Married to an actor!

There are some challenging things about being married to an actor.  One hard one right now is transitioning back to rehearsal mode. No more Daddy at night time. The boys have a hard time when we tell them Daddy has to go to the play, why they can't go 'play' with him. It sure sounds like fun! So, we now say he has to go to work, which is true. It is really  hard work.  Thankfully, as an actor myself ( I still consider myself one, even if I have no proof at the moment ) I knew what I was getting myself into! The drive, passion or need that some actor's feel is really hard to describe to someone who has never felt it.  Also, I feel very blessed to know that this is the field Heavenly Father wants Jeremy (and maybe me, someday again) in. And that helps make all the instability a little easier to handle. I said, a little easier! :) 

There are also some really fun parts like getting to see his work. Every time I see my sweet husband perform, I am reminded of the talents Heavenly Father has given him and that they were meant to be used and not buried or lost.  Not many wives get to see or experience their husbands jobs. My Dad could show us some programming he did, but it isn't quite the same. Even if we saw it, we wouldn't understand it! Just the other night, Jeremy found a trailer to Alpha Black Zero, a computer game he did some voice over work for. He was the voice of the main Marine and did some other character accents. We had a good laugh as we listened and found they had used Jeremy's Wolfgang Puck voice as one of the generals. It was great, Wolfgang Puck and tough military man all in the same trailer. What a man! Right now, he is working on a production of Titus Andronicus, one of Shakespeare's bloodiest and violent plays. 

I think it may be one of the first times I won't see a play he is in. Jeremy says it is really graphic and that I would have a hard time watching it. Titus' daughter is raped and has her tounge and hands cut off, Titus also loses a hand, several other people die and Titus kills the men that did that to his daughter and then feeds them to their mother.  I might have some issues. 

How to camp with children

Our family loves to be outside. Jeremy and I spent our honeymoon in a cabin by a river in Colorado. But, we have never been camping. Jeremy wants to really go camping, meaning pack everything and backpack in, camp, then carry everything back out.  So, the idea of carrying children and everything in seems a little too much. Plus, who wants to carry out dirty diapers?I keep trying to convince him to go car camping, but it hasn't worked yet. Last Christmas, we bought a tent as our gift to each other. We set it up once by the front pond on the farm, but didn't sleep in it.  So, after we came home from Phoenix after Christmas, we decided to go camping during Jeremy's last few days of vacation. The boys helped set up the tent. They especially liked going in and out through the little doggy door. Jeremy cooked for us with his new camping pot set on the propane burner. We had hot chocolate and roasted marshmallows for  s'mores. Most of which Jeremy  and I ate, Andrew and Jacob didn't like how sticky they were. And for some reason, Michael just wasn't into trying new things. :) The boys loved it. Our tent was big enough for them to run around in.

Did I mention we did all this in our living room? We had to move our couch to set up the set. But, it was great. Michael slept in his crib and the rest of us slept in the tent. We 'camped' for two days and when we took the tent down, Andrew almost cried.  We had to set up the tepee they got for Christmas in their bedroom. I took a couple of pictures, Jeremy asleep and Michael hanging out with Andrew's bunny and Jacob with the tent. One day we will actually use our tent outdoors, but for now I am glad we were able to get a little taste of camping. 

Mama - no longer!

Jacob has started calling me Mom. Every once in a while he would call Jeremy, Dad, but mostly we are Mama and Daddy.  And all day today, I never heard a Mama from him, only MOM. I don't know why it is weird for me, but it sounds so strange coming from my two year old. He will be three in three months, but he is not allowed to grow up yet. I am so far from ready for that. I still call my parents Mama and Daddy. I remember a time (I think I was a teenager), when I had to decide if I would continue to call them that or switch to Mom and Dad. And it is silly, but I couldn't do it. It felt like I was trying to be something I wasn't or trying to change the relationship that had been established.  I can't call my Mom, Mommy, but she is Mama. All my siblings still call her that.  My brother went on his mission as Bobby. While he was there, he let us all know he was now Bob. It was hard to change, the only Bob in my life was the grandfather I never knew. But now when I think of my brother, I think of him as Bob.

What do you call your parents? Did it ever change?

As my children are growing up, I have conflicting emotions. Three years old feels so much older than two. I was fine with Jacob turning two, but I am not ready for three.  We have lived in Tucson since August and not that long ago - I can't remember exactly when - Jacob could not turn on or off his bedroom light.  Now he can, no problem.  He has grown up and I didn't see it. One day he couldn't - now he can. Is it harder to accept your second child growing up? 

Six Things You Don't Know About Me (Maybe)

I was tagged, thanks Justina!

I had a hard time with this, I feel like I am pretty open.  So, if you already know all these things about me, I'm sorry.

1. I have to mentally fight myself not to buy all the die cast 'Cars' characters that my children do not have. This is very unlike me.  I am not an impulse buyer - mostly because I do not have the luxury of doing so. :) I really wanted 'the boys' to have Luigi and Guido, I think they are my favorite characters in the movie, which by the way we still watch on a regular basis. And I think if I had ever seen them in a store, I might have given in. Thankfully, my wonderful mother in law gave them to the boys for Christmas.

2.  I really wish I could sing. Sometimes, I ache to be able to express myself like only music can.  I did do a musical right before Jeremy and I were married, but I was the only character without a solo. :) I sang only one line all by myself - 'Playing the drums in your own school band' from Happiness in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.  But, I am also terrified to sing alone. Everyone in my Musical Scene Study at BYU had to suffer through all my nerves during the required solos.  It could stem from when the whole congregation laughed at me when I sang at my brother's farewell. (My little sister was standing next to me while I sang, making faces at my voice. I was a last minute stand in, when my other sister, Kathie lost her voice and couldn't sing her verse) After the resurrection, maybe that part of me will be made whole! But for now, my kids like to sing with me - especially Jacob, he's our little singer.

3. I might go back to school, someday. I am currently toying with the idea, when Jeremy is a professor somewhere and the kids are a little older, I might take a few classes at a time and get a Master's.  Most universities offer low tuition or free tuition to faculty members and their families, so we wouldn't have to pay for it or at least not near as much. Then, maybe I could teach a class at a community college when I am done. Who knows if it will happen, but it is fun to think about it.

4.  I had surgery on my sternum when I was 11 or 12. (12, I think) So, I have this scar that extends from a few inches below my armpit across to the other side. The doctor said the scar would most likely be hidden under a bikini, so I didn't need to worry. I have never tested it. :)

5. I am scared to ever have another baby. For a couple of reasons - First, it might be another boy. And while I love even adore my three little men, I think I might cry for a while if another ultrasound finding 'boy parts', as the doctors call it, dashes my hopes for tea parties and hair bows and mother/daughter dates. Secondly, the events around Michael's delivery were really hard on me. I know people have been through much worse, namely three members of my family, but it was hard and never really want to go back to a hospital. And really the worst part had nothing to do with the labor, even though pushing out an almost 9 lb baby was hard, especially with a high fever.

6. jhjjmjjmmjmjjhhkrjuhgyiuyyuututiy andrew selim jjacobbjjjjjjjjj - this was andrew and jacob's contribution to the blog.

Jeremy and I have been married for 6 and a half years and have had 8 different addresses. We have lived in three different states and seven cities. Even though three of those cities were provo, orem and bluffdale - all very close together. I am very tired of doing address changes with the post office, let alone all the moving and packing. I am really hoping that very soon that will change and we can settle somewhere and find a home and a ward that will be ours for good, or at least for a long period of time. 

There it is. Fun for me to think of all these. I tag Mama, Alexa and Shelly. 

Michael - a journey!

I decided that since most of you have missed the last few months of Michael's life, I would update you.  At every major or even minor :) milestone I want everyone to be around to see him grow or change. So, today as he had his first taste of baby food - I went with sweet potatoes this time around, he seemed to really like them - I thought I would catch you up. He has changed so much! He used to have so much hair! 

On another note, I have discovered a new reason to help your children to avoid cavities. The obvious one is to have healthy teeth, the second is what happens when you have a cavity filled. Andrew had a cavity filled on monday and the dentist said he was excellent. I was a little worried for him, I hate getting shots in my mouth! So, his lip was numb for a little while after. We told him to be careful, but he still didn't feel himself biting his lip. It looked terrible and now looks even worse! It is so swollen, it is the biggest fat lip ever with the addition of gross white layer on top. It hurts me to look at it.  And even worse,  I can't do much to help it. A little tylenol to help with pain. 

We have succumbed!

We have finally joined the world of blogging. We think this will be a great way to stay in touch and a shameless way to showcase our cute children! 

We had a wonderful Christmas and New Year in Phoenix with the rest of the Selim's. The boys cashed in on all things Cars and decided to store them all in their new tent. 

                        

    We were able to spend lots of fun time with Lynne, Emily, Taylor, Justina and Aiden. We went hiking to a waterfall just outside of Phoenix which seemed to be missing the water :), went bowling, visited the railroad park in Scottsdale, went to the Mesa temple, lots of last minute and after Christmas shopping(me) and computer games (Jeremy and the boys), and raided Grandma's stash of Disney Movies - Snow White is the reigning champion.

                                                     

We are happy to be back home and Jeremy still has a bit of vacation before he heads back to work. Before we headed off to Phoenix, Jeremy decided to make a little movie with the boys. We think they did a great job and that they are even cuter in real life. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CuSxZxawiM   So, check them out!