My Other Blogs

You may have noticed I have started a few other blogs. I have had a long-standing goal to make journals for each of my children, but have been less than perfect at it. I have, up to this point, done some writing on the computer, but love that you can add pictures, etc to blog posts. I also love that it will never be LOST, even if my computer crashes, thanks to the miracle of cyber-space.

So, I am attempting to more diligently post memories of my children on these. I have kept them private so that I may more freely use their names, locations, etc. without the fear of "stranger danger" - but any of you who read my blog and are interested may certainly be added. Be forewarned that my journaling may be infrequent and, at times, (possibly) somewhat offensive (simply because of things children say - they are, after all, VERY honest and, in our family, anatomically correct since we don't believe in "silly words" for sacred parts) - but these are comments I cherish and want to document lest I forget them!

That being said, if you have any inclination, let me know. I just don't want anyone feeling "left out" - consider this your formal invitation. :)

You know you're "expecting" when.....

...you BAWL UNCONTROLLABLY anytime you hear a remotely sentimental song (or even advertisement or commercial) on the radio.

I rarely listen to the radio, but happened to turn it on just in time to catch a tune I hadn't heard before. Here are the lyrics: (wish I could add it to my playlist, but I can't seem to find the file.)

"I came to see her daddy for a sit down man to man
It wasn't any secret I'd be asking for her hand
I guess that's why he left me waiting in the living room by myself
with at least a dozen pictures of her sitting on a shelf

[CHORUS]
She was playing Cinderella
She was riding her first bike
Bouncing on the bed and looking for a pillow fight
Running through the sprinkler with a big popsicle grin
Dancing with her dad, looking up at him
In her eyes I'm Prince Charming
But to him I'm just some fella riding in and stealing Cinderella.

I leaned in towards those pictures to get a better look at one
When I heard a voice behind me say "Now, ain't she something, son?"
I said "Yes, she quite a woman" and he just stared at me
Then I realized that in his eyes she would always be.

Playing Cinderella
Riding her first bike
Bouncing on the bed and looking for a pillow fight
Running through the sprinkler with a big popsicle grin
Dancing with her dad, looking up at him
In her eyes I'm Prince Charming
But to him I'm just some fella riding in and stealing Cinderella.

He slapped me on the shoulder
Then he called her in the room
When she threw her arms around him
That's when I could see it too.

She was Playing Cinderella
Riding her first bike
Bouncing on the bed and looking for a pillow fight
Running through the sprinkler with a big popsicle grin
Dancing with her dad, looking up at him
If he gives me a hard time
I can't blame the fella
I'm the one who's stealing Cinderella."


Wow! I can't even type it without getting choked up. You can't fully understand this until you have a daughter of your own. I truly don't know what I will do when my sweet little angel ventures off into the 'real world'! (I'm talking about when she starts school in just a couple of years! I'm already a nervous wreck just thinking about it!)

**Along the same lines, another song I LOVE is "I Loved Her First" - it's on my playlist. Click it! You won't regret it!

"I'm Not Spoiled, My Husband Just Loves Me"...

...read the license plate holder of a Lexus I was driving behind a couple of days ago. I scoffed as I read it (I mean, really, does the fact that I drive a Mazda with a dent in the bumper mean MY husband loves me any LESS than hers? Give me a break.)

But, this past weekend, I have to admit, the quote entered into my mind on more than one occasion. My sweet husband always treats me with the utmost tenderness and respect regardless of the day, but he does make it a point to make special days spectacular. He always has and this is one thing I truly appreciate about him; it's fun to feel pampered once in awhile.

Mother's Day for me began on Saturday - I had assumed he would spend the entire day studying since he had a test Monday and he doesn't study on Sundays - so I had planned on cleaning, shopping, doing the laundry, etc. What happened instead was that he awoke early to start the laundry and cleaning and make me a gourmet breakfast (yum!). He then led me to believe he needed us to leave for a few hours to allow him some study time - so I took the kids to the park where we rented a paddleboat, fed the ducks, and played on the playground. We had a great time and were pleased to arrive home to a clean house with all the laundry and shopping done! After we all napped (I LOVE that both of my kids finally nap at the same time - even if it's only about 30 min overlap!) we went to the fair, rode on some rides and then had a DELICIOUS Chinese dinner. It was one of the most fun-filled days we have had for awhile. We had to literally DRAG (well, at least PULL) the kids to the car and then into the house; they didn't want the day to end!

Then yesterday, I had the privilege of an uninterrupted, as-long-as-I-wanted shower (a rare indulgence with 2 toddlers!), we enjoyed church together as a family followed by a quick lunch and then family naptime (I love the weekends!). I opened some gifts (Sneaky Chef cookbook I've been wanting, the Pampered Chef food chopper I've been drooling over, and some Standin' Tall CDs I've been begging for). Then we biked up the canyon and had a picnic and relaxing evening on the shore of the stream in the mountains. It was beautiful and SUCH a fun family time! The best Mother's Day I could have hoped for - RELAXING time with my family. I hope yours was equally enjoyable!

Menu Plan Monday

Never got around to posting last week and I found it was difficult to come up with ideas mid-week; I'm so used to having them planned out ahead of time, and it really does make things easier! So I made it a point to plan this week.

Sunday: Mother's Day - picnic by the river in the canyon (So yummy and SO much fun!)
Monday: sweet and sour pork, steamed veggies, steamed rice, cinnamon bread for FHE treat
Tuesday: Steak (grilled on the bbq, nothing better!), baked potatoes, grilled veggie kabobs
Wednesday: cheesy broccoli soup, crescent rolls
Thursday: white bean tortellini soup, fruit salad
Friday: Eating Out in celebration of Daddy's LAST FINAL OF ALL TIME!!!!
Saturday: Left overs
Sunday: Extended family dinner

Just Around the Corner....

With Mother's Day rapidly approaching I am, of course, racing to get things ready. I usually have both of my own mothers' gifts ready well in advance but, without fail, I forget to help my children make things for their grandmothers. I've had kids for 4 Mother's Days now - you'd think I could get the hang of it one of these times! Oh well, tomorrow will be craft day, spent creating "treasures" especially for the special women in their lives. I found a couple of simple little ideas here, here and here. But my favorite by far was Family Fun (no surprises there - their website is amazing!). We are probably going to do the Alligator Purse for at least one of the Grandmas! And I love the little soaps - will probably save those for next year when the kids' artwork has advanced to where it can be enjoyed by others and not just me. :)

Any Mother's Day traditions or special Mother's Day gifts or memories you have enjoyed?

Decisions, Decisions

We have decided that, with #3 on the way and with the Daddy starting to get VERY, VERY BUSY with school (think 120 hour work weeks - yikes!) it is time for us to bid the Ronald McDonald House adieu. We have loved our time here and have many cherished memories and friendships which will last a lifetime, but it is time to move on.

We are faced with a dilemma, however, about where to go. Two different options await us, both of which seem like decent options: (The decision is always harder when it's between 2 'rights', no?)

1) Housesitting a big house on the hill near school for 10 months: we would just pay utilities (about $400/mo) and keep up the yard and house, but it would (hopefully) be less work than RMH and something I could handle on my own. Benefits: SPACE!!! (something we haven't had for a very long time...actually, ever!!!) The drawbacks: with how high up on the mountain it is, we will most likely need a car with 4WD, which we don't have, so we would need to upgrade (pricey!) just so Mr. could get to school - and I may be stuck home when it snows! Also, it is a VERY nice house, so I'd have just a wee bit of anxiety associated with keeping 3 children from destroying it. :) And, our move-in date would be when I am 9 months pregnant - no fun!!
2) University Student Housing - gotta love it! Cinderblock walls, threadbare carpet, no dishwasher (although we would probably get a portable!) - but it is 1120 sq feet which is SLIGHTLY larger than our current apt. And there are 5 parks within the complex, and TONS of kids so finding friends will not be a problem. The main drawback: $825/month=student loan money :(

So, you Student families out there, we'd love to hear your housing experiences, good or bad, or any input at all which may benefit our decision! :)

Is Your Tummy Heaven?

Lately our darling little Angel has become very cavalier, often rushed, and even noisy during prayers. This evening I decided to have a more 'in depth' talk with her about why we pray and why prayers are so important to me, and why I therefore hope she will treat them with more reverence. This evolved into her asking to hear the story of "Heaven" which she so often loves at bedtime - which is basically my version of "pre-earth life", etc. Basically, I told her that her Heavenly Father asked if she wanted to go down to earth, and that she decided she wanted to. So, on a very special day (left out here for security purposes because I'm a slightly paranoid mom) a few years ago, He sent her to earth to a mommy and daddy who would love and care for her. At this point in the story, she stopped me and asked "How did he send me down to earth?" Not wanting to get into all the logistics, I simply stated "He put you in my tummy, where you grew your body, and then when you came out of my tummy you were officially on earth." She pondered this a moment and then asked, "Mommy, is your tummy Heaven?" I laughed but quickly realized how reasonable her rationalization was, and how sincere she was in asking. I finally came up with a response, "My tummy is like the bridge between Heaven and Earth" which may sound hokey but which I actually believe. I mean, to actually think about a zygote/fetus being cramped inside a confined womb hour after hour, day after day, week after endless week without some sort of reprive? It just doesn't seem humane. So I believe that, somehow, a fetus floats between "here" and "there" - just my own little take on it anyway. But her simple question has truly changed my perspective on pregnancy (at least for the time being. :) ) I get so wrapped up in the discomfort of it all (the nausea, vomiting, weight gain, stretch marks, heartburn, swollen ankles, digestion woes, fatigue...) that I forget the fundamental fact that, at least in some way, 'my tummy is Heaven.'

Menu Plan Monday

Sunday: Lemon Chicken (SOOO yummy!), rissoto, steamed broccoli, peaches
Monday: Chicken enchiladas, black beans, rice, corn, peaches (again! per Makea's request), Texas Chocolate Cake (FHE treat)
Tuesday: Chicken cacciatore, noodles, steamed carrots
Wedesday: Texas black bean chili, corn bread, rice, tomato wedges
Thursday: Chicken pot pie, sweet peas, fruit salad
Friday: left overs
Saturday: Spanish rice casserole, green salad, pears

**You'll notice a theme this week...CHICKEN! This is because Smith's had an awesome sale and I stocked up, planning to freeze a bunch. I ended up forgetting to freeze it in time (I don't like to freeze too close to the 'use by' date) so I had to use it all this week. I'm hoping the varieties will be different enough that my family won't notice...we'll see.

Drum Roll, Please....

"I do not have a face to see,
Or put inside a frame.
I do not have soft cheeks to kiss,
I don't yet have a name.
You can't yet hold my tiny hands, 'nor whisper in my ear.
It's still too soon to sing a song, or cuddle me so near.
But all will change come autumn time,
That’s when they say I'm due.
I'll be your new (grandchild/niece/nephew/etc); I can't wait till I meet you.
All I ask between now and then is your patience while I grow.
I promise I'll be worth the wait, because of all the love we'll know.
So have a happy spring and summer
A wish to you from me.
I cannot wait to be a part
Of this loving family!"

~Author Unknown

I realized after the comments of my last post that I had inadvertently 'announced' this in my little scholarship essay....oops! So, there's the official announcement for you, folks. :)