Nick-Nastics

I had a feeling Belle might like gymnastics.

I mean, she's been climbing, balancing, jumping, and rolling on things since she could move.

I like gymnastics too.  It feels to me like the perfect marriage between sporty and girly.  She can build muscle and be proud of how she can make her body work for her.  She can learn rhythm and poise and grace.  Gymnastics opens up so many options as far as interests go; and if she wants to delve into the dance world, I go with her there.  If she wants to get into sports like I was, I'll show her the way.

But for now, I just love watching her grin and hop and wave as she prances around the gym.

We did three sessions at this great, cheap little introductory program.  She asked me every day if it was time for "nicknastics", and ran to get clothes on when I finally said yes.  It's been kind of refreshing to have her so excited to listen.  (Getting dressed is a challenge most days.)

At the end of those three sessions, I signed her up for the big meet.  She was thrilled.

We got there extra early to save seats for Bumpa and Nana.

When they called her name, they did so hesitantly and asked for "BEL-en" (like "Helen" with a B), and so I hollered out "Beh-LEHN", and Belle lept to her feet, threw both hands in the air and ran up to the stage.  She got her trophy and certificate, held them both high in the air, jumped up and down a couple times, then went back to her seat.

Miss Belle.  I am so proud of you.  You have got something you love, and you work hard at it.  I love to see you so proud of yourself.

Benefits of Being a Chiropractor's Family

I remember when Mark first told me he wasn't sure he wanted to be an eye surgeon.

He was leaning against the counter in our tiny $200 a month basement apartment.  His arms were folded and he just stared at me, gauging my reaction.

Honestly, I felt relieved.

I mean ... ten more YEARS of school??  I know it's worth it once you're on the other side of that coin, but I was having a hard time fathoming being in debt and living off of loans and whatever paltry teacher's salary I could get together ... if I got a job before we started our family.  What about kids?  My mom had been home for us; it was important to me to be there for them while they were small.  Would I be able to do that with med school?

Mark felt the same.  "I'm already stressed.  I feel like my time is maxed out with school; I never see you.  We don't even have kids yet!"  He was doing a double major, studying for the MCAT ... and yeah, it was pretty apparent he was stressed.  "I just can't imagine doing this for ten more years."

The direction to go from there seemed obvious.  With his dad, grandpa, uncle, and two brothers as chiropractors -- not to mention the fact that chiropractic school required the same pre-requisites as med school -- we could switch plans without making any real changes to the things we were doing at the time.

So we finished up at Utah State and moved on to California for chiropractic school.  It was stressful and fun and a real adventure.  We were certainly ready for school to be done by the end; we were both sick of living off of loans and government aid.  We were grownups; dang it!

But now, four years after graduation and three kids later ...

This was the best decision for us.

I LOVE Mark's job.  His skill as a healer is invaluable.  I can't imagine raising our babies without it.  He is my first line of defense for everything.  Ear infections, sore throat, pulled muscles; I always have Mark work on it first.  I would take my kids to the hospital next; but his treatments always do the trick.  My kids have never needed to go.

It is a lot of work to run your own business, and he feels the weight of it all.  I can tell.  But he's doing well.  People love him.  His latest review sums it up pretty well:

"So far I have really liked this chiropractor. He seems like he knows his stuff and is honest with me and my family. He seems to want to provide quality care but he doesn't push anything on you. He gives his recommendations and let's you decide. I would recommend him to family and friends. My jaw was hurting for months and after 2 visits my jaw was almost 100% better. My wife, me and our daughter (11 months old) are his patients and we will keep going to him indefinitely."

In the first three months of Mark's second year at The Works, he made more money than he did the entire year before. People like him, and they tell their friends.  And they give him gifts.  We've had several Alaskan Salmon steaks from one of his patients' most recent fishing trips, chocolate galore, clothing, and trades.  They trade their services for his; which got us a king-sized gel bed:

And private swimming lessons.

This little girl is actually swimming ... which is amazing; considering she wouldn't even let her face get wet beforehand.

And Mac?  Well he's learning strokes and diving off the diving board.

There's even a Mommy and Me class starting at 6 months old; I might have to get Harrison in next ...

Blessing Harrison

Oh my sweet, sweet tiny man.

Harrison got his baby blessing on January 4th.

Mark blessed him, and Bumpa, Uncle Jake, Uncle Benny, and Uncle Curtis stood in the circle.

They blessed him at our church across the street, at nine a.m. ... I couldn't believe how many family members showed up that early!

We spent the night before prepping; Mark grabbed folding chair after folding chair from the church.  My sister Jamie cleaned blinds and swept floors.  My parents helped me meal-prep for a brunch after the blessing.

Morning of, we were a whirlwind.  Harrison handled it like a champ.  Which is his usual.  Poor guy had a good little case of newborn zits; made worse by the fact that I was eating chocolate ... which I have since discovered he's pretty sensitive to.  But he smiled and cooed and waited patiently till we had everyone ready ... then I dressed and fed him and we attempted a family picture.

However, Mac was not having it.  Mark had just told him he could not take ANYONE's phones to sacrament meeting (a rule we always have, but for some reason he thought that because all our family was in town that rule was out the window), and so Mac sat in a huff in the corner.

So while I tried to reason with him, this was the family picture we got:

Then Mark was off with Belle and most of the family to save some seats for the rest of us.

Harrison cooed and smiled at me as I fed and changed him.

Mac huffed.

Eventually I convinced him that Harrison would be so sad if he didn't see this special day (it's been a while, but I think I had to threaten to take all phone access away for the week ... wish I could say he felt the need to be there for his baby brother!).

Harrison, Mac, and I sat down just in time, and the blessing was perfect.  The Spirit was strong, Mark was wonderful, and Harrison just stared at everyone silently.

And upon our return to the house, the breakfast burritos were a hit.

Our tiny half-finished home was filled to the gills, and it felt wonderful to be able to provide a place and food for all our loved ones.  We even happened to find an incredible deal on the perfect sectional, and it was delivered two days before they all arrived.

It was a loud Sunday afternoon; full of all the best things.  Five women helping me in the kitchen, kids tripping over each other and giggling downstairs.  Dad told the story of how he met Mom, and Mom interjected here and there to keep his story factual.  Chris told everyone what she knew about her possible judicial mission for the church, and the kids ran up and down the stairs.

Late that evening, when the house was quiet, Mark and I snuggled our tiny Harrison in the front room.  Mark said, "There are a lot of people who love you, buddy.  They filled up our house today."

And my heart was full.