"I Would Never..."

It seems that before I had children, and before my children have reached various stages, I put together quite a list of things "I would never do!" That list has systematically shrunk as I have entered each subsequent phase of parenting.

On Monday, J came home and said that the kids at lunch had been making fun of him, because I put his drink in a cup with Dora the Explorer on it. I hadn't been paying attention and just grabbed a cup. I swore that I would never do something like that to bring undue ridicule on my child, and there I went doing just that. Poor J! And, as he was telling me this story, I did the same thing this morning! I didn't realize until he got home. This cup, however, was a little more discrete, so he didn't get teased today. Lame-o mom!!

Mini Me

I love M. She is such a little busy body. If someone isn't doing what she thinks they are supposed to be doing, she lets them know. She has taken on the role of disciplinarian for her two older siblings (who, for the most part, ignore her efforts). And, who does she get her disciplining practices from? Sadly, me. It's funny to listen to her. Like this afternoon we heard her calling after E. "Emmy! Come play now! 3-2-1!"

I also love that she calls everyone "baby" - including Matt and I. It's so funny to hear her little lispy two year old voice saying "I coming, baby!"

Peek at a Different World

My brother and his family are on a big adventure. He accepted a teaching job in Point Hope, Alaska. This is the furthest Western point in Alaska - you have to take an hour and a half long flight on a bush plane to get there. It is definitely a different world. It has been fascinating for me to explore Alaska vicariously. So, if you want to get a look at what native Alaskan homes look like (and modern Alaskan homes for that matter), check it out. (I asked to make sure they were okay with that).

Just Kidding...Maybe

So, what's worse than the government deciding to acquire your neighborhood in order to demolish it to make way for the new freeway? Them changing their minds (maybe) in the fourth quarter. I spoke with the Acquisitions Team director this afternoon to see if things were still on target for them to start purchasing the homes in our neighborhood in January of next year (like they said one month ago). No. They're not on target. In fact, the FIVE YEAR plan she was given last week didn't include our neighborhood at all. They are apparently doing a six-eight week study to see if they can go around our neighborhood. Not taking out the neighborhood is great - much less wasteful - but so much damage has already been done. We've lost tens of thousands in equity (even more than the area depreciation) and it's not extremely likely to rebound anytime soon. And, we missed our refi window to get the super low rates. And I know it's silly, but I had everything all worked out to move next year and get Joe into a better school and get a house with a fence and some other things that I don't like about this house (and yes, I know we can build a fence). It seems like every time I get accustomed to the new plan, they change it.

This whole situation is making me crazy! I have to be able to make plans. It drives me absolutely insane to not be able to do that and not to be in control. Maybe Heavenly Father is still trying to teach me those same lessons I've been trying to learn my whole life - faith, trust, not putting all my hope in silly plans.

Problem Solved

So, we lost M's last binkie. I've been wondering how on earth we were going to help her get rid of it. Well, that problem was taken out of our hands. I was expecting a HORRIBLE battle, but she has gone to bed without it for the last three nights without even fussing. This morning she asked for her binkie when I was holding W's, but let it go after like a minute. I've been pleasantly surprised. Sometimes I forget how resilient kids really are, and I tend to make a bigger deal out of things than I need to. But, I'm very glad we've leapt that hurtle. Next up - potty training...sigh.

Happy 4th E!

E turned four on Saturday. We had a party planned with her friends, but E, M and W all had the sniffles, so we had to cancel. Luckily, I had decided to just have a small party this year (following advice I got once to only invite one child for each year in age they are. So, she invited four - well, five in case one couldn't make it) so I only had a few people to call. E wanted to invite her cousin Joy and couldn't understand why she couldn't come from Utah for her birthday party. I mean how unreasonable can Joy's parents be! We had a good time with just the family, though. Here's the birthday girl with her Tinkerbell headband.

W's chubby picture

This doll house from Grandma and Grandad was a big hit...with everyone!

She wanted a princess party until she got an awesome Tinkerbell card from Grandma and Grandpa that played "You Can Fly". It was all about the fairies from then on. We hung up a green blanket and covered it with flowers making Pixie Hollow (from the new Tinkerbell movie). She loved it, but one of the anchors fell down, and we just took it down after that. I might reconstruct it for her friend party that is being rescheduled. Here's the pinata we got for the party. We bought it on Tuesday, and it tried E's patience just about to breaking point waiting until Saturday. Instead of saving it, we decided to just do it with the family so that Joe could participate. The kids got some good wacks in, but dad had to step in with the big guns to finish the job.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY E!!

What's the difference?

On Friday, we were waiting for Matt outside of the Friendly BB&T, and I saw a few kids on the grassy area milling around a suburban parked next to it. I thought "Wow! A big family. I just don't see many of those." But then I counted and realized there were only three kids there. Why did I think that was a big family? Then, an older girl (like 11 or 12) got out. Then two more kids, and finally a seventh child with the mom and dad. They really were a big family. But the kids acted like kids from a big family. I couldn't put my finger on the difference between them and kids from a smaller family and why I would have immediately pegged them as a big family. Weird.

I think it's silly when people pretend that having a dog is anything like raising a child. But, sometimes I see their point.

My brother-in-law had a little yorkshire terrier. Unfortunately, he died a couple of years ago. (The dog, not the brother-in-law) But his favorite game was chasing the light from a laser pen up and down the hall. Endless entertainment. This afternoon, E was playing with a flashlight, and J said "Have M chase the light again!" They proceeded to run up and down the hall, followed by M, saying "Come on, M! Come get the light! Come on!"

Yeah maybe they occassionally have a point.

Daddy and His Boy

School Days

Here's a glimpse of what's been going on around here since J started school.

Interesting Pick

When I go to the library with the girls, I let them loose in the children's section to pick their own books. This is a risky move, and we have taken home quite a few less than stellar selections. But, sometimes we discover books that I would have never picked up but that the kids absolutely love. Today we found one of those. The apparent theme for our trip was "dogs". They picked up every dog book they saw (which luckily wasn't many). On the way out, E saw one last book on a shelf and asked if she could get it. I said "Fine." When we got home and were reading books, E pulled out her last minute pick "Please Puppy, Please" written by ...Spike Lee. Huh. I didn't realize he wrote any children's books. Interesting. Well, it was simple and engaging and mildly sweet without being sappy. The girls begged me to read it over and over again, and have been quoting since. I love unexpected prizes!

A Humorous Discover

I am absolutely in love with W's first year. I haven't taken as many pictures as I should, but I want to see with my own eyes, not through the lens of a camera. Maybe that's short sighted. Probably. And I'm trying to make sure I get pictures. But, I digress. (Can you digress if you start off point?)

Yesterday, I was holding W, and he figured out how to make a shrieking sound. He apparently thought it was super cool because he would squeal, then he would start giggling. Then he'd squeal again, then he'd start giggling again. It was so funny. And so cute. He is such a cute boy!

School Lessons?

Today after school, J was talking about how he has to get out of his seat in the back of the van and climb to the front of the car to get out when we drop him off in the mornings. He said that it's not safe because sometimes the car is moving forward in the line when he is out of his seat. Definitely a point to argue. But then he said "We need to get the president to fix that problem." Oi! Where would he even get an idea like that? Nothing like perpetuating a lack of self sufficiency and problem solving skills. Good grief! And don't worry. I addressed it immediately.

Hero Worship

On Sunday, Matt was flipping E around and the like. She of course loved it, but after ten minutes or so, Matt said that they were done. She asked again, and Matt said that he was really tired. She responded "Superman gets tired, not you!"

Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel

Next week I'm going to help someone clean out a corral for an older couple. This reminded me of the only other time I've cleaned out a coral. (picture of me fades out and refocuses on a black and white scene).

The summer after my sophomore year in high school, I attended the Utah Association of Student Councils' summer week long camp at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah. On the third or fourth day of the week, all of the groups were given the assignment of providing service in the Ephraim community. Our group was given the names of two or three widows in the area, and we called to see if they needed anything done. Half the group went to one house and the other half, my half, went to help Jerry McGuire's widow. When we pulled up to her property, she asked if we could clean out her corrals. Being the city girl I am, it took me a few minutes to realize what this entailed. She handed us a couple of shovels and pointed us in the right direction. I remember the whole group standing a little befuddled for a minute, looking at two feet deep, packed manure covering the 20' by 20' enclosure. The looks on our faces clearly expressed my own thoughts; "You want us to do what?!?"

Then, something amazing happened. Two guys in our group, one whose name I can't remember but who strongly resembled Shaggy, and a big Pacific Islander nicknamed Cheese, said something to the affect of "Well, let's go!" They were more cheerful than I thought was strictly warranted by the circumstances, but it was awfully contagious. I don't know if I've ever laughed so hard in my life. Dung jokes (replacing "dang" in a sentence with "dung") abounded - and yes they were as stupid as they sound. All of us were at least shin dip in what looked like mud but certainly was not, the smell was less than pleasant, but we were all happy.

The other group, it turns out, spent the afternoon moving a sprinkler around, sipping lemonade and flirting. We all made a good show of feeling ill-used, but I wouldn't have traded for anything, I don't know if any of the rest would have either. We all shared a camaraderie that only such a potent shared experience could bring. The fact that we were working hard on the same goal to provide service for someone in need only deepened it, I think. I don't remember much about that week, but I will always remember how one of the most unpleasant jobs I could probably think of at the time turned into such a great memory and it was all thanks to Shaggy and Cheese. Attitude makes all the difference in the world.

President Thomas S Monson said "The history of the Church in this, the dispensation of the fulness of times, is replete with the experiences of those who have struggled and yet who have remained steadfast and of good cheer as they have made the gospel of Jesus Christ the center of their lives. This attitude is what will pull us through whatever comes our way. It will not remove our troubles from us but rather will enable us to face our challenges, to meet them head on, and to emerge victorious...

"Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rains may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments. There will be nothing in this world that can defeat us. (Be of Good Cheer, Ensign, May 2009)"

This silly memory has been a good reminder to me that even though the task ahead isn't always what we would prefer, and no one is going to make it magically disappear, a cheerful heart will turn it into a treasured experience.

What's Going On In There?

M and W both had check ups today. M is getting over a stomach bug, so she has been extra sensitive. She was great for the weighing and measuring, and then the doctor came in, and M started screaming. She screamed when the dr tried to check her ears. She screamed when the dr tried to check her belly. She went absolutely balistic when the dr tried to see down her throat. Then...I had to put her down for W's turn. Fortunately, Will smiled and laughed and totally cooperated. It's nice when they're not really old enough to be afraid of unfamiliar faces. During W's physical, M finally started to calm down again. And then, they brought out the needles. We gave Will his shots first because he is much easier to soothe. Before Will even got his shot, however, M started screaming again. Amazingly, W went to sleep within minutes of getting his shots (thank heavens for small blessings, or small blessings that feel huge at the time), so I could focus on M. And I needed to. Maybe a smarter woman would have seen when she was beat and come back another day. We started with a finger prick to check for lead, then one shot in her thigh. In case you haven't picked up on the pattern of this lovely visit, Mary screamed. And then she got physical. She tore off the bandaid that was on her finger, while the nurse was away checking the lead results. I tried to put a fresh one on to no avail. She squirmed and kicked and rolled and flailed, all the while sending blood flying on the wall, the counter, her clothes, my clothes, her arms. I finally gave up and just held her until she calmed down, figuring the bleeding finger couldn't cause a bigger mess than it had already. Fortunately, M stopped crying by the time we got to the lobby. As I walked out the door with blood splattered all over my shirt and pants, carrying M (also covered in blood), the diaper bag, my purse, the car seat with W, and shepharding a complaining E out the door, I thought, "You know, if someone didn't know this was a doctors' office or what went on here, hearing all the screaming and seeing our frightening appearance, they might really be freaking out right about now."

Hooray for doctors visits (note the dripping sarcasm). Sorry to be so complainy. I know I really don't have it that bad.

So, the stats.

M is 37 inches tall which is >97th% and 30lbs which is 75th%. Everything checked out just fine.

W is 25 inches tall which is >97th% and 16.1lbs which is also >97th% - well above. He's actually heavy for his height which is a new phenomenon for our family.