Oh, The Scandal!

Isaac, Kenley and I are participating in a play this summer. Our stake is presenting "Porter Rockwell," a musical, and since I've always wanted to be in a musical, I decided this was probably my only chance to try. I convinced Isaac and Kenley that it would be something fun we could do together. Kenley has been excited from day one, although she spends all her time during practices playing with a pen and notebook. Isaac was hesitant but since we've started singing he's been on board. He's been reading the script and hoping to be cast as "Boy 4" because, "he gets to try and tackle young Porter." Isaac has also been offering pointers on how to portray my role, Mary Ann Neff, Porter's 2nd wife in the play.

Until last night it was unknown who would play the part of Porter. As we were leaving the building, "Porter" introduced himself to me. Isaac smiled at me as we walked to the car and said, "I know why you're meeting him."

"Because I have to be his wife in the play?" I asked.

"Yeah. I hope Dad doesn't watch the play and get jealous."

"Daddy knows that play is just pretend, bud. He's not going to be jealous."

Isaac, having just read my final scene answered, "But you embrace."

I'll Be Looking Forward To That

Yesterday I picked out clothes for Jack after his bath. I was pretty excited because I chose some nice tan cuordoroy pants and a nice, pale blue and tan, plaid shirt that buttons up. I just knew he was going to look super handsome. He put on his pants without argument but began to pout as I buttoned his shirt. "I wanted to pick out my own shirt."

"But I already got a shirt for you and you look good, man." I countered, but the look on his face told me it was more important to him than it was to me. Still I was disappointed. "Okay," I said as I began to help him get off his shirt, "but will you wear this shirt another day for me? I think you look really nice in it."

"Yeah," Jack obliged, "I'll wear it on your birthday,"

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!