Dinosaurs

Forgive the poor quality of my cell phone photo, but I LOVE this picture - Angel's arm around Grins' shoulder, the staged scared looks on their faces - it's just too much!

The kids ADORE the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point. If it weren't so far away and so ridiculously expensive, we would definitely go more often....but maybe the novelty is what keeps it exciting. I love my kids' enthusiasm for learning...I only hope it rubs off on me!

Reading

I am so delighted with my childrens' love of reading. Although I no longer read (for pleasure) nearly as much as I used to, simply due to lack of time, reading is one of my greatest pleasures in life. I remember, as a child, curling up on the couch with a good book, and getting lost in it's pages; completely losing track of time as I devoured every word, interrupted only by chores and mealtimes. Ah, the joys and freedoms of youth. These days, my reading has taken on a completely different nature. That is, I read the same books over and over and over again. To and with my children. Fortunately there are a great many books we read and love, so that at least we have some variety. And I SO enjoy reading with my children that I don't mind the repetition. But we have finally entered a new phase of reading....that of chapter books.

The Mr. was so excited when, a few months ago, I suggested he begin reading a few chapters to Angel and Grins each night. This brings back fond memories of his youth as well. So we took a trip to one of our happiest places on earth - the library - to see what we could come up with. It was somewhat difficult, though, to figure out what books were interesting/age-appropriate/etc. for our children. I know you can (almost) never go wrong with a "classic" so we started there....

We started with "Heidi" but for some reason the children quickly lost interest, so that one only lasted a few nights. So we moved onto some of our own childhood favorites. We read BFG but it required quite a bit of editing. James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, though not "classics", were both big hits. Now we're nearly through "The Boxcar Children" which the children are devouring ("Just ONE more chapter, PLEASE!!!!?") So, my fellow book-lovers, I need your recommendations. What books have your 3-5 year olds loved? We're heading to the library in a few days and I would love any input!!

Happy Halloween!

Best Wishes for an Incredible Halloween....from our family to yours!

What does 11 months look like?

~Spider crawling (left knee, right foot) everywhere at the speed of light
~Holding up your hand and saying "Ha-ee" to anyone and everyone you see, repeatedly
~Endlessly giggling at your silly big brother
~Mystified by snow - and eating it every chance you can get (and anything else you can get into your mouth!)
~Handing people items, and wanting them given back to you immediately (to the frustration of your older siblings)
~Emptying any cupboard and/or shelf within your reach
~Standing on tiptoes to reach the tops of tables and shelves, so you can empty them too
~Craning your neck around to look directly at the person holding you (usually Mom)
~Wanting to be involved in everything your older brother and sister are!
~Loving snuggles, but wanting plenty of independent time, too!
~Crawling across the room just to say "Ha-ee" to Mom, then crawling back to finish emptying the toy box you were working on
~Taking a few cautious steps here and there - but prefering your "spider monkey crawl" because it's so much faster
~Never sitting still - busy every minute!

Wiggles, you are BEAUTIFUL! We love you SO much, and you have brought such joy, love and laughter to our home! How did we ever get by without you?!

We aim to please...

I normally try to refrain from sharing our family's 'private' moments, but I definitely want to jot this one down before it's forgotten in the archives of family laughs.

Grins has become quite proficient at using the toilet on his own (he's been toilet-trained for quite a while but until recently required assistance.) The other day, however, I heard him crying in the bathroom, and calling out to me. Concerned, I immediately ran to see what he needed,and was surprised to find him sitting on the toilet with water in his eyes and all over his face, crying.

"What happened, Grins?"

"I got potty in my eyes!"

Taken completely aback, I paused, tried not to laugh and said "What? How?"

"I was trying to watch the potty come out and it squirted me!" he said, angrily.

We got him cleaned up and things were back to normal in no time, but as I shared it with the Mr. later that night we both had a very long laugh. I think I've laughed more since having kids than in all my previous adult years combined.

First Snow of the Season

Autumn seemed much too short this year. It seems the leaves scarcely had time to change colors and begin falling when, suddenly, the temperature dropped and I could almost taste the impending snow. The children were, of course, delighted when the first flakes of snow started to appear. Before you could say "look outside!" they were donning hats, gloves, boots and snowpants, and taking a stool to the door to unlock the chain (my latest attempt at keeping them from leaving without my knowledge) and free themselves from the warm confines of our apartment to the blistery cold outside. I begrudingly dressed Wiggles and myself (no small feat, since she lives up to her name, especially while being dressed!) and headed out the door. I must admit that, despite my wistfull longing for a longer autumn, watching the children gleefully run around scooping up snow, making snowmen and snow angels, and screaming "THANK YOU JESUS" while looking heavenward did manage to lift my spirits. And it was beautiful; The snowflakes falling, the white blanket covering the earth, and, most of all, my children dancing.


**Later that day, once we were back inside, Angel asked if we could send a Thank You card to Jesus and Heavenly Father for the "beautiful gift of snow". I smiled and told her that was so thoughtful, but asked how she thought we might deliver it, since no mailman I know of ventures quite that far. She paused for a moment, and then said "We could send it up in a balloon." She was so sincere that, though I'm opposed to the sending up of balloons due to environmental reasons, at that moment I nearly considered it! I think I managed to talk her into "praying" the Thank You message instead...

All I Want for Christmas...

While driving home from the "happiest place on earth" (otherwise known as COSTCO; I seriously love that place even much more than Disneyland, don't you?!) the other day, I mentioned a few of my 'wish list' items to the Mr, which started the wheels spinning in the childrens' heads.

Soon, Angel informed us that, for Christmas, she wants "A baby doll" because, despite the fact that she already has 17 (I kid you not!), her 'family' won't be complete without another. (Move over, Mrs. Duggar!) We asked Grins what he was wishing for and he said "A newborn baby boy doll".

Really?

I mean, he loves to play dolls, paint his nails and dress up nearly as much as his sister (no lie) but he's never asked for his OWN dolls/nailpolish/tutus; he's always been content using hers while getting CARS and TRAINS and DINOSAURS - not to mention a SWORD - as his gifts of choice. So we were momentarily surprised, but we went with it.

Oh, that would be nice Grins.

Yeah.

What would you name your baby boy doll?

Actually, I want a REAL baby boy. Not a dolly. A real boy.

You want a baby brother?

Yeah. I want that the most, more than anything.


Ummmmm.....PLEASE tell me we aren't going to reenact "Miracle on 34th Street" this year.... I mean, I'd be fine if the Jolly Old St. Nick hooked us up with a new house, but I sincerely hope Grins won't be sitting on Santa's lap saying "All I want for Christmas is a baby brother. Please??!" I'd hate for him to realize Santa's a farce so early on in his childhood career!!

Coming soon....

Pictures. And posts. I promise.

Lately...

Quiz:

My lack of posting lately has been due to my: (multiple choice; choose as many as apply. Answers posted in comment section)

a) playing travel agent and booking the Mr.'s many (11 and counting) residency interview trips (airline, hotel, rental car, etc.) - I'm becoming quite savvy on bing travel, let me tell you

b) wistfully kissing my baby goodbye as she works on walking, talking, asserting her independence, making her opinion (well) known, pushing out teeth, emptying the cupboards a bazillion times a day.... (where DID that baby gate go??!!)

c) sitting on the couch, watching soap operas, and eating bon-bons (that's what "stay-at-home moms" do, right?)

d) trying to create fun, learning activities to keep Angel and Grins entertained and busy every day

e) feeling pleased with the progress Angel's made in her reading and writing capabilities but occassionally realizing how much easier it was to shelter her before she could read (Mommy, what does s-e-x-y mean?)

f) trying to fit in exercise and personal meditation/study

g) cutting Grins' hair and trying to 'fix' it every other day, since he has very fine, straight hair (difficult to cut and still look nice) and he entertains a very intense phobia of anyone (including me, but especially anyone other than me) coming near him with scissors and/or clippers

h) trying to keep up on laundry, healthy meals, home cleanliness, etc.

i) being constantly amazed at how sweet my little Grins is!

j) planning lessons and field trips for Angel and Grins' preschool

k) trying to keep the ward Primary running smoothly (fortunately not on my own!)

l) getting ready for Halloween

m) trying to save $$ whilst keeping the family fed and clothed

n) needing to get family pictures done!

o) trying to come up with new/exciting Family Home Evening lessons which teach the concepts we currently need to learn (you can only say "Listen to your parents" and "Be nice to your siblings" so many ways before the kids realize you're teaching the same lesson over and over!)

p) chauffering the kids to dentist and doctor appointments (and offering emotional support for Grins' intense fear of opening his mouth to a white-gloved stranger)

q) speaking of intense fear, trying to remember to get Grins to use the restroom before we run errands so we don't have to deal with his even more intense fear of automatic flushing toilets

r) LOVING how well Grins and Angel are getting along now - arguments are increasingly less frequent, and giggles are INCREASINGLY more infectious!

s) shopping for Christmas

t) trying to supress my own laughter at their antics while reminding the children to take the silliness down a notch (during such times as dinner and family devotional)

u) loving the opportunity to be home with my children, nurturing them, loving them, and watching them grow right before my eyes

v) procrastinating putting together Christmas cards because I still need the "perfect" idea

w) spending hours (literally! it's too addictive!) every night snuggling Angel and Grins, because they are just so precious and I never want to forget how tightly they cling to me, nor how delicate their sweet little bodies feel inside my arms

x) trying to teach kids the value of serving others through weekly "service" activities (mailing cards, delivering treats, feeding the needy, visiting sick/elderly) and loving watching them gain a testimony and appreciation of how rewarding it can be

y) laughing at the many, many silly/funny/cute things they come up with!! (stay tuned for a coming post on that!)

z) working on an e-newsletter for the Medical Student Alliance each month - and then re-doing it when my computer changes it all (I am SO not mac-savvy!)

1) desperately needing to upload and organize pictures on my camera/computer so I can resume posting our 'exciting adventures' (I loathe posting without a pic!)

2) calling my mom almost daily because I miss her and cherish her knowledge and sage wisdom, and sometimes just hearing her voice is enough

3) wondering what I ever did to deserve three incredible children who are blossoming into such amazing people despite my feeble attempts at parenting

4) wishing I did more - yet wanting to "simplify" - and occasionally beating myself up over it - but learning to be happy and find a delicate balance between enough and too much

5) blogging (occasionally) so I can remember the days which turn to weeks and months which will someday be a blur of years, but remain precious memories I want to preserve

6) thanking the Lord, every day, for my incredible life.

And the Winner Is....

Nichole Seiler!!! Yeah, Nichole! (Insert applause here). Hope you and Jake enjoy the show! Please give me your email address (post in a comment or message me on Facebook) and I'll email you the tickets.

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.