You Had To Be There

I really need to update my blog. But first I have to see if Katie has updated hers. I love her writing!

Fun Friends

Sometimes it's funny how friends come to be. I have this friend Barbara and we have been neighbors for 3 years. We were friendly and served in the same church presidency for a while but were never really good friends. Then we both got pregnant. For both of us it was our fourth child, and for each of us it was our 3rd boy and we were both a little disappointed that we wouldn't be buying pink.
Jeremiah was Barbara's family's home teacher during and after our pregnancies. After he'd come home from visiting with them he'd say, "You and Barbara should get together, you have lot in common right now." I didn't know what to make of that because, at the time, I was still extremely hormonal and may have heard, "She's miserable and not at all fun to be around either."

I'm not sure who made the first step, but over time, she and I have become good friends. We laugh (at ourselves, mostly), text, and if it weren't for the sidewalk between our homes there would certainly be a worn path from one doorstep to the other. Not only have she and I become friends but our families have as well. We enjoy getting together as families and sharing dinner, playing games and letting the kids interact.Even our babies do well together (although in this picture it certainly looks like Hewitt is diabolically plotting against his playmate.) Funny how these two boys, born 10 days apart, brought two families together.

Five!

I'm far too late posting about Kenley's birthday. She and Hewitt shared a party at the park with friends, cousins and grandparents. Kenley wanted "all mine friends" to be there, which meant all her cousins. I have to say that I'm so thankful that if Kenley can't have a sister that at least she has fun female cousins with feminine influence. Don't they look like trouble fun?

All her birthday wishes (and more) were granted as she opened several gifts. She was sufficiently spoiled and very appreciative as I helped her write out thank you notes for all who attended. (Although I was just as late delivering said notes as posting about her birthday. Meh.)

We also had a birthday dinner for her at our house on her birthday.

Kenley loves chocolate and requested chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.

She has adopted a widow in our ward and insisted that she be there for her birthday. She calls her Grandma and prays for her every night. And if the rest of us forget her in our prayers we are abruptly reminded and chastened.

We were unable to find any birthday candles after the birthday party so Jeremiah lit matches. He's handy in pinch, that one.

Kenley has been such a blessing in our lives. I look at her beautiful little face and sometimes I just can't believe she's my daughter. She's so precious and fun and we couldn't imagine life without her.

Love you Kenley!

I'm Not Lazy

For the last couple of years the cleanliness of my house has steadily declined. When I learned I was pregnant with Hewitt I decided that I was going to do everything I possibly could to have a healthy baby. I took it easy and practiced "selective neglect." I learned to be my own skeleton crew and do the bare minimum to keep my house functional. (And Jeremiah kicked in...a lot.) Things worked out well when I delivered my biggest baby yet without any emergencies or unexpected surprises.

After I had Hewitt I decided that I should ease back into caring for the house. I was recovering from surgery, after all. I started to do a little more a little at a time, giving Jeremiah a break from being breadwinner and housekeeper. But as I returned to duty, I just couldn't seem to get a rhythm back. Laundry and dishes were still piling, toilets were in need of a good scrub, toys found homes on the living room floor and the floors were in continual need of a vacuum or a mop.
Today I looked around my house and while it probably just looks "lived in," I can't tell you how much it gets me down. I clean every day. Every. Single. Day. But I also have Fibromyalgia. (It's a connective tissue disorder but it has several, seemingly unrelated symptoms.) It's something I try not to complain about outside of whine-fests conversations with my husband, mom and close friends who happen to catch me on a bad day. But really, it can be a little limiting, and not just in terms of housework.

I don't always pick up my kids because, little as they are, it actually hurts me to lift and hold them. A few minutes in my arms can mean a few hours of pain in my back. It's hard to explain to others because it sounds really dramatic, which is why I don't often mention it. But it breaks my heart that others might have the notion that I'm ignoring my children. It's a difficult balance of nurturing them and maintaining myself. Same goes for my house.

It's like I tell my husband some days when he gets home from work, "It may not look like I did anything today, but trust me: If I had done nothing, it would look tons worse!"

One Year Ago...

-I was amazed that I had made it to my scheduled due date.

-I had my least stressful delivery ever.

-I was pleased at hearing "Six pounds" and moved to tears by hearing "1 ounce."

-I felt a great love for and from my Heavenly Father.

-I had no name for my new little baby.

-I admired the cute little cowlick on my baby's forehead.

-I was way over the initial (and short-lived) disappointment of having another boy.

-I felt a sense of completion.

-I wondered where Jeremiah and all the nurses were when I was trying to hold a nursing baby in one arm and a bag into which I was vomiting in the other.

-I had no idea that my new bundle of joy would bring so much joy into my life.

-I laughed at learning that when this little guy was hungry he snorted instead of crying.

-I didn't know that I wouldn't go through the sleep deprivation normally associated with newborns.

-I didn't know that my newest addition to the family would bring us all so close together, mostly in adoration of said addition.

-I couldn't see into the first year of his life and know how quickly it would pass, and how enjoyable it would be.

Happy Birthday, Hewitt! Thanks for joining the family. We love you!

In a Dirty Glass

I read once that rats can live indefinitely on eggs - Jack could live indefinitely on milk.

Some people wake up and need their morning cup of coffee - Jack needs his sippy full of milk before his day can officially start. When he's ready for breakfast it had better be served with a second cup full of milk. Sometimes I tell him he has to eat before he can have more milk and he always asks for cereal - because you pour milk on cereal.

We buy 3 gallons of milk a week and Jack is the only one who drinks it straight up.

Patience is non-existent when Jack needs his milk. It doesn't matter what you're doing because he'll bring the cup and an entire gallon of milk to you. Even if it means you're pouring it for him in the bathroom because you are...uh...occupied.

His love for milk is so intense that we've actually grounded him from it as a punishment. It's one of the few things that really gets to him.

There is one sweet thing about Jack's little love affair; Jack rubs his hair while he drinks milk from his sippy. He can be one big stinker around the house. He's tough, he likes to rough house and he gets into mischeif. But stick a sippy of milk in his hands, set him on your lap and you have yourself a sweet little three-year old.

Yes, Jack loves milk. It does his body good.

This message (should be) sponsored by the United Dairymen of Idaho.

Dark Mood

I am so tired of feeling second-rate. If I'm not good enough for you leave me out of your life completely. I don't just want to be here when you need me.

On To Your Next Adventure

Thanks for the memories, Grandpa. We love you and will miss you. Until we meet again...

In Which We All Lost Our Stomachs

This morning has been a doozy. The stomach flu has at last been forwarded to our address and it has held nothing back. It first found me Friday and has made a stop with each member of our household over the last few days.

I would have to say that I am thankful it hit me first. Jeremiah stayed home from work and took care of me and assumed the role of housewife for a day. He put me to shame in accomplishing things around the house, but I'm so thankful he was home. I was able to get tons of rest - I just didn't realize I was charging up for what will forever be known as Barf-fest 2010 - Family Edition.

Sunday was Kenley's turn and she took the opportunity to let it all out during Primary. I just happened to be in the Primary as a last-minute substitute when all of a sudden I heard some kid cough/burp/vomit and looked up and realized it was my little multi-tasker. She left a trail all the way to the hallway bathroom. Fortunately she came home and watched TV for a couple of hours and then felt better.

Yesterday Jack walked up to me in a panic just as I had answered the phone. It was obvious he was about to puke and I was trying to rush him to the toilet bowl. He hit everything but that. He also insisted that he was done throwing up and kept moving around until he had to throw up again - all over his carpet.

Jeremiah spent the whole day cleaning our storage room and by the time we were ready to eat our late dinner his stomach was rolling. I advised him to stay near the toilet and wait until he felt better to eat. While Kenley, Isaac and I were eating he was retching (rather loudly) in the bathroom.

I sent Isaac to bed with a bowl and left the light on in his bathroom with the toilet lid wide open. Call it 'mother's intuition' or call it 'reading the writing on the wall' - either way he was going to puke, and I knew it. Unfortunately I didn't know that Kenley would - possibly for the first time ever - heed our instruction to close the lid after using the toilet so that the baby can't get into it, and so when Isaac made his dash for the toilet he hit the lid. The best part? This happened in the night, but Isaac didn't want to wake me, so he just let it sit there.

Then Jack insisted he felt okay this morning so I gave him milk - which he let turn into cheese in his stomach before projectile vomiting it all over my bed. To top it all off, both Kenley and Jack wet the bed (Jack's water-proof mattress pad happened to already be in the laundry) and while I was off to buy toilet bowl cleaner & Lysol Hewitt woke up, and according to Jeremiah, "He pooped up to his armpits."

Today's Facebook post:
Today I am thankful for hot running water, a washing machine, disinfectant spray, toilet bowl cleaner, a carpet shampooer and my mother...who only laughed a little.

I don't have such a charmed life today, do I, Mom?

And....

At the beginning of the summer I thought, "I had better keep my kids busy or they're going to sit in front of the TV and then we'll wonder where the summer went." So I scheduled stuff, like Science Camp, swim lessons, picnics at the park, and summer movies to keep them entertained. Plus there's been family reunions and neighborhood parties. Jeremiah's been busy with his new calling as Young Men's president and I've tried to help with different organizations as well.

Now it is almost August, the stores are having "Back to School" sales with lists for each school at the front of the store and I'm still left wondering where the summer has gone. The days are longer but it seems like there's never enough time to do the things we need to do, let alone the things we want to do. We haven't even taken a weekend jaunt this summer. I had big plans to take bike rides in the mornings but when the kids "can't sleep" until after 11:00 most nights I'm more exhausted the next morning than I was when I finally got to bed.

Anyway, not sure what my point is. I'm going to eat my lasagna.

Giggles

"I'm waffling between changing my favorite color from green to blue."

*****

"I think you and Dad are the first and second nicest people in the world. You first, Dad second. Well, maybe Dad's fifth. You know why? Farting around other people - he does that."

Lost in Translation

When I opened the box to my new blender, I couldn't help laughing as I saw this box...

Do you think it's possible that the words "This Side Up" were supposed to be printed in three languages?

Fail

Falle

échouer

What's Popped Up

Some lovely yellow and peach-burgandy iris. They smell so good! The peach ones almost have a citrus smell to them. The best part is they require little care, although they might appreciate it if I removed the weeds. My happy groundcover, lamium. I super love this plant. I have two varieties planted and I can't look at it without smiling.

And the pièce de résistance, a gorgeous blue hydrangea. This is my all-time favorite flower. I purchased this with my Mother's Day $$$ (although my mom is the one who picked it out, she did a great job!) and it is my newest baby. I *heart* it.

In Just a Few Moments Time...

...we go from sweet, clean, happy face... ...to sweet, messy, elated face...

...to bathtime.

Some Legacy

Just now I was in my kitchen washing the dishes that were too large to fit in the dishwasher that I had just loaded. Isaac finished his lunch and brought his plate over to where I was standing and asked, "Should I put my plate in the sink or in the dishwasher?"

"Put them in the dishwasher, please." I answered.

Isaac loaded his plate and asked, "Why do we have a sink and a dishwasher?"

Before I even had a chance to open my mouth he answered his own question, "Oh. In case your mother dies. That must be why."

One For the Books

I had the best Mother's Day! The fun started on Saturday. Jeremiah and I worked on our lawn for a bit, which I actually love doing, and then we went to pick up our Bountiful Basket. While we were out Jeremiah said, "Let's go pick up your Mother's Day gift." So he drives us...straight to Wal-Mart. He had never asked me what I wanted for Mother's Day so I was pretty curious what we were shopping for.

Our store was just remodeled and as he walked I wondered if he knew where he was going. We walked past the clothing, housewares, toys...and then I thought, "Oh yeah, I've been talking about getting a new blender. He must not know where to find the small appliances." Just then he stops at the last toy aisle, right next to the bikes! I have wanted a bike for over a year and I was as happy as a kid in a candy store! I picked one out and gave it a test drive in the store. So I didn't just get a bike, I got to be a kid again! (Power play, Babe.)

We came home and got cleaned up, since we were all shopping in our yard work clothes, and headed over to my parents for a BBQ. We stuffed ourselves silly on some fat hamburgers and hot dogs, played some games and talked with family and the missionaries my parents are housing. We had a great time but had to leave a little early to make it to a graduation party.

As we were driving on the highway we could see a storm coming and it looked like the place we were headed might be the epicenter....it was. The party was outside on some undeveloped property but even with the wind we had a blast. We ate (again) and got to talk with Sean and Tammy and their families. The kids loved playing in the "forest" and I got to poke around in a campfire while Sean's dad wasn't watching. Isaac got brave and swung from a rope out of a tree while Kenley declared everything to be "Awesome!" Jeremiah and I even had time to enjoy ourselves as Jack and Hewitt slept in the van for about 1 1/2 hours after we arrived. It was a super great party and we're so happy that Sean is finally done with school...even if he's not a Doctor. :)

Sunday morning Isaac gave me the gift he'd made at school: a marigold and nasturtium planted in a pot he'd colored, some service coupons and a booklet in which he'd filled in the blanks about me. We enjoyed church and came home with some flowers. My parents came over in the evening and we had a BBQ. Dinner was delicious (baby back ribs, baked potatoes, corn on the cob, fresh watermelon) and then we had a terrific strawberry pizza for dessert. By the end of the evening I think we were all fat and happy. The kids sang a song to my mom and then Gammie and Bucka left. I took a quick ride on my bike (which was eventful enough to deserve it's own post) and then Nana and Papa stopped in. We fed them some dessert and the kids sang a song to Nana, too.

After everyone had left Kenley, Isaac and I found ourselves at the table. I absentmindedly began singing a mother's day song and then Isaac looked meaningfully at Kenley and prompted her to, "Come here." They went over to the piano, took down the children's songbook and Isaac said, "Mom, we've already sung to the Grandma's, but now we're going to sing to you." It was so cute! They sang "Quickly I'll Obey" and while I know they're more likely to quickly forget, it was the sweetest thing because I knew they thought of it all on their own. By the time the kids were all in bed I was pretty wiped out from all the fun. I fell asleep while Jeremiah rubbed my feet.

What a perfect weekend! I'm still smiling.

Holy Smoke

Jeremiah and I attended a fire safety dinner a few weeks ago. It wasn't a sales-pitch, but we did opt to have a representative come to our home for a fire safety evaluation. We ended up purchasing some new smoke/fire alarms, 2 fire extinguishers, a fire ladder and a carbon monoxide alarm. They were pretty spendy, but we really felt like it was a good idea, especially since only a couple of weeks before I'd had some thoughts about our fire insurance and came home to find our gas furnace on the fritz. When we had it fixed we learned that the circuitry had either caught fire before or was close to it when we noticed the problem.

Today I was outside doing some yard work and the kids were inside watching TV. The stinkin' trim line on the weed-whacker kept getting stuck. One of the times when I had to stop to fix it, I heard the smoke alarm going off. I ran in the house to find my kitchen full of smoke. I did a quick panoramic sweep of the kitchen and saw that it was coming from the microwave. I remembered I'd told Kenley she could make some popcorn while she and Jack watched TV. I'm not sure how long she'd put it in there for but 21:00 was left on the timer. I peeked through the door and saw that the popcorn wasn't on fire...yet. I told the kids to get out front and then I took the charred bag out of the microwave. Luckily, it never caught on fire and I was able to air out the house pretty quickly.

Here are some things I learned from this experience:

*The new alarms were a good investment. The old alarms that are wired in didn't go off at all . The new alarm that was sounding was placed right next to the original smoke alarm.

*Even though Kenley has made popcorn by herself several times, she really should still have some supervision.

*Hewitt will sleep through the smoke alarms. He didn't even stir and he was in the same room, directly under the blaring alarm.

*We need more fire drills. After we purchased the alarms we had a family night about fire safety and set off the alarm so the kids would recognize it and we practiced our escape routes. But when the alarm was going off Kenley and Jack sat firmly planted in their seats watching Jimmy Neutron.

*Burned popcorn really stinks.

*Ability to burn popcorn may be hereditary. Jeremiah set a bag of microwave popcorn on fire in Mexico during our honeymoon. The condo stunk so bad and we had to throw the ruined bag out on the balcony. I still tease him about it cause that's pretty much all I've got on him.

Have You Tried Couponing?

That's right...100% SAVINGS. Holla!

In Which You'll Learn My True Nature

Years ago my husband gave me a jewelry box for my birthday. It was wooden with little frosted glass panes. I was livid. At the time my jewelry collection comprised of a watch, my engagement ring and my wedding ring. I very ungraciously received the gift, criticizing that it looked like something he would pick out for his mother, which I absolutely did not appreciate.

Jeremiah bore my rudeness with grace and then explained that although I didn't have much jewelry at the time, over the years I would probably collect more and he wanted me to have a safe place to keep it. I softened a bit at his thoughtfulness, but still returned the jewelry box and got a much smaller and, if I'm being totally honest, far less-practical jewelry box.

A few months later he gave me a diamond necklace for our anniversary. A necklace that is now lost.

Over the last couple of years I've decided that I like wearing earrings and sometimes you'll even catch me in a necklace. I have more than one watch and even a bracelet or two. In short, I have a jewelry collection. Although I have the cheap jewelry box that I bought as a replacement for the offending box, I haven't used it. My jewelry has found a home in a bathroom drawer.

The other day I was looking for the second of a pair of earrings. I was digging through the little container inside the drawer, pulling out tangled masses of necklaces with earring dangling from them, when I said to myself, "I need a jewelry box."

At those words a surge of guilt ran through my body. Jeremiah's forethought had come to fruition. And all I could think of was how childish and selfish I had behaved when he had given me that thoughtful gift several years ago. And then I remembered how kind he had been to me, even when I was behaving so poorly. How he bore the criticism with patience and didn't respond with anger. It made me think of this story:

A story contained in the family lore of Brigham Young’s descendants illustrates the submissive nature of humility. It recounts that in a public meeting the Prophet Joseph, possibly as a test, sternly rebuked Brigham Young for something he had done or something he was supposed to have done but hadn’t—the detail is unclear. When Joseph finished the rebuke, everyone in the room waited for Brigham Young’s response. This powerful man, later known as the Lion of the Lord, in a voice everyone could tell was sincere, said simply and humbly, “Joseph, what do you want me to do?” (Marlin K. Jensen, “‘To Walk Humbly with Thy God’,” Liahona, Jul 2001, 9–12)

I love my husband. I can honestly say that I knew from our first date that he was my eternal companion. I obviously don't deserve him sometimes, but I'm so thankful for him and his example. He makes me want to be a better person and is so understanding and uncritical of my imperfections. I pray, and hopefully live, so that in time I can prove to be as worthy a companion to him as he is to me.

I love you, Miah!

Spring Swap

I've been a little slow getting to this post. April is a crazy month at our house and my package came on my 7-year old's birthday. I opened it, oohed and aahed at it, then put it in my room so it was out of the way for birthday activities. I almost forgot about it!


Anyway, thank you Mamamonki for the awesome package! Here's what she sent me:
1. Adorable butterfly luminary.
2. 3 yummy candles (1 is already half gone in the luminary.)
3. A little book of hugs.
4. Super awesome garden toolbelt with zinnia seeds. I'm excited about this one because I am notorious for losing things even while stationary so having a belt to keep all my gardening tools handy should be uber helpful,
5. Lovely daisy picture frame. Perfect for our new family pictures!
6. Trendy note pads and pen. I so needed these! I am so forgetful lately I need to write things down all the time.
7. Lilac lotion. Our last home was bordered in by lilacs. I so miss the smell!
8. Lilac hand soap. Mmm!

And then of course there was a sweet note to go with it all. Also, not pictured is a bird figure that I forgot to get down. It's already up on my kitchen shelf. I wasn't sure I would like it at first - I'm not much of an animal person - but I absolutely love it on my shelf!

I really enjoyed the swap. Thanks Shortmama!

(Click here to see my package to Mamamonki.)

Giveaways Galore

So, I like to enter contests and giveaways. I've actually won quite a few things over the years, from cash to concert tickets, ice cream to Italian food, cd's and dip. Now I'd like to win something every hour! That's why I'm entering Tip Junkie's Spring Fling, you should too!

How Sweet are Their Feet?

We had family pictures taken during Spring Break. Maybe we should have called it "Technically-Spring-But-Still-Flipping-Freezing Break." Yeah, that would have been very accurate. Our neighbor did a great job taking photos of her shivering subjects. In their individual shots you can see their little faces turning blue. Oh what we won't subject our children to in the name of preserving memories.

As cute as they are, the photographer and I both decided we'd like to go out on a warmer day (although we may have to travel to someplace tropical if we'd like to do it anytime soon) and retake some of the pics. The wind was blowing our hair in our faces and apparently Jeremiah is unable to keep his eyes open outdoors, I should have remembered that from our squinty-eyed wedding photos.

Sleep on That One

As we came home from dance class this morning Kenley was paying attention to the billboards as we passed. There was a jewelry ad with a happy couple: "There's a boy and a girl!...they're gone." There was a realty ad: "Here comes a girl!...she's gone." And there was a Serta ad with the sheep standing on a pile of mattresses. Maybe the concept of sheep and mattresses was lost on her, or maybe the sun was in her eyes, but as we approached the final billboard she was completely perplexed. "A popcorn trophy?"

It's a Fortune Cookie, Not a Fairy-Godmother

I finally made good on an offer to take my parents out for dinner as a thank-you for letting us stay with them while our furnace was repaired and as a late birthday dinner for my mom. We decided to hit the Mongolian Grill and get our fresh on.

At the end of the meal we all received our fortune cookies. Isaac loved reading everyone's fortunes and was most excited to read Kenley's, "You will soon gain something you have always wanted." Kenley's eyes lit up as well and we all commented on her good fortune.

Before we had even boxed up our leftovers Kenley was over whispering in my ear about how she's "always wanted Mariocart and remember that toy we saw with the princesses on it? And it had a tea pot and some plates?" I couldn't figure out why she was telling me all this until my mom laughingly reminded me of Kenley's fortune.

Isaac's fortune said he would live comfortably, abounding in material wealth. Maybe I could ask for an advance loan to help Kenley's fortune along.

Friend Makin' Monday

I feel like my blog has been a little neglected lately. A lot goes through my head and as things happen I think, "I need to blog that." -And that's the end of that story.

But I thought it would be fun to link up and meet some new people and introduce myself as well. Click on the button to meet the host, Amber and click on other's friendly posts.

1. Favorite things about Spring: The sound of the lawnmower. I was pregnant all last summer and it was so hard to me to NOT mow the lawn. Which is crazy, since I'm allergic to grass. But nothing looks better than a freshly mown lawn.
2. What I'm doing for Spring Break: We're having family pictures taken. It's been too long and I'm so excited, I went and bought the whole family new clothes.

3. Favorite Spring flower: Love grape hyacinths. Those cute little purplies make me smile.
4. Do you have a garden? We're square-foot gardeners. Little space, big produce.
5. If so, what do you grow. Last year we planted late and then neglected it all summer. (see #1) All that grew were the zucchini. But my favorite to plant is peas. They don't make it from the garden into the house though.
6. Do you do Spring cleaning? Kind of. I clean all the time...right? I do want to vacuum off the ceiling fans and blinds over Spring Break.
7. What is your weather *really* like right now? {Just b/c it's "officially" spring, doesn't mean that it feels like it for some of you} We had a hail storm this evening followed by a little bit of snow. Hopefull the sun will shine tomorrow.
8. Snapped any weather related photos lately? Share one with us! No photos. I barely even go outside if it's chilly at all. I just started walking out to the mailbox again. :)
9. What's your favorite thing to do on a sunny afternoon? I take a great book and go read on the porch swing while the kids play in the yard. I love to feed em' lunch in the sunshine on the picnic table.
10. Favorite TV show right now? I'd have to say Community on NBC. That's my kind of comedy!

You See What I'm Up Against?

Jack has been in the process of potty forcing training for the last few weeks. Some days he does okay, other days I end up in angry and defeated tears.

This morning, so far, Jack has stayed dry, but only because I have reminded him to use the toilet and placed him on there every time I think he might need to go.

Jack was climbing the shelves of our storage room and found some single-serve Kool-Aid packets. When he asked if he could have some I told him he had to use the potty first. We went up to the bathroom and I asked if he had dry pants. He cups his hand over himself and looks at me with a sad look and says, "They're wet. I peed in them."

Because it's his first accident of the day I was able to keep it pretty cool. I gave him my best I'm-disappointed-but-it-will-be-okay look and start to think of where he might have had the accident when he perkily adds, "They're dry!" I step up to him and feel that, sure enough, they are dry.

My kid is totally playing me.

Jack-1. Mom-0.

Again?

I had so much fun getting a package ready for Mamarazzi's Favorite Things Swap that I want to do it again. Thanks Shortmama for hosting the Spring Swap. I'm so excited!

Oh Yeah, I Feel It

The love that is, thanks to my swap partner Amy.

I got a great package in the mail today.Included was a stainless steele water bottle, a Glade oil candle warmer, a Scentsy plumeria car candle, a Yankee Sweet Honeysuckle votive, Sweet Love perfume and a daily calendar. Super cute and fun stuff! (But I wonder, could Amy smell me from clear across the country?)

Thanks Amy and thanks Mamarazzi!

Milestone

My sweet baby is sitting up! And it looks like he doesn't even care. :o)
"Look, Mom, no hands!"

February 26, 2010, just a few days shy of 5 months.

Laugh Lines

"Isaac, it's time to get up and get ready for school."

In a sleepy voice, with eyes still closed and barely stirring, Isaac says, "I want to sign a document that says I never have to go to school again. It will be a liberty document."

*****

"I think a good birthday cake for a moth would be a big sweater."

Happy Birthday, Dr Suess!

Thing 1 is my son.

I love him so.

How much I love him he cannot know.

But each day as he walks out the door

I let him know that I love him more

than I did the day just before.

They Make Me Smile

Jack just came up to me with half a yellow Froot Loop shoved up his nose and said, "Mom, pretend this is a booger."
*****
Kenley: Knock. Knock.
Me: Who's there?
K: Orange.
M: Orange who?
K: Orange just went out front without even asking!
*****
Each day Isaac has to write a sentence using the word of the day - or something like that. Today's word was "kennel" and here is his sentence: If I was a superhero I would throw my house in a kennel and walk to the Grand Canyon.
*****
Jeremiah: Knock. Knock.
Me: Who's there?
J: Mango.
M: Mango who?
J: Mango wherever his woman go.

Because I Just Want to Have Fun!

So I'm trying something I've never done before because I need something fun to do! I'm going to participate in a swap. My friend has participated in Mamarazzi's swaps before and I am always uber jealous of the fun packages she receives. I'm really excited! Now I really have to think, "What are my favorite things?"

Is This Funny to Only Me?

Perhaps the joy of digital photography is that you feel okay about taking pictures like this one.
Does anyone else see what I see? 'Cause I see a bubble butt. Maybe it's cause I don't get out much, but I took this picture in May and I am still laughing. I guess if you're destined to a life of servitude be a stay-at-home mom you get your laughs where you can. Haha...I said can.

Maybe I shouldn't blog after taking Nyquil...

Open Mouth, Insert Foot

It's cute when babies do it literally. Not so cute when adults do it figuratively. That's just one of life's little quirks.

P.S. I need a better tag for Hewitt than "Number 4." Any suggestions?

Nonsense & Nonsensibility

Will someone please explain to me why my children constantly run through the house until I need them to hurry? Isaac wakes up a full hour before the bus comes. When he gets up he's expected to eat, get dressed, brush his teeth and grab his backpack. A rigorous regimen, to be sure. One hour seems beyond sufficient but every morning we are scrambling in the minutes before he needs to leave to catch the bus. Then it seems like all afternoon he is running around the house, running into walls, siblings and other things and we just can't get him to slow down. Anyway, there's my rant. (Hey, no one is forcing you to read this.)

The morning does bring out some funny things, though. This morning Isaac poured himself a large bowl of Frosted Mini Wheats Little Bites. When he actually finished I said, "I have to admit I didn't think you'd eat all that cereal, but it looks like I was wrong."

"Yep. When kids need to eat you just gotta let them eat. All the fiber in here is going to keep me full and focused." (Kudos to the Kellogg's marketing team.) "I'm really, really, really full. Actually, more than 3 'reallies'." (Has anyone ever written the plural of really? Did I do it correctly?)

And then he said something else that was funny just before he left, but I forgot. I probably could have focused better had I too been really, really, really full.

Day 100

Isaac is coming up on his 100th day of school. He was assigned to gather and display a group of 100 things. I signed up to help out in his classroom on Monday (let's hope I don't forget this time) for their 100 Days celebration where we will be making snack bags of 100 things and doing other stuff...I don't really know. All I know is that last night - right before bedtime - Isaac remembered that his 100 things display was not due on Monday, it was due today.

Out came the glue, the crayons and the construction paper. Oh, and the noodles and the beans. Isaac decided that the mini farfalle reminded him of chickens and that we could use beans for the dirt. Jeremiah managed to locate some ancient gel glue which required approximately 90 lbs of pressure to squeeze out a single drop. (I did the squeezing while Jeremiah and Kenley played Super Mario Brothers. Someday I want to be the dad.) On the bright side, after ten reps. of ten I have forearms to rival Popeye's.

I drew the first few chicken bodies so Isaac would get the idea and then he drew the rest. Each chicken has 2 pasta wings and 8 beans for earth (2+8=10x10 chickens = 100). I wished I had some white beans open and the chickens could have laid eggs.

(Do the chickens have large talons? Why yes, Napolean, they do.)

Although it was last minute, I thought it turned out pretty cute and creative. But I have a sneaking suspicion that maybe it really isn't due until Monday...

(Also, why does Blogger take out my spaces between paragraphs?)

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I learned on Sunday that Jack has a nurturing side.

Apparently during nursery he grabbed a baby doll, nursed it and patted it's back while soothing it with the words, "It's okay, baby Hewitt, just eat this breast."

But the crowning moment, according to all who witnessed it, was when he pulled away and exclaimed, "Ow!"

Cursed Compliments

We're all sitting down to dinner the other night, which generally means the beginning of the "Just try it!" and "Sit down and eat it!" fights between my husband and the kids. This night was different, however, because Kenley began eating and said, "This is good, Mom! This is damn good."

Jeremiah and I exchange looks of surprise and ask, "What?"

Innocently, Kenley responds, "This is damn good!"

"Well thanks, Kenley...I'm glad you like it!"

Note: I let her eat a little while before telling her that a more polite way to let me know she enjoyed dinner was to say it was "super" good. She didn't get in trouble because I know she had no idea that was a swear word and I didn't want to punish her for paying me a compliment. But I really am curious where she heard the phrase.

About My Daughter. Wait, I Mean My Son.

My first two sons were born in April and my daughter was born in October, so when I learned I was pregnant again last February and due in October, I assumed it would be a girl. You know, just to follow the pattern. When I learned at our ultrasound that my baby was boy I teared up a little. I didn't cry, but I was a little disappointed.

I remembered wanting so badly to have a sister when I was growing up in a house overflowing with testosterone. I projected those feelings onto my own daughter, who, as of yet, seems not to care in the least degree that she is an only girl.

I got over the disappointment pretty quickly because I was just thankful to be blessed yet again with another spirit fresh from Heaven. I've since apologized to Hewitt for having been sad at learning his gender. He's been such a sweet baby and I know that no matter what I hoped or asked for, Heavenly Father sent me just what I needed.

But I couldn't help but laugh when the following message was left on our phone:

This is So-and-So from Family Doctor's office. We're calling because your insurance has denied the claim for Hewitt's circumcision because they think he is a little girl. Please call and let them know that he is a boy and we will resubmit the claim.

Quote of the Day

"I know I s'posed to be happy...but I not."

Apparently Jack has watched "It's Christmas, Charlie Brown" a few too many times this holiday season.