Mom for a day

So Friday was my day off!  Just kidding.  Friday, I worked twice as hard as usual to facilitate Leah being Mom for a day.  She got to serve breakfast, do laundry, dishes, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, diapering, etc, all with my coaching and assistance.  I wanted her to get the feel of all the things that Mom does every day.  Well, the things that Mom is supposed to do every day.  She was excited and willing all day.  She kept forgetting that she was the Mom and I would remind her that we had more work to do before we could sit down and relax, and she would jump back up again to get back to work.
Her main motivations for being mom for a day were so that she could choose what we ate for our meals, allow movie and computer playing times whenever she wanted, and mostly so that she could stay up late.  We had chocolate milk with our breakfast and snacks at will, and she made what she would make every day if she could, Fruit Salad.  (She did a very good solo fruit salad!)

I interviewed Leah today to find out how she felt about the experience.

We ended up having free lunch at the school, and Leah was disappointed that she hadn't gotten to serve the meal herself.  On the other hand, earlier when she had asked Samuel if he wanted Macaroni and Cheese for lunch and he had replied with enthusiasm, she then replied dejectedly, "Oh, except I don't know how to make that."

She said that the experience was a lot of work.  However, she managed to go the entire time without complaining!  She commented that some parts were fun, but there was a lot to do at once and that she didn't want it to take so long.  All that work made her hungry.  She said it was especially tricky when the baby was awake and needed attention.   

I asked her what she learned.  I had high expectations that she would have a renewed sense of appreciation for me and a greater desire to make my work easier by being more helpful.  She halfheartedly agreed that she should probably be more willing to clean up after herself and complain less.  She was undecided on whether or not she would appreciate me more. I think she learned that I make decisions because I have reasons.  She did also ask me when she can be Mom again...

Well, I learned that Leah is a cheerful helper when she wants to be.  When the incentives are in place or when the suggestion of independence is appealing enough, she can be a great assistant.  When she's had enough, however, she checks out and returns to her own imaginative world. 

If we've learned nothing else from this experience, it is that in the hard moments when I'm overwhelmed and Leah is impatient or demanding, I can remind her of her day as Mom and ask her if she could have done it by herself.  With all we accomplished on Friday, I know for sure I could not have done it by myself.  I just need to put her (and myself) to work every day so that she knows she should always be my little assistant, and all that practice will help her be prepared for her next chance at being Mom!

Being Mom

Today I became totally exasperated over the insistent demands, manipulative pouty faces, and utter impatience of Leah.  I refused to be a short order cook for lunch, which was unacceptable.  I forced her to help me while I made dinner, with her options of setting the table or keeping the baby happy (aka playing with her).  When I told her I would cut up her orange after she changed out of her swimming suit, she complained that she was too hungry and couldn't wait that long.  Yes, this all happened after we had spent the entire morning at the water park.  So in a nut shell, I was totally fed up.

Behaviors such as this are not infrequent.  She's a good kid, she just doesn't get that the world doesn't revolve around her.  And that my sole purpose in life is not to cater to her every need at a moment's notice.  I think you could file this one under "attitude."

So I hatched a plan.  I told her that she can be the Mom for an entire day.  She can say no and yes as much as she wants, just like mom does.  She can stay up late just like mom.  She can pick whatever she wants for breakfast.  And lunch.  And dinner.  As long as she makes it and feeds everyone and cleans it up, just like mom does.  Because in Leah's world, Mom says yes and no arbitrarily, and does certain things just to be mean.  And stays up late watching TV just because she can.  Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

I need her to realize that I work hard all day to take care of everyone else.  I want Leah to understand that I sit back and put my feet up at the end of the day because, more often than not, it is the first time I've sat down all day.  I want her to understand that I say my yeses and nos because there are reasons.  I want her to understand that as a grown up I have knowledge and experience that counts for something.  "I know you don't like vegetables! Do you think I'm trying to torture you, or can you believe me when I tell you there is actually a purpose to this?"

I want Leah to be excited about her own future motherhood, and I hope that I will be the one to teach her many things about nurturing and taking care of a household (notwithstanding my frequent absences of sanity lately).  But I also hope that this exercise will help her understand what goes in to being a mom and make her want to stay a kid for awhile, only having to help out some of the time, instead of doing all the work always.

Most importantly I hope she learns that I am not a waitress or a genie or a superhero.  Her needs will be met, but not at her beck and call.  Her preferences and tastes and whims are not the order of my life.  She will eat what is served.  She will have clean clothes to wear because someone purchased them and washed them and put them away.  Rewards and outings will occur because the children have been helpful and cooperative, because I have planned my schedule and done my chores and spent my money on it, and it is important to me, not because my six-year old is the queen of the universe.  I just want her to appreciate me and all the work I do.  I don't want to doom her to failure, I want to help her succeed, but to also understand that it is a lot of work for parents, and that is why the children are expected to help and not complain.  So that when she goes back to being a kid again the next day, she has a better attitude and more gratitude.  Is that too much to ask? 

We decided that Friday would be the day that Leah is the Mom.  This gives her a day and a half to practice.  So tonight as we sat down to dinner (the children each shoveling down their second pancake while mom has yet to take her first bite), I decided that she could practice being the mom tonight.  I had her do the chair-bouncing thing back and forth to the fridge.  She decided that everyone could have chocolate milk with their dinner (yes, pancakes), including the baby.  She was the one to pour the syrup, spoon-feed the baby her applesauce, and then to mop up the resulting spills.  She did all the baby bathing, with the washcloth-ing and the shampoo-ing.  I helped her have everything she would need to dry, diaper, and dress the baby for bedtime, and I'm hoping my detailed diaper-changing demonstration will prepare her to do it by herself.  Then we spent an hour together doing dishes and cleaning up dinner.  (How long has it been since I played in the dish bubbles at the kitchen sink?)
It only took a few minutes of Leah being the Mom for the true nature of its poeticity to shine through.  All those things that moms say that make kids roll their eyes?  Well they must be true because Leah said it: "I'm already getting you something, I can only do one thing at a time!"  Ah, Samuel and I had a good laugh with that one and I saw Leah hide a sheepish smile.

So here's to Friday.  I have some important things I hope to teach her, and in the process I expect she will teach me a few things in return.

Inchworm

I blinked, and now my not-yet-five-month-old baby is trying to crawl. I am not prepared for this development. See for yourself: she has the legs figured out, so its only a matter of time until she pushes off with her arms and then never stops. She wants to go places, thats for sure. Is it normal for babies to crawl before they can even sit up by themselves?

Some close-ups of those irresistible baby cheeks and afro-hair. She is generous with her smiles! Coming soon--teeth! And solid foods! Won't that be fun!? (Does it seem to anyone else that this baby is growing up too fast...?)

Perhaps only the Grandmas will truly appreciate all four minutes of the baby-trying-to-crawl video.

Endings and Outings

May was a big month for Leah. Not only did she become a big sister again, but she graduated from Preschool and finished a year of Ballet!

Preschool Graduation, with Miss Carol and then with friend Julia:

Leah's Ballet Recital, pictured with Miss Jennie and Miss T (Tiare):

To celebrate the end of one season and the beginning of the next, we visited Farm Country at Thanksgiving Point. There is something about that red window pane that lends itself particularly to photographing my not-so-little-anymore girl.

Now for a fun summer and then on to Kindergarten!

Kitchen Helpers

A New Skill

How do you teach a four-year old how to jump rope? I'm not sure. I just had her watch me jump rope and she practiced and figured it out in a day!

Here are my little show-offs for your viewing enjoyment:

Explanation: Samuel is wearing underpants during our 3-day attempt at potty training.

Samuel's Sentances

It's just me and Samuel this week--Chris and Leah are visiting family in Pensacola and Orlando. It has been interesting to observe how Samuel is different when he is the only kid around and gets all the attention. I notice so many things about him that I don't notice when there are two kids. On the other hand, I can't always understand what he says, and Leah is not here to translate for me (she really does translate!) Here are some of my favorite things that Samuel has said lately.

Mom: What are you drinking?
Samuel: I'm drinking water.

M: Let's go have some breakfast.
S: Chicken nuggets.
M: No, how about we have some cereal or mush.
S: Mush with sugar on it! (sooger)

M: What color is that? (Trying to see which color he will pick of several on a blanket pattern)
S: Polka-dot.

M: Would you like water or milk?
S: Water. Milk. Milkshake.

S: I hurt me right here. (pointing and bringing the offending appendage for a kiss better)

S: Mmmm. It's yum.

S: I no want kisses.

The Bus Stop

The bus stop is in front of our house. And not just any bus stop, THE bus stop. As in, the only bus stop in the entire neighborhood for at least 4 schools. This means 4 schools x twice a day plus some later buses because of after-school programs. 7 am and 3 pm and busy times of day. Sometimes I have to wait for two or three buses just so I can get into my driveway. It's not really that big of a deal, except when the school-goers leave trash on my lawn or in my mailbox.

So at first, my kids were always so excited to see the buses coming and going all day. They would hear the tell-tale squeal of brakes and rush to the window and watch with wonder. And then do it again 10 minutes later. Well, after a year of this, its not so novel anymore. This morning during breakfast when we heard the school bus pull up, Leah announced "I'm not going to go look at the school buses anymore. I know what a school bus looks like."

Birthday Bash coming up

Leah is going to be four next week! I can't believe it! Here is the cute little invite she "helped" me make today. Okay, she "helped" by picking out the paper with the birdies, and by choosing between red and pink. Other than that, you don't want to see her wield a glue stick.)



It says a little rhyme I made up in about 10 seconds: Here's a little birdie "Tweet" Listen to him more: "Join us for something sweet 'cuz Leah's turning four!"



Any little friends or relatives that are around are invited to come, too, if you want!

Snippets, Inspired by Leah

Requested by Chris.

Yesterday Leah got some fingers smashed in a door, not too serious, but it did require an ice pack, which itself required smarties.

So today when she bonked her head, she announced she needed ice. Then on her way to the kitchen for ice, she pinched her finger. The poor girl was very sad and very much crying. I said "You just keep getting hurt today."

She responded tearfully, "I get hurt everyday." Then we put one icepack on her hand and one balanced on her head and her first question was "What kind of treat can I have while I have ice?" Sorry kid--just ice.

She's much better at playing off her owies and announcing "I'm okay...I'm tough" when it isn't already bedtime.

Oh, and she is already telling me ideas for what she wants to be for Halloween next year. One day she said she wanted to be Jessie again, and then it was Ariel. This will be a fun year...

And lastly, is it normal for parents to be brimming over with so much pride for their almost-4-year-old to say two lines into the microphone in sacrament meeting, and spend the other 45 minutes playing with the girl next to her, sticking out her tongue, signing random sign-language words, and giving us thumbs up throughout her first Primary Program?

Two Top Tens (Top Twenty?)

Happenings lately at our house:

1. Leah's cute new haircut. I had to convince my mother that it is appropriate for her to look like a sophisticated little girl rather than a toddler. After all, she's almost four, attends Preschool, and has been potty trained for over a year. The picture was taken at Jumpin' Jacks, an indoor playground with inflatable jumping things that we did as a family activity on Labor day (Which was a great hit with both kids and with our coupon, cost us less than $11!)

2. "I'm sorry Samuel, you just can't throw poopy diapers around."

3. Searching through the cereal cabinet: "Mom, do we have any more kid food?"

4. We differentiate tummy aches at our house by saying hungry tummy ache or potty tummy ache. One day on the way home from the gym, and with the promise of icy cold lemonade, Leah announced: "I have a lemonade tummy ache."

5. "Leah, that zucchini is food, not a toy. We have plenty of toys in the house--you don't need to play with vegetables."

6. Leah: "Mom, why do you love me?" Mom: "Because God gave you to me. Why do you love me?" Leah: "Because God gave you to me." *smile*

7. Today I realized something vitally important, and it took me 26 years to make this observation: while a watched pot may not boil very quickly, an empty pot will never boil at all.

8. "Mom, why do we have to go potty every day?"

9. Playing with her toy kitchen and stuffing a stuffed animal in the toy microwave, "I'm making a dog for lunch." I asked her if it was going to be a hot dog, and no, its just a dog.

10. And as we speak she totally zonked out on the couch next to me. I was just too involved in blogging to go put her to bed, so she put herself to bed!


And its been awhile since I blogged about Stampin' Up! Here are 10 good reasons why you should get stamping this month!

1. Holiday Mini catalog is live and wonderful! View the pdf here.

2. New product line: Build-a-Bear Workshop stamps, paper, and sizzix dies.

3. New product line: Design your own necklace charms.

4. Awesome new product that I want for Christmas: My Digital Studio. It is software for making scrapbook pages, cards, and more with Stampin' Up!'s exclusive colors, patterns, papers, stamped images, even SU! embellishments that look three-dimensional! It is a must have!

5. Hostess promotion through November 30: hold a workshop totaling $250 or more and receive any item in the Mini for $10! (excluding hostess sets and My Digital Studio)

6. Limited time offer: Decor Elements Growth Chart. It is only available until September 30! $24.95

7. Join me for a Workshop at my house on Thursday, September 17! It will be so fun! I will be giving out inkpads to those who bring a friend. Plus I'll be holding drawings for catalogs, merchandise, and retired stamp sets!

8. Hold a workshop with me in September or October and I will give you your choice of Designer Series Paper. That is a $10 value! Also, you'll get a free catalog and hostess benefits. See also number 5.

9. It's not too early to start thinking about your Holiday projects! Plan them and get started before October and November hit and you get even busier!

10. Help me reach my quarterly minimum by September 30 so that I can stay active as a Demonstrator!!! Visit my Demonstrator Business Website for more information or Shop Online now!

The What's and the Why's

I distinctly remember when Leah was going through the "What" phase when she was about two.

"Mom, what are doing?"
"I'm emptying the dishwasher."
*30 seconds later*
"Mom, what are doing?"
"Uh, well, I'm still emptying the dishwasher."

And now that I think Samuel is about to the "What" phase (Watching me inquisitively he says"What doing?"), I've noticed with much trepidation that Leah has just stumbled upon "Why."

"Time to go inside now."
"Why?"
"Because I have to got to the bathroom."
"Why do you have to go to the bathroom?"
"Uh, well..."

Toy time lineup

Within an hour of free play at Grandma's house, Leah and I found the Little Einstein Annie, who had been MIA since Christmas. She was lost in a box of toys, of all places. And now back at home, here is the whole Little Einsteins gang back together again. (If you are not Little Einsteins savvy like some of us, Annie is the one with blonde hair).


And here she is with a lineup of Trolls, which I collected when I was a kid. Aren't they cute? I even remember some of their names. Becky and I each got one for Christmas when Frank was serving in Bonners Ferry, ID, so we named our Trolls Bonnie and Ferry. The one with the mask and cape is named Calvin, after the alter-ego Calvin from the comic strip. The bride is named Bridely (don't ask), and Leah walked around all week saying that Bridely was Lala and Calvin was Carl and that they were getting married. There is a red, white, and Blue one that I named Liberty. I can't remember any of the other ones names, but I'm sure they all had names and family groups.

Vote for Me

I found this in my parents' basement today. Who knew I was a women's advocate at nine?!?!

(spelling, grammar, and punctuation are original, which was also written in lovely cursive)

11-11-92

Hi I'm running for Secretary in our class election. I am nine years old. I am the youngst in my family. I was born in Winfield, IL.

The six reasons I chose to be Secretary is one, I like writing. Two, I am healthy. I was never absent once this year. Three, I am on schedule. I have never been late for school. Four, I listen to directions so that I know what to do and how. Five, I am not a quitter. Six, I am fair because I don't brag about myself.

Girls in high office! Why copy grown-ups? Vote for me for class Secretary!

Memories of Girls' Camp

The winner of their own personalized Bingo game is Michal & David! This will be a great tool to help you stay focused during Sacrament meeting. Thanks for all your ideas. We tried the little cup of snacks method today and it just turned out to be a continuous Goldfish refill service. I think we'll go back to "Reverence practice" during the week.

Today in Sacrament Meeting the Young Women reported on their experiences at Girls' Camp. It made me reflect on some memories I had in my years at Girl's Camp. Ah, those were the days!

Here are a few lot. You don't have to read them all.

• My first year of girls' camp landed on the week of my 12th birthday. The family rule was that you can wear makeup and nylons when you turn 12, so I got nylons at camp, but I don't think I wore them until I got home. My mom was our Beehive leader at the time, and my assignment that day was to clean the latrine. On my birthday. I did not get any special treatment in this respect and still had to do it, and I was grumpy the whole time.
• That year we also used a particular kind of dishoap (a white bottle of Ivory soap) that I still like to get because the scent reminds me of that aspect of girls' camp.
• There were two particular girls in my age group that were not very nice to me and my friends. In fact, they were actually really mean and cruel. If you were there, you know who they were. They liked to pull pranks. One year, I remember them saying "Don't get mad. Get even!" It was pretty good advice when you are a relatively good kid-just not as an adult.
• One year our camp theme was "Hearts knit together in love and unity." At some point in the week, we were hit by a huge thunder and hail storm. While it was scary, we were all soaked, our tents blew over, the power went out in the administration building, and a lot of people were scared, I thought it was pretty exciting. Some of the ward leaders thought we should pack up and go home, even though no stake leaders had authorized it. I remember thinking that to do so would not exemplify "hearts knit together" in love or unity. We stayed.
• One year, I had "Ironic" stuck in my head the whole week. Some other campers nick-named me "Alanis," which I though was really cool. That was the year I learned to make a fire with dryer lint and a 9v battery. It was also the year I became a pyro!
• Liz-didn't we fall out of a canoe once?
• Kathryn's dad was the driver of the rental truck that brought all the gear. I got to drive in the truck with them on the way home one year. Backing up, the rear step of the truck got hooked on a tall tree stump and we tried for an hour to get unstuck. It was my idea to cut the tree trunk with a chain saw and it worked!
• One year a girl prayed at a campfire that the racoons would go to the leaders tents instead of ours. What a scandal!
• Speaking of racoons, my journal got some little dirty racoon footprints in it!
• Liz or I correctly guessed the number of skittles in a disgustingly large jar and we ate all of them. We were so sick of skittles, and I still can't eat that flavor (tropical).
• I wore sandals and brought a walkman one year, both of which were strictly prohibited.
• The poolhouse had a boys locker room and a girls locker room, but of course there were no boys. The leaders posted a sign on the boys room that said "Nude women" so that we knew not to go in there unless we wanted to shower sans swim suits. I used the other bathroom.
• As a junior leader, I took great pride in carrying one of the four coveted walkie talkies around camp. My mom, who was the lifeguard, had one too, and accidentally jumped into the pool with it on her suit, and it became a standing point of humor. The same camp leader that distributed the walkie talkies gave Chris and I a set as a wedding present and we still have them.
• The kitchen leader always brought a sign that said "Roadkill cafe."
• Mom nailed the stake leaders in a water fight and planted giant fake bugs in their sleeping bags.
• There were a couple male camp staff members that managed the camp and chopped wood and took out garbage, etc. Of course we singled out the only guy under 30 (and who wasn't a stake leader) and tried to flirt with him. He told us his name was Elmo, but we knew he was lying.
• Liz and I knew all the camp songs, and we even made up a couple which I still remember.

Here's one that was too depressing that we had to write a second verse to reunite the sad couple :

Boom boom my darlin', boom boom my darlin'
Gonna get along without ya know.
Gonna find someone who's twice as cute
And I didn't love you anyhow.
I'll miss you much, I'll miss you much,
But don't come back to me,
We're apart for good, we're apart for good
And thats how its gonna be.

(Here is the verse we made up)

I love ya darlin', I love ya darlin'
You came right back to me.
I said you shouldn't, you said you couldn't
Go on livin' life without me.
So now we're happy all day and night
And that's how its gonna stay.
And if you up and leave again, I'll love you anyway.

Here's one we wrote on the bus. I think I memorized it without ever having to write it down, and I still remember it. I think we got the Stake to put it in the camp book. I wonder if it is still in there or if anybody knows it. It is loosly to the tune of "It's a small world."

It's a camp of racoons, a camp of bugs,
It's a camp of spiders, a camp of slugs,
It's a camp of tears and a little fears,
It's a camp for girls.

It's a camp of laughter, a camp of love,
It's a camp with help from the Lord above.
Lots of friends we make, memories we take,
It's a camp for girls.

Naperville camp really ra-ah-ah-ocks,
Naperville camp really rocks,
Naperville camp really rocks,
I will go back soon!

And in case you are still reading, here are some more favorites. I am writing this down because I know that some day I won't remember them anymore.

The Zulu king with the big nose ring fell in love with a sweet young thing
And every night by the pale moonlight, 'sounded like this to me:
Baroom, *kiss*kiss*, baroom, *kiss*kiss*, Baroom diddle-ee-ya-dee-ay
Baroom, *kiss*kiss*, baroom, *kiss*kiss*, Baroom diddle-ee-ya-dee-ay
Oh, we'll build a bungalow big enough for two, big enough for two,
My darlin' big enough for two.
And when we're married how happy we'll be, Under the bamboo
Under the bamboo tree, if you'll be M-I-N-E mine I'll be T-H-I-N-E thine and I will L-O-V-E love you all the T-I-M-E time.
You are the B-E-S-T best of all the R-E-S-T rest and I will L-O-V-E love you all the T-I-M-E time! The Zulu king.....

--

I'm a little acorn 'round, lying on the cold cold ground
Every body steps on me, that is why I'm cracked, you see.
I'm a nut *click*click*, I'm a nut *click*click*, I'm a nut, I'm a nut, I'm a nut.

Called myself up on the phone, just to see if I was home
Asked myself out on a date, picked me up at half past eight.
I'm a nut....

Took myself out to the show, sat me down in the second row.
Put my arms around my face, got so fresh I slapped my face.
I'm a nut...

I can sing and I can dance, I wear ruffles on my-Oops! Boys, take another guess!
I wear ruffles on my dress!
I'm a nut *click*click*, I'm a nut *click*click*, I'm a nut, I'm a nut, I'm a nut!

--

Announcements, Annoouncements, Announcements!
A terrible death to die, A terrible death to die!
A terrible death to talk to death, a terrible death to die.
Again! Again! She's bugging us again!

Ode to Dad

Here are a handful of things that I love about my Dad.

• Little green basketballs (peas).
• Moldy fly speck, and pond scum ice cream (mint chocolate chip, and marble fudge swirl respectively).
• Chocolates on your pillow.
• Colorful pancakes (and mom's green oatmeal).
• Demonstrate and explicate (show and tell).
• Smiley face food, including bologne and assorted fruits.
• "Bologne sandwhiches!" instead of "Geronimo!"
• Floppy-arm-itis and its companion disease stiff-arm-itis.
• The bathtub song.
• He thought my coupon for "two free jokes" was for me to tell him two free jokes. It was a coupon for him to tell two free jokes.
• Dad's bright red sweat pants.
• Dad kept waking me up for seminary for all those years.
• Dad's inflatable "pool" in the backyard those few years when it was the only choice.
• "Don't take any wooden nickels".
• One time on a campout, I accidentally drenched my pork chop in salt and thought it was too gross to eat. I gave it to Dad without telling him about the salt and thinking he wouldn't notice. He ate it without saying a word about it.
• As a kid his Sunday school teacher took the class to get ice cream cones--they were a dime apiece. Dad's trained frugality led him to say, "I'll just take the dime".
• Dad's trademark "I'm home" whistle, also effective as a "where are you" whistle in grocery stores.
• Dad's cheerful whistling anytime and anywhere. He'll also unknowingly switch tunes if you start whistling a different song.
• The state border song. "Happy Utah to you! Happy Utah to you! Happy Utah dear family..." Definately a tradition we are continuing.
• Dad's explosive and contagious laugh.
• Dad's integrity.
• Dad was secure enough that he would skip with me across the parking lot into the grocery store. I didn't realize how big a deal that must have been until I had a husband and tried to skip with him. I stand corrected: I am lucky to have a husband who will do this with me and our daugther.
• Dad was an expert hair-braider when there were two grade school girls in the house.
• Dad's parents always gave him the choice of helping with the dishes or practicing the piano. It is because of this that he is an accomplished pianist. Whenever he practices, the house is filled with cheerful music. He is always willing to be my pianist when I join him for showtunes.
• I remember when our little blue Omni was about to turn over 100,000 miles. It was such an event to celebrate that Dad took us all to Dairy Queen. We drove back and forth in the parking lot until we reached the momentous mile and we all cheered and then had ice cream. Going out to ice cream every 100,000 miles makes ice cream a very special treat, indeed. I think I might do the same someday.
• Dad does all the ironing. On top of that, he has the patience to endure fuzzy, static-y basketball on TV while he does it.
• One time Mom was out of town and so Dad was getting us all ready for school. One morning he was especially goofy and tossed a banana peel over his shoulder onto the floor in the kitchen. I don't know why it was so hilarious, but I still remember us all laughing.
• Dad has always been a righteous, honorable man. He is a great example of forgiveness and Christ-like living. Thanks, Dad!
• Siblings--please comment with whatever I have forgotten to mention...

Love you, Dad! I miss you!

Long Time Coming...

In January....

Samuel turned one.
We decided to buy a house and started hunting.
I got a job! I work part time at BYU. I am the food buyer for all the cooking classes. Fun!
We celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary. Chris gave me this coupon book as my present:
(these coupons expire when we do) (This coupon is good for one free house of your choice, must be under $200,000)















In February...
We found a house!
We got our tax return!
Time to pack. (or rather, not enough time to pack)

In March...
We moved to our new house!
I experienced my first ever migraine headache.
I dropped a matress box spring on my toe, and in the week following, my two precocious precious children in turn stepped on said toe many times.
Leah keeps having potty accidents, of both varieties, and refuses to go to Primary without a fight.


I don't know if we've ever been this busy before.

More pictures to come...

Please don't lynch me...

...But I've gone and cut Leah's hair.

Before:

After:

I still have mixed feelings, looking back on the curls that will never again be. But I had good reasons...!

It was just too much work! Leah twirls her hair in her fingers when she's resting, it gets caught in toys and zippers and stuck under her coat, it gets stepped on, it gets pulled, it gets in her mouth while she's eating, she gets peanut butter and sticky candy in it at the table, it gets in her face, it gets soooo incredibly tangly that it takes 20 minutes to brush, twice a day! And Leah does not like having her hair brushed. So I've gone and done it.

Although it might not have the same explosive spontaneous ringlets that it had this morning, I think it looks good. And I think I did a pretty darn good job of getting it even and straight considering this is my first time really cutting her hair. It is sad to see the mass of crazy curls gone, but now we can look back on them as a symbol of her infancy and toddlerhood, for now she is a preschool-attending, big-sister, potty-trained Big Kid.

The Year of the Wreath

I'm not an interior designer. We've lived here two years and we don't have a single frame or decoration in our entire bedroom. The frames and decorations I do have up around the house are super simple and who knows if I even have them up aesthetically, if they are centered, or at the right height.

Ever since we got married and I had a house to take care of and attempt to decorate, I've wanted to have a wreath on my front door. You may think it sounds kind of cheesy, but I really like the idea of having a beautiful, seasonal wreath for every time of year. And for six years I've wanted and thought about but never had my "wreath rotation"--maybe because I didn't have a house worthy of decorating, or perhaps because I couldn't afford the one that I envisioned. I've even pictured my storage room with off-season wreaths mounted on every wall. One year I tried making my own Christmas wreath with a la carte plastic greens and berries on some craft wire (probably costing less than $5 total)--it was really pathetic looking, a sorry excuse for a wreath, and sadly I kept it around for several years, finally throwing it out today.

At some point in time I subconsciously deemed this year as "The Year of the Wreath." I decided that since we finally had a non-impoverished income, a beautiful home, and a nest of kids, that makes us worthy of finally having a wreath for every season. And it contributes even more to that sense of "home" that is so cozy and not at all temporary. 'Cuz hey, we've lived in Provo for six years and we're finally having Christmas at the same address two years in a row--that's gotta mean something.

A Change of Decor

Here's the before and after. Last month I decorated my one surface inside the house, putting out a fall garland I got last year on clearance after the fact, and my first-ever Wreath!

Then today I finally got my Christmas Wreath! I really wanted the one with large poinsettias, several colored ribbons and cute little snowmen dangling from it, but that one was $130.

I decided to just spruce up a cheaper wreath and make it just as cute. Thanks to 30-60% off sales at Roberts, for $35 I got a wreath, some shape-able ribbon and some cute little ornaments to hang on it. I also got two sparkly wooden greetings for about $10 each--they are cute and trendy and having them makes me feel like I, too, can be on board with in-style decor even though I may be stylishly imcompetent otherwise. And on my "mantle" I cheated by turning our speakers sideways and draping blue fabric over them (hehehe). Oh, and I'm so glad I have a three-year old style guru who was able to help me pick out the right things (she picked out the bell all by herself). I think the wreath and my TV-top display both turned out really fun and classy. I'm so excited to finally have my Christmas Wreath!

Yeah, it's that kind of day

The first thing I did this morning was reverse the doorknob on my daughter's bedroom door so that it locks on the outside.

Yeah. Tantrums. They're great.