Giveaway!

So, to reward all of all my faithful readers (yes, all 2 of you) :) I am offering the following giveaway:

2 Free Tickets to a night of Theatre:

Title: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)
Location:
Utah Shakespearean Festival
351 W. Center Street
Cedar City, UT
Date: 10/15/2009 (THIS THURSDAY EVENING)
Curtain Time: 07:30 PM


How awesome does that sound? All you have to do is leave me a comment, letting me know you're interested, and I will randomly select a winner. Since I only have 5 followers, your chances are VERY good- much better than on some of those famous blogs with thousands of readers. :)

Happy Birthday, Handsome!

Dear Mr. Love-of-mine,
Happy Birthday, sweetheart! I don't care HOW old you are, you will always be my only true love (aside from the children you've given me, of course..) :) Thank you for all that you are. You have done amazing things with these past 30-something years, and I know the trend will continue!

Thank you for your integrity. For your honesty. For your goodness. Thank you for your charity. Your patience. Your faith, and perseverance. You are such an incredible example to me, of devotion to the Savior, of undying faith, hard work and dilligence. You have always inspired me to be more kind, more loving, more patient.

Thank you for the amazing Husband you are! You've treated me like a queen these past 8+ years; they have truly been the best 8 years of my life! You are SO loving, so concerned with my welfare, so patient, and so kind. And so good at keeping the spark alive after all these kids, all this time, and all that you are involved in!

Thank you for being a fantastic Father to our little treasures! I knew from the moment I met you, that you would be an incredible father, and you have never let me down! I love that you love our children as much as I do, and always have their best interest at heart.

Well, there is MUCH more I could say, but our little lovelies are needing my IMMEDIATE attention for reasons I'd better not share on your birthday....some things are better left unsaid. :)

I love you, !

Love Always,

Me

I need ideas!

So, I know I'm a complete dork, but I love dressing my kids up for Halloween in something that goes together. I just think it adds to the effect when there's more than one person. Angel and Grins, for example have been:

Salt & Pepper Shakers
A Flower and a Bee
Raggedy Anne and Andy
A Prince and a Knight (Angel's idea, of course, but Grins loved the sword!)

Now that we have 3 kids, though, things are getting a bit trickier. I need a really good idea for a "threesome" they can do for Halloween. I've thought of the 3 Stooges or the 3 Musketeers but those just don't seem cute for kids (and they wouldn't even know what they were). And the 3 little pigs or 3 bears might work - but aren't super exciting. Any brilliant ideas out there? If you can come up with a winner, I'll give you a whole bag of Halloween candy to use any way you want - you can pass it out on Halloween and save yourself a few bucks, or you can hoard it all to yourself and I won't tell a soul. :)

So, give 'em to me!!!!

Trying to keep up...Don't dance so fast!

Sometimes I feel like I'm on top of the world. I feel like I'm succeeding in my most important roles as wife and mother when my house is clean, the laundry is all folded and put away, I'm helping the Mr. by taking care of things he doesn't have time for, I'm spending quality one-on-one time with each child every day and do learning lessons and activities with them daily, and educational field trips weekly, I'm fixing healthy and tasty meals for my family, I'm perfectly organized and caught up in all of my meal planning, coupon clipping, church calling, service organization, etc responsibilities, my to-do list is completely crossed off, I'm exercising daily, my children never watch TV, I never lose my temper, and, occasionally, I work part-time to bring in income.

Other days, or, recently, weeks, I feel as though the world is caving in on me. No matter how much time I spend cleaning and straightening the house, there is ALWAYS more to do. Before I'm finished folding clean laundry, the dirty hampers are full. It's half an hour before dinnertime and I'm looking through the fridge trying to find something half-way edible to through together for dinner because I can't remember the last time I planned my meals, or even went grocery shopping for that matter. I put Wiggles down for a nap and before I'm even done putting the other two down, she's awake again. I try to take a shower but some catastrophe pulls me out before the shampoo's even rinsed from my hair. I try rising before my children for some peace/quiet/meditation in the morning, but no matter how early I'm up, at least one of them always decides to join me! I find myself snapping at my children, sometimes for very small infractions. As soon as I cross one thing off my to-do list, I have 5 more things to add.Once in a while I even let my kids watch SuperWhy just to be able to 'do my duty' or shave my legs in peace.

Would I trade my life? Never. Not even for a moment. Do the "goods" outweigh the "bads"? A million times over. But lately I'm just wishing I could get back on top of my game. I blame my 'being behind' on our recent big move - but let's be honest, we've been moved in for 2 weeks now. Life must go on! Besides, we'll probably be moving again in just 10 short months, so I can't let moving spin my life out of control.

So, this quote really hit home when I read it today.

"You can have the utmost assurance that your power will be multiplied many times by the Lord. All he asks is that you give your best effort and your whole heart. Do it cheerfully and with the prayer of faith. You will feel at some times, perhaps at many times, that you cannot do all you feel you must...The forces arrayed against you will try not only to frustrate your work but to bring you down...Your obedience to the commandments, your desire to do His will, and your asking in faith will determine how clearly the Master can guide you by answers to your prayers...He chose you..The Lord knows you...He has prepared a way so that He could issue your call." (Elder Henry B. Eyring, Oct 2002)

Forgive the lengthiness of this post, but I love these 2 poems/thoughts as well:
(Author unknown, and I apologize for the plagery - wish I had put it into words so well!)

Some houses try to hide the fact
that children shelter there;
Ours boasts it quite openly...
the signs are everywhere.
For smears are on the windows,
little smudges on the door;
I guess I should apologize
for the toys strewn on the floor,
But I sat down with the children
we played, laughed and read,
And if the doorbell doesn't shine,
their eyes will shine instead.
For when I'm forced to choose
the one job or the other
It's good to be a housewife
but I'd rather be a mother!


Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round
Or listened to the rain lapping on the gruond?
Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight
Or gazed at the un into the fading night?
You'd better slow down - don't dance so fast!
Time is short; the music won't last.

Do you run through each day on the fly?
When you ask "How are you?" do you hear the reply?
When the day is done, do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chore running through your head?
You'd better slow down - don't dance so fast!
Time is short; the music won't last.

Ever told your child "We'll do it tomorrow"
And, in your haste, not seen his sorrow?
Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die
'Cause you never had time to call and say "hi"?
You'd better slow down - don't dance so fast!
Time is short; the music won't last.

When you run so fast to getsomewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day
It's like an unopened gift thrown away..
Life's not a race - please, take it slower;
Hear the music before the song is over!

We're recovering

Don't expect any posts for awhile - Angel is recovering from surgery which means lots of TLC for her, and lots of attention for the other two who are beginning to feel neglected....wish us luck! :)

Happy Birthday Grins!

Dear Grins,
Wow, my son! I can't believe you are 3 years old already! Where has the time gone? I remember the first time I ever laid eyes on you, just seconds after you were born, as though it were yesterday. And now, here you are, a little man. You hold such a special place in my heart! I love you more than words can say.

I LOVE how sweet you are! You are always SO concerned with how others feel, regardless of how they are treating you! Whenever I punish your older sister for being mean to you, you are quick to forgive, and want to go sit with her in time-out, give her the toy she was trying to grab from you, or give her "loves" to cheer her up, when just seconds before she was hitting you. You are the perfect example of 'turning the other cheek' and I learn so much about charity and unconditional love just by watching you.

You are such a lover boy. You love snuggles, kisses, and loves. You will often pause throughout the day, during story time, play time, or anytime, just to give me a kiss. It melts my heart. And every night when I tuck you in, you say "I want you to lay with me!" How can I resist? You are sensitive and sometimes take a little while warming up to things and people, but once you do, you love them fiercely! Your nursery teacher, Krystina, for example. You adore her, and I get the impression the feeling is mutual! You also have many favorites that you cling to:

Favorite color: green
Favorite book: Shortcut (Donald Crews)
Favorite loveys: Puppy, Teddy, Blankie and Magic Blankie (Magic because 'he' protects you from bad guys)

I LOVE your sensitivity! It is so sweet and endearing, and sometimes it also makes me laugh. Automatic flush toilets, for instance, are one of your current 'sensitive spots'. You REFUSE to use the restroom if there is - or even if you THINK there MIGHT BE an automatic flusher. You would honestly rather wet your pants than go in a restroom where the toilet will flush on its own. At least you will finally look to see whether a toilet has a handle, than just avoid going in altogether as you were doing for awhile! :) You are so funny! I love it!

With all your sensitivity, you are definitely all boy! You LOVE trains, tractors, trucks, cars - and have recently discovered the field of swords and 'beating the bad guys' (usually the Lamanites). Since we don't have any weapons in our home, you've become quite proficient at turning anything and everything into a sword - from baseball bats to sticks to hangers? You are so creative! And SO playful! You are ALWAYS laughing, and I rarely see you without a smile on your face! You can make a game out of anything, and you have the most infectious laugh of anyone I know! I smile everytime I think about you!

You have excellent manners - several other mothers have commented to me how much they love that you clear your plate, say 'please' and 'thank you', cover your mouth, etc. all without prompting! You hold the door for me, often ask if you can help me carry things....you are the perfect little gentleman! You are also an EXCELLENT listener - I rarely have to repeat myself when asking you to do things; you are very obedient and I LOVE IT! :)

Sweet boy, I feel SO blessed to be your mother! I don't know WHAT I did to deserve such a special little boy. I feel like you are my little ray of sunlight whenever I am down. You teach me so much more than I could ever teach you. I am so grateful to have you in my life, and for the blessing and honor it is to be your mother. I only hope I can live up to such a noble calling.

I love you, my son. Happy Birthday!

Happy Anniversary, my Love!

Dear Lovey,
Since I probably won't see you (as you're pretty much living at the hospital these days, let me take a moment to wish you a Happy Anniversary! Thank you for treating me like a queen these past 8 years! I appreciate your undying patience, your endless love, your sense of humor, and the respect you continue to show me. I know it's been a roller coaster at times (pregnancy hormones and all :) ) - but I'm so glad we've enjoyed the ride together! You are a devoted husband, a tender father, a gifted musician, a hard-working provider, an intelligent aspiring physician, and a good man. Thank you for choosing me, of all the fish in the sea, to walk beside you in this incredible journey of life. I love you with all my heart. It's our GOLDEN anniversary (the 8th on 8/8!) ~ here's to 8 more! But can we please move less in the next 8 years? Thanks! I love you! Love, Me

Summer Update Cont - the Mayan

If you have never been to the Mayan Restaurant in South Jordan, Utah, you've definitely got to try it! Our kids (and Aunt Abbie) THOROUGHLY enjoyed themselves! They've been talking about it for weeks since then - and even pretending they are divers (though, fortunately, without actually diving!) It is a restaurant with mexican-style cuisine and diving shows every 15 minutes. (Wish I would have thought to photograph them!) Pretty impressive. And very reasonably priced! I highly recommend it (just get reservations!! VERY popular and took us a while to get in!)

Summer Update Cont - This is the Place Heritage Park

I was lucky enough to receive a pass to This is the Place Heritage Park for Mother's Day - this really is the gift that keeps on giving! My kids LOVE it - there is so much to do; crafts, train rides, pony rides, petting zoo, a park...and it's within walking distance from our home which is an added bonus!

This summer, we were fortunate to have Aunt Abbie join us - tons of fun for the kids because they just adore her, and an added bonus for me because she is seriously like a little nanny! I go into withdrawls when she leaves, she takes such great care of the kids! They all had a great time at This is the Place (or, as Abbie called it, "Here's where it's at Park" when she couldn't remember the name. That cracked me up.) despite the heat (as is evidenced by the rosy cheeks!)

Summer Update Continued - Swimming Lessons

Both (the 2 oldest, that is) of our children could not get enough of swimming lesons this year! Next time around we are definitely adding the 'open plunge' option, that is for sure! I put them in the same class so it would be easier to watch both (one of the many benefits of children close together, since they are in the same 'age' category and, for the most part, skill level!) Angel took to the water immediately, whereas Grins needed a little bit more coaxing - but he always got in after a few minutes. Truth be told, after he 'warmed up', he was even more daring than Angel; she still likes to hold her nose, whereas Grins
just jumps right in and then shakes his head like a dog when he comes out of the water. Their favorite games: feeding Charlie (the fish) bubbles, Chop Chop Cherry Tree, Alligator Alligator, and Fishie in the Basket. They had so much fun it hardly seemed like a lesson (the goal at this age, I think!) I was so proud of both of them - initially they were nervous about putting their faces in the water, but they now do it easily, and definitely made good progress in their short 2 weeks of lessons! I think we'll need to do 2 sessions next year! :)

Menu Plan Monday

I've GOT to get back in the habit of planning my meals in advance! I've been just 'winging it' pretty much every night, which has been driving me CRAZY and often results in late dinners because, by the time I finally figure out what to make, dinner time is already long gone! So, I know it makes for a boring post, but if I don't do it here, then where?

Monday: soft taco bar, salad, corn on the cob, red grapes, ice cream sandwiches for FHE treats
Tuesday: spaghetti pie, steamed green beans, sauteed summer squash, canteloupe
Wednedsay: POTLUCK - we'll bring teriyaki chicken kabobs and strawberry spinach salad
Thursday: chicken caesar pasta salad, crusty bread, cucumber salad, fruit salad
Friday: left overs
Saturday: OUR ANNIVERSARY so, if we're lucky (and can find a sitter) - RESERVATIONS
Sunday: GRINS' birthday = his choice (he's still deciding)

Recap of the Summer

This summer has been a whirlwind, what with a move, 2 trips, 2 family reunions, a yard sale, out of town guests, medical issues, swimming lessons, etc. Now that things are FINALLY winding down I'm going to do a little "recap" of our summer - just in case you're interested. I'll do one event each time I post (let's say once a week and then if it's more often I'm an overachiever :) ).

First stop....Draper and Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open Houses

We've been so blessed to be able to attend not one but TWO! temple open houses this summer, both without traveling too far from home! There is nothing more special to me than being inside a temple with my whole family! I just love sharing it with my husband and children! We didn't get pictures at the Draper one because there were tents surrounding it, but we took a little photo op at Oquirrh Mountain.



Highlights (in the kids-do-the-darndest-things, not spiritual, category): I mentioned the couch jumping and diaper pooping in our Draper Temple post, and Oquirrh mountain wasn't quite as eventful, but at the end of the tour, guests get to visit a reception hall sort of area, where there are refreshments, music, and an opportunity to visit/ask questions/etc. This particular reception hall had a beautiful player piano which completely mystified the kids! Angel watched for a moment, and then closely examined the piano, perplexed. She asked "Who is playing the piano?" to which I replied "Who do you think?" "The Holy Ghost?" she wondered. We all got a kick out of that one.

Sleepless Nights, Surgery, and Still Laughing....

So, after 4 years of almost NEVER sleeping through the night (I know firsthand what sleep deprivation is, let me tell you! :) ) we finally realized our sweet little Angel had more than a learned aversion to sleep. After multiple various attempts to get her to sleep through the night failed, we finally sought medical treatment and learned that Angel has Restless Leg Syndrome and Sleep Apnea, which, we hope, are the root of her night terrors and problems.

The restless leg syndrome has been easily remedied by supplementing her diet with iron (since we are, for the most part, vegetarian, she doesn't eat as much iron as her little growing body needs). The sleep apnea, however, is not such a quick fix. Her ginormous tonsils seem to completely obstruct her airway several times a night and are therefore no longer welcome in her sweet little throat. So she is scheduled for surgery next month.

Angel has been such a trooper through the whole process. Undergoing an overnight sleep study at the hospital was a bit daunting, but fortunately they let her Daddy and her Teddy accompany her, and she proved every bit the Angel; the nurses all spoke of how sweet, cooperative and accomodating she was! Following the results of the sleep study, we prepped her for the visit with the ENT, saying something to the effect of "Your tonsils seem as though they may be too big, so we're going to go see a doctor that knows a lot about throats, to see if he thinks we might want to take them out. But if you do need to get them taken out, it might hurt, but you'll get lots of yummy things like ice cream, popsicles and milk shakes." (Nothing like a little bribery...I mean incentive... right?)

The day of the appointment I asked "How are you going to feel if the Dr. says we should take out your tonsils?" to which she responded "I'll tell him 'I'm a little nervous about getting my tonsils out, but I'm looking forward to all the cold treats!'" That made me chuckle.

At the doctors appointment, she waited quietly and patiently as I spoke with the ENT about what we'd tried, the results of the study, etc. Then he asked her to sit up on the table so he could take a look. Since "Daddy is a Dr." and she loves playing "doctor" at home, she's usually very comfortable and cooperative with doctors examining her, but this time she held back and clutched at my arm. "Are you OK, sweetheart?" I asked. She leaned in and whispered into my ear "Is the Dr. going to take out my tonsils right now?" Realizing I may not have given her the whole time frame and scenario, I felt bad, and quickly assured her that this was just a checkup, and the surgery, if necessary, would come later. She was fine then, and jumped right up.

I know I'm rambling - this entry is more of a journal of sorts - but the punch line is coming up! Angel and Grins wanted to see their tonsils, so we took turns opening our mouths wide to show one another our tonsils (or, in the Mr.'s case, lack thereof), and then took pictures so they could see their own (I know, we're medical geeks. But it's all in the name of the scientific education of our children!) :) When we shined the light on Grins' throat, Angel excitedly shouted out "Look!! I can see his balls!" The Mr. and I could not stop laughing, and the kids looked at us as if we were crazy (we use correct anatomical nomenclature, never slang, so our children had no idea what we found so funny). Mature, I know. But it was just so unexpected.

Moving and Gratitude

Since I am STILL in the throws of moving and having such a hard time dealing with all the chaos, disorder, cleaning, packing, unpacking, rearranging, getting rid of things, etc. etc. I've started having a bad attitude about the whole thing. I realized how bad it had gotten when, one night, I had a dream the Mr. had died. And, though I was, of course grief-stricken at losing him, what bothered me the most (in the dream!) was that I would have to move again! This was a sign to me that I need to change my attitude about moving, since it seems to be my lot in life to do so frequently (we've been married just under 8 years and have already moved 10 times!)

So, I've decided to compile a list of things for which I am grateful, with regards to moving:

Moving has made me appreciate:

~The opportunity to declutter. I am, by nature, a 'pack-rat', so frequent moves have forced me to learn to let go of excess and simplify my life!
~The opportunity to deep clean regularly. I manage to stay on top of the day-to-day cleaning (for the most part) but I'm not very good at the whole 'deep cleaning' you're supposed to do every 6 months or so. Moving forces me to do this, since we're almost never in the same place for more than a year!
~The opportunity to make new friends. I am somewhat predisposed to being shy, but frequent moves have afforded me the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends everywhere I go.
~The opportunity to find things I've been missing. Once we lost a library book, and I was certain I had taken it in. When we moved we found it behind/underneath the bookshelf (where I had looked, but would never have found until actually moving the entire shelf!) Woohoo!
~The opportunity to develop a list of likes/dislikes. Moving so frequently and living in so many different homes/apartments/states/cities/etc. has really given me a taste of what I want in a location, home, neighborhood, ward, school, etc. I've got a good list going so that, when the time (finally!) comes for us to get a house of our own, I will know exactly what I want. Living in our last home (5800 sq ft), for instance, has taught me I do NOT want an excessively large home and yard (unless I intend on having hired help). It is SO much work to keep up! Big homes are overrated, in my opinion.
~The opportunity to have a fresh, new start. This is one reason why the Mr. LOVES moving.
~The opportunity for physical activity. Let's face it. I'm a lazy couch potato. Moving gets me off my duff and gives me that little kick in the seat I need to get moving. Packing, cleaning, carrying boxes up and down stairs. Quite a workout, I must say. Goodbye, love handles! :)
~And, finally, and most importantly, my children. They have truly been troopers through all of these moves, and have even been such good helpers - packing up their things, carrying little loads in and out of the house, being told they couldn't play with things that were already packed, being neglected while their parents spend hours packing/unpacking/cleaning/etc. And, their enthusiasm about our new place has been enough to keep me going.

So, in 10 months when I'm moving yet again, I'll look back on this list and try to buck up instead of moping around feeling sorry for myself.

Happy Father's Day!

Because we're in the midst of moving, we have rescheduled our own personal Father's Day for next weekend, when we'll be kicking back on vacation instead of living between 2 houses, trying not to unpack on Sunday but still trying to find things, etc.

The talks in church, however, were obviously geared toward Father's Day. One story really struck me. A young woman in our ward (who, just as a side note, happens to be well-known throughout the country) was speaking of her grandfather. She shared how, as a young girl, her mother had asked her one day if she would like to go visit her grandfather. Feeling pressures of an upcoming school project, she declined, planning to visit him a few weeks later when school had let out for the summer. Unfortunately, her mother phoned the next day, letting the family know her grandfather had passed away. She said she has never forgotten the regret she felt for placing a small, now seemingly-insignificant school project get in the way of her last earthly moments with her grandfather.

This spoke to my heart, as I've been struggling with the same dilemma. My grandparents live a few states away and, though I could make the drive in less than a full day, the drive, cost of travel, change in time zones, and chaos/lack of structure associate with traveling are challenging, particularly since my 3 children ABHOR being strapped in their carseats for more than 15 minutes or so. If I had my choice I would never leave the city, let alone the state.

My grandparents, however, have an even more difficult time coming to visit us. And though we send cards and photographs, and try to grace them with phone calls every so often, I know it means much more to them to have us - and especially their GREAT grandchildren - in person. Their physical health is declining and, much faster, my grandmother's mentition is steadily deteriorating. Who knows how much longer she will recognize me, or how long either one of them will even be around.

So, the dilemma ensues. With all the chaos of the summer - moving, the Mr. studying for his second board examination and trying to apply for residency programs, etc. etc. - my grandparents are celebrating their 60th wedding annivesary and have expressed that their grandest dream would be to have all their posterity together for a reunion (a dream which hasn't happened in AGES - 10 years at least, which was before any of the grandchildren were married, and long before there were any great-grandchildren.) Incredibly, there are not even any grandchildren on missions right now (for 2 more months, anyway!)

Could it come at a more inconvenient time? (Well, I guess I'm not having a baby right now - that would complicate things!) And yet, I can't imagine how I would feel were I to pass up this opportunity only to have it be my last chance with them (on this earth). Had I a crystal ball this would be a much easier decision. But alas, I am forced to rely on prayer and inspiration and determine how much my grandparents truly matter to me when all is said and done....

stay tuned for my decision. :)

our budding photographer...

This is what I discovered upon uploading the pictures from my camera:

"When I have children of my own...."

In my the "BC" period of my life (Before Children, that is), I would often think to myself "When I have children, MY children won't act like THOSE woman's out-of-control little monsters....", or "When I'M a mother, I will certainly never do this or that"....and on and on.

Fast forward a few years to the present.

I have a firm belief in teaching my children to be self-sufficient; I feel as though that's one of my most important responsibilities as their mother. This includes cleaning up after themselves. I don't teach this skill to make my own life easier; on the contrary, it actually takes me quite a bit more time to teach my kids to clean than to simply do it myself. But I feel it's important, so I put forth the effort (even when met with resistance!!)

In my BC days, this is how I envisioned it:

My daughter's room is usually immaculate, but if it gets a bit messy, I simply ask "Please go tidy up your room, ." "OK, Mommy!" she says, and happily skips off to clean her room, eager to please, and happy to do her part.

Now (as in, yesterday):

Despite the facts that 1) I have spent hours organizing clothes and toys, 2) we don't get more than 3-4 toys out at a time, and 3)their room is always clean before bed, my kids' bedroom is perpetually a disaster! It's amazing to me how many small pieces of doll house furniture, jewelry, Mr. Potato head parts, baby doll clothing, dress ups, stuffed animals, play food (and even REAL food sometimes, even though "we don't take food out of the kitchen").....we own, and how quickly they can be distributed throughout the entire 5500 square feet of house!!!!

So yesterday, while the 2 youngest were napping, I thought it would be a great time for Angel and I to tackle it (yet again) together, working side by side. A good time to teach about organization while sharing some good quality one-on-one time. Not even two minutes into it, she is playing and even adding to the mess, thwarting my efforts at making order. "Sweetheart" I say, in my most pleasant and loving voice "How about if you put the necklaces in your jewelry box while I hang up your dresses?" "UUGGGHHHH!!" she shouts, "Why do you always make me do SO MUCH WORK??!!! You are treating me like CINDERELLA!" I, of course, gasp in horror, thinking to myself "This is not how I envisioned it!" ("IT" meaning, of course, our little 'cleaning date', but also motherhood in general. How, despite my kind and loving words, my (almost) endless patience, my consistency in discipline, my recurrent attempts at teaching, and my constant prayers, is my daughter turning out "this way?"

And then it hit me. She actually has a mind of her own. She actually has (gasp) free agency. She is exercising her own independence, regardless of how much control I think I ought to have as 'Mother'. The best I can do is be patient, loving, calm, consistent, and lead, guide and walk beside her as she fumbles through the difficulties of preschool life; learning about who she is, where she came from, what her emotions are and mean, etc. etc.

Am I a perfect mother? Not even close. Am I trying? With all my heart. Is it good enough? Every day I pray it will be.

BC I thought I'd be the perfect mother to a perfect family of perfect children. Now I realize how impractical that would be. Thank Heaven for the 'real world' and the opportunity to grow and progress. I'm glad I've moved on from BC. I wouldn't trade my life now for the world.

Can you turn on the A?

So today in the car, Grins said "Mommy, can you turn on the A?" "The A/C?" I asked. "No, the AB." was the reply. We went back and forth for about 5 minutes; I kept trying to figure out what he wanted, and he was so frustrated that I didn't understand. He finally said "The ABCD!!!" and then it hit me - he wanted me to play a "CD". I love the way kids perceive things.

Kee-Cock the Killer Bird

Visiting This Is The Place Heritage Park for their "Baby Animal Days" seemed harmless enough; I mean, holding a baby chick, petting a tiny baby lamb, stroking the fur of a soft baby bunny rabbit, and taking a ride on a little pony are safe activities for little ones, wouldn't you say?

Well, Grins would beg to differ. Though he rode a pony by himself last year, this year he wouldn't get near them, even though Angel offered to ride with him! And when I placed a baby chick in his hands (at his request), he quickly pulled his hands back (fortunately I saw this one coming and caught the bird so no baby animals were harmed!!)

But the real danger at the "Baby Animal Farm"?? The "Kee-Cock". Grins has always been fascinated by peacocks - once, at Tracy Aviary, we were lucky enough to watch a mating display with the feathers, dancing, screeching - the whole nine yards. And back then, since he was 18 months old and fearless, he was positively intrigued. So much so, in fact, that we had to pry him away kicking and screaming, for fear he would be attacked. (I don't know whether or not peacocks actually attack, but I assume it is best to leave mating animals alone while they are 'doing their thing'...) Anyhow, there happened to be a couple of peacocks in a cage in the barn, just sitting there, sleeping, or whatever it is they do. There was a female, too; a pea-hen (that's really what they're called, I'm not making it up), nesting. There may have been a squawk or two, but it all seemed pretty peaceful and benign. Until that evening.

Fast forward a few hours to 3 am when I hear Grins SCREAMING bloody murder from his bedroom. This is rare for him; usually he quietly walks into our room and squeezes himself between the Mr. and me without so much as a peep. But the screaming jolted me awake and I was in his room in under a second (give or take), expecting the worst. "What is it, baby?" I asked. "The kee-cock! The kee-cock! It's twying to bite me! The kee-cock!" He was wide awake and sincerely terrified. After a few moments trying to calm him down, he would not be consoled, so I finally dragged him back to bed with me (against my better judgement).

He did fine until the next morning when, upon waking, he said "Mommy, the kee-cock tried to get me last night. Can you go get him?" "Where is he?" I asked. "In my bed" he insisted. "Why don't you come with me and show me?" Against his wishes, I nearly had to force him to come with me into his bedroom and 'show me' the peacock - or rather, that I could show HIM that it had been a figment of his imagination. When we got to his bed, he searched and searched for several moments, and finally conceded, laughing, "I must have thought my blankie was the kee-cock!"

I thought we had put it all behind us until this evening when, as I tucked him into bed, he asked "Can I have a special animal to keep me safe from the kee-cock? An animal that can BITE the kee-cock?!" He finally settled on a very convincing stuffed frog.

Wow. I think I may have to consider taking legal action against This is The Place Heritage Park, for both punitive damages to Grins' psyche as well as lack of sleep on my behalf. (I'm teasing, of course. Hopefully that goes without saying.) But seriously. I can't take this little man anywhere. I just hope his sensitivity will serve him well one day.

More Kid-isms

I know I keep saying it, but I just can't get enough of my kids. They are hilarious. They constantly have me laughing out loud which, if you know me, takes quite a bit (I'm an inward sort of a laugher, you could say...).

Today, while feeding Wiggles, I of course got peach puree and some other Unknown Substance plastered on my pants. Not wanting to leave the house that way, I said "Mommy's going to go change her pants before we go, why don't you guys run and get your shoes on.." to which Grins looked up quizzically and said "Did you wet your pants?"

I love how much my children adore each other! I hope and pray they keep this relationship forever, it is SO sweet! I was putting Wiggles down today and Grins could not stop snuggling her. I said "(Grins)! Please leave her alone! She'll never go to sleep if you keep playing with her!" He obeyed but said "But Mommy! She's just SO cute!"

Of course, Angel does her share of making me laugh too, although she doesn't always appreciate my laughter. The other day she wanted crepes for breakfast (which we had had the previous 5 days in a row, and I thought it was time for something different!!!) I said "No, let's try something different. Why don't we have eggs...or pancakes...or oatmeal?" "No!" she shouted "You are ruining my whole life!!!!!" Well, then. I suppose we had better have crepes then. I wouldn't want to be in charge of ruining my daughter's entire life now, would I?

Making me laugh..

These two constantly have me in stitches!

Today we were snuggling for quiet time and I happened to be wearing a pink shirt (Angel's favorite). She rubbed my shirt and said "Mommy, you have such a beautiful shirt." "Thank you, love!" I replied. Not wanting to be outdone by his sisters, Grins stroked the upper part of my shirt (below my shoulders, above my stomach, you get my drift) and said "Mommy, you have such a beautiful chest." "Thank you, my son" was all I could muster, stifling the laughter. "I love you, my lady." he said.

Oh, I just cannot get enough of these guys! If you haven't heard "Lullaby" by the Dixie Chicks, check it out - it reminds me of my kids! "Is forever enough?"

Things I Will Miss

Every day I realize how fast my children are growing and it makes me sad. Because, despite the fact that I can't remember the last time I slept more than 2 1/2 (ok, maybe 3) hours straight or went more than 2 hours without saying "Be nice!" or took a shower without someone crying for me...I love my life. I could not love it more...ok, the only way I could possibly enjoy myself more was if I had less house/yard work so that I could have more time with my kids. They are just incredible. Rebellious and even dare I say beligerent at times, but nonetheless amazing.

Every day I try to breathe in deep their little 'kid-isms'; adorable little things I know I'll miss when they are grown.

Like Grins saying (looking at the Nativity) "Look! It's Mary and Joseph Smith!"

Or Angel saying "I need to prastic (practice) reading more"

Or Wiggles giggling at her two older siblings, while furiously kicking her legs as if trying to join in.

Or Grins signing "Best" (ASL you point 2 thumbs up - Grins points his pointer fingers up. It is adorably hilarious.)

Or Angel writing by "sounding it out" (Hanu=Hannah, Gramu=Grandma, Mam=Mom, Pup=Puppy, Muthr=Mother, Seru=Sarah and so on).

Or Wiggles trying to sit up and falling over head first because she's top-heavy.

Or Grins saying "Thwocwet" (chocolate).

Or Angel angrily storming off after being sent to her room while stating (as if telling a story) "And she stormed off angrily to her room....and then came back and said 'sorry'." Upon which she returns and says "Sorry Mommy!" As if she's following the script in her head. Now can the script please read that she obeyed her Mommy ALL the time from that point on??!

Or Wiggles shouting angry jibberish when she's tired.

Or Grins helping me peel garlic and asking "Why does the garlic have wrapping paper on it?"

Or Angel's love for our "special time" - the time during which the other two kids are sleeping and she and I have one-on-one time during which we color together, play games, and/or practice reading.

Or Wiggles gurgling herself to sleep.

Or Grins' contant concern for the happiness and well-being of his sisters - bringing them toys, stroking their hair and saying "It's ok, sister, I'm here. (Grins) is here." (I HOPE this never changes!!)

Or Angel asking for stories about "fairies, rainbows, flowers, and everything beautiful" (her direct quote), and then proceeding to tell me specifically how the story goes (ie - a story about a princess that rides a train, and on the train was a clown who was trying to make everyone happy. And the princess was wearing a yellow dress with a purple rose on the front, and purple rose earrings. And a purple headband......)

Or their incessant laughter - contagious giggles that they pass back and forth all day long, anywhere from the middle of the prayer (I struggle SO hard, and often fail, to keep from laughing; this reminds me exactly of my sister and I growing up!) to up to an hour after I put them to bed! I laugh just thinking of it; their laughs are seriously contagious!

Yes, indeed. Life. Is. Good.

Funny....

Back in the Lindon B. Johnson era, someone said we would eventually elect a black president. A skeptic replied: "We'll elect a black president when pigs fly!"

100 days into the Obama administration headline say "Swine Flu."

The Power of Prayer

This sweet little thing is one of the greatest joys of my life. My home is full of the sounds of her contagious laughter and made up songs and jokes. I am continually in awe of her intellect and budding creativity. My walls are adorned with her beautiful artwork. I am constantly amazed by her endless energy. My heart melts as I see the love she has for her younger brother and sister. How I love this precious child.

And yet, she knows how to test her limits! This child of mine seems to personify the age old nursery rhyme "There was a little girl who had a little curl, right in the middle of her forehead. And when she was good, she was very, very good; and when she was bad, she was horrid." It seems there is no middle-of-the-road in her emotions or her behavior. No ambiguity. No mediocrity. She is either charming, loving and obedient to a fault, or else beligerently testing the number of ways in which she can simultaneously defy my authority and laugh my rules - and me - in the face. Though I haven't kept a tally, it seems that, most days, the good moments outnumber the bad....but some days I'm not so sure. In my heart of hearts I believe that, deep down, she is an amazing, talented, wonderful human being, but I often find myself wondering where I have gone wrong in teaching her love, respect and integrity.

Yesterday, while the Mr. was putting the baby down and I was reading stories to Angel and Grins, I asked Angel to please keep her noise level down. After my second warning she proceeded to look me squarely in the eye and scream at the top of her lungs. I calmly picked her up and carried her to the back deck, where I explained that her loud behavior was only acceptable outside, and that she would need to remain on the back deck until her father had finished putting the baby down (about 5 minutes lest you deem me a negligent mother). She laughed and I left, thinking some less-than-charitable thoughts about this child I nurtured in my womb. When the baby was asleep, the Mr. retrieved Angel from the deck and deposited her into bed. To my surprise, she requested I be the one to tuck her in for the night. As I stood at her bedside, I told her how much I love her and that I was sorry if I had seemed angry, but that I was simply trying to teach her acceptable behavior. She replied, "Mommy, when I was out on the deck, I prayed. Twice. And then I felt better. I forgive you. I love you." Holding back the tears, I held her for a while, then kissed her goodnight. When I told the Mr. of this, he tearfully replied that he knew; when he had gone to let her in he'd found her kneeling in prayer on the deck.

Will love and goodness prevail in this sweet, headstrong little girl's personality? I, too, am on my knees every night, pleading that it will.

WikiBridge

My brother-in-law just came up with a great idea; a way for people to list a side-by-side comparison of two 'competitors' or 'peers' (ie - Costa Vida and Cafe Rio) for others to get the 'quick and dirty' comparison. There are a couple of entries I'm thinking of submitting - one about Physician Assistant vs. Nurse Practitioners, and one about different methods of sleep training children - because those are really the only topics I know anything about - but I don't know how interesting they would be to anyone else so we'll see.

Anyway, I think it's a great idea, and it's just in the beginning phases so it's definitely open for submissions if there are any comparisons/bridges you have to offer! Check it out here!

Menu Plan Monday (on Saturday because I'm just so organized!)

The past few months have been such a whirlwind I've neglected my meal planning. I'm going to start back up again and would LOVE suggestions for kid-friendly vegetarian meals. Although the Mr. is easy to please, the kids are a bit more difficult, since their ideal meals are KRAFT macaroni & cheese (I don't like the homemade kind, Mommy!), chicken nuggets (at least they'll eat my homemade sneaky chef version!) and hot dogs (ugh! I don't know how these got on the top 3 - they've had them all of one or two times because I don't buy hot dogs; they are against my religion... well, against my own personal value system.)

Saturday - "Friend Party" for the kids; chicken nuggets, carrot and celery sticks, apple slices (the Mr. and I will finish off the week's remaining leftovers)
Sunday - dinner at our friends' house; we'll bring Gooey Butter Cake for dessert! :)
Monday - sweet corn chowder, mixed green salad, crusty bread...sneaky chef brownies with a dollop of soy dream for FHE treat
Tuesday - The Mr. has class - homemade mac 'n cheese and sweet peas for the kids, I'll pop a vegan quickie meal in for me
Wednesday - homemade creamy chicken-pesto and tofu-asparagus pizza (2 separate pies!), pear goat cheese salad, fresh fruit
Thursday - cheese fondue with crusty bread, carrots, celery, apples (any other ideas?)
Friday - I work; the Mr. is in charge! I love to see what he comes up with! ;)

Escaping Adultitis

AGES ago I posted about wanting to rid my life of "Adultitis" - "...a common condition occurring in people between the ages of 21–121, marked by chronic dullness, mild depression, moderate to extremely high stress levels, a general fear of change, and, in some extreme cases, the inability to smile." (adultitis.org) Then, Kim & Jason (learn more about them here) were kind enough to send me their Escape Plan manual, to enable me to do so. Unfortunately, due to 2 moves, the birth of my third child, and a few other small but nonetheless time-consuming events, I have procrastinated reading said manual. Until now. A few days ago I finally opened the book and how I wish I had started sooner! It is an easy read- takes just a few minutes a day - and it has truly started a change in my life! I am only a few days into it, and already I'm feeling more "free". I obviously still have a ways to go - about 36 days to be precise - but I am really enjoying it and want to recommend the book to anyone who feels a little weighed down with the pressures/cares of the world which we all face. I intend to keep reading and I'll keep you posted as my journey progresses!

By the way, check out http://kimandjason.com - they have a very fun website with TONS to do!! :)

Huh?

So the Mr. has been attempting to grow sideburns for a week or so but with very SLOW progress. It has finally started looking like slightly more than a spot he missed while shaving, but today Angel noticed it for the first time. She was sitting in his lap when she suddenly reached up and stroked the growth with her hand, with the most quizzical look on her face. "What is THAT?" she wondered aloud. "Daddy's trying to grow some facial hair" I responded. "Why?" was her only response. "So he'll look cool." "Huh?" she replied. I know, my dear. I know.

A Woman's Tear

If you haven't heard this, I thought it was worth sharing: (author unknown)

A Woman's Tear

A little boy asked his mother, 'Why are you crying?' 'Because I'm a woman,' she told him. 'I don't understand,' he said. His Mom just hugged him and said, 'And you never will.'

Later the little boy asked his father, 'Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?' 'All women cry for no reason,' was all his dad could say.

The little boy grew up and became a man, wondering why women cry. Finally he put in a call to God. When God got on the phone, he asked, 'God, why do women cry so easily?'

God said: 'When I made the woman she had to be special.' 'I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world, yet gentle enough to give comfort. 'I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times
comes from her children.
'I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up, and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without complaining.
'I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances,
even when her child has hurt her very badly.
'I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her
from his rib to protect his heart.
'I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him unfalteringly.
'And finally, I gave her a tear to shed. This is hers exclusively to use
whenever it is needed. That tear holds more then men could understand.
'For a woman's tear is full of unconditional love, power,sacrifice,beauty,pain,and compassion, all ten fold of what a Man is able to feel.'
'She's my gift to the world; she's an Angel on Earth. Love her and praise her, for there will be no other here on Earth that will Love you like I do than your Mother.

'You see my son,' said God, 'The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.' The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart - the place where love resides."

Easter Celebrations

Easter weekend was beautiful; though a bit on the chilly side, at least it didn't snow, and the sun even graced us with it's presence for a few hours!

Saturday, the Mr. was at the hospital (what's new?) so I took the kids to a local Easter Egg hunt. The sign said "10am sharp" and they weren't kidding - they had all the kids stand behind a ribbon at at 10:00 on the dot they cut the ribbon and let 'em all loose. I'm not sure how many kids were there, but the hunt lasted all of about 90 seconds - if you blinked you probably missed it. Lucky for us we were on time for once. The 'big kids' were fast, seasoned 'egg-hunters' and therefore scored most of the goods but fortunately my kids were content with their 3 eggs each just for the novelty of it all. (I'm glad they aren't yet to the stage where everything has to be exactly "fair"!) The thing that thrilled them most of all was the real, live bunny someone brought (on a leash!) - Grins was convinced it was the Easter Bunny himself! Wiggles enjoyed the hunt because I carried her in the front pack and let her have her binkie the whole time; she was in heaven!













Sunday, the children woke up before dawn even thought about cracking (a new trend these days....super!) Because it was a holiday, and to allow myself a shower, I let them watch "He is Risen" which they of course enjoyed since screen time is such a rare treat. We ate a quick breakfast and then donned our easter finery and headed off to church - the only TRUE way to celebrate Easter, I would say, it symbolizing the Resurrection and all.













We came home from church and found that the easter bunny had left some 'goods' which the children were of course thrilled about! Then we headed to Oma and Opa's house for Easter dinner. For dinner, we made 'easter tomb biscuits', in which you wrap a marshmallow inside a piece of biscuit dough and then bake; the marshmallow symbolizes Jesus' body, and the biscuit is the tomb. We also sprinkled butter, cinnamon and sugar on top, symbolizing the oil and spices with which Jesus' body was annointed. When an uncle asked why we were adding spices, Grins answered "So the body doesn't STINK!" After baking the biscuit, you open it to find the 'tomb' empty. Angel and Grins were a bit disappointed that their favorite part of the biscuit had disappeared, despite our reminding them "He is not here, but is risen!" Finally, Grins got it and said "Did Jesus melt?" We got a kick out of that.

I've decided that, with my little loverlies around, there is never a dull moment! I truly don't know what I would do without these sweet little angels in my life! I am SO grateful for Easter and what it means to me to know that, because Jesus was resurrected and lives again, death is not the end. That knowledge is truly the greatest gift I've ever known, and I can't imagine living without it - especially now that I have such precious children whom I so dearly love!

Draper Temple Open House

My kids, especially Angel, were SO excited to attend the open house of the Draper LDS Temple. (for more information on LDS temples click here.) Since this is a rare and special occasion for us, we all got dressed in our Sunday best and made the (somewhat long) drive out there. The children thoroughly enjoyed the tour, which is a 'silent' tour with minimal talking, and crowds just walking through quietly, pondering in their hearts the beauty surrounding them and the feelings within their hearts. The Mr. and I exchanged more than one tearful glance as we thought of what temples mean to us, and reminisced on our most special day in the Portland LDS temple nearly 8 years ago when we were married and sealed for eternity. We were pleased with how well each child did - considering the whole ordeal took a few hours (an hour in the car, a half hour at the church, waiting for the bus, a few minutes on the bus, then another hour or so in the temple, WALKING, not running, being QUIET! - not the way our children usually spend their afternoons by any stretch of the imagination!) Then, as we neared the end of the tour, we took a moment to sit in one of the larger and, in my opinion, most beautiful rooms of the temple. We asked the children to think about how they were feeling so we could discuss it later. We all sat for a moment until I suddenly noticed, in the corner of my eye, that our sweet little Grins was jumping on the couch!! Stifling a laugh at our spirited child who was rejoicing in the spirit of the temple in his own little way, the Mr. and I quickly grabbed him and held him close so as not to preserve the quiet, reverent nature of the room and building. Right after that, we proceeded to the last room of the tour, where a sweet 'mature' couple shared their memories of their own temple marriage many years ago. As they spoke, our little Wiggles proceeded to FILL her diaper. Very loudly. Very obviously. Very smelly. We found it interesting that she would wait until that very quiet moment to clear her bowels. The Mr. and I could barely contain our laughter and were relieved when the couple finished their remarks so we could quickly remove ourselves from the building and let loose. Some may find us irreverent, but I know that there is a special place in the Lord's heart for sweet little children, and, in my heart of hearts, I think he just may have been laughing with us.

David after Dentist

So, I'm too computer illiterate to figure out how to post a you-tube video on here (I'm sure it's incredibly easy but I'm just clueless - feel free to clue me in and I'll update it!) but, if you haven't already seen it, you should really watch "David after Dentist" on YouTube. The original, by booba1234. I don't usually laugh out loud but this one had me crying. Seriously. If you're stressed it's some great stress relief. And if you're not, it's just plain funny.

Pay it Forward Spring Surprise

OK, I know the picture has nothing to do with the post, but I'll never pass up an opportunity to show off my kids, and I hate posting without a pic...

"Paying it forward" - I saw this idea on my aunt's blog, and thought it looked fun so I agreed to pass it on, so here goes:

The first three people to comment on this post will be the lucky recipients of something cleverly handmade by me, to be gifted in the near future.

And here's the only catch. In order for you to comment and be a receiver, you must post this same "deal" on your own blog to keep it going. That way, we can all get a little springtime cheer. And, I'll add my own little wish, which is that you'll post what you made, too, because that would be fun to know.

I'm off to think, think, think about whether I'll cook, sew, craft, or or or . . . . Watch for my post on what I've gifted and I'll be watching for yours!