A treat for the cleaning crew

I swear I'd lose my head if it wasn't attached to my body. Tonight takes the cake as the epitomy of my absent-mindedness. And it's SO embarrassing!

This last Monday I took leftovers to work for lunch, which is AMAZING for me. I either never have leftovers to take (thank you husband with large appetite), or I don't have time in the morning (or evening) to put something together. I feel frazzled ALL THE TIME!

So I was SO proud of myself for taking leftovers on a Monday morning. I didn't have time to pack small portions of salad dressing for my salad or sour cream for my baked potato, so I just put the whole containers in a bag and took it to work with my tupperware of food.

Monday night...forgot to bring tupperware, salad dressing and sour cream home. Only remembered when I went to eat salad at dinner and had no salad dressing.

Tuesday night remembered it as we had tacos for dinner and I wished I had sour cream.

Wednesday night...didn't even cross my mind.

Enter Thursday. For some reason I suddenly remembered at like 10 in the morning that I had stuff in the fridge that I needed to take home. So I proptly wrote "take lunch stuff home" on a bright sticky note and stuck it to the handle of my laptop bag. Couldn't miss it when getting ready to leave. I was so proud of myself for finally getting it together enough to remember. I carried the post-it with me to the fridge on my way out of the office, grabbed the bag out of the fridge and threw away the post-it note. Apparently that was a little too soon. I should have stuck it to my forehead.

So I'm on my way out the door and thinking of the heavy traffic I'm sure to encounter leaving the office at 5:45 pm, I make a pit stop in the ladies room. Set down laptop bag, purse, keys, cell phone, and lunch leftovers.

I had a crazy night, picking up Coop at 6:30, leaving there at 6:45, and heading straight to Wal-Mart to do my bi-weekly shopping since I'll not be able to do it tomorrow night or Saturday. Get home from Wal-Mart with over-tired toddler at 8:00. Unload groceries. Sit down to grab a quick bite to eat, want some salad, and...suddenly remember lunch leftovers supposedly still in the trunk of the car. But why didn't I see the bag when unloading groceries or getting my laptop bag?

Because I left the bag sitting on the counter in the ladies room. So much for the post-it note. A lot of good that did.

Beep Beep, Bye Bye!

I took this video about a month ago one morning before work. I found Cooper in the kitchen with my keys. What a silly kid!

Cooper 17 Months

First off, I apologize for the length of this post. Having had very little free time, at least where I wasn't feeling like a zombie, I haven't been able to blog the last month of Cooper-isms. There have been a few pictures and videos I've been wanting to share, so here you have 'em!

Good morning, Momma! (He's just so cute)

This cabinet is Coop's hangout. It's his go-to spot when he's in the kitchen with me, and also for general playing and mischief. The other day I coudn't find one of his sippy cups, so I looked, and sure enough, there it was in his favorite spot.

We were lucky to have my Mom here for a couple of weeks while she took care of Bryt's family with their new arrival. Coop and Grammie got to hang out a lot, and he sure misses her!

Aunt Denise, Uncle Jim, and Allison came for a Valentine's visit!

Cooper gave Chelsey a valentine. (He was happy the first shot, but the flowers were in Chelsey's face. After that he was cranky and uncooperative because he was hungry.) He was so cute carrying the flowers to her.

Cooper has recently discovered the world of dramatic play (the new buzz word for "dress up"). He LOVES to dress up like daddy. He also likes wearing different kinds of hats.

One Sunday afternoon I was being all domesticated and making zucchini bread. Coop was happily playing beside me. I was busy measuring and such, turned around, and this is what I found... We're STILL using the unraveled paper towells!

Cooper was very excited for my birthday party. He even dressed up for the occasion. Nathan and Chelsey gave me quite the party. Thank you to all my family and friends for making it such a fun day!!

On my birthday, I noticed that spring had suddenly arrived in Charlotte. Yay! I love that about my birthday: it means spring is just around the corner, unless you live in the South, and then it means that spring is HERE!

More spring! Today, two weeks later, the trees are all in full bloom, as are the daffodils and other flowers. Hooray for spring! Coop isn't sure yet what the big deal is, except that he knows he's been able to enjoy spending a lot more time outside.

After my birthday, it was Ellie's birthday! Here's the cousins at the birthday party.

The other night while I was making dinner, Coop decided to play lobster with the oven mitts. He thought it was so hilarious.

It's been a great month! Cooper officially turned 17 months. He's talking a bit more, and is starting to recognize animals and know the sounds they make. Just last night he finally recognized a cow in one of his books and proudly pronounced, "Moo!"

The other big change this month is his interest in copying us. He constantly wants to be doing what we're doing, or mimicking us. This goes from using his popper "vacuum" while I vacuum, brushing his teeth (which he loves to do, and begs often--thank you Thomas the Train automatic toothbrush), and eating what we eat.

He's learned to like a few new foods including raw zucchini, which he prefers just sliced. He's also discovered the fun of dipping food in sauces, and LOVES ketchup.

This month he also had his first haircut in a salon. I let his hair grow out a little long, and it actually started getting pretty curly in the back. I told myself I'd never be the mom with the son with long curly baby hair, but I admit I totally was. It was hard for me to have it cut, but he looks like such a big boy now.

Toddler Bubble Wrap Comedy

Valentine's Day 2011 - 13th Anniversary of Our First Date

Yesterday was the 13th anniversary of mine and Nathan's first date. As we at a kid-free dinner at home (we had dinner after Coop went to bed), we talked about the last 13 years, how quickly they've gone by, and that we can't believe it's been that long. It's been a wonderful journey together!

I thought it'd be fun to put an old picture of us on here. This isn't quite 13 years old, but here we are 6-1/2 years ago for our engagement pictures.

Our first date was quite a story. We were both living in Boston. It was Valentine's Day, Feb. 1998, a Saturday. I'd just got off the phone with my girl friends, planning a "we hate V-Day/boys" party. As I hung up, the phone rang again, and I heard Nate say, "Hi. This is Nate Smith, from church. Do you know who I am? I have red hair and glasses." I said I think I knew who he was, and he proceeded to ask me out for dinner that night. I almost said no, simply because I already had plans with my friends, and I didn't usually accept a date less than 48 hours in advance. It was my rule. But I decided to heck with a stupid rule, and friends, I'd rather be on a date on V-day. So I accepted.

His side of the story is that I was his 3rd call that morning. The other two girls had turned him down. He says he almost didn't call me because he didn't want our first date to be on Valentine's Day--too much pressure, and too awkward. But he decided to give it a shot anyway.

I remember him at the door. He was wearing his "Cal" baseball hat. I was living with my parents at the time, and was nervous when I saw he was wearing a hat because my Dad hated it when guys wore hats all the time. What a funny thing to worry about.

We drove back to his place (a house he shared with 11 other guys--talk about a bachelor pad). He couldn't get a dinner reservation so last-minute, so he had made dinner for us. I remember he was so proud of the chicken fettuchini alfredo he'd made. But the funny thing was, my house was 45 minutes one-way, so by the time we got back to his place 90 minutes later, dinner was quite cold. I choked it down, and probably didn't eat much. But the place setting was cute. He'd moved the small kitchen table and chairs into the living room, put some candles on the table, and some flowers. It was cute.

After dinner we just talked forever, and then he turned on some music and we danced in his living room. I remember thinking how cheesy that was, but just went along with it. After being with him for a few hours, I was really starting to like him. I'd only kissed 3 other guys in my life, but for some reason, I threw all caution to the wind and kissed him. Yep, I kissed him on the first date. It surprised even myself.

I don't remember much else about that night, but I do remember him taking me home and asking me on another date before he left. We started seeing each other at least 2-3 times/week for that first 6 months, discussed marriage on our 3rd date, and the rest is history...

Happy 13th Anniversary, Babe! Looking forward to an eternity more!

I am NOT old...yet

My friend from HS had a blog post about feeling old, so I have to share this since we are the same age. If she's old, I'm old, and I REFUSE to believe that I am old yet despite.....

1. My hair stylist asking yesterday if I dye my hair to hide all the grays, or just dye it for fun. WHAT THE?! No one has ever comments on my gray hairs. I have to admit I've seen a lot more lately of those little gray buggers than I'd like to--too many to pluck. I blame it on stress, not age. Denial? What's that?
2. The other night I was preparing for an activity with the youth in our ward. I am over the girls ages 12-13, and part of the activity they'd planned was to share three items that represent things about themselves. I was going around my house trying to come up with three things, and asked my sister to help me decide. She said something about me liking music, and maybe I could take a CD. But then she made a joke that the girls wouldn't even know what a CD is, and how old I am for still having so many CDs. I was like, "Whatever! I can totally take my iPod!" and she was like, "You have an iPod? Ok--maybe you're not so old yet." I mean, really Sis?! Really?!

That night at the young women's activity, I told that story, and the girls laughed and said, "Sister Smith, you're not old. We know what CDs are; our Moms and Dads have them too and make us get them because they won't buy us our own iPods yet." I felt old.

But I'm NOT!....yet.

Sliding Doors

One of my favorite movies is Sliding Doors. It's a movie about a woman whose whole life changes by one split-second instance where she 1. Hurries and makes the subway train, and 2. She misses it. The movie goes back and forth between what happens thereafter as a result of that moment.

Today at church we had stake conference (a semi-annual meeting where all the wards in an area meet together as a congregation and listen to talks from stake members and leaders). I was in and out of the hall with Cooper the entire two hours, as were many other parents of small children. At one point, Cooper was pointing to a baby, and I looked over at it and saw that the father looked vageuly familiar, but couldn't figure out why. Later on, I was out in the hall with Cooper again near the end of the two-hour meeting, and this same guy passes us in the hall, stops and says, "Is your name Chrystal?" I looked at him and recognized a guy I had dated as a senior in high school, and again later in college--Blaine Edwards. Instantly I was thankful that as teenagers and as early 20-somethings we had minded our p's and q's and there was nothing embarrassing between us. However, it was still awkward. I had broken this guy's heart-- terribly.

We'd gone out 5 or 6 times in high school, but I'd always kept it barely more than friends since I knew he'd go on a 2-year mission for our church that summer after HS, and I didn't want any serious relationship. I was dating then just for fun and socializing. But after Blaine got home from his mission, Nathan and I were on a break, I was living back in Utah at the time finishing school, and Blaine asked me out. After three dates, while saying good night, he tried to kiss me, and I TOTALLY dodged him. I felt so bad. I mean, we'd been out at least a dozen times between HS and then, and I knew it was going to come up. But Nathan still had my heart, and not wating to lead Blaine on, I made it clear I just didn't feel that strongly for him. We were good friends and had a really good time together, but there just wasn't that spark.

Anyway, there's the history, and that was the last time I saw him. After that, he joined the Navy and moved to Maine. That was the last I'd heard of him. So there we were today, awkwardly making small-talk in the hall at church after 11 years, each of us holding our own baby. It was one of those moments that just makes you think...a Sliding Doors moment.

I wondered if I'd kissed him that night whether we'd have ended up together, and what the last 11 years of my life would have been like. Would I be as happy as I am? Crazy to think that Cooper wouldn't be a part of my life, but then again, maybe I'd have 4 or 5 rugrats by now. It was just one of those weird "Old Lang Syne" moments that just made me wonder.

It's crazy the roads life takes you: the meanderings, the times when you feel like you're on a fast-track and just can't slow down, and all the unexpected bumps and turns. That's life, I guess. But there are so many small decisions we make every day that affect larger things in life. I think about things I choose to do or not to do each day, things I've done in the past, or plan to do in the future, that have or will affect the major outcome of my life. It's so important to live right, to stay in tune with the Lord, so you don't just get lost in all of it. I'm so thankful for the place my life has lead me thus far. I'm thankful for the Atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ, and for the power of forgiveness, so that when we do make mistakes, we can make it right again. I'm thankful for my husband and my son.

I'm thankful to be in a place in life where I can say that I'm truly happy with myself. It's not easy to say that sometimes, and I know life will eventually throw things in my path that will make me question my abilities as a woman, a wife, a mother, an employee, or whatever hat I will be wearing at the time. But for now I can say I'm truly happy, and I thought I'd better record it. :)