Wiggles the blue-eyed reindeer

My parents have a cute, miniature sleigh in their Christmas things that they've had for years - I remember it being under the tree every Christmas of my childhood for as long as I can remember. This past Christmas, Wiggles fell in love with it. She wanted to sit in it 24 hours a day. If anyone tried to remove her from it - or take it away - she threw an enormous fit. It was hilarious. We finally gave in and, except for meals or sleep, left her alone. And when we finally found some reindeer antlers I just couldn't resist. (It's funny, in this picture she totally has the 'deer in the headlights' look since she just unrolled every bit of ribbon she could get her hands on)

Dancing the Day Away

This picture is from exactly one year ago -

Angel was dressed up as a ballerina so Grins decided he wanted to be a ballerina as well. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately for him) this picture doesn't do justice to his black hair ribbon and black tutu (although you can see them if you look very closely.)

Today, Angel stepped out of her room donning her too-small tutu, wanting desperately to learn to dance like a "real" ballerina. To begin, we looked up "nutcracker" on youtube and watched a portion of the dance of the sugar plum fairies featuring Natalya Arkhipova. Grins watched for a moment then said "That's a MOMMY, not a girl" ('Mommy' in this case is code for 'woman' as opposed to young girl). He watched, enchanted, and then said "She is SO beautiful. I just want to.....(a short pause during which I was nervous about what he might come up with)...I just want to dance with her, she's so beautiful."

That's my little gentleman for you. He never fails at making me smile.

Angel then said "I want to dance with her, too!" To which Grins replied "No, girls don't dance with girls! She's mine!"

Later, as we tried to repeat her repeated twirling-in-a-circle (she probably spun at least 20 times in a row! I'm sure there's a dance term for it), none of us could spin more than a few times before falling due to dizziness. Angel remarked "That ballerina must have spun at least 13 times! She must be undizzy-able!"

Happy Valentine's Day!

I love Valentine's Day - I don't consider myself super romantic, but I love that there is a special occasion to say "I love you" to the important people in your life. Although the Mr. and I did enjoy an evening out with just the two of us, we mostly celebrated as a family. I love watching our children get into the holidays; holidays are SO much more fun with kids! This year, at the request of Angel, we had a "pink and red" dinner, which consisted of Raspberry chicken, pink mashed potatoes, rolls with strawberry jam, cabbage (dyed pink), beets, fresh strawberries, sparkling cranberry juice, and raspberry danish dessert. Then the "love bug" hit our home, leaving a web of strings throughout the house, one string for each person leading to their Valentine treat. We finished off the evening with my favorite part; the family 'gift' exchange. Last week, I let Angel and Grins each pick valentine 'gifts' for each family member - they ended up choosing treats rather than actual gifts, but it was so cute: They each chose a heart Pez dispenser for their sibling (probably because they each wanted one themselves, but it was very thoughtful). They each got Reese's pieces for the Mr. (they obviously know him well) and a heart of chocolates for me. My favorite, though, were the cards they made (especially Angel). I suggested they write the person's name on the front of the heart, and then something they loved about the person on the back. Grins needed some coaxing but Angel worked independently for nearly an hour and I was so impressed with her thoughtfulness.

Grins:

Mom - I love your kindness.

"Dab" (the one word he actually wrote) - I love Daddy the most.

Angel - I love her because she's kind.

Wiggles - She's SO cute.

Angel:

Mom - "i love U bEcus U Drus ep" (I love you because you dress up with me.)

Dad - "i love U bab! bEcus u ticel Me" (I love you dad because you tickle me)

Grins - "i love U BYCUS U MAK Me LAF" (I love you because you make me laugh.)

Wiggles - "i love U BEecus u LAF AT JOCS" (I love you because you laugh at my jokes.)

Oodles of hugs and kisses were shared, songs about love and family were sung, and Angel and Grins informed us that they "love Heavenly Father and Jesus most of all, more than anyone or anything else in the whole wide world." We have such amazing children and such a happy family! I love it! :)

Something Heavy

Tonight while getting ready for bed, Angel came to me and said, "I'm carrying something heavy in my heart." "Oh no! That's too bad! Would you like to tell me about it?" I asked, wondering what she was worried about. "It's a feeling, a heavy, sad feeling inside my heart." "Why?" I inquired. "It's a heavy, sad feeling about [Grins] not wanting to wear the jammies I picked out for him."

Wow. If only my greatest sadness were such.

My Sisters

I have been so blessed with such wonderful sisters...some through birth, others through marriage. My sweet sisters Mary and Niesha heard that my birthday was boring and uneventful and they wanted me to feel special, so they surprised me with a birthday visit, complete with balloons, lunch and treats, today. It was SO unexpected and SO sweet! I love the Mr's side of the family SO much! It's incredible how well we all get along. If we have to leave Utah it will be painful. We are having the hardest time putting our match list together because we have two great families, miles apart, and we want to live near both!

Autism and Vaccinations

Alison Singer, co-founder and president of the Autism Science Foundation (She also has a daughter and an older brother with autism), speaks out on the risk of autism in response to vaccinations here.

Check it out!

New Quiet Time Idea

Grins woke up SO early today that he fell asleep in the car on our way home from an activity at NOON! This is SO unlike him - I can rarely get him to fall asleep for his nap before 2 or 3 (and by then it's too late; if he naps then he's up all night!) Even though he's at the "nap vs no nap" transition stage, I still (try to) enforce a "Quiet Time" with the older 2 - reading books or playing quietly in their beds or mine for about an hour. Lately I've been feeling under the weather and needing naps of my own so when the kids actually adhere to "Quiet Time" guidelines (as in, they are QUIET and not fighting or screeching with laughter at one another's hilariousness) it is quite nice.

Today, however, was HEAVEN. Since Grins had already taken a nap, I was worried I wouldn't be able to convince him to have quiet time. Initially he resisted, but when I told him he could sit in my bed and read with me, he finally consented. Then he noticed a bottle of lotion on my nightstand. "Can I have some lotion?" he asked. "Sure." I replied, hoping it would buy me a few minutes of quiet. A minute later my quiet was interrupted with "Can I rub it on you, Mommy?" "OK" I again consented, hoping for at least another minute of shut-eye. What ensued then was the heavenly part. He proceeded to spend the next 10 minutes or so softly rubbing my arms, hands, feet, back and legs. It was the most soothing 10 minutes I've had all week! It was awesome! My own little personal Quiet Time Masseuse - and free, no less! Why didn't I think of this before?! I think we'll need to make this a daily tradition. :) OK, let's face it, the novelty would wear off really fast for Grins, but it was certainly a sweet little moment today. I love my little man!

This Boy keeps me laughing...

So, I realize most of my posts lately have been about Grins, but he is just at the age of hilarious little sayings and I've got to write them down while they're fresh in my mind. So, forgive me for the repetition, but at least my kids are creative, right??....

The other night, while snuggling together in his bed, Grins said:
G: "I can't wait until I grow up into a Daddy!"
Me: "Why? What do you want to do as a Daddy that you can't to right now?"
G: "Sleep in YOUR bed with you!"

(After sneezing): "Excuse me, I blessed!" (he calls sneezes "bless"-es, because we say "bless you" after one.

(In response to me wincing and rubbing my thigh after banging it on the chair) "Oh Mommy, is your CHUB ok?" (It took me a minute to realize what he was saying and then I put it all together: I am constantly pinching Wiggles' thighs and saying "I love this little CHUB!!!!" - so Grins's interpretation was that chub=thigh. And, unfortunately, my thighs support this theory. :) Still, I find it funny.

On the way to a friend's Retirement Party, the children asked "What does 'retirement' mean?" I explained that Retirement is when a (usually "mature") person has worked for a long time and is ready to stop working and stay home. The kids (especially Angel) could simply not grasp this concept: "But, WHY would they want to do that? What are they going to do staying at home all day? That does not sound fun at all! Why are they having a party about that?...."

29 {gasp}

So, today I'm another year older, which causes me to pause and think. What have I learned this past year?

Well, this may be a short list for 365 days worth of lessons, but off the top of my head (and in no particular order), I've learned that:

~ My children matter more to me than ANYTHING else. And I should certainly treat them as such.
~ I have the most incredible husband I could ever have hoped for. He is truly wonderful.
~ I am starting to get wrinkles. I don't like it.
~ My testimony is strengthened through trials. I wish it didn't take trials for it to grow stronger, but I am grateful for any opportunity to strengthen my testimony, so "come what may"...
~ I don't care nearly as much about what other people think as I used to (but I still probably care more than I should!)
~ My children are SO MUCH FUN! I seriously LOVE spending time with them!
~ I think I should put more into relationships with friends, because they really enrich my life in so many ways!
~ I need to be more sensitive to the needs of those around me. (In the words of Thomas Jefferson, "May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I fail to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion." )
~ I should back up my computer. MUCH more often!
~ I actually like living in Utah. I never thought I would, but now it feels like home!!
~ I need to get better at letting go of objects - decluttering, etc. Why am I such a packrat? I guess moving is good for something!
~ I have actually really enjoyed our medical school life! I can honestly say I'm going to miss it! (parts of it, at least)
~ I need to exercise more. I'm getting better at it...but still have much room for improvement.
~ I still want to run a marathon. c'mon, woman, get going already!!!!
~ I am completely at peace with my life right now.
~ I am not a perfect mother, and that's ok. I really am doing my best (most days....)!
~ My mother is amazing. I don't have any idea how she has pulled off everything she has, and how she is still going so strong! I respect her more than almost anyone else I know. ("All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my Angel Mother." ~Abraham Lincoln)
~ I love reading.
~ I love sewing.
~ I love cooking.
~ I love having babies and raising children. It is SO hard sometimes, but more fulfilling and rewarding than anything I've ever done or could ever hope to do. Truly!
~ I wish I had more patience, especially with my children. I am REALLY working on that.
~ There is SO much beauty and goodness in the world.
~ I have so many ideas of things I want to create, and so little time to work on them.
~ I love where I live right now - surrounded by wives of students who really understand what I'm going through! In some ways I want to stay here forever!
~ I want my kids to have so many opportunities in life....but still grow up humble, appreciating the simple things and being grateful for every thing they have!
~ I want to be involved in revolutionizing Health Care Reform but I don't have any great ideas about how to go about it!
~ I want to be more politically active.
~ I really love my life. I am SO blessed and have SO much to be grateful for!

Anyway, a special thanks to the Mr. for making my birthday so special! He always knows just what I need!!!

Menu Plan Monday

Here's what's cooking at our house this week:

Sunday: Stuffed Pork tenderloin, roasted potatoes, steamed carrots, steamed peas, fresh fruit, fresh baked rolls
Monday: Mr. on call - kids choice
Tuesday: The Mr. is surprising me (my birthday; I'm off the hook!)
Wednesday: White bean tortilla soup, sweet corn, avocado, tortilla chips, melon slices
Thursday: Mexican Lasagne, santa fe green salad, steamed mixed veggies, pineapple
Friday: Homemade whole wheat vegetable-stuffed calzones, tossed green salad, berries
Saturday: Mr. on call - kids choice

What would you do?? Clever quips needed, please!

The other day I took my three children (ages 5,3 and 1) and a friend's two children (ages 5 & 3) to local Children's Museum downtown while my friend waited in line for tickets to Disney on Ice. We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, and after several hours of fun at the museum, the kids (5 in all!) and I all hopped aboard the train to go claim our tickets. The children, though energetic, were well-behaved, warmly dressed, and obedient of all traffic laws (walking down the platform, waiting at crosswalks, etc.) I thought things were going rather well until a stranger stared at me, then the children, then back at me in obvious disgust. I ignored his rude behavior and, instead, cheerfully smiled and said "Hello!" as we passed. He continued to follow me with his eyes, too (something, I'm not sure what, but not too polite by any means!) to actually speak to me, but certainly wanting me to know how much he disapproved and even abhorred me for having 5 children. As we walked away, I wondered why his disapproval bothered me so much. I mean, first of all, why would I possibly care what he, a complete stranger, thought of me? Secondly, they (obviously!) weren't all my children anyway. So why was I even giving his behavior a second thought? (This reminds me of a time a few years ago when, walking into church with my baby and 2 year old, a man leaving the church said "Wow! Talk about over-population!" I thought "Seriously? Because of 2 children?")

I still wonder, and I'm trying to let it go, but since then, I've been replaying the situation over and over in my head, trying to think of an appropriate response to him. I mean, it hasn't been the first time someone has commented on how "many" children I have, and it's not likely to be the last (especially once we leave Utah!)

Once I got past the childish "Ya got a problem, dude?" and "What? Didn't your momma love you?" comments, I decided that I should have simply said "What, 5? I'm just getting started!" But, I would love to hear any ideas on how to appropriately respond so that I can politely let my own opinion (about how wonderful children are) be heard, since so many people are so free to share their dislike of large families. Or, is silence golden, in this case?

R.I.P.

We witnessed a death today.....the death of our 6-yr-old computer. We try not to get so attached to our worldly possessions, but this was tragic because, you see, there were thousands and thousands of photographs of our sweet little beautiful, adorable children. We do backup pictures onto CDs every so often, but we've gone too long without backing things up. So sad. FORTUNATELY we still have the originals (our children) so we'll be able to take more pictures and we can still enjoy their adorability (I know, not really a word...).

Anyhow, I'm posting this is to explain the reasoning behind the lack of pictures in the next several (possibly many) posts. I don't mean to be boring....really, I don't. But words will just have to do for now.

Record Keeping

Today I'm blogging over at Savvy Mom Saves. You can read today's post on Record Keeping here.

Have a great Tuesday!

Skiing

Since we are very likely enjoying our last winter in Utah (and because Utah does, afterall, boast the "best snow on earth", we decided to 'hit the slopes' last week. (Did you know you can Ski Free at Alta?) Although 3 of us were beginners (can you tell which 3?!?) we had a blast! (although the Mr. and I definitely felt it in our backs the next day)! I definitely hope we'll be able to do it again sometime!

Angel was very scared at first, but said "I can be brave" and even tried skiing by herself! I was so proud of her courage in trying something new! (even though she did take a couple of spills)








Grins was quite hesitant the whole time - and we felt so bad when he took a couple of really bad face plants - but he was such a sport! He kept hanging in there and when we were done, we asked "Did you have fun?" "Yeah, a little bit." he said. "It was a little bit scary, too." What a trooper!

Because the Mr. is MUCH more experienced than I am, both kids strongly preferred him
(as in, they pretty much refused to ski with me towards the end). So at the end, I went alone while the Mr. took both kids! What a dad, huh?

We really did have fun, despite the kids faces here!
(after a couple of hours, we were cold and tired!)

Menu Plan Monday

Here's what's cooking at our house this week:

Sunday: Breakfast for dinner (vegetarian (and turkey sausage for the kids) omelets, whole wheat toast, fruit salad, yogurt
Monday: Picnic at the Park (we're going Ice Skating at the Gallivan Plaza Skating Party for FHE)
Tuesday: Broccoli cheese soup, rolls, tossed green salad
Wednesday: Scallops, mashed potatoes, steamed cabbage, mangos
Thursday: White bean chili, strawberry spinach salad
Friday: Haben brot, mixed veggies
Saturday: Leftovers

The Mind of a BOY

(This picture is totally unrelated to the post....just a funny shot of my little man!)

The other night we were reading the scriptures as a family when we came to the story of Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Jesus. As we read (and stopped to explain), Grins (who appeared to be daydreaming with his mind elsewhere) quickly jerked his head up and angrily exclaimed "I'm going to kick him in the tushy!" The Mr., mistakenly thinking Grins was expressing disrespect toward the Savior, reprimanded him sayimg, "I never want to hear you say disrespectful things about Jesus." "No!" Grins explained. "I want to kick JUDAS in the tushy for being mean to Jesus!"

We all got a few chuckles out of that one.

These are a few of {her} Favorite Things....

In honor of "Angel's" 5th Birthday, here is a list of her current favorites (in her words):

Favorite Color: "Pink, orange, purple....pretty much the whole rainbow, actually."

Favorite Food: Corn Dogs and cooked carrots with salt and butter

Favorite Dessert: Strawberry Shortcake

Favorite Thing To Do: Watch Movies (great. we try to limit TV to twice per month and now it's her favorite.)

Favorite Movie: My Little Pony

Favorite Thing To Do Besides TV: "Play House where I'm the Mom and (Grins) is the Dad. And I also love playing where we lift up (Grins') mattress and play on the wood slats." (see picture)

Favorite Book: Fairy Tales - and stories Daddy makes up for me at bedtime

Favorite Person in the whole wide world (no coaxing here, I promise!): Daddy

"Angel" through the years...

(I saw this idea on a friend's blog and thought it was so cute!
Although it is nearly impossible to choose just one picture per year!)

"Angel" - 2 minutes old

"Angel", 6 months old



"Angel", 1 year old




"Angel", 2 years old



"Angel", 3 years old



"Angel", 4 years old




"Angel", 5 years old

Happy Birthday, Angel!

Dear "Angel",

My sweet firstborn! I love you SO much! You are the reason I am a mother.

I still remember vividly the day I first learned of your existence! It was June 2004 and I was on break from PA school. Your father and I were visiting Grandma and Grandpa in Oregon. One day, while shopping, I told Grandma of my suspicion of a life inside me. But I'd had that same suspicion so many times before I was careful not to get my hopes up. Grandma, however, bought a pregnancy test "just in case" and urged me to take the test as soon as we got home! When we got back to Grandma and Grandpa's house, Daddy was downstairs on the computer. I ran upstairs and took the test, while Grandma waited patiently in her bedroom. As soon as I saw the line in the box, my hand started shaking and I started to cry. I couldn't believe my eyes! I ran out and showed the test to Grandma and started crying.

She hugged me and asked "Why are you crying?"
"Because I'm so scared!" I sobbed.
"It's OK!" She said. "You can do this! We'll help you! It's going to be ok. This is wonderful news!"

I composed myself and then she asked "How are you going to tell (The Mr.)?"

I didn't want to wait another minute to tell your Daddy but I wanted it to be special, so I jumped into the car and ran up to the store. I picked up a pint of Daddy's favorite ice cream (B&J NYSFC) and then walked over to the "BABY" aisle - a completely foreign section of the store to me, up to that point. As soon as I saw all the little baby toys, bottles, diapers, etc. a wave of nausea suddenly overcame me. What was I thinking, having a baby? This couldn't possibly be real...and yet, there I was. I don't know what I was looking for, but suddenly I found it - the perfect thing: a rubber duckie. Your father's favorite animal is the duck (because, as it glides through the river, the water just runs off it's back. Nothing can get a duck down...it just steadily makes it's way through the river.) Anyway, I knew the duck would be perfect, so I grabbed it and went.

When I got home, Daddy was still on the computer (I believe he was studying for the MCAT at the time). Grandma was waiting and she ran into the kitchen to give us some privacy. I called Daddy up to the living room and, as casually as I could, said "I picked up a couple of things I thought you might like."

"What? Why? What's the occasion?" he wondered, slightly puzzled since this seemed to come out of nowhere.

"Well, I knew you'd love this," I said, handing him the ice cream, "So I got it for you. (pause) And this (holding out the duck) is for the baby." I finished, as I began to cry.

Daddy pulled me into his arms and said "What? What baby?! You're going to have a baby?!" And we stood there hugging and crying together, awestruck by the miracle of you.

The next few days were spent excitedly sharing the news with family and friends. We got Grandpa a little statue that said "World's Best Grandpa" and gave it to him at our favorite Hawaiian restaurant. We told Uncle Micah that, though he was still welcome to live with us, his room would soon become a nursery. And when we told Aunt Abbie (at the cabin), she squealed with delight and started rubbing my belly.

We couldn't think of anything else. Suddenly, our whole world - our whole existence - centered around you! We ate, breathed, slept and talked about YOU. It was wonderful. I can't remember ever having been more excited about anything in my life.

And then you were born. I didn't think it was possible for me to love someone SO much. I mean, I love your father, of course, but my love for him developed gradually, over years of time. My love for you was so strong, so instantaneous, and so powerful it almost hurt. You were more beautiful than anything I had ever seen....more precious than anything I could have imagined. Which is why we had such a difficult time naming you - no name we had ever heard seemed special enough for you. We started searching for names which meant "precious" because that's what everyone called you. And when we heard the Hawaiian word for "precious" we instantly knew it was perfect.

Now, five years later, I can't imagine my life without you. You have brought more joy to me than I ever could have dreamed. You are so sweet, so thoughtful, so considerate of others. You are very passionate with your emotions (both good and bad). You love pretty "girly" things (like dressing up, butterflies, princesses and fairies) but you also love being a "boy" with your brother (wrestling, sports, dressing in your brother's clothes). You are a born nurturer - most of your time is spent caring for your younger brother and sister or your many "babies". You love working on "projects" - painting, coloring, writing, creating - you can spend hours on this. You enjoy playing games (UNO Moo and the Ladybug game are 2 favorites) and you especially enjoy reading.

You are a treasure and I feel honored to be your mother. I hope I can live up to such a noble calling. Thank you for all that you are. I love you!

Love, Mommy

Get "Cultured"

As I mentioned previously, I'm now an author over at Savvy Moms Save where I'm hosting "Turn Off the T.V. Tuesdays". Check out today's post on getting "cultured" here!

Menu Plan Monday

Monday - Shrimp Jambalaya, Hush Puppies, Green Salad, Pineapple
Tuesday - Vegetarian Spaghetti Pie, Steamed Broccoli, Steamed Green Beans, Mangos
Wednesday - (Angel's Birthday Request) - Corn Dogs, Steamed Carrots, Steamed Cabbage, Kiwi fruit
Thursday - White Bean chili, Crusty Bread, Spinach salad
Friday - Haben brot
Saturday - Leftovers
Sunday - Broccoli Cheese Soup, Whole Wheat Rolls, Steamed Corn, Pears

Still Laughing.....

My kids seriously make me laugh SO MUCH! I LOVE it! Just a few examples from this past week:

Grins (talking to me) - Mom! (then, when I didn't answer right away) HEY, you OLD LADY! (Maybe this should have offended me but it made me laugh SO HARD!)

Angel- (In response to my question "How did you get so ______(sweet, cute, smart, big, etc)?") I was just made that way!

Grins - Daddy, (Angel) and I are going to take a shower! Do you and Mommy want to take a shower with us? We can have a whole family shower!! (The Mr. replied "I don't think that's a good idea because we wouldn't have our own privacy") Grins thought for a moment and said "How about if we all just look at the wall?" (We finally consented to having a "family shower" in our bathing suits - short and very crowded, but the kids LOVED it! Ah, the simple pleasures in life.)

Wiggles keeps us entertained, of course, without words....just watching her toddle around everywhere makes me laugh out loud. It's amazing how someone with such an unsteady gait can get around so quickly and with so little accidents - although she does frequently run into walls since she's so busy looking around while she's walking! I shouldn't laugh at her but it seems to distract her from any discomfort and it's just so irresistibly cute!

Reading

There are SO many wonderful things to read out there....but how to find time to get to them all?

Right now, I am in the middle of too many books/readings to keep straight:

Book of Mormon
Doctrine and Covenants
Ensign
Gospel Principles Manual
JAMA
Easy to Love, Difficult to Discipline
Parenting with Love and Logic
1-2-3 Magic
Accountable Kids
Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child
Sleeping Through the Night
Family Fun My Great Idea
Teaching Your Children Values
Saving Dinner
Pilates for Dummies
Housebuying for Dummies
The Complete Guide to Buying Your First Home
Complete Daily Curriculum (Preschool Lessons)
How to Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
Housecleaning with Children
Speed Cleaning with the Clean Team
I Didn't Plan to Be A Witch
28 Day Challenge
My Sister's Keeper
(though I hate to admit it)Breaking Dawn (there....I said it.whew.)
and, Ironically, How to Simplify your Life
(not to mention the 5,761 childrens titles we read each day. :) )

A few of these I read a chapter/article per day (or, in some cases, per week). But, since the first 4 on my list are what I consider my "required reading", and since I generally have only about 30 minutes of time available to read each day (once I've completed all of my other wife/mother/primary secretary/preschool teacher/babysitter/visiting teacher/etc duties), the rest of the books on the list get digested vvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyyy slowly, bit by bit...often in 27 second segments (ie - in the bathroom, in between children fighting, as I'm waiting for them to bring me their shoes, etc). So, my question to you, dear readers (especially parents of young children!) is this: When do make time to read? How do you keep up on the various books you are reading? Do you read just one at a time, or multiple books at once?

Savvy Moms Save - My Contribution

I've been invited to team up with Crystal at Savvy Moms Save and will be starting a new series called "Turn off the T.V. Tuesdays", where I invite moms (or anyone interested!) to turn off the T.V./computer/etc and spend more quality time with their children. Each week I will highlight new ways to spend your time together! You can check out today's post here.

Living Well Below Poverty

Have you heard of this? I just found a blog which is challenging everyone to "Live below the line of poverty for one month." Although our family already does this, I thought that, if we did have a steady income, this might be fun, interesting or, at the very least, challenging. I must admit that, though currently 'poverty-stricken' myself, since it is temporary and education-induced, I have, at times, (wrongfully, I admit!) entertained negative thoughts toward those who are 'below poverty'.
But, as they say, you should never judge a person until you've walked a mile in their shoes - and this seems a pretty fair way to get a small glimpse of what it must be like to live with so little.

For more information, check out the blog Living Well Below the Poverty Line, and to see what your own family's income would be, check out this site.

Another challenge, of a somewhat related nature, is going on at Money Saving Moms. Here, the challenge is to avoid grocery shopping for an entire month, and just eat from the food you have stored. This is a great way to 1) save money, 2) experience first-hand how important food storage is, 3) find creativity in cooking you never knew you had and 4) realize how much excess you may buy. So, if you aren't up for the Poverty challenge, this might be another fun thing to try....or it may help you if you're giving the poverty challenge a try! :) I am thinking about joining this one when I get a bit more pantry/food storage space (it's hard to accumulate much storage in our current apartment...)

Good luck!

Finding Joy in the Moment

This morning, Angel was crying as she crawled into bed with me. "What's wrong, Sweetheart?" I asked. "There's nothing fun to look forward to, now that Christmas is over!" She then went on to express the sadness she feels at the 'post-holiday slump' and how she wants more presents to open, more parties to attend, and more fun things to do. I told her that I understood her feelings, and that many adults often have similar sentiments.

And then we started discussing Gratitude - for the beautiful Christmas we had, the bounty we're blessed with all year long, and the blessing we have of a new year, and new things to which we may look forward (such as her upcoming birthday in just 3 weeks!). Overall, though, we spoke of finding joy right now, recognizing all we've been blessed with, and that it is enough. We spoke of people who have "everything" and yet remain miserable, and others who have little but find joy in what they have.

As we spoke, I realized that I was speaking more to myself than to her! How often do I find myself looking forward to graduation, telling myself how much easier life will be when we have a steady income, a home, and are able to live in one place for more than 10 months? How often am I caught up in wanting this great toy for my children or that fancy computer; this nice kitchen gadget or that pretty home decoration, when really, I am SO blessed. I have the love of an amazing husband and incredible children, a home that keeps me warm, more food than I need, my health, my freedom, and my relationship with my Savior, Jesus Christ. As I pondered these things, I held my eldest daughter close and, with tears in my eyes, realized she teaches me more than I could ever teach her.

I was touched further when, this afternoon during my personal spiritual study my thoughts were fed through my readings...first, when I read "Some of us look forward to a time in the future...but today is part of eternity."(The Influence of Righteous Women by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Ensign, September 2009)

This story also really hit home for me:

One year while trying to make it home from a business trip in time for Christmas, the author says, "...[I] hailed a taxi. As we pulled out on the Capital Beltway, the traffic was awful. Everyone was trying to get home for Christmas. I started to lose patience and began fuming and fidgeting...and making suggestions to the driver. Suddenly he turned around, looked me in the eye, and said in a tone of mild rebuke, 'Sir, there is no reason to be upset about a traffic jam.' Then he turned back around. Sensing perhaps that I was a bit miffed, he looked at me again and said, 'Pardon me. But you see, I am from another planet.' 'Very well,' I replied, 'just what planet do you come from?' I will never forget his reply. He turned around again and said in a calm voice, 'I am from Afghanistan, a country devastated by war, and if you had seen the things I have seen - villages bombed, people starving, men and women and children fleeing for their lives, and war and destruction and chaos on every side - you would not worry so much about a mere traffic jam.' " (The Prince of Glory, Elder Bruce D. Porter, Ensign December 2009)

I am so grateful for my children and for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, both of which teach me far more than I could ever hope to learn on my own! Although I try to set goals throughout the year, New Year's Day always affords me a 'fresh start,' for which I am grateful. I've been pondering on what resolutions I plan to make for 2010, and "Finding Joy in the Moment" is certainly on the list!

May you have a prosperous new year, full of joy, hope, and peace! Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!!!

I'm obviously behind on my game this year....I normally have my Christmas Cards sent out on the day after Thanksgiving (or nearly, at least), but Christmas is tomorrow and I'm just sitting down to write our now! Yikes!

Of course it's due to procastination on my part, but I'm blaming it primarily upon the inability to come up with a good idea. You see, I loathe the typical "look at how wonderfully perfect our family is and read about all the many amazing things we've accomplished this year" letters that seem to go around.**(please see end note) Not that I'm not excited for everyone's prosperity, it just gets a little old after awhile, and I start feeling more like a dean on an admissions committee than a friend interested in how her long-distance friends are faring. So, when the Mr. and I were married, we decided to send out creative, (somewhat) unique letters, to get our point across without bragging all about our wonderful selves (even though we know we're wonderful, of course.) :)

So far, we have tried the following:

2001 - Wrote our own lyrics to the tune of "Good King Wenceslas"
2002 - Listed tidbits starting with the letters in MERRY CHRISTMAS
2003 - Crossword puzzle
2004 - "Quickie" Letter about how not much had changed.....except our impending parenthood!
2005 - A letter in Angel's words
2006 - Calendar of Important Dates that year
2007 - "MasterCard Commercial" style letter; all about our 'numbers' that year (how many miles the Mr. ran, how many diapers I'd changed, etc.)
2008 - A plain-old-boring letter {Sigh.} Bear in mind, though, that my baby was only 1 month old at Christmas, so I was slightly preoccupied.

Unfortunately, this year, thanks to residency essays, primary sharing times and preschool lessons, my creative juices are currently spent. So, without further adieu, here's our Family's 2009 version:

This year we're "Going Green" and sending out e-cards to preserve our environment!

.................................................................................................................................................

Dear Friends and Family,

This year has been INCREDIBLE!



Investing lots of time and effort in learning the practice of medicine. (The Mr.)
Never wanting to miss a moment with our kids!
Counting our blessings: each other, beautiful children, wonderful family and friends, a great place to live, our health, our educational opportunities....and too many more to list!
Recognizing the Lord's hand in our lives every day!
Enjoying preschool, learning to read, write, and developing a love for learning! (Angel and Grins)
Developing her own little personality while she RUNS around exploring (translation: gets into everything)!!! (Wiggles)
Interviewing for Internal Medicine Residency (The Mr.)
Blogging about our adventures as often as we can. (The Mrs.)
Loving everything about our life!
Excitedly anticipating what lies ahead (moving, beginning residency, starting a "new chapter" in our lives....)

Merry Christmas, from our family to yours!

P.S. Since our family has moved, we wanted to be sure you had our new contact information....but write it in pencil since we'll be moving again in May (when the Mr. Graduates and we move anywhere from Hawaii to Maine to anywhere in between.) We'll send an update in March when we learn where that will be, but until then, we wish you PEACE, JOY and the reminder of our Savior and His love for us all....this holiday season and always!

All our love,
The Buchanan Family


**I am in no way implying that "regular" Christmas letters are bad/boring/unappreciated/etc!!! I LOVE hearing from friends and I don't think many of my own personal friends - such as readers of my blog - have bad letters at all! I am just afraid my own Christmas letters would turn into a little brag session if I didn't try to do something different, since I'm so proud of my kids (of course.) So, pardon my annoyance at some Christmas letters - it was certainly not directed at, nor does it apply to - anyone reading this!!! :)

Blogging from Oregon

So, we made it to Oregon, safely, earlier this week. The 12 hour drive was brutal for the last 8 hours or so - partially due to inclement weather, but mostly due to 3 small children that refuse to sleep in the car, even if it's pitch black and midnight. Strange, because I LOVE sleeping in the car. I was begging to sleep in the car. I was so exhausted I could hardly stay awake in the car. Yet, they were pinching, pulling, scratching, spitting, screaming, peeing (in their seats - yes, that actually happened when Grins fell asleep for 3 minutes he woke up crying that he was wetting himself. sigh.) crying, whining.....wow. Every time we make the trip we swear it will be the last time...but unfortunately we still have to get back to Utah so we have at least one more drive ahead of us. Fortunately my brother was with us, so technically it was 1 on 1 (1 adult to 1 kid), (although the driver didn't really count) which helped a LOT - thanks Daniel! We will definitely miss his help on the way home!

But, we made it, and since we've been here, we've been having a grand old time. Angel tells me about 5 times each day "I want to move here!" and today she said "Isn't Grandma's house just SO fun?" Selfishly, I admit I love having so many baby sitters at my beck and call....the Mr. and I have gone out almost every night! :) And the kids of course adore their aunts and uncles....last night, Angel woke up in the middle of the night, looked at my sister and said "I love you, Abbie", kissed her, and went back to sleep! Wow!

The Mr. has really been enjoying his interviews, and I've loved being able to attend the dinners with him! I've learned a lot and gained some great advice from some of the residents' spouses!

....well, the babysitters are all gone tonight and the Mr. and I are left to our own devices tonight (scary!) so I'd better wrap this up. Not the most exciting post I know, but you can't win 'em all, right? Pictures to follow when we get home since we forgot our camera cord.

Poppysnaps Giveaway

There are SO many great giveaways going on right now! Check out this cute one by Poppysnaps at Savvy Moms Save!

Portrait of "The Mr.": My Husband and Provider

Though I hardly ever watched TV as a child, when I did, one show I enjoyed was "Boy Meets World." In the final season, Cory and Topanga, young newlyweds, move into their first apartment (student housing) which is dirty, bug-infested, with peeling wallpaper and plumbing issues. With trepidation, they try to make the best of their situation, and at one point, when it's dinner time and they realize they have no food, Topanga asks Cory, "Well, what now, my husband and provider?"

I often ask the same thing of the Mr. - jokingly - when we find ourselves stumped about what to do. I still remember when, while engaged to be married, the Mr. and I took our first trip together - riding the Greyhound bus from Portland, OR to SLC, UT. We walked up to the terminal, the Mr. carrying our luggage, me carrying my purse, when I suddenly realized I had NO idea where our bus tickets were! I immediately began panicking when the Mr. calmly pulled them from his pocket. My dad laughed and said "This is him taking care of you - and this is only the beginning." Those words have stuck with me since that moment, and I have never been disappointed at the care my husband has shown me these past 9 years;

When, while running together, I had a sudden pain and could not move another inch, the Mr. (my boyfriend at the time) ran to get someone to help him give me a blessing. The moment I saw his car drive up, the pain began to fade.

When, as a newlywed, I struggled with wondering what my 'purpose' in life was, the Mr. urged me in the direction of PA school, an experience which has blessed my life in many ways.

When, as newlyweds trying to finish school, the Mr. worked day and night - 3 jobs in all - so I could finish my education as quickly as possible.

When, in my first trimester of pregnancy, I had horrible morning sickness, he would hold back my hair and clean up all my messes.

When, throughout my entire pregnancy (and the two that followed!), he gently and lovingly attended to my every need.

When, in the midst of PA school, I had a baby (Angel), he postponed his education to stay home with her to allow me to finish.

When, in the midst of moving, I don't want to lift another box, he lovingly takes care of everything, despite his many other responsibilities.

When, after a long day, I am tired and want some "me" time, he sets aside his studies and plays with the kids so I can shower, nap, or have some free time.

When I'm frustrated, discouraged, disheartened or sad, he gives me a listening ear, offers me a shoulder to cry on, and surrounds me with his loving arms.

These are only a few examples of the many ways in which my husband lovingly cares for me and provides for my every need. I know sometimes we assume that "providing" means earning money and providing shelter, food, clothing....all the things that money can by. But, though my husband is in medical school and temporarily doesn't bring in much income, he provides me, and our family, with SO much more! I honestly could not ask for a better husband and provider!

I love you, Sweetheart! Thanks for all you do!

Savvy Moms Save

If you haven't checked out the "Savvy Moms Save" blog, you should right now! :) They have lots of useful info for moms - great gift ideas, money saving tips, etc....and right now is a great time to visit their site, because they are doing the 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways!

I Want {Another} One!!!!!!!

**WARNING: This post is of a very personal nature.....proceed with caution!**

Call me biased, but I think my children are ADORABLE! They are SO precious, sweet, loving, smart, innocent, and overall amazing. They bring so much more to my life than I ever could have dreamed. I love them more than anything in this world...or any other world, for that matter. But sometimes I feel I'm not enough. They are such incredible children; they deserve an incredible mother - one who can spend ample one-on-one time with each of them individually, while enriching their lives with educational and recreational activities (ie school, field trips, sports, music lessons, dance lessons, etc.), yet ensuring adequate 'down time', while maintaining an immaculate home, cooking healthy (and, if possible, gourmet) meals from scratch every day, keeping them clean, fed, and dressed, and being unfailingly patient and loving with their every new phase/stage. I fall short in so many ways, every day! I feel so inadequate, and sometimes even feel "over my head", that I can't meet the needs of 3 children.

And yet, I want more! I see expectant women and I long for the flutterings of a tiny baby inside my womb. I see women with tiny newborns, and my arms ache for a sweet, tiny one to hold. I watch mothers carry their tiny bundles around and my arms feel empty. Then I watch Wiggles empty every shelf and cupboard in our house for the bazillionth time that day, hear Grins and Angel yelling at each other, and wonder what I'm thinking.

Where is the line between taking a leap of faith/stretching to become more, and over-extending yourself, or just plain irresponsibility? Or between older siblings learning responsibility through caring for younger children, versus having to sacrifice their own childhood for the sake of the family. And why is it such a fine line? I've heard childbearing compared to having just a few moments in a jewelry store - that, if given 5 minutes, wouldn't you run in and grab as much jewelry as you could possibly carry? But then I think, if you're just grabbing so fast that you aren't stopping to notice which jewelry is most valuable, or if you end up getting more than you could ever wear or use, wouldn't it have been better just to take your time and select a few choice pieces?

I realize there are women who are unable to have as many children as they would like...or even any at all. On the other hand, there are women who have more children than they would have chosen....and isn't that equally difficult?

Anyhow, I'm rambling now. I just have a very difficult time discerning when my desires for children stem from my innate "womanly instincts" to nurture or from something far greater, and are a 'whispering' from the Lord. This is just something I've faced from the moment I was married, and, though it's been more than 8 years, I have yet to make sense of it all. Sigh. I suppose I shall face this same dilemma until mother nature takes its toll and it is no longer up to me to decide. Until then, thoughts, anyone?



***DISCLAIMER: I don't mean to offend; I am a strong believer that the bearing and rearing of children is a very private and personal decision between a husband and wife and God. I don't think anyone should ever judge another for the number of children they have, large or small, whether it is the couples' choice or not.

Captivated Candids Giveaway

If you're into giveaways, you'll definitely want to check out the one going on right now Here! Probably the biggest giveaway I've ever seen! If you don't want to enter, no problem, but if you do, make sure you drop my name too! :) Maybe I'll split my winnings with you! :)

My Current Math Problem

Wiggles cutting molars (and screaming all night) +
Angel's stomach flu +
Grins' pent up energy (due to weather too cold to take sick kids out) MINUS the Mr. for 10 days
_______________________
A slightly frazzled, sleep-deprived, less-than-patient Mommy who still loves her children more than life but appreciates her husband more than ever!

COME HOME SOON, MY LOVE!!!! I know when you're here, you aren't "here" very much, but we'll take whatever we can get! We love and miss you!

Love, Us

Our American Express Christmas

Fortunately for us, we budgeted $300 for Christmas this year. Unfortunately for us, that's not really gonna cut it due to several unexpected expenses which just happened to pop up:

$1035 - The kids medical bills (medicine, equipment and visits) over the last month (several trips to the pediatrician, no insurance)
$311 - Jon's Dr. bill
$115 - 2 new tires
$110 - an unexpected cell phone bill
$25 - fee for not having cash at a toll booth in San Francisco
$15 - fee for somehow losing a CD we borrowed from the library
Knowing (hoping!) that this is the LAST year we'll be living on an income of $0.............priceless!

***Please do not take this as a complanatory post...while all the facts are, sadly, true, we find that making light of our destitute situation actually makes us laugh, and offers us hope for a brighter financial future..... :)

Update....

Today as I was helping the children with their journals, I decided that if I'm encouraging them to write in their journals every Sunday, I should be writing in mine at least once a week out of principle! So, I'll try to be more regular in my posts. It may be boring but C'est la vie!

This week was fantastic, fun-filled, and super busy! We began with my family coming into town, immediately followed by a luau for our sweet little Wiggles - SO much fun to catch up with some "old" friends and family we haven't seen in ages! That was followed by a trip to the zoo, Thanksgiving with both sides of the family, Black Friday shopping, a visit to This Is The Place for their Candlelight Christmas (Wiggles was TERRIFIED of Father Christmas as you can see in the pic), a Lia Sophia party, dinner with some good friends, and now it's off to New England for the Mr.

This week's highlight: Today at church, I taught our Primary Sharing Time about "preparing to be Moms and Dads". We discussed how, even though "we" (meaning the children) may be young, and being a mom or dad seems so far away, there are so many things we can do right now to prepare - such as developing our own testimonies, learning how to share, forgive, help, teach, etc. and so on. One of the scenarios we discussed went something like "Your baby sister wants your mom to hold her but your mom is making dinner. What could you do to practice being helpful?" This evening, as we were eating dinner, Wiggles was throwing a fit, wanting me to hold her. I said "Girl, can you give me 5 minutes to eat please?" Angel immediately excused herself from the table, took Wiggles into the living room and entertained her while I finished eating. Such a small act but it meant so much to me that 1) she was so eager and willing to help and 2) she had actually been listening in primary and was trying to implement what she had learned. :) She is SUCH a little sweetheart! I love that girl!

Tracy Aviary

Earlier this month, we took a little trip to the Tracy Aviary (or, as Grins call is, "the "Univa" - that V word where the birds live"). Although it was quite chilly, we enjoyed ourselves immensely! The kids just could not get enough of the birds! We were even lucky enough to watch the pelicans eat, which was incredible! And, though I enjoy bird-watching, I was having fun just watching my little kiddos! I love their enthusiasm and love of living creatures!

Thank You.....

Some kind-hearted soul anonymously left a plate of scrumptious banana muffins on our door earlier this week. Since I was still 'cleansing', I enjoyed them vicariously as my children eagerly scarfed them down. They looked and smelled heavenly! I questioned various friends and neighbors as to who our 'muffin donor' was, but have been unable to track our mysterious friend down. Then, my paranoia began creeping in....were they left by a stranger? Were they safe to eat, or would my children suddenly come down with food poisoning or, worse, death? Was I a bad mother for not 'tracking down' the source of the muffins before allowing my children to devour them? Or were they perhaps intended for someone else, and left on our step by mistake? Fortunately, days later, my children are in glorious health (despite an unfortunate lingering case of croup which began before the muffin delivery), so my paranoia has died down, for the most part. And the muffins have been appreciated. So, muffin friend, if you are reading this, Thank You for your kindness. We're sorry we can't thank you in person, and we want you to know that your thoughtfulness has not gone unnoticed.

I'm Going Raw....

So, for those of you who don't know, I am coming to the close of my first "master cleanse". For the past 10 days, I've been consuming nothing but a mixture of fresh lemon juice, whole maple syrup, cayenne pepper and water. At times it was very difficult to overcome some very intense cravings for food, but it's been liberating to realize that I do have more self control than I realized, and be able to see my goal through! I won't make the claim of "tons of energy" or "feeling better than ever before" I've heard some attribute to the cleanse, but I feel better than I expected to, considering I haven't eaten for 10 days!

Now that I'm returning to "food" I am making a goal to eat only (well, mostly) whole, raw, unrefined foods....whole wheat, raw sugar, etc, etc. We've already switched to whole wheat flour for most of our cooking, but I'm looking for more recipes to expand our menu. Any suggestions are appreciated!

And, if you want my advice on the Master Cleanse, give it a shot! I think it's definitely worth trying out! :)

Free Christmas Card Giveaway!

"Your Card Bakery" (The Blog) is hosting a Free Christmas Card Giveaway! You heard it...FREE Christmas cards! They have some incredibly artistic, unique and adorable Christmas Card designs - and so many different styles that there is definitely at least one (or ten!) you'll want as your family's Christmas card this year!

Check them out here, or by clicking the button at the bottom of my sidebar.

But hurry; the giveaway ends tomorrow (Sunday, Nov 15th) at midnight!

Happy Birthday, Wiggles!

My sweet little baby,

How can it be that you are one year old already?! I know it sounds cliche, but it seems only yesterday I was looking down into your precious little eyes for the first time. I simply can't believe how fast you've grown! And yet, I can't imagine my life without you!

You are SUCH a mover! If I couldn't tell by how much you moved in the womb, you have certainly lived up to your nickname "Wiggles" from the moment you were born! You are constantly on the go and the only time you are still is when you're sleeping! And yet, you are a very good snuggler too! You are so curious about everything; constantly opening cupboards, emptying shelves, bookcases and baskets faster than the rest of us can straighten up! You have the cutest little "one-leg spider-monkey" crawl, which is surprisingly fast, but now that you've learned to walk you insist on walking everywhere. And now that you've learned to point, you insist on getting what you're pointing to.

You are SO friendly! Your first word was "Hi!" and you say it to everyone, everywhere! When I'm carrying you you'll crane your neck so that your face is directly in front of mine, so you can say "Hi!" until I respond. Sometimes you'll even crawl/walk across the room, just to say it to me! You love picking up phones and saying "Hi" too. It's the sweetest little thing! You also love clapping your hands while shouting "Yay!", and you say "Weee!" everytime you swing or slide.

Speaking of slides, you are fearless - way more than either of your siblings at this age! You love going down the slide, and you very quickly figured out how to climb the stairs, sit yourself at the top of the slide, and then scoot yourself off the edge - all by yourself! Before you could even walk! You never tire of it, and I have to drag you kicking and screaming away from the slide when park time is over. It is so cute!

You are so easy-going! Your older brother and sister often lack patience with you grabbing their toys, etc, and as a result you're sometimes "picked on" - but you take everything in stride! When you cry it's brief and soon you're back to your happy, smiley little self!

You love babbling and, just like your body, your mouth rarely slows down! You love being part of the conversation and often interrupt the conversations of others to make sure your 'piece' is heard!

You love playing with balls, stuffed animals, and little people! And you love reading books! You have figured out how to climb up on the chair, right next to the bookshelf, pull a book down (well, usually the entire shelf of books), and sit down and read, just like your older siblings often do. It's the most adorable thing ever (even though I have to put the books on the shelf about 50 times a day - but you're worth it!) You love your older siblings and want to do everything they do!

You are so precious to me, my sweet little girl! You mean more to me than anything else in the world, and I love you more than I ever thought possible. Thank you for your patience as I learn to juggle three children and as a result sometimes neglect you. Thank you for your smiles and wet, open-mouthed kisses. Thank you for your snuggles and the sweet spirit you bring to our family! Oh, that you would stay like this forever!!!!

We love you, Wiggles!

Love,
Your Mommy

Holiday Art and Gift Show - starting tomorrow!

Food Storage Analyzer

Lately I've been feeling the need to be more prepared for natural disasters, etc. We have 72 hour kits but they are quite old (meaning I probably wouldn't want to eat the food inside even if I WAS starving). And we have a little bit of food storage but we just don't have room for much at all. So, I was so excited when I found out about an awesome thing called the "Food Storage Analyzer" - where you input your family member's ages, it calculates your family's caloric need, and then you input all the food you have in your pantry right now, and it tells you how long your food will feed your family. Isn't that amazing? I found out that, if I needed to, I could actually feed my family for much longer than I thought, so it made me feel a little better about my whole no-space food storage situation. You should totally check it out - it's free, it only takes a few minutes, and you can even win a $10 gift card for doing so! Just click the link at the bottom of this post for more info.