they are so beautiful!




As you can see Autumn finally made it to Kentucky. Don't you love Autumn?!? I love wearing sweaters and warm socks and sitting by the fireplace with the kids in our pjs. I love the crisp air and the beautiful colors and the feeling that things are changing and Christmas is coming. I love bundling up and going on long, chilly walks and coming home and mixing up some hot chocolate then sitting around the table and warming our hands and noses. I love all of the smells and the sudden desire to bake pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie and pumpkin soup... yum!!!
I just love Autumn!

Hallie and Megan's photoshoot

Hallie and Megan love to take pictures. They took turns taking these of Cam and I on the front porch swing. I think they did a good job. It's not easy to take pictures of a moving target, and Campbell is ALWAYS moving. ;)

A taste of home

We got a package yesterday and were anxious to open it and discover its contents.

When Hallie unwrapped the first cinnamon roll I felt the tears coming. Grandma Kaye made her famous (at least to us) cinnamon rolls and, as always, shared them with us... which is not easy now that we are 1600 miles away.

At first I didn't even want to eat them (which has never happened to me) I just wanted to look at them and smell them and imagine myself sitting on our couch in West Bountiful on a Sunday night when the doorbell would ring and in would walk Kaye and sometimes Julie and Jerry with a plate full of freshly baked cinnamon rolls. I always enjoyed those surprise visits and not just because I love the cinnamon rolls but because I felt the love that seemed to be baked inside them. I felt the same as we opened the package and I wiped the tears and thought of all the people I love so dearly and miss so much.

The cinnamon rolls didn't last long, I kept the kids away long enough to take a few pictures and then they were quickly devoured.
They may be gone but the love (and the calories ;)) that came with them is still warming us.

Thank you family! We love your letters, packages, emails, phone calls, and the comments you leave on the blog. They mean so much!

A brush with supermom

It was a busy morning, I got Hallie off to school, exercised, started the laundry, got Megan and Campbell up and dressed, mopped the laundry room and at 9:00am decided to sit and catch up on reading everyone's blogs. I was reading Lacey's blog and remembered it was pajama day at school! Ugh, I totally forgot! I immediately felt sick to my stomach knowing how sensitive Hallie is and how devastated she must be feeling. I might have noticed at the bus stop but that morning was black and pouring rain so the kids were all in their parents cars until the bus pulled up and they made a run for it.

I imagined her getting on the bus realizing that everyone else was wearing pajamas and she was wearing normal school clothes ( it's like the opposite of my nightmare as a child, you know that dream where you realize you are in your pj's or worse yet, your underwear... am I the only one that had that dream?).

I had a decision to make. Was I going to just let it go, knowing that Hallie would be disappointed but she would get over it? Or was I going to be one of those supermoms I've heard about and rush to the school ready to save my little girl from the embarrassment of being different.

Normally I would have just let it go because I am not a supermom, but Hallie is still somewhat the "new girl" trying to make friends and I didn't want her to feel uncomfortable.

So, I dropped everything, ran a comb through my hair, brushed my teeth and rushed to get Megan and Campbell strapped in the car and grab Hallie's pajamas (I even stuck them in a bag and labeled them with Hallie and her teacher's name like I imagine a supermom would do) and we hurried off to school. I entered the school office breathing heavily and proudly handed the secretary the pajama bag (she was very impressed that I had already written the names on it). She took it and placed it next 4-5 other plastic bags that I assume also had pj's in them and I turned and walked out imaging Hallie's excitement and relief as she opened the bag of pajamas and realized the sacrifices her mother must have gone through to get them to her. I was feeling pretty "super".

A few hours later Hallie's teacher called to get insurance info for their upcoming field trip. I gave her the information then eagerly asked her "Did Hallie get her pajamas???" She said, "Oh, yeah. She got the bag and she looked in it"... yes,yes (me- on the other end, anticipating the joy) "...and she told me she didn't want to wear them. I told her she didn't have to if she didn't want to."

She said what???

Is this what it feels like to be a supermom?

I think I'll just go back to being an average mom. The expectations are lower.

Scruba-dub-dub there's a lil' naked Grubb in the tub!

Honestly, is there anything cuter than a clean, naked, chubby baby? Umm.... NO!

Campbell loves taking baths. Last night Hallie was taking a shower and Campbell was reaching for the tub. When I took him out of the bathroom he cried so I decided to humor him and give him a bath. I started running the water and getting him undressed and he started squealing! He was so excited! What a cutie!

My girls

Here is a picture of our Hallie Bug. She smiled so big all day showing off her new gap.


Hallie and Megan are the best of friends. They play so well together and take good care of each other. I love in the mornings when we say goodbye to Hallie as she leaves for school. Megan gives her a big hug and then yells to her "Bye, I love you!" over and over until she knows Hallie is too far away to hear her. Their personalities are so different but they fit together so perfectly. Like puzzle pieces.
Before I had children I always said- if I have one girl I have to have two girls because every girl needs a sister. I have a sister and we definitely had our fights as kids but as we grew we found in each other a best friend and now I can't imagine life without her. That has been one of the hardest parts of being here in Kentucky... I'm just too far away from my sister.

Hanging on by a thread...

...more like thick twine. Everyday we look at Hallie's tooth and say,"Today's the day. That tooth is coming OUT!" We pull and tug and every evening Hallie goes to bed with her snaggle tooth and we laugh at how silly it looks and talk about how we will get it tomorrow.
Now, I know what you are thinking... just get out the pliers or tie it with a string and attach the other end to Trevor's remote control plane. Believe me, we have considered these options but Hallie is such a nice girl. :) So we pull and tug until she can no longer stand it... I'm not kidding, it really won't come out. :B (that is supposed to be a smilie face with a snaggle tooth)
UPDATE: Literally 15 minutes after I posted this Hallie pulled out her tooth. Okay, so maybe it was hanging on by a thread.

So Happy!

That's right, I'm so happy because after 14 weeks, 6 visits from the repair man and 3 special ordered parts I have an oven that works!!!!! Megan, Campbell and I went grocery shopping today and bought ingredients for cakes, breads, casseroles, and everything else we haven't baked for the last 3+ months. Megan and Campbell were so good at the store. I'm so happy! When we got home Megan helped me unload the car and then we played a game that Megan came up with. It was called "you're wrong". Basically Megan would say something and I had to say "You're right!" Then it was my turn and I would say something and Megan would declare, "You're wrong!" I'm not kidding, this was the game... fun game. ;)

Being a Resident

These pictures are a fair representation of Intern year thus far. Not because Trevor is hanging out at home and napping! But because when he finally does get home from the hospital(sometimes from a 30+ hr shift) he often sits down to talk or play with the kids and then quickly drifts off to dream land. Unfortunately for him even sleep doesn't often bring rest. He dreams he's at the hospital and his patient is "coding" (dying), or his attending (the MD over him) is yelling at him etc. One night Campbell was crying and Trevor was looking at him and trying to figure out why he wasn't intubated... scary!
He has been working so hard. We recently found out that the University of Louisville Hospital has the largest gunshot registry. He has seen CRAZY, NASTY, and SCARY stuff!
I was talking to him today while he was at the hospital and I told him that the "service engine soon" light came on in the van. He quickly asked, "Is the blood pressure...uh...I mean oil pressure low?" We laughed. Hopefully more sleep will come soon.

No more secrets!

In the spirit of friendship (and the hope that you might share some of your tips with me). I thought I would post my favorite time saving tip.
So, here is the thing, several of my family's fav recipes call for browned hamburger and I found that it took an extra 20 min. to get the frozen hamburger out of the freezer, thaw it, and brown it. At my house 20 extra min. is 20 more min. of whining, crying, and kids "dying" of hunger.
So, here is my brilliant tip: now I buy several lbs of hamburger at a time and brown it all when I get home from the store. Then I divide it, put it into ziplocs, and stick them in the freezer. Now when I make a recipe that calls for browned hamburger I just grab a bag out of the freezer, nuke it for 1min and presto! Told you it was brilliant!
Hopefully this tip will help make preparing dinner for your family a little less hectic. It has worked great for us!

October-Fest Pictures of the Week

This one is Megan's, I am not sure why I have a red hat on or red gloves. Maybe the hat is from Kathryn. She and Melissa went to Cincinnati to shop and she was so excited that she brought me back something...a new cap (to distract me from the other purchases). It was .25 cents. I read the print on the front of it "College Arms Pub No188". And it had a big picture of a mug of beer with foam flowing over the top. (Kathryn insert- I was at the GAP clearance store and people were going crazy, there were hats flying everywhere, I didn't have time to actually read it!)


This is Hallie's picture. It is from her friend Capri's house. They have a big swing/playset and a cute dog. From what I hear it is a lot of fun.

Trev

Seriously?

I have just found out about the black bean brownie suprise. I had no clue. They were fine and I would have eaten them if I had been here to eat them. In fact I think...now that I know what they are made of...I will wrap them in a tortilla with cheese. I have never been to picky about food. I am about quantity. However, while growing up I was forced to eat oatmeal...my mom would make cinnamon toast so that I could get the taste out of my mouth and stop gagging (but I still had to keep eating it). I would wake up in the morning...smell cinnamon...and start to dry heave. I guess I just did what I was told. I never knew that I could just sneak over to the garbage and dispose of the meal. -Trev

I went to Yoga class!

This picture is pretty much what I looked like in yoga class yesterday. hee, hee
(Me, splinting my stomach and laughing uncontrollably)
Okay, I'm going to be honest here. Before yesterday when I heard about people "doing yoga" I just figured they couldn't keep up with an aerobic workout so they would go and sit and breath. I am a HUMBLED (and sore) woman today! I know that I am no professional athlete but I thought I at least had a few toned muscles somewhere in this body but after being a dog, cat, and frog (yoga positions) yesterday I realize.... I AM OOOH, SO WEAK! I tried to be strong. I really did. I smiled and giggled and pretended that I didn't want to cry. But the fact is that there were a few times when I was in "downward facing dog" that I thought I was going to vomit and then do a nose dive into it because my arms were going to break (sorry, that was gross, I'm just being honest). Today...I hurt.
And so, to all of you yoga women... I'm not worthy. You amaze me and how the heck do you do it? I don't know if I will be back ;) but I do know that you have given me a new goal to aspire to. Someday I want to be a BUFF YOGA CHICK... and do the frog move without busting my nose.

Black Bean Brownies

1 pkg of brownie mix

1 can of black beans

1/4 cup water

Blend black beans (drained and washed) and water in blender until smooth. Add to dry brownie mix. Mix and bake as directed on box.

No, I'm not kidding.

A friend told me about this recipe almost a year ago. She was doing weight watchers and loved these low fat, high fiber brownies. I finally made them last night with mixed reviews.

I didn't tell my family the secret ingredient, just served them as if nothing was different. Trevor gobbled his up and when I asked him later if they tasted at all different he looked at me with wide suspicious eyes and demanded, "What did you put in them? Ex-lax?" "No," I insisted, although if you eat too many of them I've heard you may have a similar result.

Megan ate most of hers and said, "it's good". And Hallie took one bite and announced, "These are gross!"

As for me, I have to admit knowing that there were black beans in my brownie made me a little quesy. Normally when I make brownies I'm licking the spoon (and the mixers, and the spatula, and the bowl) but this time they all went straight to the sink un-licked. The brownies were pretty good but as I chewed them I swear I could taste the skins from the beans -Yuck!

So, in conclusion I've decided this is the perfect brownie for a woman on a diet: if you like it then you can gobble them up guilt free and if you don't like them then think of the calories you are not consuming!

As for us, last nights brownies are sitting on our counter in the kitchen uneaten, which never happens in our house.

UPDATE: Tonight Hallie and Megan asked for another brownie and they ate every crumb... I still haven't had a second.

WANTED

Okay, it's that time of year again. The holidays are just around the corner and I'm just itching to make something cute and crafty. Any ideas? Please share! (post in comments or email me at kathrynsphotography@gmail.com) Even if you don't know me personally, don't be shy.
I will post some of the ideas so we can all get our craft on. :)THANKS

7 months and Weighing In at...

18.9lbs (50%)

27in (48%)

Campbell had his 6month (whoops, a little late) check-up last week. He is healthy and happy. Still allergic to milk unfortunately but we are still hoping he will eventually outgrow that. He skipped rolling over and went straight to sitting up. No teeth yet (I'm not looking forward to that milestone, all 20 of them ;() . He smiled and cooed at the nurses and doctor and they ate it up. Only new thing is that the doctor wants us to take him to Kosairs children's hospital to get a hip X-ray since he was breech (just precautionary). Should be fun ;)

General Relief Society Meeting

What a great meeting we had last night! It was like my Father in Heaven told the speakers, "Okay, Kathryn Grubbs will be in the congregation so say this... and this.... and this..." The messages really touched my heart and I am going to be a better person because of that meeting.

Some of the thoughts and feelings I came away with:

*FAMILY- Defend the importance of the family and do everything possible to strengthen my family. More hugs! More love! Share my testimony more with my children. Point out answers to prayers. Be a great example of a woman of faith and disciple of Christ.

*FAITH- Concentrate on testimony, scripture study, prayer, and temple. Remember "Satan can distract us by having us do acceptable things which keep us from doing that which is essential." "Pray for the abilities to equal your tasks."(Monson) FOCUS KATHRYN!!!!

*SERVICE- Listen for those promptings then have the courage to act on them! LISTEN more, LOVE more and GIVE more!

The biggest message I came away with was that my Heavenly Father is aware of me and my concerns and need for His guidance. He loves me and he WILL help me!! I know I can do better. I want to be who He needs me to be.

P.S. I worried that maybe this was too personal or bold to share on my blog. But, that's the other thing I learned. :)

Good-bye PINK, Hello GREEN!

Okay, let's be honest, our blog was drowning in pepto bismal. And pink isn't even my favorite color! What was I thinking? It is time for a change (and since I like change it will probably be time for another change in another 3 months:)). Green is the new pink! Hope this color doesn't give you a headache but if it does just check back in a few months, I'm thinking RED!