Tis the Season

My husband took the kids sledding and the house is quiet, so I thought I'd take advantage and write a few quick thoughts.

Christmas this year started early in December and has continued through today. People (you know who you are) keep bringing us food and taking care of kids, house, laundry, or whatever. Even though I haven't been able to prepare for Christmas with gift buying and holiday cooking and such, my husband took care of all the presents (including his own) and we've had many yummy holiday goodies from neighbors and friends. The only regret is that I haven't been able to serve others this holiday season, so watch out for me next year. I'm going to more than make up for it!

I don't think I'll get any Christmas cards out this year, so Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you.

Suspended

I've been suspended in a time warp of sorts. My life as I knew it has changed dramatically in the last few weeks. For one thing, I can no longer sit up at the computer and enjoy reading blogs and catching up on emails. This little blog post was made possible by a sweet hubby who lent me his laptop for the evening. I hate typing on this thing because the keyboard doesn't have the right feel to it, but it was nice just to be able to log on so I'm not going to complain.

In the past week I asked the primary to find a substitute for me for the next month. I called the school and told them I wouldn't be volunteering for awhile. I didn't make it to church on sunday (my husband took the five kids by himself - yes he is a saint!) I bailed on book club, enrichment, and teaching preschool this week. I canceled piano lessons for the kids and completely forgot about scouts this week.

I have been here before though. This is not a new place for me. It happened about 5 years ago in Colorado when I was pregnant with litte "B". I didn't know then why I couldn't walk across the room without feeling winded and why I had to eat every 90 minutes or I might pass out. I couldn't understand the exhaustion and sickness until an intuitive nurse midwife had my thyroid checked. I had hyperthyroidism (aka-Grave's disease). I was devastated. I didn't know what my future was going to be like with this debilitating disease, but I knew I didn't like it. Fortunately, in my 5th month, it went into remission and never came back, that is until now. I don't know why it didn't crop up with my last pregnancy, but here we are again, sick, pregnant, and with hyperthyroidism.

I don't mean to be pessimistic or anything. There are many great things to look forward to. For one, at the end of all this, I get to have a baby! I'm not worried about the delivery (I'm a pro now) the last delivery lasted all of 16 minutes! I'm pretty sure that my thyroid problems will go into remission again like last time, and I also have a feeling this one is a girl! Also, my husband is motivated now to get the basement finished. So lots of blessings on their way, I am just trying to get through this rough spot.

Thanks to friends and family who have helped us out so far. I feel useless these days. My kids are taking care of themselves or are being taken care of by kind friends and family. Love you guys.

Primary Music Leader

I just finished reading a blog post about Primary Music Leaders (PML). I was intrigued since this is my current calling (assignment - for those of you who don't speak Mormonese). I'll have to admit, he had some great ideas and made me laugh my guts out in the process. Please read this one for me. Here's the link - Normal Mormon Husband
I think the SNL cast member quality is the most important one to have. "The pressure to perform is on every single Sunday for the PML to do something fresh and innovative. She has to devise creative games, prizes, contests, props and pictures to keep things new and exciting during music time. As soon as she starts recycling material, she will lose her audience. Once a week for 48 weeks it's lights! Camera! Singing Time!" (Normal Mormon Husband blog post Friday November 14)

Simple message -

Yesterday at church, the sacrament meeting topic was on the family. I'm sorry to admit I wasn't able to glean much from the talks as I was too busy out in the foyer with little S. That's where I was when the 1st speaker finished speaking. After a few seconds of listening to silence from the pulpit, I realized that I was supposed to be up front with the hubby and kids singing a musical number we had prepared. When I walked into the chapel, I saw DH with the kids already up front. The look on DH's face said it all! He was greatly relieved to see me and was thinking that he might be on his own for this one. We (except for our "too cool" teenager) sang "A Family is of God." We do not have amazing singing voices, but the simple message conveyed was beautiful.
The chorus:
God gave us families
to help us become what He wants us to be—
This is how He shares His love,
for the fam’ly is of God.

Providence

Providence is defined as: The careful guardianship exercised by a deity. A manifestation of divine care or direction.

Today I am thankful for Providence. I am glad that God has a hand in my life. His plans for me are so much bigger and better than my own plans. I sometimes forget that there is more to my life then this temporal existence. God has an eternal perspective and because of this sometimes my prayers aren't answered the way I want. Sometimes things just plop right in front of me and I go "Well, okay, that's not what I was planning, but I'll play along." That's usually when it gets good. That's when the miracles happen and the growth occurs. Yes, today, I am most thankful for Providence.

Guess Who is Four?

Little B turned 4! He is a destructor of things. Banging, pounding, kicking and throwing are his favorite things to do, and oftentimes his toys get the brunt of it. He is my tantrum thrower, my escape artist, and my constant worry. On the flip side - He is potty trained, knows how old and how tall he is, tells me about how strong he is, has the coordination and balance of a trapeze artist, can do a flip on the trampoline, ride his bike without training wheels, has no qualms about taking medicine, loves food as long as eating doesn't interfere with his playing, is oftentimes shy around new people or surroundings but once he feels comfortable he'll talk your ear off, has great enunciation, has no fear of heights, and loves hiking and being outdoors! During primary music time as I'm conducting the music, he is my loudest supporter! He has the most gorgeous blue eyes (aside from my DH), he gives great big bear hugs and has the best smile EVER!

Sweet baby -

Who couldn't love a face like this?

Playing dress up -

Climbing rocks -
Opening presents - Can that smile GET any bigger?

His race track cake made by his older brother A (this one we made for the family get together). It was two bundt cakes next to each other with the tops leveled and icing poured over to create a race track.

This one we made for his friend party. His best buddy/partner in crime celebrated his birthday with us. We had a double birthday bash.

Both of their names were on the cake, but I photo-shopped them out since this blog is open to all. My friend brought me a picture of this cake for our boys birthday party. I think ours turned out better than the picture. It was so much fun to make. We used fondant for the track and put in the lines with a writing tip. The Oreo's all the way around the outside really finished it off.
Here's B showing me his cool transformer -

Here's B with his friends -

Things You Don't Know About Me

This is Julie's Things I've Done... (at least the things I'll admit to - in red)

To participate just copy and paste in your own blog, and bold all of the things you have done. Happy discoveries!
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain (does Ensign Peak count?)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (does Arizona count?)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (I didn't actually swing the ax, but I got to pluck the feathers!)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Halloween Pictures at Last!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Meaningful Stuff

I've been aching to blog this past week! I just can't get to it.

A few reasons include but are not limited to:
planning a birthday party
home school
two kids with strep throat
doctor visits galore
grocery shopping
getting ready for Primary
preparing preschool lessons
keeping up with the one year old
computer ban for the week I've imposed on the kids and I feel guilty using the computer for blogging

I've got pictures from Halloween that I'll post as soon as I can!

Right now ...

Dinner is ready. Don't act so surprised, it does happen occasionally! It's taco soup tonight! I'm waiting for DH to get home. He's on the bus.S is getting into his favorite cupboard. It's where all the appliances are. He knows I'm watching so he'll probably forgo the usual sneaking of the waffle iron to find an outlet somewhere.

Little B is playing with his cars in the kitchen - most of which will end up under the stove and dishwasher! We'll fish them out with the fly swatter later.

Boo is reading to G - She's been at it for an hour! What a sweet sister. She's reading her very own autographed copy of Shannon and Dean Hale's newest book "Rapunzel's Revenge." G isn't amused with my picture taking.

A is playing Roblox as he often does after school. I've given him 5 minutes until curtains!

I should be folding laundry and getting materials prepared for primary music time . . .

. . . instead I'm blogging!

What are you doing?

Fun Weekend . . .

The kids were out of school on Friday so DH took the day off and we went hiking. We spent the afternoon in Uinta National Forest. I couldn’t get any pictures because the batteries were dead when we got there. The trail was easy for the kids and the weather was perfect. We collected leaves, stomped through mud and snow, and got to see a natural spring.

Later that same evening I took A and Boo to see my brother and nephews perform at Center Street Musical Theatre. My brother played the role of Professor Harold Hill in The Music Man. I enjoyed the play and watching my brother act like a scheming con artist (kind of a stretch from his normal personality).

On Saturday, DH went to the U of U / CSU football game with his friend. DH is a BYU fan and a CSU fan, but sat with the UofU fans. Can't we all just get along? While DH was away, I went to the park with my friend and our kids (10 in all). There were a couple of bathroom emergencies, but mostly it went well. Another day of perfect weather. I am not looking forward to the winter!

Politics, potty-talk, and salsa!

This is not polished as I’d like it to be, but the baby is sleeping and the 13 year old is reading and the 3 year old is at the neighbor's house - it's now or never:

1) Yes on proposition 8
Here are a couple of links that shed some light on the subject for me. The first one is from the leaders of the LDS church to California residents. The second one is from an organization called Family Research Council. No I don’t live in California, so I won’t be voting on this anyway, but if you do, don’t vote lightly.
http://www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/media/mediaplayer.swf?media=http://broadcast.lds.org/newsroom/video/flv/California_Broadcast_8Oct08.flv&type=FLV
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1352578267/bctid1784521903
Please read laurie's comment to this post about the second link.

2) This little boy is adorable, but don’t let his looks fool you.

He is a busy body. When I sit at the computer, his radar turns on and he immediately becomes upset and unhappy and will not stop crying until I stand up from the chair. Let’s try an experiment – he’s perfectly content playing with cars in the living room. I sit down to the computer and uh-oh, here it comes, YES! He is coming over to me and crying and tugging on my pants. I stand up and yep he stops crying and goes back to the cars. Just for kicks and grins I keep trying and he keeps crying. In addition to this little routine, he doesn’t sit still for a minute! I remember my other kids being able to play with toys at this age. I think his record is about 3 minutes. His average time with any given toy is about 20 seconds. Any suggestions? I can’t get anything accomplished.

I was going to post a TAG that my friend Temaire tagged me with where you list 5 joys, 5 fears, 5 obsessions, 5 surprising facts, and 5 people to tag. Instead I’m going to list 5 things I said to my 3 year old today, 5 things I said to my 1 year old today, 5 things my one year old said to me, and 5 things I need to get done today.

5 Things I said to my 3 year old today –
· Get off the toilet before you wipe your bum
· It’s not nice to throw sand at your brother
· Don’t get in mommy’s purse! Okay, yes you can have the lollipop from mommy’s purse, and then you can eat breakfast.
· Can you put clothes on?
· You can’t play with the rope like that! (He had the rope around his neck)

5 Things I said to my 1 year old today –
· Don’t touch the computer!
· Don’t turn off the computer.
· Stop biting your brother!
· Stay out of the fridge!
· If you plug this in it will get hot (quesedilla maker) He plugs everything in (Hair blower, hair straightener, waffle iron, hand mixer, vacuum, sandwhich maker, and anything else that you can plug in).

5 things my one year old said to me today –
· Hah! (translation – hot)
· Ma
· Bugh (translation – woobie, aka blankie)
· Birrr (translation – bird)
Mu (translation – milk)

5 things I need to get done today –
· Separate laundry (done)
· Keep up on the laundry (done)
· Pay the bills (done at midnight)
· Read a conference talk
· Have a successful day of home schooling (yep)
· Organize my bedroom closet (in my dreams)
· Clean my bathroom (maybe tomorrow)
· Make dinner (Swedish Meatballs)
· Fold laundry (this was our Family Home Evening activity)
· Yes, for those of you who counted, this is more than 5, but why limit myself?

3) My 7 year old was playing out front with his $1 boomerang. Of course as boomerangs go, this one landed on our roof. I tried getting it down with a regular step ladder, but wasn’t tall enough. I came in the house and asked DH to help get it down. He was in the middle of making dinner, so I stepped in to finish dinner, while he stepped out to rescue a boomerang. A few minutes later I felt like I needed to go and help DH, but I wanted to finish putting the ingredients together, so I kept working and kept feeling that I’d better go out there and help. So, I turned off the stove and walked out the door. That’s when I heard screaming! It was my one year old. My immediate thought was that he had fallen off the ladder and was injured. I started running to the side of the house at this point and rounded the corner when I saw this:

DH was on the roof getting the boomerang, S was headed up the ladder determined to get daddy, and G was grabbing S by the leg in an attempt to keep him from climbing any higher. Another 30 seconds and he would’ve made it to the top of the ladder. I’m so thankful I came out when I did. I don’t even want to think of what might have happened.

4) Our ward (congregation) was getting very large (around 650 people). On Sunday, our ward boundaries were realigned to create a third ward from two overcrowded wards. What does this mean for me? I’m going to miss seeing good friends and women I look up to on a weekly basis. Also, I’ll be losing 12 girls from my Activity Day group. We were at a whopping 22 girls and now we’ll be down to 10. This is a much more manageable size to work with, but I’ll miss the girls who are leaving. BTW – at our last activity, our goal was to learn some basic sewing skills. You try teaching 22 girls how to thread a needle, tie a knot, sew on buttons, and blanket stitch a bear! It was a riot. Here are some finished products.
5) It snowed on Saturday. Big puffy white snowflakes. The kids were thrilled and put on their winter gear to go out and have a snowball fight. Okay, so it was mostly a slush and mud fight, but they had a great time.
The next day, they were roller blading and playing in the sand box. The weather is silly this time of year.

6) Our attempt at canning yielded 15 pints –
Between 4 different gardens, we managed to pull together enough tomatoes and peppers to can salsa last Saturday. We’re hoping to have another go of it next week if we manage to get any more tomatoes before it freezes. I love home-made salsa! My husband makes the best salsa!

Thoughts coming together

This post has been in the making for some time now. It came together today. I'm not sure of all the future a-ha moments I might still have regarding these things, but I wanted to write a few thoughts so that I can remember them.

I often grumble about the small mundane tasks before me each day. You have no idea! I could fill a book. Most days, I'm holding on by a thread. That single thread has recently joined forces with a few more threads. From a book called "I am a Mother" by Jane Clayson Johnson I am learning that my role as a mother is a powerful tool to bring great happiness in the lives of those I influence. So, I get to shape the lives of my family and hopefully do so without lasting damage (no pressure).

Last Saturday night at the General Relief Society Meeting, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught me that I could be a creator like my Father in Heaven. Not just in creating life, but in creating love in my home, beauty in my yard, kindness in my words, a strong family, a growing testimony, etc... Even this blog is a way that I can create and something that I can enjoy. So, I get to be a creator of life and in the lives of those around me (i.e. my children).

In Relief Society on Sunday, we talked of the beauty in each of us and how we are all different but contribute to the whole. It's not one big thing that we do to make a difference, but several small seemingly insignificant acts that come together over time to make something beautiful. “Behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass” (Alma 37:6). So, through the small and simple acts (the mundane stuff) great and beautiful things can be created.

Elder Ballard in last conference said "There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children." Elder Ballard also taught me that I should develop my own talents. He said "find some time for yourself to cultivate your gifts and interests. Pick one or two things that you would like to learn or do that will enrich your life, and make time for them." So I don't have to be just like other mothers, I just need to be the best mother I can be. Also, I get to develop my own talents! Right now I'm focusing on pilates and reading, but in the future maybe I'll pick up the violin again.

So there it is, my a-ha moment.
Being a mother is a powerful role in which I can create something of beauty through the small and simple things I do each day in caring for my family. I will try to remember this when B writes with permanent marker on the walls again. Also, I am going to focus on the things that make me happy: My boys in white shirts and ties on Sunday, a good meal, working out at the gym, crafting (beading, braiding, scrapbooking, painting), reading a good book, talking with friends, my flower garden, kissing my husband in the kitchen, clothes shopping with Boo, reading blogs, organizing my home, laughing, seeing a child learn something new, snuggling with my little ones.



The pictures are flowers in my garden! I have enjoyed them all spring and summer and now into fall. I love looking at them. I will miss them dearly in the winter.

Boo Turns Nine!

The Beginning ...

We were so excited to have this little girl! She tried to come early and I was stuck in the hospital for two weeks. For those of you who have ever experienced Magnesium Sulfate you will understand me when I say "I'm burning up! Make it stop!" and the two amniocentisis' were a bit scary, but all worth it when Boo was born 6 weeks later healthy and strong. She is beautiful at every age. She's almost 2 here. She rarely left my side.

Almost 3 years old - 4 years old - Look at that smile! And she's always been a fabulous big sister. The Late Night Pajama Birthday Party ...

We decorated bags, ate pizza, danced, sang songs, made home-made jump ropes, learned skipping rhymes, played games, opened presents, had ice-cream and cake, watched a movie, and acted silly the whole night!

The Princess for a Day ...

Breakfast in bed-

Opening presents -

Boo requested Top Ramen for dinner - easy peasy.

Who would've guessed when she was born that she'd be my only girl. She has been an absolute joy! She is a selfless person who is keen on making others feel happy. She is quick to console and great at being silly. We love her to bits!

The making of Boo's birthday cake -

I had so much fun making this cake -

I've never done anything with fondant before, but my niece inspired me when she made two gorgeous cakes for her daughter's 1st birthday and her sister's baby shower. I decided to try it out - with a back-up plan to get a cake at WalMart when I failed.

I made 4 - 9" round cakes from a couple of mixes (I only needed 3 but each mix made 2 - I have an extra unfrosted layer if anyone needs it!) I cooled the cakes and wrapped them in plastic wrap and put them in the fridge overnight. I made the fondant next. A found this Butter-Cream Fondant recipe for me at allrecipes.com. I doubled it for fear that I'd run out. In hindsight, I think I could have done it with a single recipe. I put it in the fridge overnight too. The next day, I leveled the cakes and frosted each layer with a light layer of store bought frosting. This gives the fondant something to stick to.

Now the fun begins! I rolled out the fondant and cut out the shapes I needed.

I couldn't believe how easy this came together. Boo did all the stars, dots, and the face of the moon.

It even looked pretty when we cut into it!

Boo's birthday party theme was a late night pajama party! Here's her invites (Thanks grandma L for helping with those).

I can't wait for the next birthday!

Museum of Fine Arts

On Friday, DH and I took the three oldest to the Monet to Picasso exhibit at the U. Wow! It was amazing! It is one thing to view these pieces of art in prints, but to be up close and see the brush strokes and details was awesome. There were several of Rodin's bronze sculptures. "The Thinker" was beautiful. The size of the sculpture was much smaller than I had imagined. The exhibit was easy to view and each person had a personal tour guide (via headset) that the kids could program themselves and listen to information about the art work in a fun kid friendly sort of way. This was one of A's favorites:

And this one by Van Gogh: "Poplars at Saint-Remy"

Here's A's own version of "Poplars" with a hint of Monet "The Red Kerchief: Portrait of Mrs. Monet,":

This was G's favorite:

And Boo's favorite by Renoir:

Go - if you can!