Right now Olivia is trying to nurse a fly back to health. She found a half dead fly in the window sill and she picked up and is carrying it around. I think I said it in my last post, but kids are gross. She made it a little home out of a cup and grass. I remember doing things like this as a kid, so I'll make her wash her hands when she's done but for now I'll let her play with Fly-ee. She's trying to feed him fish food.
Abigail is following her around asking lots of questions.
And Nathan is eating happily in high chair. It has been a nice morning, and I know if I didn't write about it come tomorrow I'd never remember ol' Fly-ee.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Some thoughts, of a personal nature.
Tonight my husband gave me a priesthood blessing. To half (I'm assuming) the people reading this blog they know exactly what that is, and it doesn't sound weird at all. To the other half, the non-mormon half, it probably sounds strange. So I'll explain briefly. I believe my husband holds the priesthood, and has the authority to act for God. I believe he can lay his hands on my head and be a conduit for the Spirit of God to tell me words of comfort, direction, healing.
Tonight I received such a blessing. I won't share all of what was said with the world here in my little corner of cyber space, as a lot of it was personal and spiritual, but one thing that stood out, that I feel prompted to share is about my children. Of course. But God told me to have the same charity I have for so many people around me, for my children. To show them the same service and charity that I am so quick to give to others. It wasn't a rebuke, but a gentle reminder. And I was blessed that as I do this, my children will grow and learn to serve and have charity for one another.
Tonight as I changed the sheets on my kids beds, and made up their little beds my heart was so full of love for them. I really don't ever make their beds. And if we're being honest here, I only change the sheets when I absolutely have to because they were peed on, puked on, or as was the case tonight, buggered on. As in, someone had been blowing their nose on their blanket and sheets! Kids are so gross. Anyway, I washed their sheets and made their beds and felt that charity.
There are times when I'm bending over the bath tub trying to wash their hair with a kink in my back, listening to them cry that they got water in their eyes, and I'm feeling far from charitable. I can't get them into their beds fast enough, so I can collapse on my own bed and look at my phone.
This second scenario is much more common in my home than the first. I'm making lunch, listening to demands and whines about wanting something else, or not enough of this, too much of that, and charity is very far from my heart. There is a lot of "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit." being said in not such nice tones, and just wanting them to sit and eat and BE QUIET so I can sit and eat my lunch with some semblance of peace.
They want me to read them a book, play Barbies, go with them outside, go with them upstairs... I need more charity in all of these moments. I need more charity in serving my children.
I hope it doesn't sound like I'm beating myself about this. I'm not. I know I'm a good mom, and I do love my kids and if I didn't have charity they'd probably be... well I don't even want to say! But it wouldn't be good. But I can be better. I can be sooooo much better.
It's late. I need someone to send me more levels on Candy Crush. I just keep rambling. I should sleep.
Tonight I received such a blessing. I won't share all of what was said with the world here in my little corner of cyber space, as a lot of it was personal and spiritual, but one thing that stood out, that I feel prompted to share is about my children. Of course. But God told me to have the same charity I have for so many people around me, for my children. To show them the same service and charity that I am so quick to give to others. It wasn't a rebuke, but a gentle reminder. And I was blessed that as I do this, my children will grow and learn to serve and have charity for one another.
Tonight as I changed the sheets on my kids beds, and made up their little beds my heart was so full of love for them. I really don't ever make their beds. And if we're being honest here, I only change the sheets when I absolutely have to because they were peed on, puked on, or as was the case tonight, buggered on. As in, someone had been blowing their nose on their blanket and sheets! Kids are so gross. Anyway, I washed their sheets and made their beds and felt that charity.
There are times when I'm bending over the bath tub trying to wash their hair with a kink in my back, listening to them cry that they got water in their eyes, and I'm feeling far from charitable. I can't get them into their beds fast enough, so I can collapse on my own bed and look at my phone.
This second scenario is much more common in my home than the first. I'm making lunch, listening to demands and whines about wanting something else, or not enough of this, too much of that, and charity is very far from my heart. There is a lot of "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit." being said in not such nice tones, and just wanting them to sit and eat and BE QUIET so I can sit and eat my lunch with some semblance of peace.
They want me to read them a book, play Barbies, go with them outside, go with them upstairs... I need more charity in all of these moments. I need more charity in serving my children.
I hope it doesn't sound like I'm beating myself about this. I'm not. I know I'm a good mom, and I do love my kids and if I didn't have charity they'd probably be... well I don't even want to say! But it wouldn't be good. But I can be better. I can be sooooo much better.
It's late. I need someone to send me more levels on Candy Crush. I just keep rambling. I should sleep.
My brain is mush
I can't seem to remember anything anymore. I need to be better at writing things down as soon as they happen. My kids make me laugh daily. And now I can't think of what was so funny.
Abigail did tell me the other day, "Mama, my pee is coming out so slowly a butterfly could land on it."
WHAT! I couldn't stop laughing. She does know that to catch a butterfly you have to be very still, and it might land on you. I guess her pee was just that slow. Strange child.
Nathan was crying the other day and Olivia sang him a song about growing up, and how hard it is. The lyrics were quite hilarious, but I can't remember a single one now.
My family must want me to neglect my children because they all sent me requests to play some silly facebook game. And now I'm obsessed and told my children that this candy isn't going to crush itself and to go play outside so I could finish my game. I may or may not have also let them have a bag of chocolate chips to buy myself 10 more minutes...
There is laundry to be done, laundry to be folded, laundry to be put away... dishes to be washed, and dishes to be put away... dinner to be cooked, beds to be made, toys to put away, trash to be emptied... but there's also candy. To be crushed. Just 10 more minutes...
*someone have an intervention. I've only been playing this game for 24 hours and I need help.
Abigail did tell me the other day, "Mama, my pee is coming out so slowly a butterfly could land on it."
WHAT! I couldn't stop laughing. She does know that to catch a butterfly you have to be very still, and it might land on you. I guess her pee was just that slow. Strange child.
Nathan was crying the other day and Olivia sang him a song about growing up, and how hard it is. The lyrics were quite hilarious, but I can't remember a single one now.
My family must want me to neglect my children because they all sent me requests to play some silly facebook game. And now I'm obsessed and told my children that this candy isn't going to crush itself and to go play outside so I could finish my game. I may or may not have also let them have a bag of chocolate chips to buy myself 10 more minutes...
There is laundry to be done, laundry to be folded, laundry to be put away... dishes to be washed, and dishes to be put away... dinner to be cooked, beds to be made, toys to put away, trash to be emptied... but there's also candy. To be crushed. Just 10 more minutes...
*someone have an intervention. I've only been playing this game for 24 hours and I need help.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Well since you asked...
Today I realized I was sick of looking at my shaggy dirty dog. I have been saying I was going to give him a bath for a couple of weeks now. Always later when I had time. Well when later came and I did have time the last thing I wanted to do was bathe a dog. So... no time like the present! It didn't matter to me that all three of my children were awake, and wanting to help. Together we all squeezed in the bathroom and threw the dog in the tub. While giving him a bath I realized I should just shave him. It's getting hot here, and well why not. So out came the clippers.
Abigail had scissors which she used to cut the hair that fell from Binky while I shaved him.
Olivia gathered the hair and was making a mountain out of it.
Nathan sat on my lap assisting me with the clippers. His hand just under mine as we shaved and shaved.
Foruntately throughout all of this, the only blood shed was when I nicked Binky just under his tail. Poor dog. But considering everything that was going on I think we made out a-okay.
Now I just have to clean up all that dog hair and try to get the wet dog smell out of my room.
Oh that's right... didn't have half a mind to do this project outside! My bedroom of all places. I really don't think things through very well. But hey, the dog looks great... okay great's a stretch, but he looks better than he did before, and I didn't have to fork over $40!
Abigail had scissors which she used to cut the hair that fell from Binky while I shaved him.
Olivia gathered the hair and was making a mountain out of it.
Nathan sat on my lap assisting me with the clippers. His hand just under mine as we shaved and shaved.
Foruntately throughout all of this, the only blood shed was when I nicked Binky just under his tail. Poor dog. But considering everything that was going on I think we made out a-okay.
Now I just have to clean up all that dog hair and try to get the wet dog smell out of my room.
Oh that's right... didn't have half a mind to do this project outside! My bedroom of all places. I really don't think things through very well. But hey, the dog looks great... okay great's a stretch, but he looks better than he did before, and I didn't have to fork over $40!
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Today Olivia's thinking cap ran out of batteries.
That girl is a laugh a minute. She was reading her book for school and having a really hard time focusing. She told me it was because her thinking cap must have run out of batteries. So she "took it off" and "charged it". But then of course when she put it back on she put on the wrong one and this one made her sing her ABC's, not help her read.
It took us about an hour but we got through the book.
She's also taken to using British slang. Like exclaiming, "Brilliant!" When she's about something. There was something else she said that made me feel like I was reading JK Rowling or something but now I can't remember what it was.
And in response to Lisa's comment... Abigail usually is my easy going one. But lately she has been a time bomb! And Olivia knows exactly how to set her off. Each morning this week I have woken up to "OLIVIA! STOP IT!" And the wails of a scorned Abigail. Aren't you jealous?
But she's been making me laugh too. She wrote her name the other day. It was most scribbles, with a few recognizable letters, and about 20 extra characters. She told me she wanted her name to have a smiley face in it. And a horn. So her name could be a unicorn name. Oh to be 3 years old!
That girl is a laugh a minute. She was reading her book for school and having a really hard time focusing. She told me it was because her thinking cap must have run out of batteries. So she "took it off" and "charged it". But then of course when she put it back on she put on the wrong one and this one made her sing her ABC's, not help her read.
It took us about an hour but we got through the book.
She's also taken to using British slang. Like exclaiming, "Brilliant!" When she's about something. There was something else she said that made me feel like I was reading JK Rowling or something but now I can't remember what it was.
And in response to Lisa's comment... Abigail usually is my easy going one. But lately she has been a time bomb! And Olivia knows exactly how to set her off. Each morning this week I have woken up to "OLIVIA! STOP IT!" And the wails of a scorned Abigail. Aren't you jealous?
But she's been making me laugh too. She wrote her name the other day. It was most scribbles, with a few recognizable letters, and about 20 extra characters. She told me she wanted her name to have a smiley face in it. And a horn. So her name could be a unicorn name. Oh to be 3 years old!
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Nathan will be the death of me.
I swear this little boy gives me a run for my money, all day long.
I can't turn my back for a second because he will be giving himself a haircut, sitting in a 25lb tub of sugar, literally climbing up the wall, or running into traffic. Oh my heavens does it get exhausting. It doesn't help that his main form of communication is a high pitched scream. Usually only when he sees food. I've been to feeding time at the zoo. I've heard the hungry crazy call of the lemurs... they've got nothing on Nate. Ear piercing, glass shattering screams. Because he wants a grape.
I try to cook dinner and he must be in my arms, or we are all suffering from The Screaming. Ever cooked an entire lasagna with a 14 month old on your hip? I highly recommend it. You will never appreciate the motility, and light weight of both arms more than after completing that.
He's also discovered the joy of tormenting his sisters. If they are playing together nicely (for once!) he will make sure that moment doesn't last more than 30 seconds. He will grab whatever toys they are playing with, or knock down whatever they are building, or if he really wants to go for the jugular he will steal Abigail's binkies.
But then it's bedtime. Every night he gets a bath and some lotion and some warm fuzzy feety pajamas, and I sit in the rocking chair in his room and cuddle him. And sing him a song. And for the first time all day he is still. He happily rests his head on my chest, cuddles his blanket and sucks his thumb. And then I feel like I can breathe for the first time all day.
I sing two songs. Rotated. Sometimes both. Depends on what's going on with the other two. The first is a hymn the children frequently sing at our church. I Am A Child Of God. And every time I sing the second verse I cry.
And the other song... I honestly think I was meant to hear this song. I have never heard a Mindy Gledhill song in my life. That I'm aware of anyway. But I was singing lullabies to my girls and Olivia wanted me to sing The Pretenders - I'll Stand By You. I decided to look it up on Youtube on my phone. And then it gave me suggested videos and this song came up. I thought it was odd, but did not listen to it. And then I wanted to listen and sing a Billy Joel song... again this song was in the suggested videos. Again I didn't listen to it... and then a third song (because "Mom! Please one more song!" gets me every time) by Raffi... and there was this song again. This time I had to listen to it. And I just cried. From the opening note! I just cried. And now it's become a regular on the rotation.
I can't turn my back for a second because he will be giving himself a haircut, sitting in a 25lb tub of sugar, literally climbing up the wall, or running into traffic. Oh my heavens does it get exhausting. It doesn't help that his main form of communication is a high pitched scream. Usually only when he sees food. I've been to feeding time at the zoo. I've heard the hungry crazy call of the lemurs... they've got nothing on Nate. Ear piercing, glass shattering screams. Because he wants a grape.
I try to cook dinner and he must be in my arms, or we are all suffering from The Screaming. Ever cooked an entire lasagna with a 14 month old on your hip? I highly recommend it. You will never appreciate the motility, and light weight of both arms more than after completing that.
He's also discovered the joy of tormenting his sisters. If they are playing together nicely (for once!) he will make sure that moment doesn't last more than 30 seconds. He will grab whatever toys they are playing with, or knock down whatever they are building, or if he really wants to go for the jugular he will steal Abigail's binkies.
But then it's bedtime. Every night he gets a bath and some lotion and some warm fuzzy feety pajamas, and I sit in the rocking chair in his room and cuddle him. And sing him a song. And for the first time all day he is still. He happily rests his head on my chest, cuddles his blanket and sucks his thumb. And then I feel like I can breathe for the first time all day.
I sing two songs. Rotated. Sometimes both. Depends on what's going on with the other two. The first is a hymn the children frequently sing at our church. I Am A Child Of God. And every time I sing the second verse I cry.
I am a child of God,
And so my needs are great;
Help me to understand his words
Before it grows too late.
For some reason whenever I say those words I get choked up. I think it's because I realize he is a child of God. And heavens to Betsy - are his needs great! And then I sing the chorus.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with him someday.
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with him someday.
That's it. That's my job. Lead them, guide them, walk beside them. Not in front of them pulling them along, or behind them pushing them ahead, beside them. I like that.
And the other song... I honestly think I was meant to hear this song. I have never heard a Mindy Gledhill song in my life. That I'm aware of anyway. But I was singing lullabies to my girls and Olivia wanted me to sing The Pretenders - I'll Stand By You. I decided to look it up on Youtube on my phone. And then it gave me suggested videos and this song came up. I thought it was odd, but did not listen to it. And then I wanted to listen and sing a Billy Joel song... again this song was in the suggested videos. Again I didn't listen to it... and then a third song (because "Mom! Please one more song!" gets me every time) by Raffi... and there was this song again. This time I had to listen to it. And I just cried. From the opening note! I just cried. And now it's become a regular on the rotation.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Only For Forever
Is about how long it has been since I updated this blog.
It's also how long Abigail asked me to hold her "egg" (an airsoft gun bullet, pellet, whatever those little fluorescent colored balls are called).
It's also how long I get to be with this wonderful little family of mine.
Only for forever.
Funny things that happen often around here that I know will forget once this time passes, but I want to remember so I will write them...
Whenever my girls take off their shirts at the end of the day and they have them up over their heads, behind their necks, and are completely naked besides this shirt covering their shoulders and back of their neck they ask me if they look like an old woman. It cracks me up every time. I think they think it looks like a shawl frequently worn by older women. Never mind the fact that they are completely naked otherwise.
Okay now I'm stumped. I can't think of any of the other things that have been cracking me up.
It's been a long month.
Olivia turned FIVE! We had a birthday party in the basement. It was supposed to be outside at a park, but it was the one day of the entire year that was rainy and 50 degrees! Thanks to a team effort and an awesome husband she had a great party.
I washed my iphone in the washing machine. I don't even want to talk about it.
We went on a cabin trip with some friends... THANK YOU again Hallsteads!
We went on a family trip to Cottonwood to check out a possible town we may end up living in.
We purchased a play house, water table and inflatable pool for the backyard.
We've had many trips to museums, parks and the library.
We went to Mesa Spark festival.
And we've watched lots of Netflix.
And we're anxiously waiting to find out if Aaron will match for residency. (Stay tuned - March 22nd)
That's about it. Hopefully this post will get the ball rolling and I'll start updating regularly again.
It's also how long Abigail asked me to hold her "egg" (an airsoft gun bullet, pellet, whatever those little fluorescent colored balls are called).
It's also how long I get to be with this wonderful little family of mine.
Only for forever.
Funny things that happen often around here that I know will forget once this time passes, but I want to remember so I will write them...
Whenever my girls take off their shirts at the end of the day and they have them up over their heads, behind their necks, and are completely naked besides this shirt covering their shoulders and back of their neck they ask me if they look like an old woman. It cracks me up every time. I think they think it looks like a shawl frequently worn by older women. Never mind the fact that they are completely naked otherwise.
Okay now I'm stumped. I can't think of any of the other things that have been cracking me up.
It's been a long month.
Olivia turned FIVE! We had a birthday party in the basement. It was supposed to be outside at a park, but it was the one day of the entire year that was rainy and 50 degrees! Thanks to a team effort and an awesome husband she had a great party.
I washed my iphone in the washing machine. I don't even want to talk about it.
We went on a cabin trip with some friends... THANK YOU again Hallsteads!
We went on a family trip to Cottonwood to check out a possible town we may end up living in.
We purchased a play house, water table and inflatable pool for the backyard.
We've had many trips to museums, parks and the library.
We went to Mesa Spark festival.
And we've watched lots of Netflix.
And we're anxiously waiting to find out if Aaron will match for residency. (Stay tuned - March 22nd)
That's about it. Hopefully this post will get the ball rolling and I'll start updating regularly again.
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