Saturday, January 23, 2010

Friends Where are you?

I know you are there - see what my blog says - you visit but you don't comment! Who are you? Where are you? London, Virginia, California, Utah....I know you are out there. Feed my curiosity and leave me a comment - just one time - so I know I'm not alone.




Los Angeles, CA, United States





Sat, 23 Jan 2010 11:51:04 -0600
Alexandria, VA, United StatesSat, 23 Jan 2010 11:29:13 -0600
Burke, VA, United StatesSat, 23 Jan 2010 08:25:43 -0600
Springfield, VA, United StatesSat, 23 Jan 2010 07:13:05 -0600
Saint Neots, United KingdomSat, 23 Jan 2010 04:05:13 -0600
Sacramento, CA, United StatesSat, 23 Jan 2010 02:04:39 -0600
Salt Lake City, UT, United StatesFri, 22 Jan 2010 23:35:39 -0600
Fremont, CA, United StatesFri, 22 Jan 2010 21:54:03 -0600
Alexandria, VA, United StatesFri, 22 Jan 2010 19:56:13 -0600
Alexandria, VA, United StatesFri, 22 Jan 2010 18:25:30 -0600
Chicago, IL, United StatesFri, 22 Jan 2010 16:29:42 -0600
Salt Lake City, UT, United StatesFri, 22 Jan 2010 15:48:54 -0600
Santa Clara, UT, United StatesFri, 22 Jan 2010 15:26:48 -0600
Woodbridge, VA, United StatesFri, 22 Jan 2010 14:23:36 -0600
Lexington, KY, United StatesFri, 22 Jan 2010 13:52:42 -0600
Alexandria, VA, United StatesFri, 22 Jan 2010 13:46:26 -0600
London, United KingdomFri, 22 Jan 2010 12:50:19 -0600
Lorton, VA, United StatesFri, 22 Jan 2010 12:44:46 -0600
Costa Mesa, CA, United StatesFri, 22 Jan 2010 12:28:46 -0600
Jefferson City, TN, United StatesFri, 22 Jan 2010 12:09:45 -0600
Provo, UT, United StatesFri, 22 Jan 2010 12:09:28 -0600

Friday, January 22, 2010

Reflections

I'm dropping Ben off at a friends house today for a bit while I go to a dr's appt. I was mentally thinking of what I needed to drop of with him and the thought came to mind (sorry this is gross but it's real life friends) "well, he won't need any diapers since he pooped 10 times yesterday so at least she shouldn't have to change any poopy diapers". He's one of those that poops 10 times in one day and then doesn't go for a few days. Aaaannnyway....I was chuckling to myself thinking how when Emma was a toddler and I dropped her off somewhere to be watched for awhile I'd pack a whole diaper bag full of stuff - 10 diapers, wipes, extra pair of clothes, snacks, medical card etc. etc. Now kid number three I practically throw out the van door as I drive by the sitters house. No wonder birth order makes such a difference in behavior (or so they say).

We've been having awesome storms here this week. Lots of heavy rain, a little thunder (not enough for my liking but at least a little) wind. Some people had flooding, mudslides etc. Today however the sun peeked out from behind the clouds for a bit and it was brilliantly sunny out. As I drove up to my house there was a huge beautiful rainbow across the sky that took my breath away for a moment. Now if that isn't the most symbolic thing - a beautiful rainbow after the storm. God is so marvelous. It just reminded me of how things always come out better after we weather life's storms.

Back when Emma was a baby and before we had to live on a school schedule I used to drive up to Sacramento to visit family more. My little sister and I used to play super Mario Bros 3 on her Nintendo for hours! We were addicted, we wanted to conquer the game...and we did. My mom has pictures of me breastfeeding Emma with a Nintendo controller in my hands. I got pretty good at it. Well if you have a WII you might know they just came out with Super Mario Bros 3 for the WII and my video game addiction has reared it's ugly head. My little sister was here after the New Year and she, Dave, and I spent a good many hours on it until we conquered the game! It was fun.

I'm afraid to say however I've passed my love of Super Mario on to my middle child. Jacob is completely addicted. I usually only let them play WII on Saturdays but with the rainy weather I've been a little more lenient. Especially after he was sitting on the couch every morning reading the instruction book that came with the game for like two weeks. One morning he said to me "mom, do you know why I like reading this book...it makes me feel like I'm actually playing the game". The reason I usually only let them play Saturday's is because there is so much wailing and gnashing of teeth when I tell them it's time to turn off the game and I don't feel like dealing with it every day. Jacob especially has a meltdown when it's time to turn it off. He told me a couple of days ago though it's not his fault. His body just cries when the game goes off and he can't control it. It's not him doing it - it's his body. Last night he again cried as I turned off the game and after I told him to go to his room until he was done he said "mom, it's my body, it's doing it again. It's just crying and I can't control it". It's so hard not to laugh.

Friday, January 15, 2010

A few of my Favorites

Two of my favorite quotes that I read recently.

"Think about your particular assignment at this time in your life. It may be to get an education, it may be to rear children, it may be to be a grandparent, it may be to care for and relieve the suffering of someone you love, it may be to do a job in the most excellent way possible, it may be to support someone who has a difficult assignment of their own. Our assignments are varied and they change from time to time. Don't take them lightly. Give them your full heart and energy. Do them with enthusiasm. Do whatever you have to do this week with your whole heart and soul. To do less than this will leave you with an empty feeling." Marjorie Hinckley


"People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway. If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway. What you spend years creating and building, others could destroy overnight. Create and build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today, will often be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough. Give the world the best you have anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway." Mother Teresa

Aren't those inspiring. I know they make me want to do better.

Yesterday Emma's homework was to make a list of her favorite things and then ask a parent about theirs. Then she had to write a paragraph about it. Her is her list word for word. I'll translate for you after -see how many you can guess:

Choclit
wayles
cupcakes
cakes
birthdays
love
kindnes
freenis
doll's
macup
nachr
happynis
singing
writing
math
speling
scool
crch

Did you get them all?

Here is the translation:
Chocolate
whales
cupcakes
cakes
birthdays
love
kindness
freenis (she said it meant being free to do what you want, I tried to explain it is freedom but she insisted it is freenis (freeness) like kindness)
dolls
makeup
nature
happiness
singing
writing
math
spelling
school ( I have to hang on to this list so I can remind her every time she tells me she hates school)
church

My favorites were: Emma, Jacob, Benji, Daddy, chocolate, church, watching movies, and shopping.






Thursday, January 14, 2010

My kids have me in Stitches

If there is one thing motherhood does is bring out all of your emotions - pretty much on a daily basis. The last couple of days I've been getting a lot of laughter from the things my kids have been saying. It's hard to relay how funny the conversations are when you can't see the expressions on their faces or be in the moment but I'll attempt to do my best.

Last night the kids and I were watching American Idol together. They were super into it and loved seeing people sing. Every time someone got through to Hollywood they would cheer and jump up and down right along with the contestant. When Simon Cowell rolled his eyes and one of the other judges made a big deal about it, they tried to roll their eyes too - I wish I had it captured on video. Emma rolls her eyes side to side somewhat like and owl and Jacob just raises his eyebrows up and down. I'm sure in another couple of years they will have the eye rolling down to a tee so I'm in no hurry for that one. Anyway, towards then end of the show this long haired rocker type dude came on who could barely mumble out his words when he spoke so you know his singing was going to be bad. The judges asked him what he was going to sing. He said "Every Time We Touch" by Ascada. I guess Jacob didn't hear what he said because he asked "what did he say he was going to sing?" and Emma belts out in dead seriousness "Everytime I Get Touched by a Mosquito!" "ohhhh" Jacob replied. Oh my, I lost it then. I was already giggling with the eye rolling competition but that sent me over the edge laughing. The kids looked at me strangely and couldn't figure out what I was laughing about. I didn't have the heart to tell them he wasn't singing about mosquitoes.

Yesterday Jacob was playing this High School Musical dance mat game we have and he pointed to the blond girl and asked "what's her name again?" I couldn't remember her name either and then he said "I think it's Sharptooth". Then I remember her name was Charpe. I think he's watched one too many dinosaur movies.

This morning Ben didn't like the shirt I put on him. I found him going through his shirt drawer looking for another one. I said "can I help you find a new shirt?" He agreed. The conversation went something like this:

Mom: this one?
Ben: Actually, no that one is Jacob's
Mom: Oh, okay, how about this one?
Ben: No, that one doesn't have a picture on it
Mom: This one?
Ben: No, that one has a pocket on it.
Mom: Okay...How about this one?
Ben: No, that on belongs to peoples
Mom: Well Ben, what shirt do you want to wear?
Ben looks thoughtfully through the discarded pile of shirts "how about this one?" as he pulls out the one with the pocket.
Mom: okay, and I start pulling it over his head only to be met with fierce resistance
Ben : No! that one has a pocket!
Finally we settle on one with trucks on it that he originally claimed to be Jacobs. I have to say I was quite impressed with his vocabulary after the conversation but even more impressed by his sense of style. Dump trucks way outshine a silly pocket.