the bartle bulletin

A Facebook friend (who is a real friend, too) remarked the other day that status updates might be fueling my utter disinterest in blogging as of late.

November 2:
I have sorted through garbage, laundry, and toys in search of my keys with no luck. I will investigate getting the mailbox re-keyed today; a spare key for that doesn't exist.

I am the BIGGEST, most grateful idiot on the planet. Zachary just found the missing car keys....in my purse! (They were "gone" for four days.)

I am a HAPPY girl...just booked a flight to AZ!

My day included, among other things, purple sucker drool on my bed, pancake mix in the carpet, a bruised nasal bridge, and a choke-prevention maneuver.

November 4:
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a tired mommy of four children must be in want of a nap.

November 5:
I put off the inevitable for over an hour. Gavin is awake and he's not going back to sleep, so I might as well get up!

I think the ninety-minute walk might have saved more than one life today.

November 6:
I hear bumps and bangs and screams in the basement but refuse to investigate.

I would like to thank my knight in shining armor for once again jump-starting the van in a school parking lot.

November 7:
Gavin's marker: 4. Household surfaces: 0.

I have professionally-painted toenails.

November 8:
I wonder if a full-bleed image can be properly copied at Copy Max.

I use dish detergent on clothing more than dishes.

I think that numbers on the scale mean nothing -- it's the button on the pants that tells all.

I am trying to turn over a new leaf on my health and wellness tree, but with two kids already screaming in the background, I am remembering why the other side of the leaf is way more comfortable.

The last couple weeks have been...ah...thought-provoking. My thoughts have been filled with everything from serious issues to frivolous concerns, from spiritual highs to emotional lows, from sparkling amusement to jagged aggravation. I've learned a lot about myself.

As I've walked through the gauntlet in recent weeks, I've mostly settled on what's important, and I'm trying to align my actions with what I believe. In some cases, this process isn't too tough, but in others...boy howdy! I need a lot of motivation to change.

One such motivating experience arrived on Saturday evening as I drove home from a lovely couple of hours in Garden of the Gods. Garry and I took pictures of the kids for Christmas cards (you'll have to wait to see them), and at the last minute, I decided that he and I ought to join our offspring in the photos. I'm not crazy about the way I look right now, but I wanted to record the history of our family -- with all its members.

And that's exactly what happened. The photos captured a moment in time. As I scrolled through the photos on the camera as we drove home, I saw three rowdy boys, a darling little elf-girl, a handsome Daddy, and....who? Me? Was that really me? I was completely flabbergasted (emphasis on flab) at the smiling woman in those pictures.

That was a major turning point.

According to my scale, the Lexi pounds are still coming off. Apparently I'm only holding onto 9 of the 40 I packed on during my last pregnancy. I'm not really a believer, though, because my clothes are more awkward than ever. My four-kid figure is far more frumpy than I ever, ever, ever thought it would get. I'm only 30, for crying out loud! This is really quite pathetic. And I've been in denial for too long.

So.

I know you've heard my song before, but I am determined that this time it will ring true. Today I signed up on a little personal training website. I'm going to register for a 10K on January 9 (no matter how cold it is!). I'm already eating better and drinking more water and cutting out sweets.

Today is the first day of the new me. Maybe if lots of people know I'm back in the race, I'll have a better chance of getting to the finish line.

Gavin is almost two, a fact which he asserts during every waking moment of his existence. This is both wonderfully endearing and extremely vexing, the yin and yang of toddlerhood.

Our littlest boy is delightful, charming, articulate, affectionate, and coordinated. He loves toy cars and books and puzzles and the great outdoors. He tries to help in every possible way, and even at his tender age, he can identify emotions and look out for others.







He is also very, very stubborn, and he insists on doing everything HIMSELF.

"I do it."
"I help me."
"Self. Self. Self."
"Gavin help self."
"Gavin help me."
"Gavin do it."

Get the picture?


I actually really love that he likes to do things on his own. He can put on and take off his clothing, get himself a drink, wash his hands, find snacks, fasten buckles, and get in his car seat. The trouble comes when he employs his abilities in scaling kitchen drawers like a ladder, climbing on the bathroom sink, wriggling out of the car seat and stroller, spilling water all over the kitchen floor, dumping sugar in the corners of the pantry, and trying to carry Lexi around. He is a man on a mission. Very few things impede his progress when he has fixed his mind on a goal. This is a quality that should come in handy as an adult!

The fact that Gavin communicates so well is a constant source of amusement and amazement in our household. He can copy anything we say, and he is always spouting off new phrases that he has picked up from the family vernacular. I love to hear the new words he picks up on a daily basis. My favorite Gavin phrase: "blowing kisses."

When he saw this picture of Russell, his beloved stuffed bear, he said, "Russell! Aw....Russell bwoken. Give Russell hug." He is right -- Russell's arms and head are coming off. Fixing the bear buddy is on my list today.

Gavin is not-so-gently reminding me that he'd rather his mother not be sitting at the computer desk. Now he's trying to spin my chair. Now he's perched behind me, his arms wrapped around my neck, chanting "Get down, get down!" The two-year-old really rules the house.

Halloween is one of those holidays that inspires vivid memories for me. Pardon my stroll down Memory Lane...

2001: Zach is less than two weeks old. We carve "Z" into our pumpkins, bundle up the baby, and walk around our apartment complex with friends whose children are old enough to trick-or-treat.



2002: Inspired by a sewing friend, I make Zachary a skunk costume, complete with faux fur and a foam-filled tail that wiggles when he walks. He is toasty warm outside in spite of freezing temperatures. He is the hit of the ward trunk-or-treat. I vow never to expend so much effort on a costume for a one-year-old.



2003: We borrow a bear costume this year, since I am puking through a pregnancy. Two-year-old Zachary charmingly performs for the video camera. This is the first year of real trick-or-treating, although we only go around the block.



2004: Two kids dress up this year, both in recycled costumes. Zachary dons the lion costume my mom made for my brother circa 1985. Tyler is a skunk. It isn't a stretch to have two wild animals -- one loud and one stinky -- in the house. This may be the only year the whole family dresses up. Garry actually goes to work as a vampire!



2005: Halloween costumes are sponsored by Old Navy. Zach, the largest preschooler known to mankind, is a dragon, and Tyler is a frog. Zachary is so shy at the preschool costume parade that he cries. The ward trunk-or-treat is easily the highlight of the holiday.




2006: The boys are cowboys courtesy of Goodwill flannel shirts, homespun vests, and hats and boots by ebay. Garry dresses up as a cowboy to take them trick-or-treating. It is freezing outside; the boys wear blanket sleepers under their clothing.



2007: Following an army-themed sixth birthday party, Zach is an army guy and Tyler takes a turn in the lion costume. Ty's growls are very convincing! My eight-months-pregnant belly resembles a pumpkin. In spite of my enormous size, I take a turn with the trick-or-treating so I can stroll and chat with my neighbor for an hour. It is unseasonably warm.



2008: Our family boasts a ninja, a transformer, and a feverish, teething turtle. Once again, I am puking through a pregnancy. I am in charge of the ward Halloween carnival, which saps my enthusiasm for the holiday just a bit.



2009: The boys are happy with recycled costumes again -- a vampire, an army guy, and a frog. Lexi gets a ladybug costume because I'm excited to dress up a girl, but of course the costume is only good for a photograph!




We enjoy an evening with friends. Can you spot five Bartles in this photo? (Click to enlarge.)



I wonder what our next Halloween will bring!

...glad as I can be!

Garry returned from San Francisco last night to a literal chorus of applause and "Hooray!" gushing from every mouth. He had quite the fan club clustered around the garage door! (To hear the song we were singing as he drove up the street, click here. Be sure to select "Words and Music" on the left.)


We sure missed this guy the last few days. I'm so grateful for a husband who truly is my better half. He is fun and funny, down-to-earth and lighthearted, a steadying influence when my boat is rocking, a faithful provider, an excellent father, and my best friend. I'm not quite myself when he is gone...and thankfully, that's not very often!

On his first morning back after business travel, Garry got right to work shoveling the driveway I couldn't face in his absence. This afternoon he shoveled our neighbor's driveway. Right now he is putting kids to bed, and in the morning he will help a family move.

Truly, he is the best of men.

And I am SO GLAD he is home.

Zachary's baptism weekend was so wonderful! We owe much of its success to our wonderful families, who stayed, in part, until Tuesday. These photos don't showcase all that went on, but they fill in a few blanks.

We had a few meals when we were all together. Adding six adults to the household (only three stayed with us) required extra seating. Granny and Gramps took turns eating in "the annex." Here is Granny anticipating dinner with Tyler.


On Saturday after the baptism, we ate a scrumptious dinner at TGIFriday's. Among other things, we celebrated Zach's and Eric's birthdays. Here is Eric standing on a chair so that all of the restaurant patrons could see him as we sang. What fun!


Here is Gavin snoozing in Lexi's crib after church on Sunday. The silly boy wouldn't nap before, was a crazy man during, and zonked immediately following our meetings.


Just as we finished dinner, there was a knock at the door. I answered and found a friend on the porch with a birthday cake for Zachary. What a fun surprise! It was delicious.


For the visiting adults, the weekend included lots of cuddling with Lexi and lots of cuddling under blankets. Lexi is adorable; can you blame anyone for wanting to hold her? And unfortunately our house was a little chilly for our poor guests, who wore jackets and sat in front of the fire to stay warm!


Grandpa Bartle worked on a model car with Zachary on Sunday night. They painted it and everything. It was good practice for the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby in the Spring!


On Monday morning, Zach cuddled in bed with me. In my fuzzy state I didn't realize something was wrong until it was too late -- Zach threw up on me, the bed, and the floor. Yuck! He spent the morning lying on my bathroom floor. (Can you see him in there?) Zach has a very sensitive tummy, and all of the weekend partying did him in. Although he missed school, he was back to normal by 10:00 a.m.


Monday brought snow and a two-hour delay for the kids at school. Zach was home anyway, so I excused Tyler from half-day (or one-hour, that day) kindergarten so he could play with the relatives. Eric was the first to leave. We laughed as he slid around in flip-flops on the ice as he loaded his vehicle that morning. He was anxious to return to the Arizona sunshine! I was mighty sad not to go with him!


The grandparents got some last-minute cuddles in with the kids. Tyler amazed Gramps with his reading skills. Garry's parents left around noon.


Those who remained worked on projects. My mom sent me on a solo shopping trip to collect supplies for some sewing efforts: a baby quilt and burp cloths. Then she cut out all the quilt pieces for me! By now the burp cloths are done and the quilt is shaping up nicely, due in large part to her help that day. How cool is that?


Aunt Heidi baked and decorated sugar cookies with the big boys while the babies napped. They turned out so well, and the boys had a terrific time. (In the background you can see how the mantle arrangement finally worked out. I love it!)


My parents left late Monday afternoon, and Heidi left the following morning. Quite suddenly the house was empty and quiet! In the silence I could appreciate all of the wonderful things that happened over the weekend: happy family associations, a beautiful and sacred baptismal ordinance, and lots of fun and joyful memories. Thanks to all who came and contributed. We love you all!

Today was the school year's first snow day. Judging from the amount of snow in our yard, I'm not sure what merited the closure, but we managed to do pretty well at home.

We started with pancakes (I never make pancakes), then made friendship bread, otherwise known as a big mess in the kitchen. The boys did chores to earn back the video games they lost last week. Gavin and I did puzzles again and again and again and again.

Throughout the day, there was a little drama, a little quilting, and a lot of wishing that Arizona was closer to Colorado than it actually is.

We also did a couple of projects.

Please tell me that this turkey looks like a pirate. Tyler is thrilled with this silly kindergarten/family art project. I'm thrilled that he is thrilled. That is not my only opinion, but it's the only opinion I plan to share.

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