Monday, July 7, 2008
Darling Daisy Debut
Thanks to a tip-off from a thoughtful friend (thanks Christina!!), Darling Daisy Hair Accessories has finally gone retail! This came at a perfect time for me. I was debating going on with the business, but still had lots of inventory, and was feeling overwhelmed starting over in Beaumont. So, there is a new kids boutique off the HWY 79/Temecula parkway called Kidzilla (across the 79 from the community church) that agreed to selling my bows. Hooray! No more marketing for me! I love making the bows, but hate selling them. The store is really cute with some killer chic clothes. And for cheapskates like me (I know you are out there), they have a second hand clothing section as well. The used clothes are all in perfect condition, but are usually about $5ish. I am crazy about a good deal. All you Temecula-ites should check it out- tell them Ruth told you about it.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Brotherly Love
Here are some photos of when Wyatt's sisters, Trisha and Kristie came out to visit a few weeks ago. It is cute how much the Durstlers look alike.
Crash Landing
I feel as if we have crash landed in our new home. The move did not go particularly smoothly, but now the dust has settled. We are feeling more comfortable in the house and adore the neighborhood. I love our new home (we are super spoiled), love our new ward already, and are loving our jobs. I am feeling optimistic, but occasionally feel sad when looking back and missing Temecula and friends. Thanks to all those who have kept in touch... Here are just a few updates to get y'all caught up.
*I have started a new job on a peds unit at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital. It is fun to be back into the field I'm the most interested in. After several years of coasting, doing mostly post-partum at Rancho Springs (the nicest nurses ever by the way, and coolest friends too), it is time for me to be challenged at work again. I needed a laid back job while the kids were young, but now they are more independent (well, sorta). This type of Medical-surgical nursing (we see anything that a kid could be sick with from birth to age 21) is so diverse. There is much to learn. I come home exhausted, but feel like I have done something truly good in the world. Nursing is the best!
*Our kitty, "Ezzy," we have had since our first few months of marrage (yes, that means 7 years), ran away when we moved to the new house. :( We didn't keep him inside long enough I guess. My eyes are always searching for him when we are outside. I miss him and feel terrible about it. Sad.
*My brother-in-laws , Joey and Sam, came out to live with us for the summer. Sam already decided to go back (the big looser!), but Joey is here still. What a nice guy! The kids really love "Uncle Joey" and bug him endlessly. If any one knows of any cute 20-something girls to hook him up with... let me know.
*I hate painting. I hate the back-ache. I hate the touch-ups. I hate the smell. I hate the clean-up. I hate the guilty feeling when I look at all that is unfinished. Unfortunatly, I love the result. We have painted about 1/3 of our house (not to mention beds, a dresser, side tables and bunch of picture frames) and still have so much to do. Right now we're taking a break, but it is driving me crazy how their is mess everywhere and even paint tape around. My personality is somewhat perfectionist (this is a news flash to those that know me I'm sure), so all the mess makes me crazy. We are working on things slowly, but surely. The results, I'm happy to say, have been nice. Did I mention how lucky I am that we ended up in this house? I'm an ungratful grump for whining about the painting I know. Call the "whaaambulence."
*Wyatt is settling into his job. The business seems to be going better than expected and so that is a relief. He is planning on trasitioning from being the operations manager, to more of the sales/brokerage side of the company. Good for him. He comes home exhausted but fulfilled. Hooray for 2 hours less a day commuting!
*Toddler Boot Camp- I had a light-bulb moment this last week when I noticed that my kids are turning into little tyrants- sometimes demanding my attention in naughty ways. Since for the last 2 months we have either been packing, movning, unpacking, painting or otherwise working on the new house, we have not been devoting quality time for the kids. When I say "we," I mean "me." It feels like in my effort to multi-task, my Rachel and James have been somewhat neglected, especially in their disipline I'm afraid. So, this week we have started Toddler Boot Camp! It will include several weeks of quality attention, quality dicipline, and general whipping us into shape. Any wonderful dicipline/ positive guidance tips from you wonderful parents out there?
*No, James is not potty-trained yet. Not cool.
*Wyatt's sisters from Utah, Trisha and Kristie came out for a fun visit. They brought along the oldest of the Dursteler cousins, Whitney. It was fun to show them around. We all spent most of the time at the beach. I have great in-laws. His sisters are completly some of my best friends. I'm lucky.
Whew! Ok, this is enough rambling for the night. I'm not even going to spell-check, but am probably going to regret it. See Ya! Ruth
*I have started a new job on a peds unit at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital. It is fun to be back into the field I'm the most interested in. After several years of coasting, doing mostly post-partum at Rancho Springs (the nicest nurses ever by the way, and coolest friends too), it is time for me to be challenged at work again. I needed a laid back job while the kids were young, but now they are more independent (well, sorta). This type of Medical-surgical nursing (we see anything that a kid could be sick with from birth to age 21) is so diverse. There is much to learn. I come home exhausted, but feel like I have done something truly good in the world. Nursing is the best!
*Our kitty, "Ezzy," we have had since our first few months of marrage (yes, that means 7 years), ran away when we moved to the new house. :( We didn't keep him inside long enough I guess. My eyes are always searching for him when we are outside. I miss him and feel terrible about it. Sad.
*My brother-in-laws , Joey and Sam, came out to live with us for the summer. Sam already decided to go back (the big looser!), but Joey is here still. What a nice guy! The kids really love "Uncle Joey" and bug him endlessly. If any one knows of any cute 20-something girls to hook him up with... let me know.
*I hate painting. I hate the back-ache. I hate the touch-ups. I hate the smell. I hate the clean-up. I hate the guilty feeling when I look at all that is unfinished. Unfortunatly, I love the result. We have painted about 1/3 of our house (not to mention beds, a dresser, side tables and bunch of picture frames) and still have so much to do. Right now we're taking a break, but it is driving me crazy how their is mess everywhere and even paint tape around. My personality is somewhat perfectionist (this is a news flash to those that know me I'm sure), so all the mess makes me crazy. We are working on things slowly, but surely. The results, I'm happy to say, have been nice. Did I mention how lucky I am that we ended up in this house? I'm an ungratful grump for whining about the painting I know. Call the "whaaambulence."
*Wyatt is settling into his job. The business seems to be going better than expected and so that is a relief. He is planning on trasitioning from being the operations manager, to more of the sales/brokerage side of the company. Good for him. He comes home exhausted but fulfilled. Hooray for 2 hours less a day commuting!
*Toddler Boot Camp- I had a light-bulb moment this last week when I noticed that my kids are turning into little tyrants- sometimes demanding my attention in naughty ways. Since for the last 2 months we have either been packing, movning, unpacking, painting or otherwise working on the new house, we have not been devoting quality time for the kids. When I say "we," I mean "me." It feels like in my effort to multi-task, my Rachel and James have been somewhat neglected, especially in their disipline I'm afraid. So, this week we have started Toddler Boot Camp! It will include several weeks of quality attention, quality dicipline, and general whipping us into shape. Any wonderful dicipline/ positive guidance tips from you wonderful parents out there?
*No, James is not potty-trained yet. Not cool.
*Wyatt's sisters from Utah, Trisha and Kristie came out for a fun visit. They brought along the oldest of the Dursteler cousins, Whitney. It was fun to show them around. We all spent most of the time at the beach. I have great in-laws. His sisters are completly some of my best friends. I'm lucky.
Whew! Ok, this is enough rambling for the night. I'm not even going to spell-check, but am probably going to regret it. See Ya! Ruth
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
"Dirt Don't Hurt"
We have a sayin' way down south in Alabama, "dirt don't hurt." This means that getting a little dirty now and then can be good a good thing. I am reminded of my tomboy childhood growing up on the outskirts of Auburn, AL. When my best friend, Andi Renden, and I would come home filthy from a long day's playing outside, I never once remember my mom (a MAJOR neat freak) complaining. What I do remember however was having to strip down to my undies and wash all of the dirt off with the cold hose before coming inside. It was always worth it though. Sometimes, I am kinda sad that kids today don't get that kind of freedom- you know the kind where you are out exploring nature, having adventures in your imagination, playin' hard and gettin' dirty. I know that Wyatt feels the same way. That's why we neglected our infinite "To Do List" to take the kids camping last weekend.
This was our first time to Big Bear Lake. It was beautiful! We will definitly be going back. Wyatt is happier in the mountains than anywhere else on earth I have decided. The kids had a great time too. Saddie (our Golden Retriever) probably had the best trip however. You have never seen a dog so happy as when Saddie was with her peeps, eatin' charred hotdogs, swimmin' after ducks in icy waters. Rachel and James were completly occupied the whole time with just simple things (watching ants, putting sticks into the fire, riding in the kayak on the lake, climbing trees). It was cool to see them learning to love and admire nature the way we do. The only thing that would have made the trip better was if James and I had not gotten a touch of the flu (we still didn't want to leave even after getting sick). It was a good reminder to me that I might actually be a better mother if my kids are dirty than if they look perfect and clean. They need a chance to be kids right? Sometimes, Dirt don't hurt!
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
"MY Rachel!"
Up 'til now we have not put our kids in big beds. Yes, that means our 3 year-old have been in cribs (and loving it) until recently. I am not ashamed. It seemed like they always did better that way and with the impending move, we were putting it off. Until recently... James (who hardly sleeps now) has been waking Rachel (who needs lots of beauty rest) up too often. The result is a cranky little girl. In fact, several mornings this week we were hearing (at about 6:15 am), "Rachel, WAKE UP!" Her grumpy responce is, "GO AWAY JAMES! I'm SLEEPING!" We finally decided to split the twins up at least when it comes to bedtime.
So, Rachel was getting to take naps in our spare bedroom. She was very excited and ready to sleep in her big, "special" (her favorite descriptive word) bed. The naps were going so well, that on Sunday night we decided to put Rachel in the separate room for the whole night. They were both very tired from staying up late with guests, so they went right to sleep. You know as a parent, every once-in-a-while everything seems to work out and a brief moment of harmony is achieved? I thought this was it. I was WRONG!
The first night, Wyatt and were just settling down to sleep and Rachel started screaming. I thought that she had woken up scared from being in a new place. I wish. Instead, she was vomiting all over her new, big girl bed. The same bed that I foolishly still had made up for guest with 3 quilts and countless pillows. Yuck! It was a huge mess. After cleaning her up, she went back to sleep in her crib. Strike one!
Last night (#2), we put them down in their separate rooms. Again, Rachel was so happy to snuggle in her new, bed. James was feeling a little left behind and cried for a few minutes before falling asleep. A little later, we went to sleep as usual. 4:11 am- James is screaming. "Oh no, now he is puking," I thought as I rushed to him in my just woken-up-out-of-a-dead-sleep delirium. Rushing into the room, looking for another huge mess, I rush past James and to his crib. All clean. Huh? I turn to James, no puke. And then I start to listen to him, "I want MY Rachel!" he is screaming frantically. You woke me up for that? Still screaming, I try to put him back into his crib and explain about Rachel sleeping in her big bed. By then Rachel hears all this and comes in saying, "it's OK James, I'm sleeping in my special bed." She helps tuck him in and kiss him goodnight again and then runs back to her big bed and falls back to sleep. Strike two! What will tonight bring?
I am amazed however at their beautiful bond. James loves and depends on his sister so much. Rachel knows just how to reassure and calm him. Throughout each day, often there is more fighting between them than not. Moments like this make me realize that they are building a sweet, genuine bond despite it all. They have history.
So, Rachel was getting to take naps in our spare bedroom. She was very excited and ready to sleep in her big, "special" (her favorite descriptive word) bed. The naps were going so well, that on Sunday night we decided to put Rachel in the separate room for the whole night. They were both very tired from staying up late with guests, so they went right to sleep. You know as a parent, every once-in-a-while everything seems to work out and a brief moment of harmony is achieved? I thought this was it. I was WRONG!
The first night, Wyatt and were just settling down to sleep and Rachel started screaming. I thought that she had woken up scared from being in a new place. I wish. Instead, she was vomiting all over her new, big girl bed. The same bed that I foolishly still had made up for guest with 3 quilts and countless pillows. Yuck! It was a huge mess. After cleaning her up, she went back to sleep in her crib. Strike one!
Last night (#2), we put them down in their separate rooms. Again, Rachel was so happy to snuggle in her new, bed. James was feeling a little left behind and cried for a few minutes before falling asleep. A little later, we went to sleep as usual. 4:11 am- James is screaming. "Oh no, now he is puking," I thought as I rushed to him in my just woken-up-out-of-a-dead-sleep delirium. Rushing into the room, looking for another huge mess, I rush past James and to his crib. All clean. Huh? I turn to James, no puke. And then I start to listen to him, "I want MY Rachel!" he is screaming frantically. You woke me up for that? Still screaming, I try to put him back into his crib and explain about Rachel sleeping in her big bed. By then Rachel hears all this and comes in saying, "it's OK James, I'm sleeping in my special bed." She helps tuck him in and kiss him goodnight again and then runs back to her big bed and falls back to sleep. Strike two! What will tonight bring?
I am amazed however at their beautiful bond. James loves and depends on his sister so much. Rachel knows just how to reassure and calm him. Throughout each day, often there is more fighting between them than not. Moments like this make me realize that they are building a sweet, genuine bond despite it all. They have history.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Springtime at Lake Skinner
We had a lovely springtime afternoon on sunday at Lake Skinner. It is beautiful there right now- very green with lots of wildflowers. The kids love being outside. It is fun to watch them discover all of nature. Who knew that a stick could be so much fun.
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