A Little Corner of Space

July fun

2011-08-25T12:30:00.000-07:00

fireworks

Grandparents

playing pink spies

homemade bandaids

free slurpees for 7-11's birthday

Rio Tinto/Kennecott/Bingham

2011-08-25T12:17:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure of the exact name but we went to the copper mine during their free week and brought some friends. They had tour buses shuttling people up and down the roads and it was fun to get a ride up to the top. H loved all the big trucks and the huge tire that we saw. He just kept repeating, "cool!" We had a small lunch at the top and toured the visitor center and looked out through the binoculars. We didn't see the movie as the line was long due to it being free week. I told the kids we'd catch it the next time and go when the crowds weren't there (aka not free week).

H's big bike

2011-08-25T11:57:00.000-07:00

H got a new to him bike which he loves to ride and would ride more often if one of the pedals didn't fall off (need to fix that problem). Ignore the helmet--he was borrowing T's as we couldn't find his.

First day of school

2011-08-25T11:54:00.000-07:00

School has been under way since the end of July and the kids are anxious to have their first off track time in a week. In this first 6 weeks of school, E has memorized all 50 states, their capitals and postal abbreviations. T has finished one book report and is working diligently on her math facts. M is learning about the sounds that letters make and loves telling me all the new things she's learning or getting to do. H has started his school, too.

E (5th grade) and T (3rd grade) with M going to her kindergarten orientation meeting and H just wanting to be part of the group.

M on her first official day of school.

H on his first day of school. He was ready to ride the bus again although it is a new bus and driver. He's decided to sit on the other side of the bus this year.

You can barely see H's head through the window.

How does your garden grow?

2011-08-25T11:26:00.000-07:00

It's not with cockleshells or pretty little maids all in a row but rather with trial and error and help from some little ones. M goes out every day and loves to find what is ready to pick. Her favorite things to find are tomatoes and she has also learned that her bike helmet can hold a lot of tomatoes. H loves carrying in the cucumbers and squashes.

Harry Potter

2011-08-25T11:09:00.000-07:00

E and T both had the opportunity to see an early preview showing of Harry Potter 7.2 when it came out. They were invited by their friends next door and what is better than going to a premier but dressing up in your Hogwart's robes (E) or your Beauxbaton robes (T). The previous days were spent watching the previous Harry Potter movies complete with treats that they made (Elthelia's Anamalias--chocolate animals that we made in candy molds).

Hives, Bob and Philmore

2011-08-25T10:54:00.000-07:00

It seems like all the kids had summer colds; however, E and T had the worst cases as they both developed into pneumonia or as E kept saying, "nomia" (pronounced no-mee-a). We got E on antibiotics and a strong cough medicine to help her sleep but one of them caused severe hives on her legs and arms for 3 days with the first day having dilated pupils.

E's hives

T must have felt left out because she complained about shortness of breath the next week and my cure all is to go lie down as we had just sat down for dinner. I ate a few bites and then checked on T who was on the couch. She said it was still really hard to breathe and as one who has asthma I know how awful it is to not be able to get in the air you need. I also knew that since she was still breathing (although difficult) that I should go right away and take her to the urgent care (where I assumed that they would possibly give us a nebulizer treatment to help open her airways and we'd be on our way. Now of course Steve is never home when it seems I have to take one of the kids to the ER or urgent care but he was about 30 minutes out and I knew that we wouldn't be too long at the urgent care so I called my neighbor across the street and told her what was going on and that I just wanted to let E know that someone would be home if they needed anything in the next 30 minutes or so. I took T and we headed to the urgent care which is only about 5 minutes away. We went right in and they monitored her oxygen levels which were 80% of normal which was too low so they put her on oxygen and then we took x-rays which confirmed the doctor's diagnosis of pneumonia. Because her O2 levels were too low and she was dehydrated (sunken dark eyes--yes I'm apparently a "great" mother who doesn't notice these things and just chalks them up to the child being tired) they had to call an ambulance where she was going to be taken to a nearby children's unit (which is a sub group of Primary Children's and a whole lot closer). They called the hospital and arranged for her to have a room and they said I could come in the ambulance but I had my van and since they wouldn't let me take her I followed behind. Then it was time to call Steve and tell him all the exciting news and that I wouldn't be home. We got to the hospital and T said she had a bumpy ride but she learned that one of the ambulance drivers liked chapstick just as much as she does. They hooked her up to all sorts of machines and we tried to settle in. Steve came by later that night with our home teacher to give T a blessing. We had a rough night that first night as her O2 levels continued to drop every time they tried to reduce the oxygen. She had to have an IV and we learned that she is one of the few people who when the IV is put in can immediately taste the saline solution in her mouth. Between the nurses coming in and checking on her when the alarms sounded and her fever making her miserable we were glad when morning came. We named her IV stand Bob as Bob had to go every where with us and to make it seem a little less scary. She was given breathing exercises but when he O2 levels still dropped to unsafe levels when she slept we had to stay another night. Our bishop stopped by and visited with Thea and gave her a bag of candies to eat when she felt better. Our home teachers when they learned that we weren't coming home that night and that Thea would miss the BBQ bought her a cute little pajama set to help her feel better. This is the same family whom T has made as her adopted Grandma when none of her grandparents could come for a program. She also received a balloon from Thaidra who was so concerned and probably delayed her studying to help with the kids and when T got home, her friends from next door stopped by and brought her another balloon and gift. That night after she was released from the hospital a nice family in the ward brought over dinner and small gifts for all the children. Steve made the comment that it was nice to be thought about when family isn't close and the husband responded that we did indeed have family close by--a ward family and I know that is true as we received so many well wishes and help from everyone and because every time something comes up from when our window well floods to sick kids we receive so much help. We are blessed and watched over and I am so grateful for this neighborhood and ward. On that Friday, T was released from the hospital and was sent home with Philmore--a portable oxygen condenser that we used for 5 nights to help T keep her O2 levels up while sleeping. We all seem to be doing better and are healthy at the moment and are appreciative of all thoughts and prayers.

T and Bob

T and Philmore

Two more big things

2011-06-21T15:55:00.000-07:00

M learned how to ride her bike without training wheels

and H got a big bed.

Big things

2011-06-21T15:25:00.000-07:00

Big things have happened around here:

Big holes that E and her friend Mari dug.

Big enough to fit all four kids.

Big machines to help us get the play area ready.

Which was a big help and really sped things along.

We also had a big end of off-track fun by going to the Dinosaur museum with our friends and neighbors:

A time to remember

2011-06-21T15:07:00.000-07:00

We spent Memorial Day decorating and cleaning up the graves of our relatives. We've learned a lot over the years and the most important part is if everyone has a job we are all happy. We brought the edger, the blower and various other yard tools to clean around the headstones and make them look good. The blower was the most fun job and all had to take a turn with that even on the same headstones or surrounding ones. We went to a breakfast earlier in the day where they honored those who had or are serving in the military. I am grateful for their service and sacrifice.

"Sharp Nail!"

2011-04-27T09:52:00.000-07:00

And yes you should probably scream it even if it's in a whispered voice. A sharp nail is this:

With whatever finger the nail is on they point that finger in a way to get the hanging fingernail straight up. M and H created this game and love when they pull off a bit of fingernail and leave it hanging on creating a "Sharp Nail!" They always say it a loud voice right before they scratch you with it. They developed this form of entertainment in church and now it provides several minutes of giggling back and forth in all events as they use their sharp nail to try and scratch you. So watch out if you hear the words, "Sharp Nail!"

Reality

2011-04-27T09:41:00.000-07:00

My kids know there is no Easter Bunny leaving treats. It's just good ol' Mom and Dad--it wasn't a big surprise to anyone. We carry out the eggs/treats and then we come in and tell them they can start to hunt. We do simple candies and treats and that's it and they are happy to get their small amounts of candy. However, the funny part comes in when T on Saturday said, "My teachers always ask us if the Easter Bunny came and visited us. I always tell them, 'No'." And you know what she probably does tell the teachers "no" because T is my realist. So really if you pretend the Easter Bunny comes and visits your child just don't let T know because she will tell you and your children that there is no bunny who delivers candy.

This year the kids all got hair brushes as part of their Easter treats because they have learned that they don't like the ones previously had and have all been using my brushes. They were thrilled to receive them. Steve didn't quite like the brush he had purchased for H so he told H that he would exchange the brush on Monday. H didn't like that idea and so kept asking Steve for a "ush." Finally, Steve decided it would be easier to just take H and go to the store. So that's what they did on Saturday morning and H came home with a new brush as happy as could be and now loves having his hair brushed with his blue brush.

My trip around the world

2011-03-27T17:18:00.000-07:00

This might be the closest I ever come to a "trip around the world" and quite frankly it makes me happy to see it and maybe a real trip might bring more happiness but this one was a lot cheaper :). Now I just need to get it quilted, put on a binding and then my trip will be complete but for now I just like to look.

"Trip Around the World" pattern provided by Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville.com

Princess Dance

2011-03-07T12:53:00.000-08:00

The local elementary school had a daddy-daughter dance in January. The girls brought home an invitation to bring a knight with them to the dance. Dad was the chosen knight and since the dance was semi-formal everyone wore their best outfits. At the dance they had their pictures taken, danced and ate fun treats. Because we knew parking would be terrible, I played chauffeur.

We are thankful for our legs

2011-03-02T11:19:00.000-08:00

H went in for his next x-ray to see how far the Perthes has come and we received good news and not so good news but isn't that how life goes--we get the good and the bad. The good news is that the bone is still deep in the socket and the lateral alignment is still there. H still has movement and motion (albeit limited) in his right hip which is another plus. The bad news is that he is a stage C which means that a good prognosis has now been "thrown out the window." This means that less than 50% of the top part of the bone is there and it is quite evident on this past x-ray as the bone has now decreased drastically on the outside portion. This can lead to the bone starting to slip out of the hip socket and cause the lateral alignment to not be straight.

What does all this mean? H still can't jump, no running, minimize stairs and any other activity that impacts the top of the femur bone. We are still having more good days than bad days though and that is great. We found out that waking up sore is normal (it's like a person with arthritis and how mornings are usually more painful as the joints are stiff from sleeping) and to pay attention to how he walks later on in the day. We have another appointment in two months but were told to come sooner if we notice a drastic change in his walk. If at the next appointment there is shown a slip in the alignment the doctor says he will put leg casts/braces on him for about a month to see if that will help. The worst case scenario would be having to go in for surgery to cut the bone and then with a pin they would angle the head of the bone back into the hip socket so that when the bone starts to regrow it will grow rounded. H is happy and continues to be his little ball of energy though it is hard to keep him restricted at times (because what super hero doesn't jump from the stairs or the couch or the bed, or chase after their sisters). We appreciate all the thoughts and prayers on H's behalf. Last month in Primary I taught about Heavenly Father's plan for each of us and I was touched with the numerous items I read telling that God hasn't left us alone and that he knows us and has our best interests at heart. As we were reading in 1 Nephi 17:3 this verse stuck out to me:

And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.

I know that I might not have been commanded directly but H was sent to us to raise and I know that this is part of God's plan for H and us so God will strengthen us and provide ways that we will be able to accomplish whatever comes. I know that H is watched over and that all will work out for the best.

The wheels on the bus

2011-01-19T19:11:00.000-08:00

go round and round all through the town.

What could be better on your birthday than to be picked up on a big, yellow school bus for your first day of preschool?

He climbed up the tall stairs:

The bus driver buckled him in:

And away he went:

He returned about 3 hours later happy and excited to show M and I what was in his backpack.

M is going to miss H very much. He had only been gone 30 minutes and told me, "I miss H so much. Can we get him now?" But M and I will now do mini school for her to get her ready for Kindergarten and it will help her not miss H so much.

Win win

2011-01-18T08:47:00.000-08:00

Just remember there is always a "win-win" situation.

Project Gratitude: Day 15

2010-11-17T08:31:00.000-08:00

We are thankful for our ancestors.
Read a story about them.

The kids love listening to stories about their great grandparents. They love seeing pictures about what they look like. We have been blessed to have those that have gone before to leave us a legacy of love and learning. Their stories make us laugh and cry as we read about their triumphs and their trials. They encourage us to make a record of our lives so that our future generations can come to know us.

Project Gratitude: Day 14

2010-11-17T08:23:00.000-08:00

We are thankful for the sky.
Go outside and look at the sky and the planet we live on.

We are thankful for early morning sunrises, breathtaking sunsets, and beautiful blue skies. We are grateful for opportunities we've had to look up and see all the God has created for us. We've seen comets, meteor showers, planets, the moon, constellations, and stars. We've enjoyed laying on our backs and watching clouds go by and finding shapes within.

Project Gratitude: Day 13

2010-11-17T08:13:00.000-08:00

We are thankful for our senses.
Make a good looking and tasty treat to eat.

We had crunchy Honey Crisp apples with either smoked Gouda cheese, Nutella, or caramel sauce. We used our eyes to view the toppings, our ears to listen to the crunching sound of the apples, our hands to touch the sticky Nutella or caramel or the smooth cheese. We smelled the apples and toppings and our mouths enjoyed the tastes of all the various foods. We are grateful for eyes to see beautiful things, ears to hear, mouths to taste, hands to touch, and noses to smell.

Project Gratitude: Day 12

2010-11-17T07:29:00.000-08:00

We are thankful for trees.
Go on a nature walk.

I was sick this day so we had to wait for a few days until we could go on our walk but on this day the kids enjoyed playing outside in probably one of the last 'warm' days of the year. A few weeks ago, the kids walked down the street and played in the leaves in a neighbors yard with their friends. They buried themselves, jumped in them and threw them up in the air. We love trees and their leaves for the fun they provide, the shade they give, and the oxygen they make.

Project Gratitude: Day 11

2010-11-17T07:26:00.000-08:00

We are thankful for Church.
Read the scriptures.

We are thankful for church and religion that helps us and others to become better people. We are thankful for the promises made and for the hope and peace that it brings to our lives.

Project Gratitude: Day 10

2010-11-12T06:15:00.000-08:00

We are thankful for our friends.
Make them a treat.

We each chose a new friend in the neighborhood and gave them some cookies and a giant honey crisp apple.

Friends are great--they like you even when they get to know you. We have been truly blessed with wonderful friends. I was thinking about the friends I had growing up and how much they mean to me and how often they helped me or didn't mind my crazy antics. I know I wasn't the coolest or most popular person but they didn't care and somehow seemed to like me despite the flaws. I appreciate my close college roommates who kept inviting me to live with them despite my lack of social skills. Then after Steve and I got married an older couple befriended and watched out for us--they watched little E so that we could go on dates and then a few years later they watched little T for us so that we could take E to speech classes. Then we were blessed with wonderful neighbors and friends when we bought our first home. They welcomed us and made us feel like we belonged. Then when we moved again we thought that we'd never have close friends in our new neighborhood but we do and it is nice to be able to still do things with our other friends, too. Not having family close by to watch the kids for Doctor appointments or other things, it has always been nice to have friends to call and know that they would help you anytime, anywhere. They come over to help give blessings, sleep on your couch when you have to go to the hospital to have a baby, share their vegetables or flowers, help you paint, make you laugh, sit outside during the summer evenings and talk till the sun goes down. They bring you things and you bring them things and you simply do it because that's what friends do. Thank you friends--for everything.

Project Gratitude: Day 9

2010-11-11T18:37:00.000-08:00

We are thankful for books.
Read a story together.

We are thankful for all the wonderful books out there that can take us to another time and place--for the opportunity we have to learn and to enjoy.

Here are some of our favorites:
Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Guardians of Ga'Hoole, Fancy Nancy, Curious George, If You Give a Moose a Muffin, The Lord of the Rings, Screwtape Letters, East of Eden, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Secret of Droon, Harry Potter, Ferdinand, Don't Let the Pigeon, Knuffle Bunny, Frances books, Nancy Drew, Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, A Tale of Two Cities, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, A to Z Mysteries, Ramona, . . .

Project Gratitude: Day 8

2010-11-11T18:25:00.000-08:00

We are thankful for electricity.
Turn off lights when not in use.

We are grateful for the electricity that runs our lights and appliances. We tried extra hard to make sure lights were not left on and to also limit our use of appliances. At the end of the day we ate some apples by candlelight while visiting with each other. It is nice to have lights to brighten our home and to see by. It makes our lives easier.

Project Gratitude: Day 7

2010-11-09T11:01:00.001-08:00

We are thankful for our country and the military.
Write a letter to a soldier.

We are thankful for this great country where have so many rights and privileges. We are thankful for the men and women who serve and protect us and our freedoms. We are truly blessed to live in a country free from tyranny and oppression with opportunities surrounding us on every side.

Project Gratitude: Day 6

2010-11-08T13:15:00.000-08:00

We are thankful for our house.
Play a fun clean-up game.

We really are grateful for the house that we were able to buy last year. It's in a great location and we've met some wonderful friends and neighbors. It gives us the space we needed so everyone wasn't on top of each other. We are thankful for a roof over our heads when the cold and snow comes and for shelter from the heat and rain.

“There is a magic in that little world, home; it is a mystic circle that surrounds comforts and virtues never known beyond its hallowed limits”--Robert Southey

Project Gratitude: Day 5

2010-11-07T14:10:00.000-08:00

We are thankful for our parents.
Do something extra nice for them and be extra nice to them all day!

Yesterday E, T, and M mopped the tile floors and tried to do so without complaining. They then tried really hard to be obedient and to help us when we went to Nona's house and helped Nona and Grandpa Craig pick grapes and weed a part of the garden. T is quite the grape picker and crawled under the vines to get the hidden ones. M and H ate more grapes then they picked.

Yet, it seems that no matter how much you try to help your parents out they always seem to top you because Patty and Craig might have received a small amount of help from us but they let us take all the grapes home with us so that we can make grape juice. We are grateful for parents both near and far who love us unconditionally and I am grateful for children who love me enough to mop the kitchen floors every Saturday--they will never know how much that it means to me.

Project Gratitude: Day 4

2010-11-07T13:54:00.001-08:00

We are thankful for the scriptures.
Read a favorite story from them.

E read to us her favorite scripture found in 1 Nephi 10:18 which reads: "For he is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him."

T loves the part of the Book of Mormon when Jesus comes to the Nephites. 3 Nephi 11:6-11 which reads:
"And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they heard; and it said unto them:
Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him.
And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them.
And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying:
Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.
And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning."

M told us that (this week) she liked the story of Captain Moroni and his title of liberty.

We are grateful for the scriptures that tell us stories and how we learn to be better people. We love how we feel when we read them as a family and how even little H wants to try and read some words with us. I am thankful for scriptures that give me peace and comfort.

Project Gratitude: Day 3

2010-11-05T07:46:00.000-07:00

We are thankful for music.
Play, listen, sing, or dance to a fun song.

We let the kids choose some of their favorite songs and they sang and danced along. Here they are dancing in H's method of choice with M's song...

Music plays such a huge role in all of our lives. It has the power to change our moods and change our actions. It can make us feel happy, sad, energized, calm, or loved or even angry and bitter (though music of the latter two should probably be avoided). It can reaffirm truths or cause us to reflect. We are grateful for music in our lives that touches our souls and makes us soar, that makes us want to get up and dance, that puts a smile on our faces, and that creates a better world.

Project Gratitude: Day 2

2010-11-04T10:54:00.000-07:00

We are thankful for our grandparents.
Write a note or draw them a picture.

Grandpa and Grandma Gaufin with the kids at the General Sherman Giant Sequoia tree.

Nona and Grandpa Craig with the kids at Leigh Lake in the Tetons.

Poppy and Steve with the girls at his home in Oregon (2007)

We are grateful for grandparents who love us and we love them. I have no grandparents living but I have so many fond memories of them that it's been a nice to reflect on them on this day.

Project Gratitude: Day 1

2010-11-04T10:45:00.000-07:00

We are thankful for our teeth. Eat a healthy treat.

A sweet honey crisp apple is just the thing.

Extreme underpants

2010-09-24T14:42:00.000-07:00

We received free tickets to go see part of the Dew Tour in Salt Lake City. We could have seen various events but time wise it worked out best to go see the BMX dirt bike challenge. It was held outside near the Triad center in downtown. Truckloads of dirt are brought in and a course is made in the parking lot. We got there a few minutes before it started and found some seats in the bleachers. It was amazing to see all the tricks that were preformed and all the aerial maneuvers. The girls all thought they could do things like that on their bikes and Henry loved watching them go into the air and then land and then repeat the whole process. There were a lot of interesting individuals and the boys sitting behind us apparently did something to warrant M holding up her hands in claw like positions and then growling because I caught the phrase, "Did you see what that little girl just did..." and then I saw their version of the reenactment. M also wanted to know how come we saw everyone's underpants and then all the girls agreed that it was very immodest. But despite the fact that we saw their underwear, it was very cool to see their performances.

One tough little girl

2010-09-24T14:28:00.000-07:00

Last night, M kept getting up and coming into our room saying, "My ear hurts." About 11:30 or so I gave her some children's Motrin in hopes that it would help her sleep because by that time the only option would have been to take her to the ER and I wasn't willing to pay. This morning I asked her how her ear was and she replies that it still sort of hurts. I decide that we need to go the doctor as she probably has an ear infection and I new that we have family pictures tonight. We get to the doctor and he's looking in her ears. He says it's the right one and when M agreed he said that it was indeed infected and looked like it was getting ready to burst. I told him that all night and all morning she had simple stated, "My ear hurts." She never cried and she never acted like it was painful. It just hurt. The doctor laughed and said that he was amazed that she didn't complain more. M is one tough little cookie.

A bike ride

2010-09-07T13:27:00.000-07:00

The kids are off-track for the next little bit and for playgroup it was decided to go on a bike-ride to a small park. As the big kids will attest the park wasn't the fun part as it was small and geared towards smaller kids; however, they enjoyed the bike ride to the park. We set off at 10:30 am to meet up with another family going. We were soon on our way when suddenly T's chain fell off. I noticed that it was looking a little loose but was hoping it would hold. Luckily we weren't too far from home so T managed to ride/coast home and I hurriedly called my friend up ahead and told her what had happened and that if she wanted to we would just catch up. Now on Saturday I had repaired flats on E, T and my trailer. T's required me to remove the chain and back tire but apparently I didn't pull the wheel tight enough so the chain fell off. I tried tightening it better and thought we did a pretty good job. I took the tools with me this time and we were off. Yet, just around the corner the chain fell off again. I knew T really wanted to ride her bike to the park but I also knew I lacked the man power/strength to physically pull the wheel further back. Then I noticed that the neighbors were out. I new the neighbor girl used to have an old bike and so we asked her if T could use it on our bike ride. Now I also know that these two neighbor kids might also like to go and since we are now using one of their bikes I only thought it appropriate to ask their mother if it was indeed alright for T to use the bike and also if they'd like to come with me. They are eager to go and so now the 6 of us start off again (I think M and H in the trailer were excited to get moving instead of sitting around). So for 2.7 miles we move upwards. The highlight of the trip was crossing Bangerter Highway on the pedestrian walkway so that they could see all the cars below them. We finally made it to the park and enjoyed the lunch that I was also carrying in the trailer. It was a grand time and the bike ride home was very enjoyable as it was now all 2.7 miles downhill. We only had a few falls during the trip and everyone was alright. All in all a very successful bike ride. The girls want to know when we can now take Dad with us--let's see how painful my legs feel tomorrow... But I do know that before they start school again we will be taking a bike ride over to see the buffalo and elk.

Glasses

2010-09-02T15:34:00.000-07:00

I got my new glasses today. Last week I went in for the eye exam. It had been 5 years since my last visit--things just came up in life that prevented me from going sooner and to be honest I wasn't in a big rush. I know that my glasses are never cheap and I hate trying to choose frames. The last place I went to wasn't very helpful when I asked them to help me pick out frames; they told me that it was really up to me and what I liked. What!?! Apparently they must have thought that my prescription wasn't that bad and that when I'm trying on the frames without my glasses on that I can see perfectly well. Apparently the coke bottle lenses in my old glasses and the prescription in their hands weren't bad enough to warrant their help. So I did the best I could. I didn't hate them but it's really hard to see what looks good when you are literally inches away from the mirror. When Steve said that I should go get glasses before the year ended to use up the flex spending money I was excited to go but I didn't want to go to the same place as before. We don't have insurance that covers glasses so I wanted a place that was affordable yet helpful. Steve helped me search online for places that were close and had good reviews. I asked friends in the area. We had it narrowed down to two places and I went with the cheaper eye exam place after driving by and making sure it wasn't like our ghetto dentist experience. I had the exam and the doctor was nice and said my eyes hadn't changed too much--always good to hear when you have eyes like mine. Then we went out to look at frames. From 20 plus years of experience I know that I need tiny frames that are more circular to help hide the fat lenses. I found quite a few but then I was in the position I was in before--needing help to see what actually looked alright on me. The lady came back and I asked if she would help me and she said that she would certainly help me and then told me that she would be brutally honest. I told her I liked that because I couldn't see and needed her to tell me what she thought. She hated the first pair (which was fine by me as they were most expensive) and liked the middles ones alight and really liked the last two. She then called over the other lady in the office to ask her opinion. They both thought the ones that I had on were the best option and liked it with my coloring. Today I picked them up and am trying to adjust to the new prescription. It's amazing how different things appear right now--more in focused and vibrant. I remember when I first got glasses I stepped outside the office and I could see individual leaves blowing on the trees something that I had never recalled seeing before. I still find a tree and look at the leaves every time I get a new pair of glasses and am thankful that even though I might not have the literal eyes to see such beauty that I can have the opportunity to have glasses that will allow me to see those things. Each time I get new glasses I donate an old pair so that someone in some country that hasn't before seen the individual leaves on trees blowing for quite some time can now see the sight that thrilled me over 24 years ago and for which I'm continually thankful for being able to see.

The end of an era

2010-08-05T19:52:00.000-07:00

I've walked the girls to school since E was in kindergarten. I've pushed strollers, pulled wagons, weathered the snow, the wind and rain; yet, now I find myself in the morning not walking the familiar route to school. Last year I took a big step in allowing E and T to walk home together since there are so many children that walk the same way and now this year E and T are riding their bikes with Mari, Isaac, and Luke. So now instead of rushing M and H to get in the wagon or stroller, I find myself waving to E and T as they ride off with their friends. They are growing up and I feel sort of not needed; however, M misses our morning rides so I will still pull the trusty red wagon as M and H and I take a walk around the neighborhood. It just won't be to drop off the girls at school. Our good-byes are now said on the driveway and not at school. I now wait patiently for 3:45 to roll around so that I can see them again and give them a big hug. I now pray that they make it safely to school and back. The neighbors were right in saying they grow up too fast.

Summer memories

2010-08-05T19:30:00.000-07:00

I love sitting on the front steps on a beautiful summer night watching the children play. E and her friend, Mari, have lately been inseparable. They are two peas in a pod. They think the same, the enjoy the same things and I delight in watching them play. They both enjoy the Percy Jackson books and they have created for themselves an entire imaginary world where each knows exactly was is going to happen. They fight invisible monsters and plan counter attacks. They charge these monsters with celestial bronze swords (sticks) in hands riding their mythological pegasus' (bikes or rip riders). They shout out commands to attack and then fall back. They go on these monster hunts to find more monsters and they constantly tell me that I am just a mortal whereas they are half-bloods or sometimes they are full blooded gods. They went to the library last week with Mari's dad. Each came home with books about Greek mythology and monsters; yet, these books are books that I might check out and are not your typical kid book. They love them though.

Not to be left out, T has become quite good friends with Mari's brother, Isaac. They have a club and according to Isaac's mom, T has had such a calming influence on Isaac that she is happy they are getting along so well. T and Isaac run from house to house spying on the other neighbor children and then go racing off to their secret fort. Every day as soon as homework and chores are finished they rush off to the others home to see if they can play. They laugh and laugh and they are so good to include M and H in their games and it makes M and H feel so big to be included in the secret fort and in the tauntings and jeerings (all done in good fun) directed at the other children as the neighborhood kids exclaim that their fort is the best and the biggest and since they are all secret and well hidden forts no one knows for sure how big their own fort is exactly.

M is my little spark of life. She continues to race at high speeds on her scooter down the sidwalks as she tries to do tricks. If the trick makes her fall she will get up, smile her big smile, and then ride off again.

H is the neighborhood's little brother--they all love him. Once when there was a spider on H's tricycle and he started screaming and crying all the kids rushed to him and either helped him get off, calmed him down, or killed the spider that frightened him so. They love getting him to chase them and making him laugh.

I'm afraid that summer will end all too soon.

Rocket girls and boys

2010-07-17T17:07:00.000-07:00

What do you do when the temperatures soar and there air is so still that nothing moves--you launch rockets?

T wanted to build a rocket with Steve on Saturday. She wanted to build the rocket out of cardboard. Steve thought it would be better to go and buy the rocket with launch pad, remote detonator and the likes. So we went to the store and bought the various components and came back and the girls helped Steve build the rockets. Only one was ready to launch by early evening so we took it over to one of the local parks and let it fly.

Now to justify my actions--the rocket was starting to fall right to where M, H, and I were sitting. I knew that if that parachute (which I was in charge of folding correctly) didn't come out that we would be bombarded with a that rocket now plummeting back to the earth at a rapid rate. However, as soon as I shut off the camera, the parachute deployed and the rocket was carried on the breeze away from us. I'm not normally afraid of things like that unless they are aimed at the little ones. M however was clear across the field because my "oh my" scared her. We sat and enjoyed the next launch and that rocket went so high that it blew into the neighborhood by the park and one gentleman, out in his backyard, saw it descending and offered to go get it for us. Everyone thought that launch was awesome. We now need to find a bigger open space if we launch the rockets that high because even the slightest bit of wind picks up the parachute and carries it away. H loved it all--the countdown, the lift off, the thrill of a speeding rocket traveling upwards, and then the descent of the rocket and chasing after it.

Bubble gum basics

2010-06-30T16:07:00.000-07:00

We don't eat gum or very rarely do. I don't like it so I don't buy it. I don't let the children have it because it either gets swallowed, spit out on the carpet, or winds up in their hair. So the long and short of it is my girls are clueless as to how to blow bubbles. E had "Camp Cowabunga" this week where part of the time they had a bubblegum blowing contest. Being fairly competitive I never want my kids to feel like they can't do something compared to others so the day before I bought two packs of gum at the store. One for E to take and one for practice. That night we practiced. We practiced for a long time. We started at the basics--chewing and learning how to flatten a piece of gum. We then moved on to how to cover your tongue in gum and finally how to blow. Teaching how to blow a bubble is hard work. E, T, and M all had their gum and were so ready and anxious to blow a bubble no matter how small or how big. They liked practicing in front of the mirror so we went into the bathroom. Gum kept flying out of their mouths when trying to blow (we were still trying to learn how to cover our tongues). T was the funniest in how many times the gum kept flying out of her mouth. M just liked chewing and sticking weird gum creations out of her mouth pretending they were bubbles. E was eventually successful in creating a few bubbles and sincerely thanked me for teaching her. E didn't win the contest but she said that she did blow a bubble--one of her biggest in fact about the size of a lime. I'm mighty proud.

Math terms

2010-04-21T19:19:00.000-07:00

Tonight I had the following conversation with E as she is trying to write up two things that she has learned this week in math.

E: What is the word that means shapes are similar?
Me: Um.... (Now trying to google "what are similar shapes called in geometry..." and not finding much.)
E: It starts with 'con' then something, something, something 'e'
Me: (trying to rack my brain and then my light bulb moment). Congruent?
E: Yeah, congruent. Thanks.
Me: (now googling 'congruent' and finding that it is indeed the correct term). No problem E.

Wow. I'm glad I still know something and what would I do without google?

Introduction to classical music

2010-04-14T18:20:00.000-07:00

T is working on a project for school where she must listen to classical music, choose a favorite song and then share it and what she likes about it with her class. Last night she was listening and we told her that she should keep notes about what she likes about the songs. Here are the notes:

Edvard Grieg's Opus 54-3. Nocturne--I like this one because it sounds like spring is coming and birds are waking up.

Mozart's Piano Concerto #21 in C major K 467-- This song makes me think about a ball. It's soft and smooth.

Edvard Grieg's Opus 23-12. Solveig's Song--It makes me think of opera

Vivaldi's Four Seasons Autumn (Allegro)--It makes me think of traveling and makes me think of horses. Makes me happy. Makes me want to dance.
(Adagio movement)--makes me think of sadness and rain falling from the sky, like tears.
(Allegro Hunting movement)-- I like Allegro dancing.

I'm not sure when I listen to songs if I think they remind me of such simple things but listening to them again with her descriptions I can imagine it and begin to see how she thinks. I can picture her dancing Mozart's Piano Concerto with a sparkly ball throwing and catching it in mid air and I can see galloping horses in Vivaldi's Autumn Allegro movement.

I am grateful that I get a chance to catch glimpses into how T's mind works. I find it very rewarding as we have been enjoying the music together--she dancing to it and I listening to the notes as they take on new meanings that T has introduced me to because she was not the only one learning new things.

Names to a four year old

2010-04-14T18:17:00.000-07:00

Today as we were driving we saw M's old Primary teacher and I asked her if she was excited to get a new one. She replied that she was but said that she couldn't remember her name. I told M that her teacher's name was Sister Prison to which M exclaimed, "She went to prison!"

Hair and cancer

2010-02-18T13:54:00.000-08:00

My hair periodically falls out and one night as I was running my hands through my hair I got some hair and Steve asked me why my hair was falling out. E was right there and responded, "She's got cancer! You're hair falls out when you have cancer." I started laughing and Steve told E that usually it's the chemotherapy you receive when you have cancer that makes your hair fall out and not the cancer.

Seven-fourths

2010-02-18T13:32:00.001-08:00

Last night at T's parent teacher conference her teacher was telling me that T is doing quite well in math and that her mind is working beyond her grade level. They have been working on fractions and her teacher gave them a problem: There were 7 brownies and 4 friends so how many brownies would each friend get? T's teacher said that everyone started cutting their "brownies" in half because they knew that they all had to have the same amount. T however just sat there. T's teacher, Mrs. T, came over and asked T what she thought she should do and T responded that they each got seven-fourths. Mrs. T was surprised at this answer because T hadn't cut anything or done anything yet so she had T show her what she meant so T cuts all the brownies in fourths and separates them into 4 piles showing seven-fourths. Mrs. T was amazed that she knew the answer so quickly and understood the concept so well. T is always amazing me with her ability to conceptualize facts.

E is also doing quite well in class and her teacher loves her enthusiasm and is so proud of E for how well she is doing in math since E skipped an entire grade level in math and has had to work hard to catch up and keep up with the rest of the class who were all in the ALPS program last year. Her teacher says that her enthusiasm is contagious and that periodically she has to remind E to bring the level down--just like what we have to do at home.

Both of them have improved in their reading levels and are doing a great job in school. It was a good night and I'm so proud of them.

EEG

2010-02-18T13:26:00.001-08:00

So we finally took H in for his EEG. The pictures make it look like he is quite sad but Steve said he was just fine and had just woken up when the pictures were taken. In one of the pictures you can see what H brought for comfort (his man bag and inside it was full of strings and wheels). The only hard part came later that night because he didn't want to sleep after having a short power nap at the hospital.

Super sonic hearing

2010-02-05T08:47:00.001-08:00

Last night Steve and I were in the basement watching some tv before retiring to bed. The house was quiet as all the children were sound asleep or at least we thought they were until we felt a presence behind us and when looking back we saw E who calmly said, "I think I have lice. My head itches and I can hear them scurrying over my head." Steve and I are trying not to laugh at this last comment and being the good mom that I am, I told E to come sit in front of me and I would look at her hair. I asked her where she was itchy and started looking there but I couldn't see anything. I had Steve come and he told E that he couldn't see anything either. E however is sure that she heard something. "I hear them scurrying around on my head! I told her that if she could hear the lice that she had super sonic hearing and that she could be a world famous spy as everyone would want her ears. We then said that if should hear them that she should tell them to stop running around so that she could get some sleep. E then responded, "But I don't know how to speak lice." Steve told her that if she listened long enough that she'd be able to figure out their language. E then starts speaking to "them" as she heads off to bed. Steve and I were now laughing uncontrollably. Hopefully tonight will be a better night and that all those lice will have been told to let E sleep.

Earthquake worries

2010-01-25T10:05:00.000-08:00

Yesterday in church, one of the speakers mentioned the horrible earthquake that had happened in Haiti and then mentioned the 1989 California earthquake. T heard "the terrible earthquake in California" and then not so quietly said, "What! An Earthquake in California!" She was worried that perhaps Grandpa and Grandma, Aunts, Uncles and cousins might be in trouble. We reassured her that you were all fine. Just know that she was quite concerned about all of you.

Good vs Evil

2010-01-18T11:40:00.000-08:00

We are really big into spies, spy gadgets, and anything undercover. Last night for a family movie we were watching a spy movie and E told us all that when she grows up she wants to be a spy. T then says very seriously, "I hope you not going to be an evil one."

On a side note--M says she's going to be a princess when she grows up.

It's all about being British

2010-01-04T10:48:00.000-08:00

On New Years Eve we celebrated with the Brazilians so that everyone could go to bed early. We tooted horns, shook maracas, lighted fireworks and shouted Happy New Year. We then had treats and sparkling cider where I thought it would be fun to go around the circle and have everyone complete the thought, "Here's to a (blank) New Year!" E wanted a wonderful and healthy New Year. M wanted a Princess New Year and on T's turn she shouted out British! I'm not sure what that means yet. Maybe as the new year progresses we can figure it out so here's to a British New Year! May you have a wonderful time full of princesses!

Quiet

2009-12-27T16:09:00.000-08:00

Today when we arrived at church we found out that the igniter for the chapel's heater was out and needless to say the chapel was extremely cold so families were huddled closer together and most of the center benches were filled--it also helped to have it be a missionary homecoming. So the chapel was filled and everyone was closer than usual. We have been working with M about being quiet and reverent during the prayers. Today she was very quiet and didn't utter a word until after she said, "Amen!" At which point she immediately exclaimed in a not so quiet voice, "Daddy, I was quiet during the whole prayer!" We will now work on being quiet after the prayer, too.

Monkey see, monkey do

2009-11-17T15:05:00.000-08:00

We recently had a family night about how to make our home more like the temple. As I was talking, I mentioned that they have been able to go into two temples before they were dedicated and that Steve and I had recently gone to the temple for our date night. I asked if they knew the name and M proudly and very loudly says, "The Okie Monkey temple!"

I hope that even if she didn't get the name that at least if they see us going that maybe my little monkeys will want to go someday.

Flattery

2009-10-21T08:32:00.000-07:00

H has found a new form of entertainment. He loves to imitate and they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but well....

H has recently found his tongue and loves to stick it out and if you stick yours out, he'll stick his tongue out and if you blow noises he'll try to blow noises, too. We encourage this behavior because of what we've learned in speech over the years. It's a great way for him to explore how his mouth moves and how his tongue works to produce sounds albeit very wet sounds. Yet, this imitation has moved up a notch. If Steve is sitting at the island programming, H likes to have his chair right next to Steve's and he'll sit and watch and be happy doing something that Steve is doing. If M has decided to get dressed out of her pajamas, H starts taking off his pajamas. If someone gets their shoes on, H will run and get his shoes on. If E and T are taking their laundry downstairs and putting them away, then H will take his laundry down the stairs and try to put his clothes in E's and T's dressers even though his dresser is upstairs. He simply wants to be like you. His latest imitation might not be the flattery that some seek or want because if someone passes gas and H hears, H will start letting out gases and smile really big after each one and because it is just too funny, it's hard not to laugh after this and so he laughs which continues to make H try to pass more gas. Really we need to learn not to laugh but for right now we just let it pass...

China

2009-09-02T12:37:00.000-07:00

Last night we were driving up and over the mountain to get back to our house. Apparently we don't go that way, too often, because as soon as we saw all the lights of the valley, T shouts out from the back, "We can see China!"

We aren't even remotely close to China but all those lights caused quite the commotion in the car with oohs and aahs even after we said that it wasn't China.

Library returns

2009-08-27T10:08:00.000-07:00

Today I took M and H to the library to return a movie and a book and also to get a movie and let M pick out a new book for the week. In the library there is a conveyor belt that you put your items to return on. M put both items on the conveyor belt and H felt a little left out but he was happy after I let him hold the new movie to check out. We got our items and were heading out the door--M was first and a bit ahead of H and I so I tried to hurry and catch up to her before she got to the street. I figured H would be right behind me but when I got through the first door I glanced back and saw H making a detour to the conveyor belt. I told M to stay and ran back but just as I was getting to H and our movie, H turned to me with a big grin on his face and was waving goodbye to the movie on it's way up the conveyor belt. What a happy little boy he was. I quickly informed one of the librarians that our movie we had just checked out was unintentionally returned this very moment. She was nice and went to get our movie but it had already been checked into the system again and was going to be sent to another person requesting it so she had to re-check it out for me and do whatever she did so the other person could get it again and all the while H is just happy that he got to put something on the belt and see it go up.

Typo

2009-08-20T11:09:00.000-07:00

I recently had to renew my driver's license. Technically I had until January but I needed to update my address on it and I had already done it once before (about 7.5 years ago) so there wasn't room to do it on the back and since I needed a new one and they said you can do it up to six months in advance, I thought I'd take them up on that and kill two birds with one stone because they fewer trips I have to make with M and H, the better. So the three of us went down to the DMV, filled out a form, stood in line then waited in some chairs and about 15 minutes later my number was called. I gave the man my old license so that he could do what he needed to do--he looked at my license, then looked at me and then looked at my form. He started to laugh and said that for the past 10 years I'd been bald. Bald? He said that a typo had occurred and that the last person who'd entered the info had put in BLD (bald) instead of BLN (blonde). So now I'm officially a blonde again. Not that I have anything against bald people because technically the DMV had me down as bald for the past 10 years. And it only cost me $25 to get my blonde hair (and a new license).

10 and counting

2009-08-18T14:59:00.000-07:00

We still don't know a lot of girls to ask to babysit and since we had promised the girls to take them "camping" in the tent in the backyard on Friday and then we realized that it was our anniversary. We figured it was more important to keep our promise then it was to celebrate so we went camping and had fun with the kids. We cooked hamburgers on the grill and then roasted marshmallows on the coals afterwards. We watched the movie, Race to Witch Mountain and then had lemon-blueberry bundt cake for dessert. We were having a great time and were heading out to the tent when T tells us, "Thanks for the great anniversary!" You're welcome T and it was a pretty great anniversary. I even got flowers and despite H not wanting to sleep and then having an accident so Steve took him in around 4 and then the tent falling down on the girls and I at 6 at which point we took everything in and I decided that I had better take the tent completely down before it really started to rain and having the wind blow the tent away, it was a pretty fun time.

Reaction times

2009-08-18T14:15:00.000-07:00

Moving into a new house necessitated new fire procedures so that all would know what to do; however the more we practiced different scenarios the more the girls cried and by the end of the night, E and T were hysterical and thought they'd die in the basement and be trapped if they couldn't make it upstairs and had to retreat back to the room and go out the window. M was crying and sobbing that she didn't want E and T to die. We have since added a ladder to help them climb out of the window well to help alleviate the fear that Steve wouldn't be there in time and when we added window well covers E and T once again thought they'd be trapped until I told them that they could push them off. It has been a struggle to get them to understand that we will not leave them down there and that it is Dad's responsibility to get them out while I get the two smaller ones upstairs. Each night their prayers include the desire that no fire should come to our home or to anybody else's home in the world and that tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes or burglars will not come either. T quite literally jumps if she hears the smoke alarm. Now I'm not the best cook and sometimes the smoke alarms go off when I'm baking and without fail, E and T will run up to the front door if they hear it and ask me what's wrong. They are prepared to leave the house if necessary with M and H right behind them. A few days after we practiced our initial fire drill the girls were taking showers. One of the smoke detectors downstairs is very sensitive to the steam emitted from the bathroom downstairs (we're working on that problem) and I hear one of them go off. I'm about to head downstairs to check everything out when E comes running up the stairs and right behind her is T fresh from the shower with soap still in her hair, dripping wet, and no towel. She had heard the alarm and knew she had to get out of the house. She was ready to run outside to our meeting spot before I stopped her and grabbed her a towel and told her and E to wait with M and H while I checked things out and then if need be we'd exit the house. Steve told me later that we need to talk to them again and I said we would but that wasn't it great to see such great reaction times from everyone.

It was almost like the time shortly after we moved in and I hear "Fire in the bathroom!" from E. I'm thinking, "Fire in the bathroom? Is it an electrical fire?" Then I hear again, "Fire!" I know that E is going to the bathroom and now there is a fire with her. I run downstairs as my first thought is get the girls and get out and I yell back questioning what I've heard, "Fire?" Again I hear, "Fire!" I'm now rounding the hallway and can see the bathroom but there is no smoke or smell of smoke. I keep running and when I get there, E shouts out, "It's in the tub! The SPIDER's in the tub!" Oh spider, not fire. Then I see Steve running with the fire extinguisher. He heard all the "fire" yelling and wanted to put out the fire. See his first thought was save the children and put out the fire where as mine was just save the children.

Just remember that you really shouldn't yell "spider" in the house because it can sound an awfully lot like "fire" when you're in the kitchen and to have an extra towel ready just in case someone needs it during the fire alarm.

Man tools

2009-07-10T11:31:00.000-07:00

H is fascinated by tools--all tools and especially ones that anyone is using and most importantly if Steve is using them. The other day we were trying to fix the vacuum and got a screwdriver. A minute later, H leaves the vacuum and then comes out of the laundry room with his own screwdriver he'd found so that he can help. I didn't know H knew where I kept my set of tools but apparently he has been watching.

When we were setting up the girls' beds and H's crib, H was right there with Steve putting in all the hex screws with the hex wrenches. He figured that each hole needed something in it and set about putting a screw in each hole. Steve would do one side and H and I would do the other. H and I finished first on the last bed so H decided to crawl under the bed with Steve to help him. He just wanted to put the screws in :). He knew what needed to be done.

Bloody tooth

2009-07-09T21:17:00.000-07:00

If we were English, that title would be exactly how T felt about her tooth on Monday. Not only was it the bane of her existence but it was in fact bloody as all teeth are when they are going to come out.

I was doing something upstairs when E and T come running from the basement with M in hot pursuit. E is yelling that T's tooth is bloody. My first thought is what were the three of you doing because T is crying uncontrollably. I look in T's mouth and blood is coming from one of her bottom teeth and E is saying that her tooth is loose. T has never told me that her tooth is loose so I'm wondering how it can be so loose right now and bloody. The answer came as I inspected her mouth more closely and saw that the permanent tooth was already pushed up through the skin behind the baby tooth. This also explains why T keeps complaining that there is something caught in her teeth--she's felt the other tooth and I now feel like a lame-o because my solution was for her to floss more. I should have looked. T is crying because she sees blood as she's wiggling her tooth (she is my daughter after all and I don't handle blood well either). I'm trying to calm her down and tell her that this amount of blood is normal for when you loose a tooth and that if she can wriggle it in all directions we can loosen the roots of the tooth and out her tooth with come. She asks me to help wiggle it. I push it to one side and you can hear a "pop" sound as the root loosens it's grasp. Meanwhile E is giving T pointers about the best way to wiggle her tooth so that it can come out quickly. This is coming from a girl who has lost two teeth when she has been brushing her teeth. M is sitting in awe at what is happening. I think the tooth is ready to come out. I know I'm ready for it as T is still somewhat crying. I try to pull but I can't get a good grip. I have her wiggle it some more and then decide to use a napkin to help pull the tooth out. I figured I couldn't have her scared when I pulled because I learned from E that if one is scared and I reach in with my fingers that soon the teeth come clamping down hard on aforementioned fingers. So with my lesson learned from E, I told T that I wanted my fingers and got her to laugh. I grabbed a hold of that tooth and I yanked (none of this counting to 3--makes them scared and my fingers get hurt). Out came her tooth and one big eyed T stared at this tiny tooth I was holding in the napkin.

She was so excited that she wrote a note to the tooth fairy saying that this was her very first tooth that she had lost on June 6, 2009. When I went to tuck T in, I asked where she put her tooth; she lifted up her pillow and there on the bed was her tiny, little tooth. I suggested we move her tooth up to the dresser where the tooth fairy wouldn't have to move T during the night searching for this itty, bitty tooth. T was concerned that the Tooth Fairy wouldn't find it but I convinced her that we needed to give the Tooth Fairy a fighting chance at finding it. T woke up on Tuesday morning a little richer and when she asked why the Tooth Fairy didn't take her tooth, I told her that the Tooth Fairy lets them keep their first tooth to show others. She liked that idea so don't be surprised if she shows you her very first loose tooth.

After T's tooth came out, M came and looked in my mouth and told me that my baby tooth looked good still and that she thought it looked rather big compared to T's tooth. Oh well. I figure that my baby tooth better stay in for as long as possible because I don't want to pay for a replacement.

Dead fish

2009-07-09T20:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I took all the kids to a park. I thought it would be just another ordinary park day. The temperatures were bearable, kids from our old ward were going to be there so that the girls could see some of their friends and the park has water features for the kids to play in. What more could one ask for? I would simply say, "No dead fish." You see about 10 minutes after we got to the park E, T, and M all headed over to the "river" where the water comes from a stocked pond and emerges about 100 yards away in a cement stream bed. Kids love playing in algae infested water. Did I mention that there is perfectly clean water spouting up about 100 feet away from this fake river?

Well E comes running over to me (as H was the only smart one and wanted to play in the clean water) and shows me her dead fish. Yeah, it was dead. Not flopping, not moving, nadda. Well after a while I decide to take H over to where the girls are playing and see what they are doing. When I get over there, M is wet up to her waist and she is holding a dead fish in her hand, holding it exactly like she holds a treasure. I asked M what she had and T quite excitedly exclaims, "She found a dead fish! Wanna see mine?" No I don't want to see yours and I would appreciate it very much if you would throw them away in that garbage can. Yet this is what came out, "Do we really have to find the dead fish and hold them? Let's leave them alone." M tells me, "Dook (look) mom. It dyed." Yes, all the fishes that the children were finding were dead. One of the mothers I was with asked if we should worry if all the fish were dead and that if one of the children got sick we could probably count on all of them getting sick seeming as all the children were hunting for these two inch dead fish.

Now to make it even more memorable here is what I see:
Girl running and screaming hysterically followed closely by E and her friend H. In E's hand is a dead fish. Girl keeps running and screaming and E is laughing saying, "It's just a dead fish!"
I know that this girl has taunted E and H for the past year and is always saying that she's the princess and they are the slaves and blah blah blah. It is funny in that E and H are finally getting the upper hand but at the same time I know that I should step in especially when I see E getting ready to throw the fish at the Girl. I told E that it wasn't nice to throw dead fishes at others and that they really need to stop chasing the Girl and that perhaps they should really go wash their hands. E agrees to throw the fish away and to go wash her hands of the fish smell, but not before looking one more time at the fish and the Girl.

So all in all it was another great but not so ordinary day at the park.

The end of the beginning

2009-07-02T11:02:00.000-07:00

This afternoon I will make my last trip to the old elementary school to pick up E. We've been in that neighborhood for 7 and a half years. My girls have literally grown up there. We said our goodbyes to the crossing guards this morning as they have helped us cross safely for the past 3 years. Today, they have one more time to help my daughter cross the streets safely. They amaze me with their dedication to crossing the children safely in all kinds of weather. I have seen them day in and day out brave the cold snow, blizzard winds, the pelting rain, or the hot sun. Today we once again gave them a small token of thanks for all that they do because how can you ever truly express your gratitude to someone who has helped to keep your child safe.

I've said goodbye to teachers who have taught my daughters the joy of learning and wish that the younger ones could have been taught by them and hope that new teachers will pick up where these outstanding teachers have left off.

The trips past the old house will become fewer and fewer. Already when I drive by I see my flowers blooming and hope that the new owners enjoy them as much as I did.

Yet as much I will miss all the familiar places and people there is much to look forward to in our new area. The next stage is just beginning and I for one am excited to see what it will hold.

Need I say more?

2009-05-17T17:08:00.001-07:00

Take M:

Several metal bracelets:

Have M take those metal bracelets and put them on this (her nightlight):

And you get this:

Along with the aforementioned metal bracelets that have been welded together and one little girl with big eyes who was found covering everything with her hands and was quite scared she'd get in trouble. Needless to say we had a talk on electricity with all the girls. M seems quite fine and despite the blackness the outlet and nightlight work just fine after we reset the tripped circuit breaker.

Dandelion moments

2009-05-03T17:35:00.000-07:00

Being in the process of selling our home has forced us to keep on top of cleaning the inside and outside of the house. A few Saturdays ago, I told the girls that we were all going to go out to the backyard and dig out dandelions. E had some clippers and was clipping the tall grass under the slides. T and M each had the job of taking the dandelions I had dug up and putting them into our weed bucket. After about 30 minutes they were ready to call it quits and go play with their friends in the front yard but only half the backyard was done. We hadn't finished and I had told them we needed to finish what we had started and then they could play. T then tells me, "I don't know why we have to do this when we are moving. Just let the new people weed." I then told her that it was still our house and that we needed to take care of it until we moved and that it would be nice for the new people to come and see a yard that was taken care of and loved.

A few days ago we were once again out back weeding when T and M spot a dandelion puff ready to blow and send the seeds flying. M ran over to pick it and T yells, "Stop! Don't blow it because the seeds will make more dandelions grow in our yard and we'll have to dig them up!" M quickly dropped the dandelion. However not blowing a dandelion is like leaving an uneaten piece of candy on the table--it's too irresistible. So T came up with the idea that they could blow it on the cement where the seeds wouldn't fall on the grass. I didn't have the heart to tell them that the seeds would just blow back onto the grass where we'd still have to dig them up.

Is it still nice?

2009-05-03T17:27:00.000-07:00

We took the kids to the school the other night to play on the playground. While we were there another little girl showed up and she started following M around. M doesn't like to be followed or copied and so she was getting really frustrated. M went down the slide and then started climbing back up the slide but who should be at the top but that same little girl so M tries to go up the adjacent slide but the little girl moves over to that one. Whenever M tries to climb up one side the girl follows and by now M is really upset. I went over to M and told her that if she asked the girl to move that perhaps she would. So M says, "Will you please move, dupid (stupid)?!" I'm not sure if it is nice if you call the person stupid even if you say please. I couldn't help but laugh as we have tried to tell M to not call people stupid but it was just too funny when she said it looking up at the girl that had followed her around.

Simple faith

2009-03-24T11:21:00.000-07:00

T makes me humble. She has a profound sense of what she needs to do although sometimes her temper gets the better of her. She tells me everything that she learns in Primary and loves telling me that Jesus and Heavenly Father love her. She knows this. She has recently decided that on some decisions that she needs to pray about it because Heavenly Father will tell her what she should do because he knows what will make her happy. This is applied in various circumstances. We were out shopping for fabric and I told each of the girls that they could get a fat quarter of whatever they wanted. M chose a pink and white piece of fabric and she chose it fast and didn't waiver from her choice the entire time at the store. E debated over a few but when she saw the one she wanted she put the others away and was happy. T was in deep thought about which of the two she should get because I told her she could only get one. She then pronounced loud enough for the entire store to hear, "Heavenly Father knows what one will make me the happiest in the future so I will pray to him and he'll tell me." A minute later, T, once again very loudly declares, "Heavenly Father says to get the soft turtle fabric because he knows I like soft things and he knows what makes me happy." And with that we put the other fabric away and she got the material with the turtles.

She has been quite happy with the turtle fabric as each of the girls sewed their own pillows and love sleeping with them.

Sometimes I wonder if I simply don't ask my Heavenly Father for things because I feel that they are trifle matters. Yet, watching T, I realize that to her the fabric was a very big deal as she would be sleeping on it and when she on her own accord couldn't decide she turned to someone who knew her better then herself and knew what would make her happy. I am thankful for a daughter who shows me that Heavenly Father loves her enough to help her choose fabric--even the small trifle things matter because he loves us.

Wedding kisses

2009-03-24T10:41:00.001-07:00

E was supposed to be brushing her teeth and getting ready for bed. When I went up to check on her progress I saw in the mirror E puckering her lips with eyes squinted shut and peeking at herself in the mirror. I asked what she was doing and this is E's reply, "I'm practing my wedding kisses." This is what happens to a little girl when she's spent the entire day seeing her newly married aunt kiss the groom.

Socks don't fail me now

2009-03-24T10:17:00.001-07:00

The other day as I was cleaning the house, the girls asked to go outside. I agreed but told them they had to stay in the yard and I would be checking on them periodically. Everything sounds good in my head, it's only when things are put into place that I notice when things go wrong. M came back inside after a bit and I put on a movie for her so that she could watch and I could still get some much needed cleaning done. A few minutes later, M tells me that she is going back outside to ride her scooter. If anyone has seen M, you know that despite her small size, she rides her scooter as fast and as fearless as she possibly can. She zips in and out of everything as she shifts her weight to steer. She doesn't like the foot brake and prefers to stop with her feet. I thought nothing of her going back outside as she is quite capable of putting her helmet and shoes on. Just a few minutes later, M comes upstairs to my room telling me that her feet hurt. She sits on the ground and shows me her feet. This is what I see and I know instantly what she has done but I would like her to tell me.

Me: What happened?
M: (with big blue eyes looking up at me) I don't know.
Me: Did you ride your scooter?
M: Yes.
Me: Did you have your shoes on?
M: No (smiles really big) I don't know where dey at.
Me: Did you go really fast on your scooter?
M: Yes!
Me: Did you use your foot to stop?
M: Yes.
Me: Do you think you should put shoes on next time?
M: Yes.

At least the socks slowed her down without getting her foot scraped and rubbed raw. However, shoes still provide the greatest amount of friction for slowing a fast moving girl on a scooter and last quite a bit longer.

Ice Baby

2009-01-05T16:30:00.001-08:00

You know it's cold in your house and outside when you find ice on the inside of your windows and not just a trace but quite bit. I decided that the Christmas lights in the girls bedrooms needed to come down today because I really wanted to put the last box of Christmas stuff finally away. I pulled up their blinds and started pulling off the suction cups holding the lights when I noticed that at the bottoms of the windows near the track the window had a nice quarter inch of ice all the way along and in the corners there was a bit more. Is it time for new windows? Probably. Will we get them? No, because I plan on moving after this winter. But poor little M whose bed is below the window with the most ice on it. I'd move the bed but there is no place else to put the tiny toddler bed so we'll just make sure that she is covered up at night before we go to bed. That is an easier thing to say than to do. M has little to no fat on her body. Last night when I went to tuck her in before heading to bed she had taken off her pajamas and was huddled in a ball. I put her heavy fleece blanket on top of her and she relaxed a bit. I knew the temperature was going to drop last night with the incoming storm so I put her jammies back on while she was sleeping--not an easy task as she kept wanting to suck her thumb but I needed her arm to put inside the sleeve. It was finally accomplished and a blanket tucked in around her. This morning she was still dressed so that is a good thing; however, if she chooses to get undressed in the middle of the night except for her underwear like she did last night, I can't do much about it. I'm hoping this getting undressed thing is just a stage.

Happy 2009!

2009-01-02T10:17:00.000-08:00

Ever since we've had kids we've decided to celebrate New Years early. Early is usually around 8 P.M. so somewhere in the world someone is bringing in the new year with us but usually it's not our neighbors. We light sparklers at 6:00 and then come in to play some games, eat some treats and then do our countdown at 10 seconds to 8. At which time we toot our horns, pop those little confetti things and shout at the top of our lungs, "Happy New Year!" Then it is time to clean up the streamers, finish getting the kids ready for bed and then finally put them to bed. We figure there is no sense in having the kids stay up late since they don't sleep in and then have them be grumpy all the next day because of lack of sleep. It works out really well since they watch fun movies during the day and at night we have our party with lots of fun treats that they have picked out.

This year, E, asked me if she could stay up till midnight. I told her no and that we celebrate early so that the next day we can all be happy people. Besides we were going to go sledding the next morning after we got up and had breakfast. That seemed to help. And on New Year's Day we did go sledding bright and early and we were the only ones at the hill so they all had plenty of time to sled on the sleds or on their stomachs and do the penguin slide. Even H got a few rides and enjoyed crawling on the icy snow. He lost his boots a few times but what do you expect from someone who still crawls everywhere.

Our favorite game this year was the Honey Bee Hop--squeals of giggles are heard as the girls try to jump over the bee and it gets them all tired from jumping and laughing. Here's to a great 2009!

The kindness of others

2008-12-22T12:44:00.000-08:00

Today I had to run a few errands. I was trying to beat the coming snow storm. I called various stores and found out if they had the items. One store even put the candy thermometers on hold for me since they only had two left of each type. We made it to the customer service desk and the ladies there found the candy thermometers on hold. Another lady that worked there saw what I was getting and told me to get the cheaper one because she says that they all work the same but the expensive ones were like buying a name brand. She also told me that she had the same cheap one and it worked great but if for some reason it didn't I could return it. I saved $6 not a whole lot but I appreciated her help and honesty. I still needed a few more items so we finished some shopping and went to check out. When we were checking out, E, yells out, "Mom! H has a big burger!" I look and sure enough he does. I'm trying to find a tissue but can't find anything. I did have a piece of paper so I was trying to use that and H is screaming because paper isn't soft. The lady behind me saw the situation and pulled out a tissue from her bag. H liked that a lot better as I finished cleaning up his nose. The third random act of kindness came in the parking lot. It was snowing and I had finished putting the three bags of groceries in the back and I was trying to buckle H and T in their car seats when a lady walked past, saw my empty cart and saw me buckling the two little ones in when she says that she will just put my cart away with hers. Three acts of kindness showed to me by strangers who made my day a little easier, a little happier. So thank you to all who show a little kindness to another person--I hope that I can return the simple acts of kindness to someone else.

Enemy #1

2008-12-16T13:35:00.000-08:00

M has an enemy. According to E and T the little boy across the street, who is a year younger than M, is her enemy. He is her enemy because he hits her (although she hits him back). He is also an enemy because he makes her cry and they stare at each other with looks of anger or malice until the other looks away. Who knew that one so little could have an enemy already?

It's all about giving thanks...

2008-11-30T17:58:00.001-08:00

Around here we have a lot to be thankful for.

E: my family, food, books, school, parents, brother and sisters, toys, games, my house, bed, plants, animals, clothes, my grandma and grandpa, my cousins, my friends, aunts and uncles, teeth, dentists and doctors, firefighters, police and hospitals.

T: family, friends, grandpas and grandmas, aunts and uncles, mom and dad, sisters and brother, clothes, toys, the earth.

M: mommy and daddy coming home, my birthday, family, books, tomatoes, Ella and Thea and Henry, blankets.

H: food to eat, foot pajamas, bandaids and neosporin, music, milk, bottles, ability to crawl, diapers.

I am thankful for 4 wonderful children who are healthy, a husband that loves me and a father who loves and teaches our children. I am thankful for falling leaves and the wonder it holds for little hands and feet to explore, for rain and for puddles to jump in, for a washer and dryer to wash and dry those same clothes. I am thankful for smiles and little hands that reach out to hold mine. I am thankful for women in my ward who will love H for me and rock him to sleep during Sacrament meeting so that I can hold M and be with E and T. I am grateful for my parents who teach and love me and for sisters and a brother who also love me. I am grateful for air to breathe, public libraries, books, testimonies, and my Savior. I am indebted to men and women both past and present who fight for my liberties and freedoms that I enjoy on a daily basis. I am thankful for a house to shelter us, technology, good neighbors, Steve's job and so much more.

I am truly blessed.

Makes me laugh

2008-11-13T14:55:00.000-08:00

If you ask M to spell her name this is what you get: "E-M-E-B" or "E-M-E-turtle" or "E-M-E-monkey." She isn't even close but it's funny to see what combination she can come up with next in her little mind.

E was playing Heads Up 7-Up at a church function and after she proudly exclaimed, "I knew who put my thumb down. . . . Because I peeked!" At least she is honest and really how else can you know who pushed your thumb down?

T running out of dance class exclaiming, "I'm a snow sprite! I'm a snow sprite. I've always wanted to be one!" In her oh so many years alive apparently this is a huge pinnacle she's reached but her grin makes you smile and wish that everything in the world would be like finding out you are a snow sprite.

H loves to crawl away from you as fast as he can and if you follow behind him he always winds up in the bathroom in the upstairs with a giant grin on his face as you pick him up and carry him back down the stairs and if you put him back down again he'll repeat the process.

My soapbox

2008-10-30T09:24:00.000-07:00

With the election just under a week away, I have thought hard about who I want to see run my country. I might not agree with everything that one candidate says or does all time but we are human and being human means we make mistakes. I figure I have only two options when it comes to choosing the next President of the United States. I can choose Obama or McCain. I have watched the debates and as I have watched Obama I must confess that he is a great rhetorician. I did a term paper on great rhetoricians in college among them were Martin Luther King, Jr. and Adolf Hitler. I listened to their speeches and they were eloquent. They made you see the change they could bring or offer. It's no wonder why the people of Germany who in desperate times wanted some change as they were starving and their economy was at rock bottom. Martin Luther had a dream and it made the country perhaps look beyond the color of one's skin and take the necessary steps for the rights of blacks to come to the forefront. Yet, as I listen to Obama, my stomach lurches as I know a little bit of his background--I have tried to do my part to see what type of man he his. Yet, with all the hype about him and his charasmatic personality can't people see what lies beneath his words. He's a snake charmer. He lulls you away with his words and his smile but what happens when he is in control. What friends will he keep and what laws will he pass?

As a mother of 4, I have learned responsibility to those who can't take care of themselves, the little one who is sick and only wants to be held and loved, those that smile for the first time and those whose little fingers wrap around yours. There is nothing better than holding a newborn in your arms and feeling your heart grow and knowing that you brought this miracle into this world. Yet, how can Obama with daughters of his own support partial birth abortions when the baby at a viable age is extracted from the mother except for the head and then scissors are rammed through the skull and the babies brains are suctioned out. This is not humane. I have friends who would give anything to have a baby of their own but are not able to and yet this practice of killing little ones who could live on their own takes place and Obama supports it. Don't give me your hoopla saying that he voted "present"--he didn't take a stand and not taking a stand is just as bad. I worry about policies he'll make and how he'll treat others. I know how he talks but I need someone who does more than talk the talk.

I know that McCain has his share of problems and concerns, but at least he sticks his neck out and stands up for what he believes. I need someone who will do that. I know that our economy isn't the best but look at the world's economy because it's not doing, too, well either. I know that we will emerge from this time stronger but I want someone that has similar values leading me. Don't you?

---And now I'll get down---

Dumpster diving for treasures

2008-09-17T13:40:00.000-07:00

One man's trash in another man's treasure and E and T have literally taken that to heart. On Saturday E, T and one of their friends started going through the big trash cans. The friend found a big red stuffed animal. E found some books, computer games, and markers. T found a box of markers and crayons. There is something disturbing about seeing you're little ones open up trash cans and climb inside or else after it is tipped to scrounge around. They were told to stop and they said that they had enough stuff. Great. What does that mean that one has enough?

Steve and I told them that we don't look through garbage because it's 1) not ours and 2) it's disgusting. On Sunday, I had E take some recycle stuff out to the blue can. She was gone for a lot longer than what it should take and M was with her. I went outside and what do I see but E closing the lid on another person's recycle bin and running back exclaiming that she has found a journal that has never been written in before along with some more pens. I reiterated that we don't keep other people's garbage and that she needed to throw them all away. She was quite sad and told me how clean they all were and that she just wanted a journal to write and color in. Couldn't she keep it? I told her that this was the last time. No more dumpster diving.

Tuesday night E was out with friends and what did she find, a dictionary. Her very own dictionary to use and look up words with. Can't she just keep it? She doesn't own a dictionary and now she can look up all the words she needs to and she won't have to use the one we own. Then T came out and showed all the little neighborhood kids how to tip over the trash cans so they can look inside and see what they can find. All those little kids were so excited until I told them all that they needed to stop looking in the garbage cans.

I am so glad that today was trash day and all trash cans have been emptied and hopefully the treasures will stop coming back to our house.

Lucky fish

2008-09-17T13:09:00.000-07:00

Lucky is one lucky fish. He has now been alive over two years and despite our inability to properly take care of him, he is still swimming. On Sunday, M decided to feed Lucky herself and instead of giving him a few flakes dumped the remaining half bottle of fish food into the tank. What a lucky fish to get so much food. M was so excited to help and it was hard not to laugh when you saw the bottom of the tank covered in food. We thought nothing more about it until Monday when I woke up and went downstairs. Lucky's tank was a puce green color and Lucky was floating upside down. I didn't want to handle a dying fish and 3 crying girls who lost their fish. I called Steve and asked him if he had noticed the fish tank. Nope. Why can't I be oblivious to things like that? Lucky was still breathing so I hurried and filled up a pitcher of water and put in one of the water tablets. After it was dissolved, I scooped Lucky out of his old tank and put him in the fresh water. He was still upside down and I told the girls that perhaps they needed to tell Lucky goodbye and perhaps they could say a little prayer so that Lucky wouldn't suffer long. I felt downright terrible seeing Lucky breathing and swimming upside down and thinking we should have cleaned out his tank the night before. I cleaned his tank out and put fresh water, and filter in it and then placed Lucky back in before we went to swim lessons. We had to run some errands afterwards and I was prepared to come back to a dead fish, but when we arrived home, the girls and I were overjoyed to see Lucky swimming right side up again. Lucky is one lucky fish and now all the fish food is kept where M can't reach; although she is delighted to see him every day and give him a few flakes of food.

All mine--even the little blue man

2008-09-17T12:49:00.000-07:00

Last week we went to one of the local home improvement centers to pick up various items. I had all four kids with me and all 4 kids were not too happy to be there after about 30 minutes and I still had a few more things to look at and purchase. We made our way to the front of the store and a lady telling about the home center's carpet cleaning services asked me if the kids would like a little sack of fruit snacks to eat while we shopped. Of course they would like it and thank goodness for carpet cleaning services who had a big pail of fruit snacks for kids available. What a great diversion. While each of the girls were choosing a fruit snack package, the lady looks at all of them, at me, at them, at H in the cart and then at me again and asks, "Are they all yours?" My reply, "Yes of course they are." Did she really think I would take four children who aren't mine to a home improvement store? I even claimed the little man who was sporting blue hands and feet as mine and who wouldn't when he looks up from his discolored hands and smiles?

And how do you think H got blue hands and feet? I'll tell you and it's really quite simple to figure out. It was me. I needed his hand and footprints to document how small they are at this age in life but my regular black ink pad was all out of ink so I simply did them in blue. However the blue didn't come off and so for the next few days he had blue hands and feet.

Cherries

2008-07-29T13:43:00.000-07:00

A lug is a box or basket for vegetables or fruit, with a capacity of 28 to 40 pounds. --Wikipedia

So this is my lug of cherries. In this small container was about 30 pounds of pitted cherries with sugar already added.

This is what a lug of cherries will produce--10 quarts of cherries ready for pies, cobblers, or anything else desiring delicious cherries.

One of those days

2008-07-29T12:49:00.001-07:00

I needed to go to the library today to pick up a book I had on hold and also to return some books. As we walked in we had to venture over to the books they had on sale. Today was 50 percent off, so hardbacks were 25 cents and paperback books were a dime. How can I pass up cheap books? I couldn't but perhaps now I can and you will see why after I relate the following story.

We walked into the library. I was holding H as taking him in his car seat becomes harder every day as he gets bigger. I went left to peruse the cheap books. T and M went to the right and sat on the giant overstuffed chairs. I saw a few books that caught my eye but continued to look. T and M are now trying to put their heads through the plastic paneled book detection devices that you must walk through when you enter or leave the library. Still no problem until T sticks her head through the hole that M wants. M gets mad. T doesn't want to move and thinks it's funny. The plastic detection walls aren't very sturdy and why should they be if they just need to detect books that haven't been checked out. I tell them that they can each pick out a book if they will just stop. Yet T is laughing and putting her head through the stupid hole while M is trying to climb through the hole so that she can hit T. The librarian meanwhile is telling the girls to get off because it's unsafe. No change. So finally in a very non-library voice I say, "Knock it off!" and grab T by her arm and move her away from the situation. I take her over to my books and show her what I'm getting--anything to distract her. M meanwhile sees a book about penguins that she wants but I show her the one I already have which has more pictures. She wants that book about penguins so I just let her hold it. I hurry and go pick up my holds and we go to check out. I make the girls put all the books on the counter. I had 4 to check out and 4 to buy. I check out the books and then purchase the other 4 books and leave M's book about penguins to be bought by someone else. We are now heading out of the library back to our car. M wants to see her penguin book. I naively thought that she wouldn't remember what her book looked like. I gave her the book I purchased and she starts crying. She then grabs the book and throws it on the ground. T is now asking me about the zebra book we had checked out several weeks ago and that I had to return before we went on vacation. I told her we could check it out again; however, she is crying hysterically because she doesn't have the zebra book at home to read. Forget the 3 new animal books I had just bought. So remember I am holding H, M is yelling and throwing a fit about a book she wants that I didn't buy and now T is crying as well. No one wants to go to the car but me. So I can't go put H in the car and come back because I know M will dart out and most likely be hit by a car because she doesn't look and is so hysterical. Still holding H, I grab M's hands and start dragging/carrying her to the car. She is screaming. T is crying/screaming about the zebra book and H is just looking around. As we made our way to the van two different ladies commented to me, "Looks like this is going to be a long day." Ya think?

Suffocation

2008-06-19T13:04:00.000-07:00

At 7:40 in the morning I am called urgently upstairs by E who exclaims that M has her leg stuck in her bed. I assume that M just has both legs through the slats on the headboard of her toddler bed. Wrong! What I find upon entering M's room is M in tears and one knee wedged in between two slats in the metal headboard. Not being one to panic (at least not yet) I try pushing her little kneecap back. Nope. I try moving her knee up or down. Nope. No movement. Nothing. M is screaming and crying because she is stuck. I stop and try to think how we can get her knee in a smaller position because she had to get it in somehow. Yet she has it perfectly placed so that I can't extend her leg straight because there isn't any room to maneuver. Now I panic. How can I get her knee out. I can't budge the metal rods so I can't bend them or break them off. Her knee seems stuck. Meanwhile E is telling M, "You're going to suffocate and die!" M starts crying even harder. I tell E that she isn't helping and to leave the room. E goes and wakes up her sister, T who comes in to investigate and E once again says, "M you're going to suffocate and die!" T then asks, "Is she?" "No" is my very firm reply. I'm loosing patience with E using the wrong word choice and for scaring M. I don't want to have to call the fire department and tell them my child has her knee stuck in her bed. I don't want to call my neighbors because off all the mornings I didn't get dressed before I went downstairs and I'm still in my pajamas. What to do?

Butter, margarine--anything greasy comes to my mind. I run downstairs and grab the tub of butter. I come back up, M is still crying and passing E on the way up the stairs she says, "M is going to suffocate and die isn't she?" "No" I say exasperated, "she isn't going to die. You're using the wrong word." I hurry into M's room and proceed to slather her little knee with the butter and then I pushed on her kneecap and out her little knee came. She was still shaky and only wanted to be held. E and T are in the doorway thinking that butter was a good idea. I calm M down enough and then go and find E telling her that to suffocate means you can't get any air into your lungs. M was in no danger of suffocating and that next time she shouldn't say that anyone is going to die because it just makes the other person scared.

What a way to start the day.

Operation Hummingbird

2008-06-18T09:20:00.000-07:00

Sometimes nature is cruel to animals and makes you weep as when we watched little baby peregrine falcons hatch and then die because of a sudden drop in temperature. Then sometimes it is not nature but man that causes the pain and it again makes you want to cry; yet, there is often reason for joy when nature takes control and an unconquerable spirit soars.

Yesterday when M and I went out to water the garden, I heard a buzzing sound coming from the cherry tree. Upon investigation, I saw a small hummingbird caught in the net we have put around the tree. What was to protect the cherries from bigger birds was now a trap for a beautiful hummingbird. I felt horrible and didn't know what to do. I called Steve at work and asked if he could come home early to help me. I didn't want to face a wounded bird alone. Yet he couldn't leave as the next bus wasn't for awhile. I then decided to call home as moms can fix anything. Mom asked if she could take a few minutes to think about what should be done. In the course of our conversation it was decided that she would try calling someone in the wildlife department and I would get the ladder, gloves, scissors to cut the net, a box to put the bird in and a special drink made for hummingbirds.

I went back outside and told the girls they needed to be quiet as we didn't want to startle the hummingbird even more than what it already was. E was given the phone and told to answer it right away if it rang. T and M were to make sure the box and drink were ready. I climbed the ladder and the hummingbird started beating it's wings frantically when it saw me approach. I tried to calm it down by speaking quietly to it and told it what I was going to do. I started clipping the net and had my gloved hand ready to hold the tiny, frightened bird. It was gorgeous with a dark purple band around its neck contrasted against the black head and light gray body. As I was clipping, I noticed that its little wing was caught on one of the net's strings so carefully I clipped the net--careful not to clip the bird. As soon as I cut it, the bird was free. I had no time to grab the bird but it was still on the inside part of the net. I told the girls they needed to see where it went. They ran around to the back and saw it up high. It would try to fly straight into the net trying to get out. But it would fly right into the net and then fly back. What had I done? I made a bad situation get possibly worse. Then as we tried to shake the net in hopes that it would fly out the top an amazing thing happened; the little bird flew right in between the netting squares and up and over our tall tree in the front of the house.

Prayers of gratitude were given that the little hummingbird could fly and was free with prayers of hope that it would be alright.

The girls and I were ecstatic to see the little black speck fly higher and further away. What a brave little bird!

Oh my...

2008-06-13T07:57:00.000-07:00

If people link to your blog then perhaps you need to update it--but what to say? How about something funny?

M likes to take off her diaper and run around commando. It has become a constant struggle to keep her diaper or pull-ups on. Once you do get them on, off they come in about five 5 minutes. The other day I had just put her diaper back on for quiet time/movie time. I went into the office to work on a talk I have to give but then decided that I should really unload the dishwasher first. (There is nothing quite like procrastination.) I went upstairs and passed what I thought was a diaper but would M really take it off already? She looked so comfortable laying on the floor with her purple blanket covering her. I decided to ask. "M do you have your diaper on?" To which M lifted up her purple blanket and laughingly says, "No!"

There you have it. When M goes commando she'll tell you when she has to use the toilet. Yet, if you put underwear or anything else on her she feels free to just go whenever.

Long live Commando M!

Clean plates, messy table

2007-11-09T12:55:00.000-08:00

We are trying to teach the girls to take over their plates or bowls after dinner. After dinner last night, E took her plate over to the sink. I thanked her and then M deciding that she was through eating her blueberry pancakes, decided to remove the last 4 pieces of pancake from her plate and put them on the table. She then climbed down from her chair and dropped her plate in the sink. She knows that we try to eat everything on our plate before taking them over to the sink and when she can't finish eating whatever, she dumps it on the table. She is very proud of herself for accomplishing this task and it always makes me smile to see her run over to the sink with her plate and see the food piled on the table where she was sitting.

Little Words

2007-11-06T21:42:00.000-08:00

I am amazed at how little words like "thank you" and "please" can change how my day appears and can change my mood and therefore my reactions. After a long day today of running here and there and everywhere with the kids, I was quite ready to put everyone to bed and have a little quiet time when all of the sudden after cutting some pumpkin bread for a bedtime treat there came to my ears the words, "Thank you." I smiled and realized how happy I was to give my girls something they really wanted and appreciated and bedtime didn't have to seem so imminent. Then came the words, "Please can I have some, too?" I was no longer in a tired, frazzled mood. The bedtime hour was pleasant as they ate their bread, we read a book, and then they hurried off to brush their teeth and go to sleep.

Voting

2007-11-06T13:33:00.000-08:00

Today was voting day and I cast my votes. It didn't take long and I feel good about the decisions I have made. It disgusts me to no end when others don't vote as our society has been founded by men and women who often died to preserve our liberties, freedoms, and our abilities to have our voices heard. There are always excuses but with mail in ballots, early voting periods, etc., there is no excuse to not vote. Your opinions matter especially at the city and county levels. I take my children with me every time voting comes along so that they can see how much it matters to me and how important it is. Today we left for school earlier than normal so that I could vote and the girls could get stickers. At my voting place where there are 3 precincts voting together, I was number 86. It took me less than five minutes to cast my votes for the various issues and people running.

"All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing" (Edmund Burke).