I've changed your diapers.
I've changed your sheets and your clothes,
But you've changed my soul.
-----
It's now 3 am,
My body misses my bed,
But it's this I'll miss.
-----
I had a plan once:
6 kids, clean house, quiet voice.
God's plan was better.
23 March 2010
19 March 2010
Family History Friday -- Motherhood Edition
What was it like for you when your children were young?
I just couldn't resist making this question it's own post.
Answer: Have you been reading this blog for the past two years????
Just kidding. I have a real answer...in haiku (well, poor man's haiku, at least).
First word to mind: Loud.
It's more: tears, mud, poop, milk spilled.
No, much more: Perfect.
I just couldn't resist making this question it's own post.
Answer: Have you been reading this blog for the past two years????
Just kidding. I have a real answer...in haiku (well, poor man's haiku, at least).
First word to mind: Loud.
It's more: tears, mud, poop, milk spilled.
No, much more: Perfect.
14 March 2010
Various Items
**We got chickens in Thursday. Baby chicks, to be exact. They are so stinking cute I can hardly stand it. Cannon can't either. He about squeezed two of them to death on Thursday. Needless to say, he's only allowed to pet them now.
The other kids are amazing with them. If I ever can't find Chloe, I can be sure she's in the garage standing up to the coop Stanton built, just staring away. She'll stay out there for a good half hour to 45 minutes if I don't disturb her.
One pooped on Lily's hand Friday afternoon when she was holding it. At first she didn't know what to do. Stanton sent her to the bathroom to wash up and when she came back, she had this look of wonder and excitement on her face, "I've never been pooped on by a chicken before!!" Love her positive little outlook there.
The chicks have been a great addition to our family so far. I love that I can go out there and look at them and hold them and be giddy over their cuteness and then just walk away from them. No feedings, no diaper changes, no immediate needs. It's a great set up.
Oh, and their names are thus: Chloe's is Tweet Tweet (Tweet for short), Lily's is Foofoo, Brigham's is Cutie (also, he insists that his is a boy), and Cannon's is Batman (named by, Guess WHO????!!!).
**We went skiing again on Saturday. Lily woke up whiny and spent pretty much the whole time on the mountain whiny. She fell on Gentle Ben about 15 times because she just wasn't in the zone -- too busy whining. We've now learned that if Lily is grumpy when she wakes up, she'll be staying home from skiing. Maybe I'm being a little over-dramatic here. She was fun most of the time, but if you've ever spent more than a few hours with Lily, you probably know that she's quite adept at making her frustrations known...and sharing her misery with anyone within earshot.....
Chloe had a great attitude and was a little gem. We had a little tender mercy moment up there with her, too. It was the first time we've had them wear helmets (they were totally thrilled, of course) and they'll now be a requirement. Chloe went ahead of us and got to the last steep hill before the base by herself. She got going a little to fast and didn't turn in time to pass a snowboarder. She crashed right into his back and sent him down, as well as herself. She was really shaken up and gave her chin a good little scrape. She was crying that her helmet didn't work because her forehead was really hurting. Turns out she took most of the fall with her head, so if she hadn't been wearing her helmet, she could have had a serious gash on her forehead or worse, a concussion. It took a bit of explaining, but I think she understands what a blessing that helmet ended up being. I was proud of her because even though she was really shaken up by the crash, she got back up, put her skis on, and finished the run. She was ready to be done after that, but at least she finished! On the ride home (before she and Lily both conked out), we asked how she felt about it. She said, "I don't want to ski anymore today because I'm cold and my head hurts, but I want to come again next week." What a good little attitude. We went to Al's and found her a good waterproof coat that zips up nice and high and some snow pants to match. Al's is having a great clearance sale right now, by the way. Hopefully she'll be a bit warmer next week. It was cold up there! And snowy, too, which makes for not as much fun. Not our best ski day, but good, all the same.
I feel like I'm getting a bit better on the skis. I still have a lot of fear every time I get to the top of the mountain, but I'm learning a lot and trying really hard to follow the instructions Stanton has given me. If I just own the speed and the momentum, I can keep in control and enjoy myself. I'm still having a hard time really being in control of my turns on the steeper hills, but I'm getting a lot better. And it's really been enjoyable. I have learned something important from this new experience and I'm really glad I faced the fears and started learning to ski.
**This afternoon I got to see 2 absolutely beautiful baby boys for the first time. Baby #1 was Angie and Adam's baby, Dayton. Oh, he is so cute. He's just 8 days old and they brought him to see us!!!! He is beautiful with olive skin and sandy brown hair and a sweet as pie disposition. He was 8 lbs. 8 oz., so he seemed like a one month old to me -- my kids ranged from 6 lbs. 1 oz. to 6 lbs. 15 oz., so Dayton was just healthy and mature to me. He was so beautiful!!
Baby #2 was our new nephew Matthew. He belongs to Emily and Nate. He is just 4 days old and weighed 6 lbs. 1 oz., just like my Lily. Holding him was just like holding my newborns. I could hardly believe how tiny he was. Looking at my kids and looking at him was eerie. In fact, both the babies stirred up that realization inside me that my kids are really growing up. It's crazy. But I was perfectly happy to give both of those little sweethearts back to their mommies and go back to my own version of normal that exists in my house. I love newborns, but I love toddlers and preschoolers even more. How I love my little family.
Thanks Angie & Adam and Em & Nate for sharing your blessings with us!!!
**Let's see.....Cannon headbutted me last night because he was mad about something. It wasn't his most painful headbutt by any means, but it got me in just the right spot and this morning I woke up with a big fat lip on the right side. Stanton laughed and said I looked like the Octomom. It really did look like I got a bad collagen injection on just one side. Lovely for a Sunday morning.
**Speaking of Sunday morning, did Daylight Savings kill anyone else? 9:00 church is my favorite church time, but I'm telling you, this morning was really rough. I was tired and ornery and mean and the kids weren't any better. Cannon was such a pill during Sacrament Meeting, too. You should have seen our bench. Atomic bomb, I tell you.
**Speaking of Sacrament Meeting -- it was our Fast Sunday this week because last week we had Stake Conference. Fast Sunday involves a Sacrament Meeting without pre-assigned speakers, just the opportunity for anyone who would like to share their feelings about and testimony of the Gospel. Well, during the meeting, Brigham had his paper on my lap and was scribbling away when he asked, "Why are we here?" I looked at our bench of insanity and thought, "Good question, Buddy. Why are we here?" Sometimes Sunday, and Sacrament Meeting in particular, seems like an exercise in futility. But as soon as that thought came, it was replaced by a moment of pure knowledge. I know why we're here. I know why we're here on this earth. I even know why we're at Church on Sundays. I know why -- and I was able to tell Brigham why with confidence. "We're here to learn about our Heavenly Father and Jesus, Brig." And we are. Even when the bench is littered with stickers, crayons, and dirty Kleenexes, we're still learning. We're learning patience, love, charity, and just how much love Father in Heaven must have for us. My heart filled with a sense of love for my kids in that little moment and a desire to make sure they know why they're here. I'm loving Brigham for asking an innocent little question that allowed me a moment of clarity in the midst of the static.
The other kids are amazing with them. If I ever can't find Chloe, I can be sure she's in the garage standing up to the coop Stanton built, just staring away. She'll stay out there for a good half hour to 45 minutes if I don't disturb her.
One pooped on Lily's hand Friday afternoon when she was holding it. At first she didn't know what to do. Stanton sent her to the bathroom to wash up and when she came back, she had this look of wonder and excitement on her face, "I've never been pooped on by a chicken before!!" Love her positive little outlook there.
The chicks have been a great addition to our family so far. I love that I can go out there and look at them and hold them and be giddy over their cuteness and then just walk away from them. No feedings, no diaper changes, no immediate needs. It's a great set up.
Oh, and their names are thus: Chloe's is Tweet Tweet (Tweet for short), Lily's is Foofoo, Brigham's is Cutie (also, he insists that his is a boy), and Cannon's is Batman (named by, Guess WHO????!!!).
**We went skiing again on Saturday. Lily woke up whiny and spent pretty much the whole time on the mountain whiny. She fell on Gentle Ben about 15 times because she just wasn't in the zone -- too busy whining. We've now learned that if Lily is grumpy when she wakes up, she'll be staying home from skiing. Maybe I'm being a little over-dramatic here. She was fun most of the time, but if you've ever spent more than a few hours with Lily, you probably know that she's quite adept at making her frustrations known...and sharing her misery with anyone within earshot.....
Chloe had a great attitude and was a little gem. We had a little tender mercy moment up there with her, too. It was the first time we've had them wear helmets (they were totally thrilled, of course) and they'll now be a requirement. Chloe went ahead of us and got to the last steep hill before the base by herself. She got going a little to fast and didn't turn in time to pass a snowboarder. She crashed right into his back and sent him down, as well as herself. She was really shaken up and gave her chin a good little scrape. She was crying that her helmet didn't work because her forehead was really hurting. Turns out she took most of the fall with her head, so if she hadn't been wearing her helmet, she could have had a serious gash on her forehead or worse, a concussion. It took a bit of explaining, but I think she understands what a blessing that helmet ended up being. I was proud of her because even though she was really shaken up by the crash, she got back up, put her skis on, and finished the run. She was ready to be done after that, but at least she finished! On the ride home (before she and Lily both conked out), we asked how she felt about it. She said, "I don't want to ski anymore today because I'm cold and my head hurts, but I want to come again next week." What a good little attitude. We went to Al's and found her a good waterproof coat that zips up nice and high and some snow pants to match. Al's is having a great clearance sale right now, by the way. Hopefully she'll be a bit warmer next week. It was cold up there! And snowy, too, which makes for not as much fun. Not our best ski day, but good, all the same.
I feel like I'm getting a bit better on the skis. I still have a lot of fear every time I get to the top of the mountain, but I'm learning a lot and trying really hard to follow the instructions Stanton has given me. If I just own the speed and the momentum, I can keep in control and enjoy myself. I'm still having a hard time really being in control of my turns on the steeper hills, but I'm getting a lot better. And it's really been enjoyable. I have learned something important from this new experience and I'm really glad I faced the fears and started learning to ski.
**This afternoon I got to see 2 absolutely beautiful baby boys for the first time. Baby #1 was Angie and Adam's baby, Dayton. Oh, he is so cute. He's just 8 days old and they brought him to see us!!!! He is beautiful with olive skin and sandy brown hair and a sweet as pie disposition. He was 8 lbs. 8 oz., so he seemed like a one month old to me -- my kids ranged from 6 lbs. 1 oz. to 6 lbs. 15 oz., so Dayton was just healthy and mature to me. He was so beautiful!!
Baby #2 was our new nephew Matthew. He belongs to Emily and Nate. He is just 4 days old and weighed 6 lbs. 1 oz., just like my Lily. Holding him was just like holding my newborns. I could hardly believe how tiny he was. Looking at my kids and looking at him was eerie. In fact, both the babies stirred up that realization inside me that my kids are really growing up. It's crazy. But I was perfectly happy to give both of those little sweethearts back to their mommies and go back to my own version of normal that exists in my house. I love newborns, but I love toddlers and preschoolers even more. How I love my little family.
Thanks Angie & Adam and Em & Nate for sharing your blessings with us!!!
**Let's see.....Cannon headbutted me last night because he was mad about something. It wasn't his most painful headbutt by any means, but it got me in just the right spot and this morning I woke up with a big fat lip on the right side. Stanton laughed and said I looked like the Octomom. It really did look like I got a bad collagen injection on just one side. Lovely for a Sunday morning.
**Speaking of Sunday morning, did Daylight Savings kill anyone else? 9:00 church is my favorite church time, but I'm telling you, this morning was really rough. I was tired and ornery and mean and the kids weren't any better. Cannon was such a pill during Sacrament Meeting, too. You should have seen our bench. Atomic bomb, I tell you.
**Speaking of Sacrament Meeting -- it was our Fast Sunday this week because last week we had Stake Conference. Fast Sunday involves a Sacrament Meeting without pre-assigned speakers, just the opportunity for anyone who would like to share their feelings about and testimony of the Gospel. Well, during the meeting, Brigham had his paper on my lap and was scribbling away when he asked, "Why are we here?" I looked at our bench of insanity and thought, "Good question, Buddy. Why are we here?" Sometimes Sunday, and Sacrament Meeting in particular, seems like an exercise in futility. But as soon as that thought came, it was replaced by a moment of pure knowledge. I know why we're here. I know why we're here on this earth. I even know why we're at Church on Sundays. I know why -- and I was able to tell Brigham why with confidence. "We're here to learn about our Heavenly Father and Jesus, Brig." And we are. Even when the bench is littered with stickers, crayons, and dirty Kleenexes, we're still learning. We're learning patience, love, charity, and just how much love Father in Heaven must have for us. My heart filled with a sense of love for my kids in that little moment and a desire to make sure they know why they're here. I'm loving Brigham for asking an innocent little question that allowed me a moment of clarity in the midst of the static.
11 March 2010
I Never Did Like Math...
because the equations always seemed to end up like this:
1 19-month old little stinker
+ 1 3-year old who has recently decided that going to the bathroom does not include flushing the toilet or putting the lid down
= Well, you do the math.....
1 19-month old little stinker
+ 1 3-year old who has recently decided that going to the bathroom does not include flushing the toilet or putting the lid down
= Well, you do the math.....
06 March 2010
What Dentists Do In Their Spare Time...
....or at least this awesome one. Stanton is crafting a giant set of teeth to use when he goes visiting elementary schools. It's his latest obsession and I love it.
03 March 2010
I am Certain God Has a Sense of Humor
Since Sunday, Cannon has:
It's becoming clear to me that this little terrorist streak of Cannon's is a gentle, humorous answer to my prayerful request for validation.
- Colored with green marker on the walls of our hallway, bedroom, closet, and the brown leather chair. (Heaven bless you, makers of washable markers)
- Dumped out about 1/3 a bottle of shampoo on the carpet. (Still trying to figure out how to deal with that one)
- Covered himself, the carpet, and walls with 1/2 container (LARGE container) of Vaseline.
- Pooped in the tub while I was cleaning up the Vaseline.
It's becoming clear to me that this little terrorist streak of Cannon's is a gentle, humorous answer to my prayerful request for validation.
Look closely...you'll see the Vaseline on his cheeks, hands, shirt, jeans, the floor, and the tub. There was more in the carpet in his bedroom and the walls of the hallway.
Blah
I've had two very productive days. Seriously. On Monday, I spent the entire day scrubbing the house from top to bottom. It felt really good and the house still looks semi-decent.
Tuesday, I folded laundry. Lots of laundry. And put it away. Well, the kids' laundry isn't put away, but that's for them to do. Also on Tuesday, I did other productive things. Things like sending out birthday/wedding cards, organizing a few things, etc. Basically, it was a very productive day.
Today, I feel totally blah. I don't even have the dishwasher unloaded. I'm frustrated with my kids. Chloe was 10 minutes late for school because she dilly-dallyed for an hour in her room instead of getting ready and I just wanted her to take some responsibility for herself instead of me micro-managing her every move. Lily is grouchy and defiant and making her horrible growl/grunt noise more than usual this morning. She'll also be late for school because she won't make her bed and is throwing a fit instead.
I don't have the energy or desire to deal with anything right now, but if I don't then entropy will rear its ugly head and the house will devolve into the state of chaos in which it usually resides. I have to sweep, I have to unload the dishwasher, I have to be nice and a taskmaster at the same time (how does one do this?), somehow I have to figure it out this morning....
BUT I DON'T WANT TO!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, I folded laundry. Lots of laundry. And put it away. Well, the kids' laundry isn't put away, but that's for them to do. Also on Tuesday, I did other productive things. Things like sending out birthday/wedding cards, organizing a few things, etc. Basically, it was a very productive day.
Today, I feel totally blah. I don't even have the dishwasher unloaded. I'm frustrated with my kids. Chloe was 10 minutes late for school because she dilly-dallyed for an hour in her room instead of getting ready and I just wanted her to take some responsibility for herself instead of me micro-managing her every move. Lily is grouchy and defiant and making her horrible growl/grunt noise more than usual this morning. She'll also be late for school because she won't make her bed and is throwing a fit instead.
I don't have the energy or desire to deal with anything right now, but if I don't then entropy will rear its ugly head and the house will devolve into the state of chaos in which it usually resides. I have to sweep, I have to unload the dishwasher, I have to be nice and a taskmaster at the same time (how does one do this?), somehow I have to figure it out this morning....
BUT I DON'T WANT TO!!!!!!!!!
Conversations
Back when I had that weird chills, fever, cough, laying dead on the couch thing....
Brigham: Mom, are you still sick?
Me: Yeah.
Brigham: Awwwwwww.....
Me: I know, it stinks, huh?
Brigham: Yeah, but when moms are sick they can still help people, right?
A week or so ago when the clean laundry had gotten especially out of control...
Chloe: Mom, when are you ever going to fold laundry again?
Brigham had chewed on something he'd made at preschool and made it impossible to take in the car with him...
Brigham: But I didn't ruin that part of it.
Me: But I told you that you couldn't have it if you ruined it.
Brigham: But I made it at preschool.
Me: Yes, and then you ruined it with your teeth, so you can't take it with you.
Brigham: Oh, do I have to ruin it with my hands?
Lily while putting her dishes in the dishwasher: I bet mean strangers don't put their dishes in their dishwasher.
Chloe: I bet they actually do because they're all in a family.
Slumming food from me...
Me: You probably won't like it.
Brigham: I pobady wiw. Tastes it. I told you I'd wike it.
This morning reading scriptures...
Me: When Lehi was about to die, he called all his children around him to talk to them. If I was about to die, what do you think I'd want to tell you guys?
Chloe: To take care of ourselves and to repent.
Lily: To be nice to our brothers and sisters.
Brigham: To be quiet.
Cannon's new words
Hee Goo Go (Here you go)
Wohwee (Chloe)
Pbbbtttttttthhhhhh (Spitting when he's mad at you)
Brigham: Mom, are you still sick?
Me: Yeah.
Brigham: Awwwwwww.....
Me: I know, it stinks, huh?
Brigham: Yeah, but when moms are sick they can still help people, right?
A week or so ago when the clean laundry had gotten especially out of control...
Chloe: Mom, when are you ever going to fold laundry again?
Brigham had chewed on something he'd made at preschool and made it impossible to take in the car with him...
Brigham: But I didn't ruin that part of it.
Me: But I told you that you couldn't have it if you ruined it.
Brigham: But I made it at preschool.
Me: Yes, and then you ruined it with your teeth, so you can't take it with you.
Brigham: Oh, do I have to ruin it with my hands?
Lily while putting her dishes in the dishwasher: I bet mean strangers don't put their dishes in their dishwasher.
Chloe: I bet they actually do because they're all in a family.
Slumming food from me...
Me: You probably won't like it.
Brigham: I pobady wiw. Tastes it. I told you I'd wike it.
This morning reading scriptures...
Me: When Lehi was about to die, he called all his children around him to talk to them. If I was about to die, what do you think I'd want to tell you guys?
Chloe: To take care of ourselves and to repent.
Lily: To be nice to our brothers and sisters.
Brigham: To be quiet.
Cannon's new words
Hee Goo Go (Here you go)
Wohwee (Chloe)
Pbbbtttttttthhhhhh (Spitting when he's mad at you)
Lessons Learned
This post is over a week old -- just forgot to publish it...
Over the past few days:
*18 month olds should not be allowed to dictate how many clementines they will eat. The digestive results are disastrous.
*It's okay to try things that are scary and difficult and completely out of one's comfort zone. I skied for the first time in 15 years on Saturday and the first time where I actually had any sort of lesson. It was enjoyable and I'm really looking forward to going again on Saturday. Edit: Went again on Saturday -- I'm starting enjoy skiing. And the girls are simply incredible.
*A menu makes all the difference in planning and shopping for mealtimes.
*With focus, a shopping list, and the promise of a reward, we can do our entire week's worth of shopping in 30 minutes.
*It's time to sweep the kitchen floor when your 18 month old sits down and desperately tries to remove the crumbs from the bottom of his feet.
*We're pretty traditional in our gender roles in our home.
Brigham: Can I go to Shaynna's
Me: No, Shaynna's at work, Sweetie.
Brigham in a 'you're so silly' voice: No, giyls don't go to work, only daddys!!!!
Me: Oy vay!!
Over the past few days:
*18 month olds should not be allowed to dictate how many clementines they will eat. The digestive results are disastrous.
*It's okay to try things that are scary and difficult and completely out of one's comfort zone. I skied for the first time in 15 years on Saturday and the first time where I actually had any sort of lesson. It was enjoyable and I'm really looking forward to going again on Saturday. Edit: Went again on Saturday -- I'm starting enjoy skiing. And the girls are simply incredible.
*A menu makes all the difference in planning and shopping for mealtimes.
*With focus, a shopping list, and the promise of a reward, we can do our entire week's worth of shopping in 30 minutes.
*It's time to sweep the kitchen floor when your 18 month old sits down and desperately tries to remove the crumbs from the bottom of his feet.
*We're pretty traditional in our gender roles in our home.
Brigham: Can I go to Shaynna's
Me: No, Shaynna's at work, Sweetie.
Brigham in a 'you're so silly' voice: No, giyls don't go to work, only daddys!!!!
Me: Oy vay!!
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