We took down ALL of Christmas on Christmas night -- right after the kids went to bed. It felt SO good.
Brigham woke up the next morning and said "Where's Kifas?"
31 December 2008
Santa Finally Got it Right!
After 4 years, Santa finally figured out what toys my kids would really enjoy. He brought Disney figurines in Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Aladdin, & Little Mermaid. Chloe & Lily have been LOVING them! I think I've mentioned before that the kids don't love toys. They THINK they love them, but they just don't play with them. To my girls, playing with toys typically means taking them out of their containers, putting them in a basket or box of some sort, taking them to another spot in the house, and dumping them out. Toys have basically existed as a means for mess making. Not so with these little gems. The girls have played and imagined with them for hours and what's even better is that they've done it together. This is what I've always dreamed of with two little girls close in age and wow -- I'm actually seeing a glimpse of it!
They've even used some of their old toys (that they've never really played with) as part of their imagining. The Little People castle is now Jasmine's house and the dollhouse is Aladdin's house or Cinderella's, depending on their adventure.
This afternoon they asked me to do their hair like Jasmine (Chloe) & Cinderella (Lily). I did my best and they were thrilled. This has definitely been the best Christmas success we've enjoyed.
Christmas was a lot of fun, by the way. We had several very fun family parties (my extended party in PV, Stanton's immediate family in HP, and my immediate family in B-town). They were all a lot of fun. The kids got a lot of fun presents (stick horses, Crayola toys, Aqua Doodles, Dump Trucks, etc....). The favorite of these so far is the wall Aqua Doodle. I just leave it up in the kitchen and the kids all go draw on it several times a day -- especially nice at dinner time when they want to be in the kitchen, but I don't want them crawling all over me. Thanks to all the family for the wonderful gifts! All of them!
We also used the kids' money from Dave & Judy (plus a little extra we kicked in) to buy the Wii. And my mom & dad got the Wii Fit for Stanton & my gift. We've enjoyed this one a lot. We purchased a Dora game for it and Chloe loves it. She's only asked to play it once, though and that's a-okay with me. She can also hit the ball in the tennis game on Wii sports. She amazes me how quickly she picks things up -- it only took her about 2 or 3 minutes before she had it figured out. I think the Wii will be a fun gift that will grow with all of us. We didn't get Rock Band 2, but I'm not feeling sad about that much at all. The Wii Sports are a lot of fun, as is the Wii Fit. Stanton got a Star Wars game that he has already conquered, too. All in all, a very fun gift.
I got Stanton Brian Regan tickets -- he's coming here in February. We'll be going with 2 of his siblings & spouses -- it'll be a lot of fun.
Finally, Stanton surprised me with two bound books that I had written! He had my blog printed and bound. It was such a fun surprise. I had planned to get this done at some point, but it was so nice to have it all done! The kids have LOVED looking at the pictures in them and remembering the year we've had. Looking back at it makes me realize we've had a pretty good year, in spite of the occasional week or more of insanity.
Good Christmas. Great Christmas, in fact. Hope yours was as good!
They've even used some of their old toys (that they've never really played with) as part of their imagining. The Little People castle is now Jasmine's house and the dollhouse is Aladdin's house or Cinderella's, depending on their adventure.
This afternoon they asked me to do their hair like Jasmine (Chloe) & Cinderella (Lily). I did my best and they were thrilled. This has definitely been the best Christmas success we've enjoyed.
Christmas was a lot of fun, by the way. We had several very fun family parties (my extended party in PV, Stanton's immediate family in HP, and my immediate family in B-town). They were all a lot of fun. The kids got a lot of fun presents (stick horses, Crayola toys, Aqua Doodles, Dump Trucks, etc....). The favorite of these so far is the wall Aqua Doodle. I just leave it up in the kitchen and the kids all go draw on it several times a day -- especially nice at dinner time when they want to be in the kitchen, but I don't want them crawling all over me. Thanks to all the family for the wonderful gifts! All of them!
We also used the kids' money from Dave & Judy (plus a little extra we kicked in) to buy the Wii. And my mom & dad got the Wii Fit for Stanton & my gift. We've enjoyed this one a lot. We purchased a Dora game for it and Chloe loves it. She's only asked to play it once, though and that's a-okay with me. She can also hit the ball in the tennis game on Wii sports. She amazes me how quickly she picks things up -- it only took her about 2 or 3 minutes before she had it figured out. I think the Wii will be a fun gift that will grow with all of us. We didn't get Rock Band 2, but I'm not feeling sad about that much at all. The Wii Sports are a lot of fun, as is the Wii Fit. Stanton got a Star Wars game that he has already conquered, too. All in all, a very fun gift.
I got Stanton Brian Regan tickets -- he's coming here in February. We'll be going with 2 of his siblings & spouses -- it'll be a lot of fun.
Finally, Stanton surprised me with two bound books that I had written! He had my blog printed and bound. It was such a fun surprise. I had planned to get this done at some point, but it was so nice to have it all done! The kids have LOVED looking at the pictures in them and remembering the year we've had. Looking back at it makes me realize we've had a pretty good year, in spite of the occasional week or more of insanity.
Good Christmas. Great Christmas, in fact. Hope yours was as good!
23 December 2008
18 December 2008
17 December 2008
16 December 2008
Kids Lately IV
While sitting on the toilet
Chloe: I know why my tears are coming down.
Me: Why?
Chloe: Because I need to go to the bathroom.
12/15 -
Chloe: I only have two things left to learn, Mom.
Me: Really? What?
Chloe: To snap my fingers and to whistle.
Other than that, she's pretty much got life figured out.
12/16 -
At the grocery store
Chloe: Mom, we should get fish sticks like I had at Angie's house.
Me: Okay.
We go to the frozen food section and I pick up a yellow box of fish sticks...
Chloe: No, Mom, it's the blue box.
Me: Are you sure?
Chloe: Yes. The blue box.
I purchase the blue box and cook them for lunch.
Chloe: Mom, these are the wrong ones. They're supposed to be circled. (In Chloe speak, that's cylinder-shaped)
Me: These are the ones you told me to get.
Chloe: Well, you should have ignored me!
--------
See this post for an explanation of why Lily even knows this word...
Lily to her doll:
You damn doll
Lily to me:
Mom, I want some damn milk.
(I have to admit, I had a hard time deciding whether to include these because it reflects pretty poorly on me, but if I really want this blog to be an authentic picture of these years, I've gotta keep it real...)
While saying personal prayers tonight:
Lily: Please bless that I can be a super hero tomorrow after I eat my breakfast.
------
12/12 Cannon is rolling over all the time. I didn't ever practice once with him -- in fact, I didn't even realize that he's already old enough to do that. He's moving through these stages so fast I can hardly keep up. It's a good thing he seems to be self motivated -- it's probably the only way he'll accomplish a darn thing in his life.
Chloe: I know why my tears are coming down.
Me: Why?
Chloe: Because I need to go to the bathroom.
12/15 -
Chloe: I only have two things left to learn, Mom.
Me: Really? What?
Chloe: To snap my fingers and to whistle.
Other than that, she's pretty much got life figured out.
12/16 -
At the grocery store
Chloe: Mom, we should get fish sticks like I had at Angie's house.
Me: Okay.
We go to the frozen food section and I pick up a yellow box of fish sticks...
Chloe: No, Mom, it's the blue box.
Me: Are you sure?
Chloe: Yes. The blue box.
I purchase the blue box and cook them for lunch.
Chloe: Mom, these are the wrong ones. They're supposed to be circled. (In Chloe speak, that's cylinder-shaped)
Me: These are the ones you told me to get.
Chloe: Well, you should have ignored me!
--------
See this post for an explanation of why Lily even knows this word...
Lily to her doll:
You damn doll
Lily to me:
Mom, I want some damn milk.
(I have to admit, I had a hard time deciding whether to include these because it reflects pretty poorly on me, but if I really want this blog to be an authentic picture of these years, I've gotta keep it real...)
While saying personal prayers tonight:
Lily: Please bless that I can be a super hero tomorrow after I eat my breakfast.
------
12/12 Cannon is rolling over all the time. I didn't ever practice once with him -- in fact, I didn't even realize that he's already old enough to do that. He's moving through these stages so fast I can hardly keep up. It's a good thing he seems to be self motivated -- it's probably the only way he'll accomplish a darn thing in his life.
13 December 2008
Unique Gift Ideas
I've been working like mad on the handmade Christmas. I needed a break tonight and visited the new blog of a friend from the Ohio days.
She and her sister have started a vinyl site -- but it's unlike anything you've seen before. Forget words. These gals are onto something and I think you'll like it. A lot.
Designer's Holiday
I think I noticed they're having a 30% off sale right now, too?
She and her sister have started a vinyl site -- but it's unlike anything you've seen before. Forget words. These gals are onto something and I think you'll like it. A lot.
Designer's Holiday
I think I noticed they're having a 30% off sale right now, too?
12 December 2008
You Can Never Have Enough of the Things You Don't Need
"You can never have enough of the things you don't need."
A very smart person said this -- I don't know who. But it's true. And my Christmas list is an excellent example of just that.
If I really could ask Santa for just one thing with the promise that it would come true, it would be that Jim & Rachel could get a baby next year.
I have 4 +1 of what I really need and I love them.
A very smart person said this -- I don't know who. But it's true. And my Christmas list is an excellent example of just that.
If I really could ask Santa for just one thing with the promise that it would come true, it would be that Jim & Rachel could get a baby next year.
I have 4 +1 of what I really need and I love them.
11 December 2008
My Grown-Up Christmas List
Not nearly as sentimental as Amy Grant's...but a girl can dream, right?
For nights spent making cards or folding laundry (Pride & Prejudice DVD)
Because the crusts are the best (All crust Brownie Pan)
This my last year of eligibility for American Idol (Karaoke Microphone)
For the family (Wii)
After the kids go to bed (Rock Band for the Wii)
Because mine really needs help (Decoration and organization in craft room)
For nights spent making cards or folding laundry (Pride & Prejudice DVD)
Because the crusts are the best (All crust Brownie Pan)
This my last year of eligibility for American Idol (Karaoke Microphone)
For the family (Wii)
After the kids go to bed (Rock Band for the Wii)
Because mine really needs help (Decoration and organization in craft room)
10 December 2008
Lily Day
Lily was really cute today. In fact, all the kids were really cute today. I just love a good day.
I decided to just give Lily extra love in the form of snuggles in the rocking chair and lots of hugs whenever she started to act out. It was successful for today. I even enjoyed her helping me cook dinner -- and with no one else to bug her, she was a great helper. She put the potatoes in the bowl after I cut them up (made these fries and they were great) and she tore all the lettuce off the head for the salad. It was one of the more fun "cooking with the kids" moments I've experienced.
Some conversations today:
While looking at an alphabet placemat with Chloe:
Chloe: Look Lily! There's Kung Fu Panda (by the letter P)
Lily: No, that's not Kung Fu Panda because he's eating grass not noodles.
While looking at a Sesame Street placemat:
Lily: Dad! Why is that guy in a garbage can? That's crazy!
Saying her personal prayers after Stanton "encouraged" her to do them without help:
Lily: Please bless that my dad will help me with my prayer.
On their way downstairs after sending she and Chloe back to bed for the second time (just loud enough for Stanton & I to hear):
Lily: Our mom and dad are ugly... and mean.
I decided to just give Lily extra love in the form of snuggles in the rocking chair and lots of hugs whenever she started to act out. It was successful for today. I even enjoyed her helping me cook dinner -- and with no one else to bug her, she was a great helper. She put the potatoes in the bowl after I cut them up (made these fries and they were great) and she tore all the lettuce off the head for the salad. It was one of the more fun "cooking with the kids" moments I've experienced.
Some conversations today:
While looking at an alphabet placemat with Chloe:
Chloe: Look Lily! There's Kung Fu Panda (by the letter P)
Lily: No, that's not Kung Fu Panda because he's eating grass not noodles.
While looking at a Sesame Street placemat:
Lily: Dad! Why is that guy in a garbage can? That's crazy!
Saying her personal prayers after Stanton "encouraged" her to do them without help:
Lily: Please bless that my dad will help me with my prayer.
On their way downstairs after sending she and Chloe back to bed for the second time (just loud enough for Stanton & I to hear):
Lily: Our mom and dad are ugly... and mean.
09 December 2008
Back in the Saddle. The Poopy Saddle.
*My computer is back. Stanton discovered the awesomeness that is Garage Band on our MacBook. It is so cool. We'll definitely be posting some clips from that one soon.
*We have to do a movie for the Allen Family Christmas Party on the 20th. The theme is "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" -- it can be whatever we want as long as it's along those lines. Any great ideas? Maybe add some cowbell?
*I HATE DIARRHEA. My children have had it off and on for the last oh, say 3 or 4 weeks. Grrrrr. It's prevented me from going to the gym for that long. It's driving me nuts-o. More than the not going to the gym part is the cleaning it up off the carpet part (2 different times today) and the changing of diaper after diaper after pair of underwear part. That part is completely and utterly not awesome.
*We have to do a movie for the Allen Family Christmas Party on the 20th. The theme is "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" -- it can be whatever we want as long as it's along those lines. Any great ideas? Maybe add some cowbell?
*I HATE DIARRHEA. My children have had it off and on for the last oh, say 3 or 4 weeks. Grrrrr. It's prevented me from going to the gym for that long. It's driving me nuts-o. More than the not going to the gym part is the cleaning it up off the carpet part (2 different times today) and the changing of diaper after diaper after pair of underwear part. That part is completely and utterly not awesome.
02 December 2008
So Long, Farewell
Tomorrow I will be taking my beloved little MacBook to the repair shop. I don't know when it will return which means I don't know when I'll be back here. I'll miss you.
Noteworthy
*Lily is sucking her thumb again --- aargh
*Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin passed away last night. His talk in October's general conference has had such a positive influence on Stanton & I over the last few months. It is worth reading whether you belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or not -- whether you've read it recently or not.
*We enjoyed a fantastic Thanksgiving with all the Roses at my aunt & uncle's ranch. We decided to take the kids out Wednesday night -- we got there about 7 o'clock -- nobody got to bed on time, but it was a good experience for me to realize that we DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO GET TO BED ON TIME! I am so anal sometimes. The kids were so great on Thursday -- it is so fun to have everyone together. We had well over 50 people there -- it was a blast. The kids got to go on 4-wheelers and took a ride on Scott's tractor -- honestly --Brigham was in heaven. He took his "rightful" spot on the cab right by Scott and wouldn't move for anyone. It was adorable.
There was so much wonderful food -- so. much. wonderful. food. If there is one thing the Roses know how to do -- it is food. Wow. My favorite was my aunt Nancy's relish tray. I completely gorged myself on that and the other appetizers before dinner even started -- and then there was the pie -- and cheesecake -- and pie. We have the best family.
I loved being with my cousins and aunts and uncles -- I look at my grandparents and have such respect for them. I'm grateful for a great family. These every other year Thanksgivings with the Rose family are something I look forward to.
*The girls sang together in Sacrament meeting on Sunday. They sang "He Sent His Son" and did a great job. The practices were so so dicey and we thought this would either be great or a huge disaster. They peaked at the right moment and did great. It was fun to see each of their personalities come out -- love those girls.
*I spent Saturday in Park City with my sisters-in-law Emily & Julie and cousin-in-law Trish. We shopped like crazy and I was able to get Stanton some winter clothes. I love the outlets and we always seem to hit them when they are having seriously awesome sales. I did good again. More than the deals, though, it was so fun to hang out with family. I got so lucky marrying into the family I did. They are great --it's awesome to just gel so easily.
*This afternoon I went over to Judy & Dave's (MIL & FIL) where Ann, Judy, & I worked on the funnest project ever. Ann got her hands on 6 king-sized flannel sheets (thanks, Ann's MIL) so we decided to make Nativity costumes. After about 3 1/2 hours later, we had 30 costumes! It was a lot of fun to start and finish a project in one day. And WOOT! I have my very own Nativity costumes now!
*Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin passed away last night. His talk in October's general conference has had such a positive influence on Stanton & I over the last few months. It is worth reading whether you belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or not -- whether you've read it recently or not.
*We enjoyed a fantastic Thanksgiving with all the Roses at my aunt & uncle's ranch. We decided to take the kids out Wednesday night -- we got there about 7 o'clock -- nobody got to bed on time, but it was a good experience for me to realize that we DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO GET TO BED ON TIME! I am so anal sometimes. The kids were so great on Thursday -- it is so fun to have everyone together. We had well over 50 people there -- it was a blast. The kids got to go on 4-wheelers and took a ride on Scott's tractor -- honestly --Brigham was in heaven. He took his "rightful" spot on the cab right by Scott and wouldn't move for anyone. It was adorable.
There was so much wonderful food -- so. much. wonderful. food. If there is one thing the Roses know how to do -- it is food. Wow. My favorite was my aunt Nancy's relish tray. I completely gorged myself on that and the other appetizers before dinner even started -- and then there was the pie -- and cheesecake -- and pie. We have the best family.
I loved being with my cousins and aunts and uncles -- I look at my grandparents and have such respect for them. I'm grateful for a great family. These every other year Thanksgivings with the Rose family are something I look forward to.
*The girls sang together in Sacrament meeting on Sunday. They sang "He Sent His Son" and did a great job. The practices were so so dicey and we thought this would either be great or a huge disaster. They peaked at the right moment and did great. It was fun to see each of their personalities come out -- love those girls.
*I spent Saturday in Park City with my sisters-in-law Emily & Julie and cousin-in-law Trish. We shopped like crazy and I was able to get Stanton some winter clothes. I love the outlets and we always seem to hit them when they are having seriously awesome sales. I did good again. More than the deals, though, it was so fun to hang out with family. I got so lucky marrying into the family I did. They are great --it's awesome to just gel so easily.
*This afternoon I went over to Judy & Dave's (MIL & FIL) where Ann, Judy, & I worked on the funnest project ever. Ann got her hands on 6 king-sized flannel sheets (thanks, Ann's MIL) so we decided to make Nativity costumes. After about 3 1/2 hours later, we had 30 costumes! It was a lot of fun to start and finish a project in one day. And WOOT! I have my very own Nativity costumes now!
How Could I Have Forgotten?
I'm now eating crow.
A few of you pointed out that I did not include A Christmas Story in my list of favorites (and somehow I forgot How the Grinch Stole Christmas, too). I could have sworn that I had A Christmas Story on there! I must have command-x'ed it without command-v'ing it back in! My apologies to you all and to myself.
Please accept this collection of classic lines as my offer of penance.
FaRaRaRaRaRaRaRaRa
A few of you pointed out that I did not include A Christmas Story in my list of favorites (and somehow I forgot How the Grinch Stole Christmas, too). I could have sworn that I had A Christmas Story on there! I must have command-x'ed it without command-v'ing it back in! My apologies to you all and to myself.
Please accept this collection of classic lines as my offer of penance.
FaRaRaRaRaRaRaRaRa
29 November 2008
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the YEAR!!!
26 November 2008
I Love This Idea!
Prudence Pennywise, one of the fun food blogs out there, has what I think might just be the cutest Thanksgiving Eve tradition ever.
I highly recommend that over my Thanksgiving Eve Eve dinner which consisted of Taco Bell, Sonic, and Cafe Rio. Believe me, no good thing can come from that combination. I don't even know how to describe how it came about, but consider this my Public Service Announcement. Never combine those three restaurants. Ever. And especially don't finish them off with 3 large glasses of apple juice.
I highly recommend that over my Thanksgiving Eve Eve dinner which consisted of Taco Bell, Sonic, and Cafe Rio. Believe me, no good thing can come from that combination. I don't even know how to describe how it came about, but consider this my Public Service Announcement. Never combine those three restaurants. Ever. And especially don't finish them off with 3 large glasses of apple juice.
25 November 2008
Thankful For...
Today I am thankful for...
Heather, who does such a great job cleaning my house.
Stanton, who helped me swallow my pride and allow someone to help me with that right now.
Our sandbox.
November weather still so beautiful that the kids could enjoy the sandbox.
Great big huge family gatherings. I am so excited for our celebration on Thursday!
"Fun Mail" -- thanks for the package, Amanda!
Motivation. I have had unsurpassed motivation to keep working on my homemade Christmas presents this month. I wish I could post them all here, but I can't ruin the surprise for those receiving them! I am thankful I have been able to keep motivated on these, though -- sometimes I struggle with that.
Freshly cut hair on the boys in my life -- Stanton, Brigham, and Cannon all got haircuts today. They look so sharp!
I forgot my camera for Cannon's big first, so I'm counting on Rachel to send them my way! Thank you for the great cuts, Rach!
Sleeping children.
Heather, who does such a great job cleaning my house.
Stanton, who helped me swallow my pride and allow someone to help me with that right now.
Our sandbox.
November weather still so beautiful that the kids could enjoy the sandbox.
Great big huge family gatherings. I am so excited for our celebration on Thursday!
"Fun Mail" -- thanks for the package, Amanda!
Motivation. I have had unsurpassed motivation to keep working on my homemade Christmas presents this month. I wish I could post them all here, but I can't ruin the surprise for those receiving them! I am thankful I have been able to keep motivated on these, though -- sometimes I struggle with that.
Freshly cut hair on the boys in my life -- Stanton, Brigham, and Cannon all got haircuts today. They look so sharp!
I forgot my camera for Cannon's big first, so I'm counting on Rachel to send them my way! Thank you for the great cuts, Rach!
Sleeping children.
24 November 2008
Thankful For...
Today I am thankful for...
A visit from Brooke, my friend from Cache Valley who I met in Ohio who now lives in Arizona. Not only is she a dear friend, but she represents one of the great ways the Lord has helped me grow closer to Him: by bringing people into my life who represent the best of His attributes.
Talents. I'm grateful I have talents that enrich my own life and allow me to serve others.
Playdates. The girls had a friend over today while Brooke visited and voila! they played downstairs nearly the entire time!
My sewing machine.
Actually going to bed before 11 pm tonight -- the first time in over a week.
A visit from Brooke, my friend from Cache Valley who I met in Ohio who now lives in Arizona. Not only is she a dear friend, but she represents one of the great ways the Lord has helped me grow closer to Him: by bringing people into my life who represent the best of His attributes.
Talents. I'm grateful I have talents that enrich my own life and allow me to serve others.Playdates. The girls had a friend over today while Brooke visited and voila! they played downstairs nearly the entire time!
My sewing machine.
Actually going to bed before 11 pm tonight -- the first time in over a week.
Last One, Promise
I decided to do one for Chloe with a short sleeved shirt she had. I figure I can put a long sleeved one under it for wearing.
ps -- I'm not a good photographer and I'm learning to deal with it.
ps -- I'm not a good photographer and I'm learning to deal with it.
Easy Peasy
I dug an old shirt out of Lily's closet, traced her hand, and 15 minutes later:
So cute and easy. I wish I had old, long sleeved shirts for the other 3. It's hard to justify buying new shirts just for one day. Wish I'd found this tutorial at the beginning of the month -- then we could have gotten a little use out of these. What would you do? I know I'll be doing this technique with some black t-shirts I have with a Christmas theme. Love it.
So cute and easy. I wish I had old, long sleeved shirts for the other 3. It's hard to justify buying new shirts just for one day. Wish I'd found this tutorial at the beginning of the month -- then we could have gotten a little use out of these. What would you do? I know I'll be doing this technique with some black t-shirts I have with a Christmas theme. Love it.
Gobble Gobble!
I have to make these shirts for my kiddos on Thanksgiving.
One More Moore has a great tutorial and I'm looking forward to my first foray into reverse applique.
One More Moore has a great tutorial and I'm looking forward to my first foray into reverse applique.
23 November 2008
Thankful For...
Today I am thankful for...
Ward choir -- while it's not anything fancy, it's the only opportunity I have right now to sing, so I truly appreciate it.
Christmas music -- especially of the religious variety. Particularly of the Handel religious variety.
That instead of me gathering everyone up after church, they all found someone to bring them to me. Really, Chloe, Lily, & Brigham all found someone to bring them to me. And Stanton wasn't far behind. I don't know how to describe what a perfect little moment this was for me, but I really truly appreciated it.
This quote from Elder Wirthlin's Conference talk:
"The third thing we can do is understand the principle of compensation. The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude."
After a frustrating last weekend, this week has been much, much better.
The first giggle of a little baby. Cannon broke out in belly giggles this morning when Stanton was dressing him. It was like I was hearing a baby giggle for the first time.
Church. Today was such a good day. I felt the Spirit more than once, I felt a reaffirmation of my testimony of Jesus Christ. I felt His love and concern for me and my family. Knowing Christ, knowing He loves me, knowing I am a member of the church He restored through Joseph Smith, knowing I have access to the covenants and ordinances that allow my family to be together forever -- these are things I am grateful for. I don't know if I even completely understand what tremendous gifts they really are, but I am thankful for a loving Savior who provides them.
Family. I am thankful for my family. Stanton's & my relationship has improved and deepened so much over the past few years and even months -- there isn't a man who would be a better match for me. I'm thankful he was led the direction he was. I'm thankful he worked so hard in school. I'm thankful that he enjoys his profession. I'm thankful that he provides sufficient for our family that I can be home with our children. I'm thankful that he trusts me to provide such a huge portion of their nourishment and education and that he supplements it with tremendous love toward them.
I am thankful for the fact that I have children. I love the things that they have forced me to learn about myself. I've never had a problem with impatience or expecting things of others -- I've always been quite mellow, even-tempered, and understanding of others' circumstances. Being with my four little ones on a near 24-7 basis has shown me that I am not as perfected in those areas as I once considered myself. I have much to learn of patience. I still need to learn to allow those I love to be themselves, not what I expect them to be. I need to bridle my temper and practice self-discipline. Chloe, Lily, & Brigham (& even Cannon at times) have brought those weaknesses to the forefront. I think I can say in sincerity that I am thankful for that.
Ward choir -- while it's not anything fancy, it's the only opportunity I have right now to sing, so I truly appreciate it.
Christmas music -- especially of the religious variety. Particularly of the Handel religious variety.
That instead of me gathering everyone up after church, they all found someone to bring them to me. Really, Chloe, Lily, & Brigham all found someone to bring them to me. And Stanton wasn't far behind. I don't know how to describe what a perfect little moment this was for me, but I really truly appreciated it.
This quote from Elder Wirthlin's Conference talk:
"The third thing we can do is understand the principle of compensation. The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude."
After a frustrating last weekend, this week has been much, much better.
The first giggle of a little baby. Cannon broke out in belly giggles this morning when Stanton was dressing him. It was like I was hearing a baby giggle for the first time.
Church. Today was such a good day. I felt the Spirit more than once, I felt a reaffirmation of my testimony of Jesus Christ. I felt His love and concern for me and my family. Knowing Christ, knowing He loves me, knowing I am a member of the church He restored through Joseph Smith, knowing I have access to the covenants and ordinances that allow my family to be together forever -- these are things I am grateful for. I don't know if I even completely understand what tremendous gifts they really are, but I am thankful for a loving Savior who provides them.
Family. I am thankful for my family. Stanton's & my relationship has improved and deepened so much over the past few years and even months -- there isn't a man who would be a better match for me. I'm thankful he was led the direction he was. I'm thankful he worked so hard in school. I'm thankful that he enjoys his profession. I'm thankful that he provides sufficient for our family that I can be home with our children. I'm thankful that he trusts me to provide such a huge portion of their nourishment and education and that he supplements it with tremendous love toward them.
I am thankful for the fact that I have children. I love the things that they have forced me to learn about myself. I've never had a problem with impatience or expecting things of others -- I've always been quite mellow, even-tempered, and understanding of others' circumstances. Being with my four little ones on a near 24-7 basis has shown me that I am not as perfected in those areas as I once considered myself. I have much to learn of patience. I still need to learn to allow those I love to be themselves, not what I expect them to be. I need to bridle my temper and practice self-discipline. Chloe, Lily, & Brigham (& even Cannon at times) have brought those weaknesses to the forefront. I think I can say in sincerity that I am thankful for that.
22 November 2008
Thankful For...
Today I am thankful for...
My washing machine (again)-- after 2 kids with 2 diarrhea messes each, it was very very helpful.
The hand held shower head in the bathroom -- see above.
Two hours of errand running with just Lily & me. It was so nice to spend some alone time with her and share a cookie and milk at Deseret Book. While she still had her "Lily moments," she was so much fun to be with and I was able to just appreciate her zest for life.
A beautiful church building to meet in each Sunday.
Church tomorrow.
My washing machine (again)-- after 2 kids with 2 diarrhea messes each, it was very very helpful.
The hand held shower head in the bathroom -- see above.
Two hours of errand running with just Lily & me. It was so nice to spend some alone time with her and share a cookie and milk at Deseret Book. While she still had her "Lily moments," she was so much fun to be with and I was able to just appreciate her zest for life.
A beautiful church building to meet in each Sunday.
Church tomorrow.
21 November 2008
Thankful For...
Today I am thankful for...
Google and Internet Tutorials
My washing machine
Breakfast for dinner
Some alone time with Cannon who I love more every day
Coloring with the kids
Seeing the kids' imaginations at work, even when that involves pulling all their clothes out of their closets to "pack for Hawaii"
Google and Internet Tutorials
My washing machine
Breakfast for dinner
Some alone time with Cannon who I love more every day
Coloring with the kids
Seeing the kids' imaginations at work, even when that involves pulling all their clothes out of their closets to "pack for Hawaii"
I'm a Nerd, He's a Nice Guy
Update: I've decided I don't want to see this just yet. I'm going to wait for the video because I know I'm going to be disappointed. The trailers were just too cheesy. I would rather pay to go see James Bond and wait for Twilight on video. Am I crazy???
I really want to go see this tonight.
He said he'd go with me.
Now, where's that babysitter I was talking about yesterday?....
I really want to go see this tonight.
He said he'd go with me.
Now, where's that babysitter I was talking about yesterday?....
20 November 2008
Thankful For...
Today I am thankful for:
Chloe, who saved her snacks from preschool so she could share them with Lily & Brigham
A good babysitter
An impromptu date with Stanton
Order & cleanliness
Online shopping
Lily, who had rough, but better day
Sending Lily back to bed and finding her outside my door fast asleep -- it reminded me of how little she is and how sad I would be without her
Preschool -- Chloe is back to her sweet, obedient, peace-making, 4 1/2 year old self now that she's back in her routine
Not a Thankful For, but I'm just thinking about how much I wish I had been nicer to Chloe when she was 3 and would get out of bed.
Chloe, who saved her snacks from preschool so she could share them with Lily & Brigham
A good babysitter
An impromptu date with Stanton
Order & cleanliness
Online shopping
Lily, who had rough, but better day
Sending Lily back to bed and finding her outside my door fast asleep -- it reminded me of how little she is and how sad I would be without her
Preschool -- Chloe is back to her sweet, obedient, peace-making, 4 1/2 year old self now that she's back in her routine
Not a Thankful For, but I'm just thinking about how much I wish I had been nicer to Chloe when she was 3 and would get out of bed.
Binky Yucky
You know what's still gross after 4 babies?
Spit up coming through the binky.
Why is that gross, but poop isn't? Tell me!
Oh, and I mean baby poop -- 4 year old poop is definitely still gross.
Spit up coming through the binky.
Why is that gross, but poop isn't? Tell me!
Oh, and I mean baby poop -- 4 year old poop is definitely still gross.
19 November 2008
Thankful For...
Today I am thankful for:
Neighborhood friends
Enrichment Night and learning that I'm not the only crazy mad mom around these parts
The homemade apple pie I won at Enrichment night (it's frozen, so I can totally pull it out and bake it and say, "I baked this!")
Stanton getting the kids to bed so I could go to Enrichment and another little thingy first
Kids who don't whine about wanting to watch TV every day, but will totally watch 3 movies in a row so I can work on Christmas presents
Brigham
How much Chloe loves Cannon
Neighborhood friends
Enrichment Night and learning that I'm not the only crazy mad mom around these parts
The homemade apple pie I won at Enrichment night (it's frozen, so I can totally pull it out and bake it and say, "I baked this!")
Stanton getting the kids to bed so I could go to Enrichment and another little thingy first
Kids who don't whine about wanting to watch TV every day, but will totally watch 3 movies in a row so I can work on Christmas presents
Brigham
How much Chloe loves Cannon
18 November 2008
Thankful For...
Today I'm thankful for:
This stuff. It makes my skin feel really really good.
Girls who didn't wake their brother up at 7 am.
Realizing that fruit sticks are a perfectly acceptable preschool snack, even if they're not cute and Thanksgiving-themed.
A phone call from my sister-in-law and my sister.
This conversation with Brigham (while playing with his Mater truck by the microwave):
Brigham: Mom, see bkswd.
Me: What? Oh, see the box? That's a mi-cro-wave.
Brigham: No! See bkswd.
Me: A Bug's World?
Brigham: Yeah! Oh, No! Is baks-wohd.
Me: Oh! It's back-ward?
Brigham: Yeah Mom! Is bakswohd! Matuh's bakswohd!
(You know, "I'm the world's best backwards driver!")
Finishing my free photo book. It's darn cute.
Lily getting a special day with Grandma Judy.
This stuff. It makes my skin feel really really good.
Girls who didn't wake their brother up at 7 am.
Realizing that fruit sticks are a perfectly acceptable preschool snack, even if they're not cute and Thanksgiving-themed.
A phone call from my sister-in-law and my sister.
This conversation with Brigham (while playing with his Mater truck by the microwave):
Brigham: Mom, see bkswd.
Me: What? Oh, see the box? That's a mi-cro-wave.
Brigham: No! See bkswd.
Me: A Bug's World?
Brigham: Yeah! Oh, No! Is baks-wohd.
Me: Oh! It's back-ward?
Brigham: Yeah Mom! Is bakswohd! Matuh's bakswohd!
(You know, "I'm the world's best backwards driver!")
Finishing my free photo book. It's darn cute.
Lily getting a special day with Grandma Judy.
Kids Lately III
11/1 A Conversation with Chloe
Chloe: Halloween is over so that means we can sing Christmas music!
Me: Sure!
Chloe: Sings Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Me: Starts singing Silent Night
Chloe: In a reprimanding tone... Mom! That's not Christmas music, that's I Believe In God music!
11/8 We were out working in the yard on Saturday (got all of the annuals and perennials pulled and cut (yay!)). Chloe started asking me questions about Adam & Eve and the Garden of Eden. She got really deep in her questioning -- things like, "why did God not want them to eat the fruit of the tree of good and evil?" "Why could they eat all of the other trees and not that one?" "why did they disobey Heavenly Father?" It was a neat little conversation and yet another reminder that she's listening. And that the everyday conversations are the ones that will stick.
11/3 Singing the song from Sleeping Beauty:
"I love you, I walked with you once upon a dream. I love you, your eyes are so ugly and familiar to me."
That Prince Philip is a real charmer, apparently.
--------------
11/2 The girls ask me every morning when they first wake up "What day is it, Mom?" They're usually looking for the panties that have that day written on them...well, yesterday the conversation went like this:
Lily: Mom, what day is it?
Me: Sunday.
Lily: Okay.
Stanton: Actually, Lily, it's the Sabbath Day
Lily: No, Dad, Mom said it's Sunday
Stanton: I'm sorry Lily, but it's not Sunday, it's the Sabbath Day (he likes to rile her up sometimes...)
Lily: Dad, my Mom says it's Sunday.
Conversation ends and Stanton leaves for a meeting. Then at breakfast...
Lily: Mom! Guess what?! Sabbath is Sunday's middle name!
Lily: Mom, You're a MEANIAC!!!!
-----------------
11/2 During singing time in nursery yesterday, Brigham got up from his chair and started walking around the circle kissing all of the little girls in the room...
11 He is speaking more articulately every day. I think most people can understand what he's saying most of the time. Except great grandmas -- they always need an interpreter!
11/17 Insisted on sleeping with his dump truck during nap time.
----------------
11/17 Cannon had PT today and has made HUGE improvements in his head mobility. The flat spot on the back is almost gone and the bump on the forehead is getting smaller. His ears are almost perfectly symmetrical now, too. The therapist was really pleased with his progress.
11 He started smiling this month and has a great smile that takes up his entire face.
----------------
11/14 I fell out of the trunk of our van tonight. Face first. I got caught on the strap of Lily's carseat and fell out in slow motion. I managed to give myself a fat lip and sprain my wrist. Aren't I clever?
----------------
11/18 The girls were asked to sing in Sacrament meeting on the 30th. They're learning "He Sent His Son" It's going pretty well, Judy (MIL) had some posters she'd made to teach the primary kids this song. The girls are responding to them better than me drilling the words over and over (surprise surprise). This is such a neat song and I'm glad they're finally learning it (as opposed to just recognizing it).
Chloe: Halloween is over so that means we can sing Christmas music!
Me: Sure!
Chloe: Sings Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Me: Starts singing Silent Night
Chloe: In a reprimanding tone... Mom! That's not Christmas music, that's I Believe In God music!
11/8 We were out working in the yard on Saturday (got all of the annuals and perennials pulled and cut (yay!)). Chloe started asking me questions about Adam & Eve and the Garden of Eden. She got really deep in her questioning -- things like, "why did God not want them to eat the fruit of the tree of good and evil?" "Why could they eat all of the other trees and not that one?" "why did they disobey Heavenly Father?" It was a neat little conversation and yet another reminder that she's listening. And that the everyday conversations are the ones that will stick.
11/3 Singing the song from Sleeping Beauty:
"I love you, I walked with you once upon a dream. I love you, your eyes are so ugly and familiar to me."
That Prince Philip is a real charmer, apparently.
--------------
11/2 The girls ask me every morning when they first wake up "What day is it, Mom?" They're usually looking for the panties that have that day written on them...well, yesterday the conversation went like this:
Lily: Mom, what day is it?
Me: Sunday.
Lily: Okay.
Stanton: Actually, Lily, it's the Sabbath Day
Lily: No, Dad, Mom said it's Sunday
Stanton: I'm sorry Lily, but it's not Sunday, it's the Sabbath Day (he likes to rile her up sometimes...)
Lily: Dad, my Mom says it's Sunday.
Conversation ends and Stanton leaves for a meeting. Then at breakfast...
Lily: Mom! Guess what?! Sabbath is Sunday's middle name!
Lily: Mom, You're a MEANIAC!!!!
-----------------
11/2 During singing time in nursery yesterday, Brigham got up from his chair and started walking around the circle kissing all of the little girls in the room...
11 He is speaking more articulately every day. I think most people can understand what he's saying most of the time. Except great grandmas -- they always need an interpreter!
11/17 Insisted on sleeping with his dump truck during nap time.
----------------
11/17 Cannon had PT today and has made HUGE improvements in his head mobility. The flat spot on the back is almost gone and the bump on the forehead is getting smaller. His ears are almost perfectly symmetrical now, too. The therapist was really pleased with his progress.
11 He started smiling this month and has a great smile that takes up his entire face.
----------------
11/14 I fell out of the trunk of our van tonight. Face first. I got caught on the strap of Lily's carseat and fell out in slow motion. I managed to give myself a fat lip and sprain my wrist. Aren't I clever?
----------------
11/18 The girls were asked to sing in Sacrament meeting on the 30th. They're learning "He Sent His Son" It's going pretty well, Judy (MIL) had some posters she'd made to teach the primary kids this song. The girls are responding to them better than me drilling the words over and over (surprise surprise). This is such a neat song and I'm glad they're finally learning it (as opposed to just recognizing it).
I'm getting an early start on my Christmas cards this year. Last year I didn't send any. The year before that I think I sent them in February. This year will be different -- I already have the completed cards in my hands! I now need to get my address list updated.
If you want a card from us (I mean, come on, who wouldn't?!), will you email me with your address? Even if you think I already have it? julierallen (at) me (dot) com.
Oh, and thanks, Janelle, for the little prod in this very right direction.
If you want a card from us (I mean, come on, who wouldn't?!), will you email me with your address? Even if you think I already have it? julierallen (at) me (dot) com.
Oh, and thanks, Janelle, for the little prod in this very right direction.
17 November 2008
Thankful For...
Today I'm thankful for:
Friends who care.
A hug from Lily.
Cannon's physical therapy success.
Brigham's eyes.
My mother-in-law.
Janelle posting on Scripture Sisters.
Beautiful weather.
Left-over pot roast.
No potty accidents.Patience to deal with potty accidents.
Children playing happily together.
A blog to write my feelings on.
Comments and emails from my last post. Thank you.
The gym.
Friends who care.
A hug from Lily.
Cannon's physical therapy success.
Brigham's eyes.
My mother-in-law.
Janelle posting on Scripture Sisters.
Beautiful weather.
Left-over pot roast.
Children playing happily together.
A blog to write my feelings on.
Comments and emails from my last post. Thank you.
The gym.
16 November 2008
Going Mad
Completely unedited ramblings of an angry mom.......more for me than you, so read at your own risk.......
So I've been having rage issues lately. My girls are being total stinkers and while it would be easy to blame it on me leaving for a vacation, the truth is, they've been stinkers for about 2 years. Sure, we have our good times, but the 3s and the 4s have been tough.
Right before we left on vacation, we started a sticker chore chart -- the girls chores are:
Take off Pull-up (Chloe), Put on new panties (Lily)
Make Bed
Be Nice
Pick Up Toys
Obey Mom
Jammies/Potty (Lily) Potty & Pull-up (Chloe)/Teeth Brushed
The first few days were pretty good. They are totally capable of each of these tasks and I feel it's important for them to have a little responsibility in our home. But see, they just don't really care. They want stickers and they want the reward at the end of the week (if they get all their stickers), but they don't want to do what's necessary to get them.
Chloe is very good about getting her Pull-up off in the morning and she'll make her bed if I remind her. Lily is good about changing her panties but is absolutely a stink about her bed. It drives me nuts. She thinks she has to have help every time or else she'll keep saying "I'll do it after..." (Mom, I know you're laughing right now because this was me even into high school, but just work with me). Now we get to the frustrating part -- the being nice. We've done a sort of 3 strikes and you're out thing since it takes all day to earn that sticker. I find myself threatening and threatening to give checkmarks only to have the girls hurry and do what's right just as I'm getting the pencil. Sometimes I follow through and sometimes I give in. Other times I forget about the chart completely and just scream my head off. This is with the toy pick up (another one that Chloe is decent at if she's by herself but Lily is an absolute pill about), too. And obeying me. Ugh. That one is just completely out of control. And I know I don't help it any. I really start out being nice and patient, but the girls just ignore me. They keep ignoring until I yell (really -- I don't just raise my voice, I yell). I realize that I get to the yelling way sooner than I ought to -- this is part of the rage issue I'm having. I find myself yelling and screaming and then they hurry and obey (or not -- and then it really gets ugly). But at the end of the day, they somehow get all their stickers on their chart. When we go through that routine, I try to talk with them about the things they can improve -- it's pretty pointless, but I do it anyway. Well, Saturday was the final day of their chart this week. We battled and battled all day, going through our typical routine. I asked the girls to go down and put their toys away about an hour and half before bed and told them if they got all their stickers, we'd be able to watch a movie and have popcorn as a family before bed. They seemed really excited. They went downstairs (Lily protesting, of course) and I didn't hear from them for about 15 or 20 minutes. I decided to go downstairs and see how they were doing -- I completely lost it. There were blankets all over the floor, toys everywhere, and they were making no progress in cleaning up. Typing this, I realize this is something I could have be much more calm about, but I guess it was just the straw that broke the camel's back. I yelled until my throat hurt and told them no movie. Lily started bawling and begging for the movie, promising that she'd help clean up. I put my foot down and (still screaming), told her no way, she'd been too bad. Then I helped them clean up the room and put them to bed. As I pondered the day, I thought about how mean I had been. I had actually told my children they were bad. Not that they were acting badly, but that they were bad children. I mean, really, that's just plain verbal abuse. I think I might have swatted Lily on the bottom, too. It was not a good day and is, frankly, pretty typical of how things go most days. I wanted to do better today and woke up with the plan to be nice. That lasted all of about 2 hours. Little Lily. That girl is a challenge. She's the funniest, cutest little girl when she's being funny and cute. But when she's not (which is a lot), she is completely and utterly more than I can take. She makes the meanest sounds and whines and calls names and provokes and screams and takes things away and hits and tackles and whines and whines and whines. Chloe, sweet little Chloe. She's a different sort of beast. She's really good at ignoring. She's sneaky and dishonest about her sneakiness. She wets her pants and even poops her pants and then tries to clean it up herself so she won't get in trouble. She sasses and sneaks. She's so much better than she has been in the past -- she's much better about obeying and is open to reason and reward. But combine her with Lily and it's a nasty recipe. She also gets a huge brunt of my rage just because she's the oldest. With her the things that make me the most crazy are the sassing and the bathroom incidents. I feel like she has bathroom accidents not because she gets involved in things and it sneaks up on her, but because she willfully chooses to have the accident. I don't know if that's really true, but it feels that way and affects how I treat her.
Back to this morning, Lily was making me crazy. I know when I'm using my brain that Lily is completely incapable of holding still. This should just be a given for me, but after being a little stink all morning (not ALL morning, but enough of it to make me crazy), I was trying to get her hair done before church. She would not hold still for even 3 seconds at a time. I was at my wits end and started berating her (for about the millionth time of the morning). We finally got everything done and got to church and she struggled all through sacrament meeting. We got there about 2 minutes before the meeting started which makes me crazy in itself -- I need to be there 15 minutes early to get settled and calm. Right as the meeting started, Chloe informed me that she needed to go to the bathroom. I was so angry. Lily was already being loud and making her awful sounds and trying to stand up on the bench and I grabbed her by the arm and took them both to the bathroom. I was so angry inside that I couldn't even put on the church smile. I really tried to behave during the meeting (after threatening Lily within an inch of her life -- in a real and mean way). I read scriptures to them during the sacrament and that went well except when Brigham dive-bombed right in the middle of us. Not reverent, but I find myself still capable of having patience with him. During the meeting, I colored with Lily. She got bratty about that quickly and wanted me to do all the coloring for her, which I was not willing to do. She decided to play with her little Polly Pocket doll instead, but just couldn't be satisfied with playing quietly on the bench, she kept poking the teenager in front of her and then when I reminded her to turn around, she'd bang the doll on the back of our bench. Again, not reverent. It was making me crazy and I felt like I had an angry spirit rooted inside me. I had a lump in my throat and just wanted to get out of there. By the time the meeting ended, she was decently under control and we were able to get everyone to class without major incident. The frustrating thing with the girls (and Brigham) is that when we're in a place where they need to be quiet or even at home when I need them to give me a little space (to bathe or feed the baby, to use a knife, go to the bathroom, etc.), they want to be right on top of me. Stanton will try to help, but they keep coming back to me. And he's enough of a guy to not notice when he's lost their attention, hence Brigham dive-bombing me during the sacrament.
I'm rambling, but I'm just trying to make sense of how I'm feeling. I feel like there's an angry person living inside of me -- one that I don't know how to control -- one that I really dislike. I feel like my kids don't believe me or trust the real me, they don't believe I'm serious about anything until I'm screaming at them. It's a very frustrating thing.
While reading a friend's blog tonight, I thought about the whole reward thing. I have been so frustrated that my kids won't behave or obey even when I promise them a reward. I've thought, "If someone offered me a reward, I sure as heck would be good. It's a no-brainer." But then I thought about the anger that has taken root inside of me. Could I really control that? Even if a reward was promised? Maybe my kids really can't control some of their behavior.
I don't know where I'm even going with this post ....
So I've been having rage issues lately. My girls are being total stinkers and while it would be easy to blame it on me leaving for a vacation, the truth is, they've been stinkers for about 2 years. Sure, we have our good times, but the 3s and the 4s have been tough.
Right before we left on vacation, we started a sticker chore chart -- the girls chores are:
Take off Pull-up (Chloe), Put on new panties (Lily)
Make Bed
Be Nice
Pick Up Toys
Obey Mom
Jammies/Potty (Lily) Potty & Pull-up (Chloe)/Teeth Brushed
The first few days were pretty good. They are totally capable of each of these tasks and I feel it's important for them to have a little responsibility in our home. But see, they just don't really care. They want stickers and they want the reward at the end of the week (if they get all their stickers), but they don't want to do what's necessary to get them.
Chloe is very good about getting her Pull-up off in the morning and she'll make her bed if I remind her. Lily is good about changing her panties but is absolutely a stink about her bed. It drives me nuts. She thinks she has to have help every time or else she'll keep saying "I'll do it after..." (Mom, I know you're laughing right now because this was me even into high school, but just work with me). Now we get to the frustrating part -- the being nice. We've done a sort of 3 strikes and you're out thing since it takes all day to earn that sticker. I find myself threatening and threatening to give checkmarks only to have the girls hurry and do what's right just as I'm getting the pencil. Sometimes I follow through and sometimes I give in. Other times I forget about the chart completely and just scream my head off. This is with the toy pick up (another one that Chloe is decent at if she's by herself but Lily is an absolute pill about), too. And obeying me. Ugh. That one is just completely out of control. And I know I don't help it any. I really start out being nice and patient, but the girls just ignore me. They keep ignoring until I yell (really -- I don't just raise my voice, I yell). I realize that I get to the yelling way sooner than I ought to -- this is part of the rage issue I'm having. I find myself yelling and screaming and then they hurry and obey (or not -- and then it really gets ugly). But at the end of the day, they somehow get all their stickers on their chart. When we go through that routine, I try to talk with them about the things they can improve -- it's pretty pointless, but I do it anyway. Well, Saturday was the final day of their chart this week. We battled and battled all day, going through our typical routine. I asked the girls to go down and put their toys away about an hour and half before bed and told them if they got all their stickers, we'd be able to watch a movie and have popcorn as a family before bed. They seemed really excited. They went downstairs (Lily protesting, of course) and I didn't hear from them for about 15 or 20 minutes. I decided to go downstairs and see how they were doing -- I completely lost it. There were blankets all over the floor, toys everywhere, and they were making no progress in cleaning up. Typing this, I realize this is something I could have be much more calm about, but I guess it was just the straw that broke the camel's back. I yelled until my throat hurt and told them no movie. Lily started bawling and begging for the movie, promising that she'd help clean up. I put my foot down and (still screaming), told her no way, she'd been too bad. Then I helped them clean up the room and put them to bed. As I pondered the day, I thought about how mean I had been. I had actually told my children they were bad. Not that they were acting badly, but that they were bad children. I mean, really, that's just plain verbal abuse. I think I might have swatted Lily on the bottom, too. It was not a good day and is, frankly, pretty typical of how things go most days. I wanted to do better today and woke up with the plan to be nice. That lasted all of about 2 hours. Little Lily. That girl is a challenge. She's the funniest, cutest little girl when she's being funny and cute. But when she's not (which is a lot), she is completely and utterly more than I can take. She makes the meanest sounds and whines and calls names and provokes and screams and takes things away and hits and tackles and whines and whines and whines. Chloe, sweet little Chloe. She's a different sort of beast. She's really good at ignoring. She's sneaky and dishonest about her sneakiness. She wets her pants and even poops her pants and then tries to clean it up herself so she won't get in trouble. She sasses and sneaks. She's so much better than she has been in the past -- she's much better about obeying and is open to reason and reward. But combine her with Lily and it's a nasty recipe. She also gets a huge brunt of my rage just because she's the oldest. With her the things that make me the most crazy are the sassing and the bathroom incidents. I feel like she has bathroom accidents not because she gets involved in things and it sneaks up on her, but because she willfully chooses to have the accident. I don't know if that's really true, but it feels that way and affects how I treat her.
Back to this morning, Lily was making me crazy. I know when I'm using my brain that Lily is completely incapable of holding still. This should just be a given for me, but after being a little stink all morning (not ALL morning, but enough of it to make me crazy), I was trying to get her hair done before church. She would not hold still for even 3 seconds at a time. I was at my wits end and started berating her (for about the millionth time of the morning). We finally got everything done and got to church and she struggled all through sacrament meeting. We got there about 2 minutes before the meeting started which makes me crazy in itself -- I need to be there 15 minutes early to get settled and calm. Right as the meeting started, Chloe informed me that she needed to go to the bathroom. I was so angry. Lily was already being loud and making her awful sounds and trying to stand up on the bench and I grabbed her by the arm and took them both to the bathroom. I was so angry inside that I couldn't even put on the church smile. I really tried to behave during the meeting (after threatening Lily within an inch of her life -- in a real and mean way). I read scriptures to them during the sacrament and that went well except when Brigham dive-bombed right in the middle of us. Not reverent, but I find myself still capable of having patience with him. During the meeting, I colored with Lily. She got bratty about that quickly and wanted me to do all the coloring for her, which I was not willing to do. She decided to play with her little Polly Pocket doll instead, but just couldn't be satisfied with playing quietly on the bench, she kept poking the teenager in front of her and then when I reminded her to turn around, she'd bang the doll on the back of our bench. Again, not reverent. It was making me crazy and I felt like I had an angry spirit rooted inside me. I had a lump in my throat and just wanted to get out of there. By the time the meeting ended, she was decently under control and we were able to get everyone to class without major incident. The frustrating thing with the girls (and Brigham) is that when we're in a place where they need to be quiet or even at home when I need them to give me a little space (to bathe or feed the baby, to use a knife, go to the bathroom, etc.), they want to be right on top of me. Stanton will try to help, but they keep coming back to me. And he's enough of a guy to not notice when he's lost their attention, hence Brigham dive-bombing me during the sacrament.
I'm rambling, but I'm just trying to make sense of how I'm feeling. I feel like there's an angry person living inside of me -- one that I don't know how to control -- one that I really dislike. I feel like my kids don't believe me or trust the real me, they don't believe I'm serious about anything until I'm screaming at them. It's a very frustrating thing.
While reading a friend's blog tonight, I thought about the whole reward thing. I have been so frustrated that my kids won't behave or obey even when I promise them a reward. I've thought, "If someone offered me a reward, I sure as heck would be good. It's a no-brainer." But then I thought about the anger that has taken root inside of me. Could I really control that? Even if a reward was promised? Maybe my kids really can't control some of their behavior.
I don't know where I'm even going with this post ....
14 November 2008
You Can Help, Too!
I made a little button for your sidebar if you'd like to link to Jim & Rachel's adoption blog.
Copy the code you see on my sidebar. Go to your Customize page and Add a Gadget. Scroll down till you find the HTML/JavaScript option. Choose that. Paste the code into the box and Save. Voila -- you've added the button to your sidebar!
A shoutout to Oikology 101 for a great tutorial on making buttons available to others!
Copy the code you see on my sidebar. Go to your Customize page and Add a Gadget. Scroll down till you find the HTML/JavaScript option. Choose that. Paste the code into the box and Save. Voila -- you've added the button to your sidebar!
A shoutout to Oikology 101 for a great tutorial on making buttons available to others!
Jim & Rachel
I've been wanting to write this post for a long time, but have wanted a big chunk of time to do it. I'm realizing that's never going to happen, so here I am.
I just want to introduce you all to my sister and brother in law Rachel and Jim. Stanton & I have loved being able to live so close to them (a mile and a half -- how great is that?!). They have always been a great example to me of how a relationship should work. They completely enjoy being together, they communicate well, they are active and involved in so many things, they're athletic (together! they play in leagues together -- how fun is that?!), they are faithful in their church callings, and they're totally supportive of one another. They've experienced a lot in the 6 years they've been married -- jobs, school, building a house, travel -- but one thing they haven't had the opportunity to experience yet is parenthood. After several attempts to get pregnant and over a year of trying to adopt, they are still waiting. They've started an adoption blog to help them get a little more exposure.
A few things I love about Jim & Rachel:
* Lunch with Rach. Although we've slacked the last couple of months, we typically go to lunch once a month. It's so fun to talk to her.
* Jimmy's fix-it abilities. He's incredible. Stanton's been driving around his car for 3 or 4 years with the door handle broken, the dials broken, the head light broken, the odometer broken -- you get the idea. Stanton called Jim for help and within a week, he had all the replacement parts and helped Stanton fix it up. All in all, it took them about 2 hours and $75. Jim does things like this all the time.
* Rachel's craftiness. Rachel makes the cutest handmade cards and is always learning a new skill. She just learned how to crochet and made a beautiful rug for her laundry room.
* Jim's humor. He's got a quick wit and has the rare ability to be funny without hurting other people.
* Rachel's hair doing skills. Rachel definitely gives the best haircuts I've ever had and she makes Brigham look like a perfect little gentleman. Stanton always comes home from his haircuts raving about the head massages or the new shampoo that tingles or whatever. She's the best.
* Their devotion to each other.
* Their honesty. There's never any question about how Jim & Rachel are feeling. They've always been so open and honest about this journey toward parenthood and never tried to gloss over the difficult times. I have admired that.
* Their love of family.
* Their love of children. Jim and Rachel are definitely the favorite uncle and aunt. They run around with the kids, play games with them (my kids' favorite is "Are you sorry for your sins?" -- they always say no so Jimmy will tickle them), do their hair (okay, that one is all Rachel), and pay attention to them. The cousins definitely love Jimmy & Rachel the best.
This picture of Rach with two of the nieces is typical of where you'll find her.
And I love this one of James. It's exactly what you'll find him doing most of the time.
Go visit Jim and Rachel's blog -- you'll love it. And if you know anyone who's considering placing a baby for adoption, will you send them their way? There isn't a couple more prepared or perfect for parenthood.
Just Trying to Remember
Had to throw these pictures in for the record.
Liz & Jen, two of Stanton's former employees, came to visit when Cannon was born. Love you girls! Jen, you need a blog.
The girls did take swim lessons this summer. I forgot to post about it because I had Cannon right before they finished. Thanks to Grandma Rose for taking them those last few times. Even though this shot is blurry, I love it. Love seeing them love each other as sisters. I love my sisters so much and hope they have that same relationship with each other.
This was one of those moments where you think, "Yep, we're that family." After a busy day outside this summer, we needed to run to Sam's Club to get some things. We got everyone in the car, got to the store, got everyone out and into the cart and then noticed --- Brigham's still in a swimsuit, Lily is too, not to mention the disaster that is her hair and all of them are filthy. Oh well.
Liz & Jen, two of Stanton's former employees, came to visit when Cannon was born. Love you girls! Jen, you need a blog.
The girls did take swim lessons this summer. I forgot to post about it because I had Cannon right before they finished. Thanks to Grandma Rose for taking them those last few times. Even though this shot is blurry, I love it. Love seeing them love each other as sisters. I love my sisters so much and hope they have that same relationship with each other.
This was one of those moments where you think, "Yep, we're that family." After a busy day outside this summer, we needed to run to Sam's Club to get some things. We got everyone in the car, got to the store, got everyone out and into the cart and then noticed --- Brigham's still in a swimsuit, Lily is too, not to mention the disaster that is her hair and all of them are filthy. Oh well.
Free Snapfish Photo Book
You have to use the coupon by tonight and make your book by Sunday.
Click here and follow the instructions. You get a free 8x11 book -- all you pay is shipping! Wouldn't that be a fun grandparent gift?
Thanks, Sara for the tip!
Click here and follow the instructions. You get a free 8x11 book -- all you pay is shipping! Wouldn't that be a fun grandparent gift?
Thanks, Sara for the tip!
On Vacation
Stanton & I just got back from a week in Hawaii with Stanton's folks and our little Cannon. It was a great vacation.
We did a lot of this...
I read Persuasion by Jane Austen. I hadn't read that one and it was so enjoyable. That's one of my favorite parts of Hawaii -- being able to just sit outside and read a book. It helps that we've been a few times before because we don't have to spend the entire time sightseeing. The relaxing is my favorite part.
We did do a little sightseeing, though. I hadn't seen a few things on the east side of the island so we went over there. This is me at Blowhole -- when the waves crash here, the mist shoots up through a tunnel in the rocks -- it looks like Old Faithful. It was a neat place. We tried to hike Diamond Head, but it was closed (when is Diamond Head ever closed?). I still haven't done that, so I'm hoping we'll get to in May when we go for Stanton's AAPD conference. I'm also hoping to snorkel at Hanauma Bay on that trip -- it just didn't work out this time.
Our friends Spring and Allen Bean happened to be there the same time as us. We met up to shop at the Flea Market, eat at the Oceanarium & PCC, and play in the ocean behind the house. It was fun to hang out with them.
This was definitely our eating out trip. Because of the house Stanton's family has there and the huge group we usually go with, we end up cooking meals at the house most nights. This time we were a much smaller group (just Stanton & I and Dave & Judy) and groceries were as expensive as eating out. We ate king crab (Oceanarium buffet) two nights (heaven!!), prime rib & snow crab (PCC & Hale'iwa Joe's) two nights, melt in your mouth ribeye steak (Ruth's Chris), and the best veggie salad ever (Pizza Bob's) two different afternoons. We also had breakfast at the Hukilau cafe in Lai'e one morning -- I had this fried rice omelet that was out of this world. I'll definitely be making that one at home -- who ever thought to eat fried rice for breakfast? I'd like to personally thank them, whoever they are.
I didn't take any pictures at all of the restaurants -- can't believe it. But it was a lot of fun. Eating out like that makes me grateful to come home and make a meal, strange as it seems. In fact, for dinner last night (this is after a red-eye flight from Honolulu and a morning spent picking all the kids up from their various babysitters...), I made chicken soft tacos -- complete with home-made whole wheat tortillas and brown rice and beans. Nothing like a week of no dishes and eating out to make you feel all domestic again. And I needed that -- I was in a total dinner rut.
Let's see, other trip highlights...we went on a glider ride over the island. I should have known it wasn't going to go well when our flight number was...
We got to the glider (which is really quite amazing -- a plane tows you up to about 5000 feet and then lets you go and the pilot just uses rudders and the wings to catch the wind at take you all over the sky. We saw some really beautiful scenery from up high) and were excited to get in.
Once we got in, the pilot took a little snapshot of us.
Yeah, we look happy. Stanton really is. But I'm not and I'll show you why:
Stanton got in first and when I looked at what room was left, I about hyperventilated. And then there was the whole 'I can't move my legs!' situation. If you know me well, you know that I have leg issues to begin with. Not being able to move them and stretch them was about enough to make me call the whole thing off before we left the ground. But I decided to be a big girl and suck it up. I had the claustrophobia thing pretty well under control by the time we got going. We got about 3000 feet up and then the nausea hit. And wow -- it hit. I was taking long, deep breaths through my nose, trying to get my stomach to return to its proper place in my abdomen, but it just insisted on staying right at the edge of my throat. I was getting pretty panicky -- looking around for an empty bag (yeah, right, there wasn't ANY room for an empty bag in that little thing) when Stanton smiled and said, "if you're going to throw up, just make sure you do it down your shirt." Cute, I know. Well, I hung on for as long as I could, but 15 minutes into our 30 minute ride, I had to ask to be taken down. It really was a bummer, as the view was incredible. C'est la vie.
Cannon was an angel, as always. He rode in the back of the van and either slept or gooed most of the time.
It was a lot of fun to get to know him a little better. He is becoming very interactive and will smile with his entire face (I love to see a baby's eyes smile). Spending some one on one time with Cannon was probably the best part of the trip.
The kids had a great time visiting their cousins and aunts and uncles. Chloe stayed with my sister, Lori. I think it was really fun for her to be the little sister for once. She had a great time with Todd, Kate, & Jack, and even got to see Grandma & Grandpa Rose while she was there. Thanks, Lori & Brad. Chloe loved it!
Lily stayed with Stanton's sister, Julie. She called her "Juliewebb" (Lily has a name thing -- she calls her nursery music leader "Oh Here We Are Together" and has little names like that for most people she meets). She loved being with Juliewebb and really adores her. I think her cousins might be glad to get back to normal, though. Wednesday (the day before we got home), Lily came into the kitchen with her wrists and ankles bound in duct tape and a piece over her mouth. Julie was, obviously, shocked and went to investigate. She asked Amanda, her 10 year-old what was going on. Amanda said, "Mom, I just couldn't take it anymore!" Lily is Lily is Lily is Lily and she wore the girls out with her screaming, I think! But she really had a great time and felt pretty special to get to stay at Aunt Julie's. Thanks, Julie & Scott! We love you!
Brigham got passed around a bit -- he started out with Shaynna, my good friend. Chrystal picked him up shortly after and took him to Tremonton to stay with my Aunt Christie. He spent Thursday - Sunday there and had a blast. He got to go out to the farm and see the tractors (Christie mentioned he was especially partial to the green ones -- no surprise there!) and the cows -- he loved that. After a fun weekend there, he came back to Hyde Park and stayed with Ann, Stanton's sister at Dave & Judy's. He had a great time with Katie & Allison and just went along with whatever games they wanted to play. Ann took them all back to her house in Syracuse on Wednesday and he was there till yesterday when we picked him up. All reports are that he was a good little guy and very mellow. I love that part of his personality. He really adapts well, which I hope continues in the years to come. Thanks Christie & Scott and Ann & Don. We appreciate you making sure Brigham was happy!
Going away always makes me happy to come back. The kids are (mostly) playing well this morning -- pretending to be in Hawaii, going camping, cooking dinner, etc. I want to be a nicer mom and (mostly) have the patience to be better with them. Being away reminds me what a blessing it is to be mom to these incredible little people.
We did a lot of this...
I read Persuasion by Jane Austen. I hadn't read that one and it was so enjoyable. That's one of my favorite parts of Hawaii -- being able to just sit outside and read a book. It helps that we've been a few times before because we don't have to spend the entire time sightseeing. The relaxing is my favorite part.We did do a little sightseeing, though. I hadn't seen a few things on the east side of the island so we went over there. This is me at Blowhole -- when the waves crash here, the mist shoots up through a tunnel in the rocks -- it looks like Old Faithful. It was a neat place. We tried to hike Diamond Head, but it was closed (when is Diamond Head ever closed?). I still haven't done that, so I'm hoping we'll get to in May when we go for Stanton's AAPD conference. I'm also hoping to snorkel at Hanauma Bay on that trip -- it just didn't work out this time.
Our friends Spring and Allen Bean happened to be there the same time as us. We met up to shop at the Flea Market, eat at the Oceanarium & PCC, and play in the ocean behind the house. It was fun to hang out with them.
This was definitely our eating out trip. Because of the house Stanton's family has there and the huge group we usually go with, we end up cooking meals at the house most nights. This time we were a much smaller group (just Stanton & I and Dave & Judy) and groceries were as expensive as eating out. We ate king crab (Oceanarium buffet) two nights (heaven!!), prime rib & snow crab (PCC & Hale'iwa Joe's) two nights, melt in your mouth ribeye steak (Ruth's Chris), and the best veggie salad ever (Pizza Bob's) two different afternoons. We also had breakfast at the Hukilau cafe in Lai'e one morning -- I had this fried rice omelet that was out of this world. I'll definitely be making that one at home -- who ever thought to eat fried rice for breakfast? I'd like to personally thank them, whoever they are.I didn't take any pictures at all of the restaurants -- can't believe it. But it was a lot of fun. Eating out like that makes me grateful to come home and make a meal, strange as it seems. In fact, for dinner last night (this is after a red-eye flight from Honolulu and a morning spent picking all the kids up from their various babysitters...), I made chicken soft tacos -- complete with home-made whole wheat tortillas and brown rice and beans. Nothing like a week of no dishes and eating out to make you feel all domestic again. And I needed that -- I was in a total dinner rut.
Let's see, other trip highlights...we went on a glider ride over the island. I should have known it wasn't going to go well when our flight number was...
We got to the glider (which is really quite amazing -- a plane tows you up to about 5000 feet and then lets you go and the pilot just uses rudders and the wings to catch the wind at take you all over the sky. We saw some really beautiful scenery from up high) and were excited to get in.
Once we got in, the pilot took a little snapshot of us.
Yeah, we look happy. Stanton really is. But I'm not and I'll show you why:
Stanton got in first and when I looked at what room was left, I about hyperventilated. And then there was the whole 'I can't move my legs!' situation. If you know me well, you know that I have leg issues to begin with. Not being able to move them and stretch them was about enough to make me call the whole thing off before we left the ground. But I decided to be a big girl and suck it up. I had the claustrophobia thing pretty well under control by the time we got going. We got about 3000 feet up and then the nausea hit. And wow -- it hit. I was taking long, deep breaths through my nose, trying to get my stomach to return to its proper place in my abdomen, but it just insisted on staying right at the edge of my throat. I was getting pretty panicky -- looking around for an empty bag (yeah, right, there wasn't ANY room for an empty bag in that little thing) when Stanton smiled and said, "if you're going to throw up, just make sure you do it down your shirt." Cute, I know. Well, I hung on for as long as I could, but 15 minutes into our 30 minute ride, I had to ask to be taken down. It really was a bummer, as the view was incredible. C'est la vie. Cannon was an angel, as always. He rode in the back of the van and either slept or gooed most of the time.
It was a lot of fun to get to know him a little better. He is becoming very interactive and will smile with his entire face (I love to see a baby's eyes smile). Spending some one on one time with Cannon was probably the best part of the trip.The kids had a great time visiting their cousins and aunts and uncles. Chloe stayed with my sister, Lori. I think it was really fun for her to be the little sister for once. She had a great time with Todd, Kate, & Jack, and even got to see Grandma & Grandpa Rose while she was there. Thanks, Lori & Brad. Chloe loved it!
Lily stayed with Stanton's sister, Julie. She called her "Juliewebb" (Lily has a name thing -- she calls her nursery music leader "Oh Here We Are Together" and has little names like that for most people she meets). She loved being with Juliewebb and really adores her. I think her cousins might be glad to get back to normal, though. Wednesday (the day before we got home), Lily came into the kitchen with her wrists and ankles bound in duct tape and a piece over her mouth. Julie was, obviously, shocked and went to investigate. She asked Amanda, her 10 year-old what was going on. Amanda said, "Mom, I just couldn't take it anymore!" Lily is Lily is Lily is Lily and she wore the girls out with her screaming, I think! But she really had a great time and felt pretty special to get to stay at Aunt Julie's. Thanks, Julie & Scott! We love you!
Brigham got passed around a bit -- he started out with Shaynna, my good friend. Chrystal picked him up shortly after and took him to Tremonton to stay with my Aunt Christie. He spent Thursday - Sunday there and had a blast. He got to go out to the farm and see the tractors (Christie mentioned he was especially partial to the green ones -- no surprise there!) and the cows -- he loved that. After a fun weekend there, he came back to Hyde Park and stayed with Ann, Stanton's sister at Dave & Judy's. He had a great time with Katie & Allison and just went along with whatever games they wanted to play. Ann took them all back to her house in Syracuse on Wednesday and he was there till yesterday when we picked him up. All reports are that he was a good little guy and very mellow. I love that part of his personality. He really adapts well, which I hope continues in the years to come. Thanks Christie & Scott and Ann & Don. We appreciate you making sure Brigham was happy!
Going away always makes me happy to come back. The kids are (mostly) playing well this morning -- pretending to be in Hawaii, going camping, cooking dinner, etc. I want to be a nicer mom and (mostly) have the patience to be better with them. Being away reminds me what a blessing it is to be mom to these incredible little people.
Halloween Hangover
You know it's the day after Halloween when...
Breakfast is accompanied by lollipops
When the white film on their faces is from candy necklaces instead of milk
When you find regurgitated candy in the sink
And you find cute little people in mullet hats walking around your house
Breakfast is accompanied by lollipops
When the white film on their faces is from candy necklaces instead of milk
When you find regurgitated candy in the sink
And you find cute little people in mullet hats walking around your house
06 November 2008
31 October 2008
Kittys and Spiders and Pirates and Lions and Witches and Gross Guys, Oh, My!
Whew, typing that title made me realize how big my little family is getting. Oh, my, indeed.
Happy Halloween, Everyone! It's going to be a while before we recover from the crazy sugar high around here.
We enjoyed a night of trick or treating in our best ever neighborhood and visiting Grandma Barbara at Pioneer Valley. They always spoil the kiddos there.
Chloe was a kitty this year. She's already declared her intentions of being Sleeping Beauty next year because she has golden hair. Knowing Chloe, she won't forget that and I'll be sewing a stinking Sleeping Beauty costume. Ugh. Maybe I should start now...
Lily was the Itsy Bitsy Spider. The girl is perpetual motion defined and I had a tough time getting a good picture of her costume. The back has a big red spot (a la Black Widow), but I forgot to photograph that. We gave her a little hat with eyes all over it just to be accurate.
Brigham was a stinkin' cute pirate. He has been practicing his "Arrr" for weeks now and did not disappoint.
Here are the three little munchkins together. Again, tough to get a good shot of all of them...
And here's Cannon who should have been dressed as an angel because that's what kind of a baby he is. Instead, he went as a lion and didn't roar once.
Stanton put his costume together 10 minutes before we had to leave. I think he turned out pretty sick. Really. Sick. And wrong. But the man I love nonetheless.
Finally, this is what you get when you ask your 3 & 4 year olds to snap a picture of you. It took several attempts to even get these...
Too bad, too, because you can't see the seriously awesome huge purple and white eyelashes I was wearing. They were so cool and were a great conversation piece all day. I don't know why I was such a stick in the mud about Halloween for all these years -- dressing up makes the day so fun and I'm already planning my costume for next year...
Happy Halloween, Everyone! It's going to be a while before we recover from the crazy sugar high around here.
We enjoyed a night of trick or treating in our best ever neighborhood and visiting Grandma Barbara at Pioneer Valley. They always spoil the kiddos there.
Chloe was a kitty this year. She's already declared her intentions of being Sleeping Beauty next year because she has golden hair. Knowing Chloe, she won't forget that and I'll be sewing a stinking Sleeping Beauty costume. Ugh. Maybe I should start now...
Lily was the Itsy Bitsy Spider. The girl is perpetual motion defined and I had a tough time getting a good picture of her costume. The back has a big red spot (a la Black Widow), but I forgot to photograph that. We gave her a little hat with eyes all over it just to be accurate.
Brigham was a stinkin' cute pirate. He has been practicing his "Arrr" for weeks now and did not disappoint.
Here are the three little munchkins together. Again, tough to get a good shot of all of them...
And here's Cannon who should have been dressed as an angel because that's what kind of a baby he is. Instead, he went as a lion and didn't roar once.
Stanton put his costume together 10 minutes before we had to leave. I think he turned out pretty sick. Really. Sick. And wrong. But the man I love nonetheless.
Finally, this is what you get when you ask your 3 & 4 year olds to snap a picture of you. It took several attempts to even get these...
Too bad, too, because you can't see the seriously awesome huge purple and white eyelashes I was wearing. They were so cool and were a great conversation piece all day. I don't know why I was such a stick in the mud about Halloween for all these years -- dressing up makes the day so fun and I'm already planning my costume for next year...
30 October 2008
Early Voting
Utah is one of those blessed states with early voting. I took advantage of it today (tomorrow is the final day) -- Judy (my MIL) was kind enough to tend for me. The line was totally doable and I was done within 15 minutes of arriving. Much better than Tuesday will be, I'm sure. I cast my vote, got my sticker, and headed out to my car. On the way out, I ran into a couple Stanton & I knew when we lived in Providence. I said hello and we small talked for a second. Then the husband saw my sticker and gave me a big hug, "Oh, I'm so glad you voted because we KNOW you voted the RIGHT WAY!!" I said, "What do you mean?" He said, "Well, your husband makes over $XXX a year, so I know YOU voted the right way." I smiled and said, "Well, I think I did."
I didn't tell them who I voted for and I'm not telling you who I voted for, but I am going to rant a little here about this conversation.
First. Why do you think it's okay to yell out, "Your husband makes over $XXX a year!"? I mean, how could YOU possibly even know if that's true or not? Would you appreciate if I brashly speculated about YOUR income?
Second. Why would my income level affect how I vote? There are other concerns besides my own tax rate this election. And I'm entitled to weigh what's most important to me and vote accordingly. So are you. Please don't assume I'm voting for the same reason you are.
Third, and most important. "Oh, I'm so glad you voted because we KNOW you voted the RIGHT WAY!!" So, if I voted the "wrong" way, would you be disappointed that I came to cast my ballot? Are you only happy that people vote if they agree with you?
I think this election, more than any other, is an opportunity for us to really weigh issues rather than parties. There are very important decisions to be made and while a president doesn't have the power to make all of those decisions (thank Heaven), he can have a positive influence in those issues. He also has an opportunity to represent us as a nation to the rest of the world. These are important things to consider (at least for me they are) when deciding whom to choose in a presidential election.
I respect those who have spent time researching, listening, and pondering their choices for president, even if they don't end up voting the same way as me. It's one of our great privileges as Americans to disagree and cast our vote according to our own conscience. I'll vote my way, you vote yours.
Here's my favorite political video of the season.
And remember to vote! But be a grown-up if someone disagrees with you, okay?
I'll now go back to my regularly scheduled posts about kids and life around our house. I promise.
I didn't tell them who I voted for and I'm not telling you who I voted for, but I am going to rant a little here about this conversation.
First. Why do you think it's okay to yell out, "Your husband makes over $XXX a year!"? I mean, how could YOU possibly even know if that's true or not? Would you appreciate if I brashly speculated about YOUR income?
Second. Why would my income level affect how I vote? There are other concerns besides my own tax rate this election. And I'm entitled to weigh what's most important to me and vote accordingly. So are you. Please don't assume I'm voting for the same reason you are.
Third, and most important. "Oh, I'm so glad you voted because we KNOW you voted the RIGHT WAY!!" So, if I voted the "wrong" way, would you be disappointed that I came to cast my ballot? Are you only happy that people vote if they agree with you?
I think this election, more than any other, is an opportunity for us to really weigh issues rather than parties. There are very important decisions to be made and while a president doesn't have the power to make all of those decisions (thank Heaven), he can have a positive influence in those issues. He also has an opportunity to represent us as a nation to the rest of the world. These are important things to consider (at least for me they are) when deciding whom to choose in a presidential election.
I respect those who have spent time researching, listening, and pondering their choices for president, even if they don't end up voting the same way as me. It's one of our great privileges as Americans to disagree and cast our vote according to our own conscience. I'll vote my way, you vote yours.
Here's my favorite political video of the season.
And remember to vote! But be a grown-up if someone disagrees with you, okay?
I'll now go back to my regularly scheduled posts about kids and life around our house. I promise.
24 October 2008
You Do Know She Can Take Your Pictures, Too, Right?
I mean seriously, I'm giddy over these photos. Emily did it again.
Handmade Christmas -- Ideas Part 1
I'm working on my handmade Christmas for the kiddos. I've been looking for hand puppets to go with the theater I'm planning to make for them. There's this amazing seller on etsy.com that I am in love with. Check out the incredible sets she sells.
Noah's Ark
Fairy Tale
Little Red Riding Hood
Animals
Gingerbread Man
People in Your Neighborhood
Nativity
As you can see, the sets are a bit pricey. I'm hoping to recreate them on my own, although I'm sure I won't be up to those high standards. I might buy a set just to see them in real life and get a feel for how she does the stitchery.
And just for fun, a few very cool hand puppets I found along my search.
Optimus Prime
Chewbacca
Darth Maul
Which set would you buy?
Noah's Ark
Fairy Tale
Little Red Riding Hood
Animals
Gingerbread Man
People in Your Neighborhood
Nativity
As you can see, the sets are a bit pricey. I'm hoping to recreate them on my own, although I'm sure I won't be up to those high standards. I might buy a set just to see them in real life and get a feel for how she does the stitchery.
And just for fun, a few very cool hand puppets I found along my search.
Optimus Prime
Chewbacca
Darth Maul
Which set would you buy?
23 October 2008
In Which I Wear My Prudy Prudemeyer Hat
I loved The Office tonight. Great episode. Lots of quoteworthy lines throughout.
BUT....I am very disappointed that Jim was driving drunk. And that there were no apparent consequences for that behavior. I'm just sayin'....
That is all.
BUT....I am very disappointed that Jim was driving drunk. And that there were no apparent consequences for that behavior. I'm just sayin'....
That is all.
22 October 2008
Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!
Marie-Therese Gown GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!
Seriously, I would love to win this gown. Can't you just see Chloe in it?
Seriously, I would love to win this gown. Can't you just see Chloe in it?
21 October 2008
If You Give A Mom a Head Cold
If you give a mom a head cold,
She’s probably going to want to wear her jammies all day
Her kids probably will, too
She’ll give them cold cereal for breakfast,
And Ramen noodles for lunch
They’ll want chips and salsa, too,
So she’ll get a few bowls of that out
The chips will make the kids thirsty,
So they’ll ask for drinks
Lots of them
She’ll get several glasses of milk, chocolate milk, and apple juice
And keep putting the dirty dishes in the dishwasher
All that work will make her tired,
So she’ll turn on a movie for the older kids
And put the 2 year old down for a nap (even though she knows it’s WAY too late)
And spend the afternoon in between asleep and awake.
Dinner won’t even be on her mind until she realizes Dad will be home soon
So she’ll call Dad and he’ll bring pizza
When he gets home, Mom will ask him to take over
Even though she hasn’t been doing anything in the first place
She’ll feed the baby even though she doesn’t want to
He’ll feed the kids and get them ready for bed
Then he’ll realize that the two year old is still asleep
The two year old will wake up around bedtime and want to eat
Dad will feed him chocolate milk and snuggle with him while watching tv
Mom will lay in bed some more, thinking of all the things she should do
Or remind Dad to do
But she won’t actually do any of those things
She’ll get up around 8:30 to put the 2 year old back to bed
Then she’ll fall back asleep
In the morning, she’ll notice the plates still on the counter from the night before
She’ll still be grateful for Dad, even though he didn’t finish all her jobs
After all, she forgot to remind him
The kids will wake up and want breakfast
She’ll open the dishwasher and discover it’s full of yesterday’s dirty dishes
She’ll open the cupboard and discover she used every plastic bowl in the house yesterday
She’ll pour cereal into glass bowls
And give the “break resistant” one to the 2 year old
The baby will wake up and want to eat, too
Mom will want some peace and quiet, so she’ll feed him in his room
She’ll ignore the yelling and laughing and pounding going on in the kitchen
Even though she knows she shouldn’t
Ignoring the noise will work for a while,
Until she hears a bowl shatter
She’ll curse the makers of “break resistant” glassware
Then go into the kitchen
Where she’ll find the 2 year old standing on the counter
And the girls sitting in their chairs
Waiting for Mom’s reaction
Mom will want to get mad
It won't be far from happening
Then she’ll look at the 2 year old with his face covered in cereal crumbs
She’ll start to giggle and so will everyone else
She’ll get out the camera and take pictures
Then she’ll sweep up all the glass
Bending over to sweep it up will make her head hurt
That will remind her of her head cold
And she'll probably want to wear her jammies all day…
She’s probably going to want to wear her jammies all day
Her kids probably will, too
She’ll give them cold cereal for breakfast,
And Ramen noodles for lunch
They’ll want chips and salsa, too,
So she’ll get a few bowls of that out
The chips will make the kids thirsty,
So they’ll ask for drinks
Lots of them
She’ll get several glasses of milk, chocolate milk, and apple juice
And keep putting the dirty dishes in the dishwasher
All that work will make her tired,
So she’ll turn on a movie for the older kids
And put the 2 year old down for a nap (even though she knows it’s WAY too late)
And spend the afternoon in between asleep and awake.
Dinner won’t even be on her mind until she realizes Dad will be home soon
So she’ll call Dad and he’ll bring pizza
When he gets home, Mom will ask him to take over
Even though she hasn’t been doing anything in the first place
She’ll feed the baby even though she doesn’t want to
He’ll feed the kids and get them ready for bed
Then he’ll realize that the two year old is still asleep
The two year old will wake up around bedtime and want to eat
Dad will feed him chocolate milk and snuggle with him while watching tv
Mom will lay in bed some more, thinking of all the things she should do
Or remind Dad to do
But she won’t actually do any of those things
She’ll get up around 8:30 to put the 2 year old back to bed
Then she’ll fall back asleep
In the morning, she’ll notice the plates still on the counter from the night before
She’ll still be grateful for Dad, even though he didn’t finish all her jobs
After all, she forgot to remind him
The kids will wake up and want breakfast
She’ll open the dishwasher and discover it’s full of yesterday’s dirty dishes
She’ll open the cupboard and discover she used every plastic bowl in the house yesterday
She’ll pour cereal into glass bowls
And give the “break resistant” one to the 2 year old
The baby will wake up and want to eat, too
Mom will want some peace and quiet, so she’ll feed him in his room
She’ll ignore the yelling and laughing and pounding going on in the kitchen
Even though she knows she shouldn’t
Ignoring the noise will work for a while,
Until she hears a bowl shatter
She’ll curse the makers of “break resistant” glassware
Then go into the kitchen
Where she’ll find the 2 year old standing on the counter
And the girls sitting in their chairs
Waiting for Mom’s reaction
Mom will want to get mad
It won't be far from happening
Then she’ll look at the 2 year old with his face covered in cereal crumbs
She’ll start to giggle and so will everyone else
She’ll get out the camera and take pictures
Then she’ll sweep up all the glass
Bending over to sweep it up will make her head hurt
That will remind her of her head cold
And she'll probably want to wear her jammies all day…
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