Sweater & Projects

Earlier I mentioned I learned to purl - so I was knitting a sweater. It was one I had wanted to do for a long time - years - but I'm not a knitter - or at least I wasn't. I managed to make this one in less than a week! I'm impressed with myself regardless of the fact that there are still things I don't fully understand about knitting!

Anyway, here are some pictures of Peter in the sweater - I was thinking it would be for Christmas, but Peter seems to think he needs to wear it now! ..... I don't know, we'll see if it can disappear. In any case, it was a fun project I could do while sitting... which I'm finding I'm going to be doing a lot more of. I can still walk some, but I really do have to limit it or I find I'm dealing with contractions - at 28 weeks, that's too early to push it.

So... sit down projects here I come - since I still have that crazy, jittery urge to be doing something productive! - If you have some ideas, let me know... for now, I think this is what my list is looking like:

Curtains for the kids' rooms, baby blocks (for three babies), burp cloths, at least three more sweaters, bridal shower gifts (maybe?), and a blessing suit....that may be enough, but it depends on how fast things come together.

Oh - and Gabi is doing very well with her granny squares.... when she completes her first one, we'll show you how she's doing!

Berry Pleasure & A Little Green

Bob was out yesterday doing a little landscaping - he really enjoys doing this and we really enjoy the result. And thanks to his folks, we had berries to plant out back. So.... Bob made a three tier garden of sorts - the top for Raspberries, the middle for Strawberries, and the bottom for flowers.I, of course, was excited to take before, during and after pictures and well... pulled out the camera to find that both batteries were completely dead! Needless to say, I had to wait for one to charge before taking pictures... but this is what it ended up looking like - until everything comes into full bloom.
Oh, and I forgot to tell you - Bob also found a scorpion before the battery was charged. All the kids gathered round and saw what it looked like and learned important things about it - like it stings and don't ever touch one!

And, here's a picture of the tire swing - not for the tire swing, but to show you the green the spring brings. I've been told it won't stay that way, but it's been a pleasure to enjoy for the time being!

Made It Through Friday - Still On My Feet!

Maybe it through yesterday! - Actually I started the day making raised doughnuts with the boys - we made 6 dozen very light and fluffy LARGE doughnuts! YUMMY! YUMMY! The thought was that it would be a snack for the Achievement Day girls - though with that many, we obviously shared with grandma and grandpa and then the kids and us enjoyed the rest (I was good... I honestly think I can claim to have eaten the fewest!)

Of course, that put me on my feet more yesterday than I was planning - though I was good and sat down between frying sets. And while the dough was rising, I sat and finished knitting the sweater. I've not sewn the sleeves on yet; that will happen today and then I'll be able to take some pictures!

The walk was a little more than an hour - but felt good and I was surprised that the baby seemed to do fine - or rather that my muscles supporting the baby seemed to to fine. I'm sore this morning, but still able to move!

To top off the day, Bob and I were offered some tickets to the symphony last night - it was last minute and we are very grateful not only for the gift, but for the loving grandparents who took our kids on such short notice! It was a wonderful way to end the day - even if the sitting on the bench (which is not designed for a pregnant woman) only added to the problem with the swelling in my legs, ankles and feet - I just came home and went to bed with my legs up!

And with so many fluffy doughnuts, Bob and Gabi had an easy breakfast on their way out the door to the fishing derby (which was cold and apparently not nearly as exciting as she didn't catch anything but sticks - she did get to work on her casting, though and has not become discouraged for the real season to begin soon) The fluffy doughnuts also made it easy for the other three to get their own breakfast this morning - meaning I didn't have to move too fast!

Now - to catch up on laundry again and try to get the floors back to vacuuming condition..... that might not be too hard if all the kids are outside helping Bob plant berries!

Maybe Just A Little Too Much

So I started the new routine of walking to and from the school with the girls - basically, the same routine I had early on it the pregnancy before it got cold (I don't do cold). Monday was the short way down and back once (it was raining in the afternoon). The short way has a steep hill, but I seemed to be okay. A little sore, but not bad. Tuesday was nice - short way down, long way home, long way down and long away home again.

Okay - nice might not be the right word for it. It's certainly harder to do with four than just the two boys and I can't seem to be way behind and way ahead at the same time - nor can I run to make up the difference should it be needed. And the last leg of it all, Jeremy ran way ahead - such that he could not hear us any more - to get to the mail before anyone else. Fortunately that was on our road - which has little to no traffic - and he's good about watching for cars. Still, that was more stress that I needed, and I certainly was walking faster than my poor pregnant body thought good.

I was hurting by the time we got back and sat for the rest of the afternoon and evening aside from making a simple dinner. Contractions had picked up, though I'm fairly certainly they were still braxton hicks - but still annoying. And today, well, I woke up with my ankles, knees, hips and back still hurting - enough so that I canceled the walking for today. I sat with my feet up, and had to sit in just the right position to help with the stabbing hip pain. Took a nap and then attempted a shower - the hot water was just the thing. By the time Bob arrived home around dinner time and I got up to decide what to make, I was moving around fairly well again! (Until I picked up Peter, then the hip reminded me that I have to continue to take it easy)

Since Friday is an Achievement Day activity which is "hiking" / walking for about an hour, I figured I better take another day to "recoop" just in case - tomorrow will be another no walking day.

I'd be more frustrated except that I figured out how to really purl stitch and started in on a sweater - so at least my hands are busy. I normally crochet - and I do a little knitting when it's just the knit stitch, but for this pattern I needed to use a purl stitch and it was worth learning - I have the back and front sections complete and the hood nearly finished (likely before the end of the evening tonight) - then two sleeves are left and it is done... looks like about a week project (though if I was on my feet a bit more I'd say more like two weeks). It's suppose to be a size 4, but my little one who would be that size come Christmas is broad, and I'm thinking this might end up skinnier - if so, I know a nephew who will look rather cute in it - and he's skinny, skinny! At any rate, it's another project... and since I have to limit the bending and lifting (thus the cleaning project has slowed down) and I have this crazy urge to be "productive", it's been a great thing to do!

Ice Pockets

Peter loves to help cook - and he's really very good. Since about 2 1/2 years I've been able to leave him beside the hot stove and not really worry to walk away and check on something else or grab something from the pantry. He's very good at stirring things, and rarely gets burned - like once since we got here and it was so slight he didn't need anything more than a drip of cold water for less than 30 seconds.

Well, about a week or so ago, he was helping to cook. Only the pan wasn't on the burner centered and I guess he decided to fix that problem - not really sure. I had gone over to wipe down the table from the afternoon and set it for dinner. That's when I heard "Mom... I burned myself." In a quiet and calm voice. So I figured it wasn't anything major - never had been. So I continued to wipe down the table while talking to him about it. Suddenly his voice broke and he burst into tears "It really hurts!"

I ran over, grabbed him and threw his hand under cold water - come to find out, some how he'd touched the actual burner (apparently staying calm when hurt is one of his gifts). The cold from the water felt good, but he didn't like the pressure. So I got out a couple of ice cubes and putting them in a plastic zip-lock along with some water, we made an "ice packet" which Peter immediately named an "ice pocket". He kept it beside him all evening and then suddenly announced that his finger was all better.

About two or three days later, I'm working in the kitchen, Peter's been sent to go potty, and I hear Gabi say "Peter! What's wrong!?!" Slightly alarmed. So I turn around to see him, naked bottom and all, laying on the floor, not moving, not making a sound. I jump over, grab him up and he inhales deeply and starts screaming (my little boy, when hurt, cries really hard, as in so hard he stumbles around and falls down because his body can't get the air it wants right away). He has a bloody lip and there is blood all over the carpet! I yelled for Bob, who comes running. Told him there was blood all over the carpet and took Peter to the sink. As I was calming the bloody lip with a cold wet paper towel, Peter says "Mommy, I need an ice pocket!" - so Bob made him one which he carried around and kept on his lip most of the night. (Turns out, he slipped and hit his lip on the toilet - he likes to climb on standing and hop down to sit, or stand up and jump off when he's done, but he had on socks)

This morning, here I am checking the normal computer activity before jumping into the rest of the household chores when Peter comes out and sits on my lap informing me that he needs an ice pocket. Why? Because his lip (which is nearly healed) is hurting again.... His lip was not really hurting, he just likes the ice pockets (I know because I asked him about it and he said "yeah, so can I just have an ice pocket").

Cute and Funny

The kids help pick up pine cones and pine needles over at grandma's house to keep things looking nice and to help prevent problems when it's time to mow. Yesterday Peter grabbed up something from the grass and said "Look, Mom! Pine Pricklies!" (A handful of pine needles)

Sometimes a "fire starter" (lighter) is left where the kids can find them. Peter picked one up today and I said "I'm sorry Daddy left that out where you could find it. Sometimes that happens." To which Peter responded, "Yeah, that silly Daddy! Right, Mom?"

We had strawberry shortcake last night - for the bottom layer, we made sponge cake. Beth aksed "Did you really use sponges to make that cake?" (The other children asked the same question later on - it was the first time they'd had sponge cake)

Taking a walk yesterday we let the kids take the Walkie-Talkies. They've not be on a "real" adventure since we got them years ago - just "fun for kids - making noise" around the house. We've never changed the batteries, so one wasn't working as well as it should within a short distance of starting out. Bob carried them after that, but Peter, who had been pretending to be a train ("I'm the engine and you're the cupling, Mommy" - then taking my hand), decided that he needed to be the Walkie-Talkie - he was the really loud call button - you know, with the high pitched squeekie noise!

Peter is once again rarely Peter. It's not uncommon for me to be told "I'm Handy Manny, remember?" or "I'm Mr. Conductor, remember?" or "I'm Wubzy." or some other loved character. Nearly always with a "remember?" at the end, as though I'd already be informed.

My very favorite, though, was the other night. We had gathered for scriptures, Peter was sitting facing me on my lap. The song had been sung and Daddy had started reading to us. Peter leaned over to my face and said "Hello. I'm a spy!"

Vacation Week

It's vacation week.....

Nope, we didn't travel any where. Nor did we go off and do anything amazing. The closest excuse we had to picture taking was Easter....

Instead we have done the following:

*Emptied out and reorganized all the toys in the boys and the girls rooms. Everything has a home - that includes books (which means the shelves are neat and tidy too)!

*Emptied out and sorted all laundry - meaning the kids (by the end of tomorrow) will have only what fits them in their drawers, on their shelves, and in their closets! (No more wondering why the clothes are too big or too small) - Also means we washed nearly every piece of laundry in the house.... and I thought I was keeping up!

*Emptied out and reorganized ALL the games - includes putting all spare pieces back into boxes (I think nearly all pieces were "spare" at that point), dividing up the various games and storing them on shelves (mostly the higher up, in closet shelves) of all three bedrooms. Now little hands have to ask before they can play! - Means we can be certain games get picked up before they get mixed up!

*Game cabinet became a linen cabinet instead....Nicely organized space to keep all spare sheets and blankets - and games are high and out of reach!

*Emptied out and reorganized the upper kitchen cabinet. It no longer as odds and ends from moving in, but is a nicely organized space for all office supplies not used on a regular basis... others are in the desk (which was also cleaned out and organized again).

*Emptied out and reorganized the Kids' Activity cabinet in the dinning room.... it was housing office supplies and many crafty items which seemed to be more fun to make a mess with than to do a craft with. Now it holds the basic coloring and drawing necessities along with a couple boxes of simple craft supplies that aren't often used but safe for little hands (pipe cleaners and pom pom kind of things).... I have one extra drawer and one extra cabinet unit that are empty though....

*Emptied out all toys in the living room - random toys have found their way back to right homes. The area is neat and tidy. Kids are actually playing nicely with the toys (amazing) and putting them away when they are done.

* Sorted and cleared off the section of the hearth which stores Ensigns, Friends, books and true baby toys... it's so clean and tidy.... I just need to straight up the DVDs and CDs and I can honestly say the living room is complete! (Either tonight, waiting for Bob, or tomorrow with a Peter helping)

*Clearing off counters... two major counters seem to always collect the random papers... thank goodness they are mostly recycle papers from school - makes for an easy job.

*Weeded out the entry way - play / dirt / garden shoes out in the breeze way, adult shoes in the entry way, nicer shoes in the bedroom closets. Nearly all winter gear packed away - one set for each kid to get through the random snow that may still hit over the next month. Entry way closets completely cleaned out and organized again too!

*Lots of wood chopping and stacking... getting ready for next winter, it's never too early. (yes, that's all Bob)

*Spreading of the wonder manure... preparing for gardening - while kids picked up pine cones and pine needles.

*Fixed all bikes - now all kids can ride again... (one thing about being here, there are plenty of little natural spikes to take out the tires.... they just need to learn to stay completely on the pavement)

*Hauled out the craft cabinet and slowly began organizing the "Mommy craft stuff" into helpful containers and putting them in. This means digging out all the unpacked boxes in the master bedroom closet (scrapbook and craft items). This job started the end of last week and is a here and there project until I can attack it full force next week - since everything else will be done!

I've likely forgotten something seeing that it's been nearly a complete over haul of the whole house! Thankfully the bathrooms don't need over hauling - just the basic cleaning. But it sure feels good to get everything in order again. This more simplified organization will hopefully make it easier for the kids to stay "cleaner" more often. Regardless, it feels good to get so much done (though my back and hips haven't been too happy... and thus I've been slowing down the end of the week)

So, no real vacation in the normal sense of the word, but it's the first time that I can recall being married and having the desire, the urge and the motivation to "Spring Clean"! It feels great! And that means I can move on to "fun" projects - and enjoy the outdoors more frequently with the nicer weather moving in!

(And Gabi made dinner for the kids - she gets to make dinner one night a week - and Bob just got home to make a special, scrumptious dinner for him and I.... In House Date Night! We'll have an awesome dinner, kids will go to bed, then we'll snuggle up with a movie having our appetizer as a grand finale!)

Our Easter Fun

Leading up to Easter we made a bunch of cookies - we also put together several sets of the Easter Story in 12 Eggs and got things together to give to some friends.... and the funny part is.....Got out to the van and cleared off the snow. We were having a little trouble with a window shield wiper, but had not yet replaced it. When I cleared the snow, I noticed the actual blades weren't in the rubber any more. Thought I might be able to just put them back in the rubber at least long enough to get from our house to all our stops and back. The moment I touched the blades, they slide completely out - along with the rubber! Apparently no longer attached... we've not been driving the van since - so sorry to anyone who might have gotten something yummy and fun, but with the back and forth of snow and rain and all, it just didn't work out (since we'll be finally replacing the blades today)... but it was pretty funny! (At least for Bob and I)

Still, the kids had a lot of fun painting sugar cookies! - We did not dye eggs this year - that's always been something I let Bob do with the kids and he'd been pretty busy leading up to Easter and I only thought of it here and there. I had wanted to try out that Silk Tie Egg Dying thing, but hadn't remembered soon enough to go looking for silk at the second hand stores... maybe next year?And since it was cold here this Easter, the Easter Bunny decided eggs outside were probably not a good idea. But with so many kids possibly waking up and the our house being in a "kid zone" (after all, it was vacation and we were at the Temple Friday and then Conference most of Saturday... not cleaning got done) he decided to try the Grandparent's house. I guess that turned out to be a good and quiet place because when we arrived to listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir before Conference on Sunday morning, there were eggs every where!

The kids had so much fun running around and gathering eggs - even if Daddy forgot to dig out the baskets and they had to use plastic bags! It was so much fun to follow the kids around and see their excitement as they found the eggs... the older children wanted to look IN THE TOILET - and as Bob said "I wouldn't want the egg if it was in the toilet"! Peter would find eggs and if I wasn't with him, he'd find me and show me where he found the egg. And he always called them his "precious eggs"!
Another cute saying that Peter likes has to do with candy - which he pronounces really funny anyway. But since he's always loved Peanut Butter and has not been able to have it for just over a year now, since we figured it out, but since he's outgrown that sensitivity (by the way - for anyone who was following all that, the only thing we've not tried yet are whole berries - everything else, aside from the contact allergies, he's outgrown!) And since Peter has always been called Peter Butter, when he picks out a piece of candy he'll say "I want a Peter Butter egg." or "This is a Reese Peter Butter cup!" I just love it!
After that, we all enjoyed conference (see the post below) and played games and hung out very relaxed! For scriptures that night, we used the Easter Story in 12 Eggs that Gabi had put together at Achievement Days! It was the perfect way to end the Easter Day - our thoughts fully focused on the real meaning of Easter!

Baby Shower Gifts

A friend near us is having a little girl in a couple of months. For our baby shower gift, the kids and I made some soft toys - and had a lot of fun doing it. Okay, let me clarify, the younger three kids and I did this - as Gabi was at Grandma's trying on swim suits, sewing something else, and then had homework to finish before prayers and scriptures.We made Soft Blocks (this was so much fun and so easy, the kids are each planning to make a couple for our baby) and then tried our hand at a Soft Grab Ball - I'm not sure I agree with the "don't stuff each section completely full" instruction because the ball doesn't keep shape very well. So either I missed something else, or the sections need to be a bit more full... I'll try the latter the next time.(And I can't believe it, but I forgot to take pictures of Peter stuffing his block.... what was I thinking?)
Still we had fun and they are cute - all from fabric I had laying around - yes, I still have a trunk, two boxes and a large wheeled tote full of fabric - anyone want to come and do a project!?!

180th Annual General Conference - Easter Weekend

There is no better way to spend Easter weekend that by being uplifted and filled while listening to the Prophet and leaders of the church! What better way - what better time - to celebrate and be reminded of the risen Christ - the power of the atonement and the joy of the resurrection!

The beauty of Conference is coming out feeling like we're better than when we went in. That's not to say that we don't learn (or aren't reminded of) things we can do better. But I think we all too often beat ourselves up for many reasons - none of which are right.

There was a point yesterday when I turned to Bob and said "We do all that! We're doing something right!" Just to see the look of complete unbelief cross his face - as if he couldn't believe I would ever have doubted that we were trying and doing the best we could and that we were doing something right. So I quickly commented "I know, I'm sure there are things we can do better and work on a little harder, but for the most part we're doing all those things." To which my dear husband smiled and said "Yes, I know. But it's nice to hear the affirmation."

This conference was full of many topics, all of which focused upon our Savior and what we can and should be doing to draw near to Him. But more than that, three full sessions (and part of a fourth - and I have no idea about Priesthood) were devoted to family, to parents, to youth and to leaders of youth. A common and on going theme in my heart - one which I feel is needed throughout all of society.

I loved the affirmation of the importance of parents and their role in the lives of their children. And especially of the influence of mothers - something we mothers often over look or forget. I loved that though there were gentle, sweet reminders of things that I can do better to strengthen my relationship with my children while bringing them unto Christ and teaching them the things that are truly most important, I felt I was doing well. That though I am not perfect in these things, I try and, more often than not, succeed. I can do better - surely. But I have no reason to beat myself up, but to look forward with a new resolve to put into practice more steadily some of those precious and simple things. Things like working side my side with my daughters as they work on their Faith in God (though in the talk he specifically talked about mother's with daughters in Young Women, my girls are not that old yet, and yet the principle is the same). Things like listening more - not just on the side lines, but truly listening (remember the little boy's comment "Grandpa, are you in there.")

My children are the most precious gifts I have been given. My husband and I have great love for them and a great desire for their welfare - both temporal and spiritual. We made the choice to be sealed in the temple allowing us to enter the gateway to our eternal family unit. It is not a guaranteed thing, however, because we still must exercise our agency in coming to Christ and keeping His commandments along with the covenants we have made. It requires us to teach our children so that they can also choose to follow Christ and make the covenants necessary to secure eternal life. We know that it takes all in the family to help each other to over come the trials that befall us - to remind, to strengthen, to uplift, to help. It is a team effort. And the leaders of this team must be Bob and myself. Who else will care enough? Who else can love enough? Who else has the potential for the greatest influence of their lives? No one! No one, unless we show them the way to allow the Savior to influence their lives.

I am forever grateful for the strength of the gospel. For the great knowledge that we have been given and which is available to all people. I am forever grateful for the teaching moments which allow us to be strengthen - but mostly for the merciful, gentle, loving guidance which teaches while uplifting - it is not something which puts down and destroys. I love the gospel for the good news it brings and for the truths that ring out loud and clear! Truth which we already knew, but which were veiled when we entered this life that we might choose for ourselves - truths which we have been promised we will recognize through the testifying power of the Holy Ghost when we take the time to hear them.

I will forever be grateful for the uplifting messages this conference which brought affirmation to my soul that I am trying, I am a good person, and that my efforts will not be in vain. The affirmation that moral standards, though not of the world's general liking, have not and will not change. That it's good to be "different" by living the Lord's way. The affirmation that blessings will and do come to the righteous - that happiness is a part of life that we can and must claim, no matter what the circumstances around us. Faith - faith sees us through. I'm grateful that I have no need to go through life without it.

This conference brought many other joys with it too. We watched at Bob's folks where we could see it on TV in one room and the kids could listen, watch and play in a separate room (makes it much quieter for adults and the kids seem to get more out of it too) The first session (each being 2 hours long) Peter decided he wanted to sit with Mom and Dad, snuggled between us the entire time. He wanted to know who was speaking each time the speakers would change and loved that he knew several of the songs sung. We had all the children join us at different moments - it was nice to see them so interested.

When asked about what they heard in the first session or who they remembered, Peter said "I listen to Thomas S. Monson and other prophets. But I got distracted by the other speakers!"

Gabi especially loved the two talks Saturday morning about mothers and daughters. All the children loved to see and hear the Prophet speak. And several times, when the songs would be sung, I would catch the voices of the children singing along!

Right now, the children are playing conference - as in they are pretending they are each the different people speaking at conference! It was so nice to hear them this Easter morning in their excitement - "It's Conference and Easter today!" and "We get to watch Conference and find out if the Easter Bunny came!" - I just love that conference was mentioned first - the worldly Easter being put to the second.

I love their excitement and joy about conference - it makes the day all the more pleasant for all of us!

Locked

While eating dinner last night, Peter decided he would be inventive with avoiding his food. Here's the conversation (more or less).

P: "My food is locked."
M: "Well you still need to take bites."
P: "But I can't. My food is locked."
B: "Then unlock it and take a bite."
P: "But I don't have the key."
Bob pretends to make a key and passes it to Peter.
B: "Here you go. Now unlock it."
Peter takes the pretend key and pretends to try it in the lock.
P: "But it's not the right key."
B: "Yes it is. It's just upside down. Turn it over and unlock your food."
Peter (clearly not happy with that particular comment) looks at the pretend key, looks back at Bob, then pretends to turn it over and try the lock again. Before he can comment...
B: "Click. See, it worked."
Peter (mouth open as though he was going to say something else) stops, smiles and says "Click, click."

The Easter Story

I've been doing the last minute preparations for my achievement day class and thought this would be a good time to share. We're putting together the 12 Eggs of Easter, or The Easter Story In 12 Eggs (I prefer the latter).

I was first introduced to this by a missionary sharing a message with my mother when I was visiting home during my college years. I thought it was neat, and using the compilation I was given, put together a set for my family and for some friends. Needless to say, we used it once or twice after having kids before it could no longer be found (I think I may have given it away thinking I would make a new one, only to discover I couldn't find my original copy of the information).

As I prepared for this class tonight, I did some research and found several different versions of this same general project. None were exactly what I had originally had - some may have had the same scriptures throughout and others may have had all the same symbols, but mostly they had some of both. Don't get me wrong, the basic scriptures relating specifically to the symbol were always there - though sometimes the story itself would not be complete. So, I drew from that, and from my bag of "symbols" that I've had all these years, and put together my own version of The Easter Story in 12 Eggs - because I wanted the story and the symbols, not just one or the other. So this is my version - which anyone can use to their liking!

Please note that this was designed as an LDS version using the King James version of the Bible. Feel free to use the general idea and your own bible to create something that works for you.

The Easter Story in 12 Eggs
(You may choose to open & read each egg on Easter or one a day for the 12 days prior to and including Easter)

Directions: Open each egg in order. read the scriptures and set out the symbol for all to see. If doing this over 12 days, place symbols some place where all can see them, lining them up as they come out of the eggs as a reminder to think about and ponder the Atonement and the Resurrection.

Day 1: Matthew 26:26-28, 36, 39, 42, 44 Sacrament Cup
Day 2: Matthew 26:14-16, 47-50 3 dimes
Day 3: Matthew 27:1-2 Piece of knotted twine
Day 4: Matthew 27:15, 17, 21-26 Chunk of hand soap
Day 5: Matthew 27: 27-30 Piece of red fabric
Day 6: Matthew 27:31-33 Nail
Day 7: Matthew 27:35-37 Dice
Day 8: Matthew 27:45-51, 54 Broken rocks (gravel)
Day 9: Matthew 27:57-60 Strip of white fabric
Day 10: Matthew 27:62-66 Flat stone
Day 11: Matthew 28:2-4, Mark 16:1-5 Bay leaf & cinnamon stick
Day 12: Matthew 28:5-6, 16-20 Empty (leave egg empty to represent the empty tomb)

He Just Might Be a Truck!

After prayers and scriptures are done, then Peter gets one more turn at the potty (it means he's likely to be dry in the morning). I was cleaning up the cookie mess (No, Bob... they're not for us, although you may eat the dough in the fridge) when he triumphantly comes out naked with pajamas in hand. He proceeds to put on his pull-up (his choice over night the last two nights), passes gas and then starts laughing.

When I asked what was funny, he said "I just had gasoline!"

Another Mile Stone?

Monday night I told Peter to go get his pajamas and a pull-up so I could help him get ready for bed. He replied with "not pull-up! Undie-pants, Mom!" And thus started the week of undie-pants to bed. He wakes up dry most of the time anyway, so I figured I better roll with it (after all, who knows how long this will actually last anyway). I also thought, well, if he's choosing undie-pants for bed, I wonder if that means he'll go back to undie-pants during the day....

And so it has - the whole week without pull-ups! He had one accident during the day on Tuesday. Not sure what happened, other than he doesn't like someone else to tell him to go potty and he was use to wearing pull-ups because that's what he demanded, and he doesn't care to use the potty when he's in pull-ups. He also had one accident the third night - not really awake, though wet enough that he was fussing loudly and I got up to change him and his bed. He didn't remember any of it in the morning!

The first night was great - he woke up once and called for me, I took him potty, he was dry in the morning. The second night he slept all night and was lightly damp in the morning (as if he was trying hard to still hold the enormous amount of pee in his blander) and the bedding was completely dry. The third night - well I already told you that.

Last night he went to bed, got up about 20-30 minutes later, by himself, went potty. I helped him back into his jammies. He got up another 30 minutes later and did the same thing. After that, he got in bed, went to sleep, and even slept in an extra hour and half for him this morning, and was completely dry! He's been so trilled today - and the only "trouble" we seem to have is if I suggest he go potty (though if I tell him I'll go with him and gently take him by the hand he seems to be okay with it). He's been going potty by his own choice for the bulk of the day and has not had a single accident. He really seems to enjoy the praise and the attention associated with being a "big boy"! I'm liking the idea that we'll be down one more set of pull-ups!

Now.... here's hoping the enjoyment of "Big Boy" and the comfort of clean and dry undie pants doesn't wear off!

Some Thoughts - Some Concerns

I saw this video on my friend's site - please go HERE and watch. It is a little over 10 minutes, but the message is sound and worth hearing. (just go to the video at the end of the post)

I know there are many who feel that everyone has a right to insurance - and as such, fully support Obama's latest designs. However, the way in which Obama and those who are pushing and have pushed this legislation is not in keeping with the Lord's plan - one which is secured in Agency (the right and responsibility to choose for ourselves). It is not in keeping with this because it forces all people to have insurance, even those who do not want it. I believe everyone should have an option - but I do not believe that it should be mandated. Agency - true agency - is what keeps us free, allows us to progress and ultimately brings us eternal happiness.

To top it out, there is now a clause that allows Obama and his family as well as other House and Senate representatives to be completely exempt. This goes against the constitutional amendment number 28.

Yes, there are issues which need to be addressed. Things which ought to be offered in a way which all can choose instead of things which some people can choose and others never have a hope. But taking the "quick fix" road destroys rights and freedoms. And more importantly, destroys the responsibility we each have to exercise agency to the best of our ability.

Our country was founded upon sound principles and upon a sound understanding of Christianity. It is these things that have kept us free for so long. Support Christianity and your country by understanding what the Lord's plan really is. If you don't, you will find yourself without the freedoms you thought you were securing. Think eternally - think of the long term - look at all the points - don't become blinded to the the full truth by the "painted picture."

Gabi's Baptism

As promised, here are some pictures of the night!


It was a big deal working up to this event. First because Gabi had spent the last couple of years telling us she was ready and asking why she couldn't get baptized yet. But also because we talked to her and encouraged her to truly find out for herself if the gospel was true. She read the Book of Mormon completely twice through on her own. We've been reading it as a family all a long and then she and Bob started reading it together. She's prayed a lot, listen to talks, studied the Friend magazine, and never wavered in what she believes.Then there are was the mom in me which wanted to make her dress. Lynne and I picked out fabric, and Gabi choose the pattern. Over several weeks, we measured, cut and sewed. The dress was gorgeous - though I don't think any of our pictures really do it justice. Gabi loved it and, of course, looked like a sweet angel when she was wearing it.

She choose family to do most of the program. She had two friends offer the prayers, Lynne and myself do the talks, Bethie read a poem, the four kids sang a song, Papa and my sister, Clarissa, sang another song, Bob baptized her, and Bud confirmed her. It was beautiful.

Another special part of this was that she invited three very close friends to attend who are not members. Two had other obligations already, and the third came with his mother.

It was a special and exciting night for Gabi - and such a wonderful spirit was felt! It was truly wonderful! I'm very happy with Gabi - for her desire to learn, to know the truth, and to make such a big choice in getting baptized. I could not be more pleased with her!


All pictures were taken before or after the program - some look like they are during, this is because they were taken during the musical rehearsal.

Baby Update

Had another appointment yesterday - if I keep gaining like this, I'll easily surpass the amount I gained with Gabi (which was my highest weight gain of the other four). But, there doesn't seem to be much I can do about it. I'm hoping with the warmer weather and life finally calming down that the boys and I can get out and do some walking again. I don't have a lot of hope that it will slow the weight gain, but I figure it just might put me in a better position for loosing it faster when the baby comes. If nothing else, it will help me feel good.

I measured a little big - but since I grow them big and already know the little guy himself was measuring big, I'm not concerned. We did have an interesting listen to the heartbeat yesterday. We got to hear a clop, clop sound instead of the usual swish-swoosh type sound. Apparently we were listening to just one of the heart valves. Nothing to be concerned about, just that the doppler was pointed in such a way that it only got one valve. This is, supposedly, very hard to do. I figure baby was in a position that just helped that. It was kind of neat, having never heard the heartbeat like that before.

I also asked the doctor about the terrible leg pains I've been having. They aren't the normal charlie horse muscle cramps. This hurt is directly in the bone and has nothing (or seemingly nothing) to do with shifting of bones (such as when the hips pop in and out). The doctor said it sounds like I'm calcium deficient - apparently what I described is a very common indicator of such. So, we'll be starting on Tums daily (to start with) which at the very least will help with the acid reflux which seems to be mounting as the weeks progress. I'm just glad to know there is likely something that can take the pain away - this means, if it works, that I won't be waking up in the night hurting so bad that I can't hardly move and can't go back to sleep. (I had even tried Tylenol and it didn't even touch the pain)

All in all, things are going well - baby is getting big - and we're about 15 weeks out! Not quite in the third trimester, but very close!

Tire Swing

One of the many joys of this neighbor has been the elderly lady up the road letting the neighbor children come and play on the tire swing in her front yard. The boys especially took advantage of this and played on it frequently. The girls also have enjoyed it when they've been able to get up the street.


Well, for reasons of necessity, the tree had to come down. We became the proud new owners of the tire swing and it's now set up in our back yard. It's been great not only because the kids love it, but because Beth had been in a non-stop jungle gym mode since before we moved here. Now she has something to climb and play on that helps to get some of that climbing energy out (and not in the house).

Gabi's Party

Okay - so busy is starting to turn back to normal - which is a whole different kind of busy. Time to post some pictures!First - Gabi's birthday! Yes, she really had one (though at times if seems forever away). She is really into nature right now, so she chose to have a nature party. We debated, for a short time, on an overnight, but decided this is not the year for it. Instead, she had 6 friends and a few of there siblings over right after school for games and make your own pizzas. The pizza thing is a trend - Gabi loves pizza and loves to make it part of her party.
The day started out "okay" - I was finishing up the house and decorate her cheesecake with Wilton's meltable (and dyeable) chocolates. Everything seemed to be coming together. Then we ran down to school to "celebrate" with her class bringing mini-cheese cakes topped with chocolate and a strawberry slice. This was fun - but it was beginning to rain. It was still sunny at the time, and the rain wasn't too bad, so I hoped everything would hold out long enough to do the outdoor nature scavenger hunt. No dice!


By the time the kids we coming home, it was raining pretty hard. Fortunately on of the parents loaded everyone (including Bob) into their car and brought everyone up - so at least they weren't drenched when they arrived. It was kind of funny to watch everyone get out of the car - think the never ending clowns out of a tiny car.

Since the scavenger hunt couldn't reasonably happen, the timing of the party was off - it was certainly apparent that it was "done" about an hour early. We got through - chaos as always for a Gabi party - and it was a lot of fun for the kids. They played nature charades and animal bingo. They also played musical chairs and started to play hyper dash. Busy, busy - noisy, noisy!


So, she turned eight! And once the party was done, it was complete focus on the baptism! Eight is great!

Still Here

So it's been a long time - or something - I've rarely even gotten on the computer.

Things are fine, Bob's done with grades, normal is back, the house is staying relatively clean again, I'm hurting more and more in my joints - which nights of severe pain in the leg bones clear from my hips to my ankles. Apparently I was diagnosed with arthritis when I was a young teenager. I don't remember that diagnosis, I do, however, remember being checked for crippling arthritis and I guess that now makes sense as to why. Early onset arthritis does run in the family. Anyway, no idea if that's what's causing it, but it's certainly not like anything I attribute to pregnancy given past experience - but then again, since when was this one normal for me?

Anyway, my hips are starting to do the pop out thing, making it hard to walk or at least get up and down and get started walking. It's rather painful for those first couple of steps - so I've been reading alot. But, when I'm not frustrated with Gabi's dress, I spend the sitting down sewing. It's nearly finished, but I've not touched it all week. I need to take out a few stitches and readjust to make it do exactly what I want. And we had Gabi's birthday party - I'll be posting about that later.

Family is coming in this week - and Gabi will be baptized at 6:30pm Saturday the 20th. It's amazing to think this is really happening! Anyone in the area is welcome to attend. For that matter, anyone out of the area who wants to travel is also welcome to attend. She's very excited - and so are we!

That Time Of Year Again

There are good and bad points to every job. So, first let me reassure everyone that I'm very grateful for Bob's willingness to work, to work at a job that makes a difference to a lot of people, and one which, mostly, he enjoys. I'm also very grateful that he has a job - especially when we keep hearing about others around us who are struggling to find one. It's a job that allows him to provide for our family, and thereby we are blessed.

That being said - there are times when I really wish he worked a different job - generally fleeting moments, but never the less, they are there. The last couple of weeks have been one of those moments. The hours he puts into school work prior to progress reports, late work notices and report cards is always amazing. He's contracted for a set number of hours - and yes, I realize to anyone looking from the outside, those are the only hours they see. And to look at those contracted hours, one might think he's got an incredibly great deal. After all - afternoons, evenings, weekends, all holidays, plus Thanksgiving week, Easter week, and something like 10 weeks in the summer sounds great! It looks great on paper too.

What's not shown is that his contract also requires him to meet certain criteria - like grading his students, parent teacher conferences, and so on. These things are not typically preformed during contracted hours. In otherwise, though they are a necessary part of his job, he's not actually getting paid to do any of them. Does that make sense? See, he's allowed to leave the school by 2:45pm - oh, but on Mondays, though contractually he's allowed to leave, there's a staff meeting. And typically on Wednesdays and Thursdays I'll often find he "can't leave", though he contractually could, because there are parents lined up to meet with him about his students.

When it comes to grading - well, he could be a no grades teacher, but then how would he know if his students were understanding the work. He has lots to correct. There is not enough time in the school day (especially in the current position he's in) to prepare lessons and grade homework, tests and quizzes. It's not uncommon for Bob to stay at school until at least dinner time and often later, getting the work done or caught up. And then comes the progress reports, the late work notices, and report cards. For the majority of the week leading up to these events, he will be found at the school working until the middle of the night - some where between 11pm-2am.

I won't pretend that all the time is spent at the school working in such situations. Take tonight, for example, he's the scout master so he had to take a break for a Court of Honor tonight. But, up until then (skipping dinner) he's been correcting and he's going right back after to finish it up.

Bob's a teacher who cares - there are lots of teachers who care. And one of the marks of such a teacher is their willingness to put in long hours for which they are not paid. I admire this in him and in the teachers I've met at the school he currently works for. They certainly practice the concept of care and concern for learning. They want their students to get a good education, to learn, to enjoy learning and they care about each of their students individually. It shows. But it means they put in a lot more hours than they are contracted to.

Though on many levels this does not bother me (especially on the "normal days" - the work until dinner days), during the worst moments (the last nights leading up to progress reports, late work notices and report cards) life gets rather stressful around here. We all notice the difference between Daddy being home for the bedtime routine and when he's not (consistently). The kids and I usually do well for a couple of days, but then it sort of falls apart. The kids stop listening to Mom, Mom stops having patience, our house becomes a zoo (monkey's flying through the house, kangaroos on the furniture, lions and tigers ripping everything to shreds and leaving it all lying around, etc), and we're grateful to still be in one piece when we go to bed at night.

This is not new for us - one might think we would have finally figured out how to "keep it all together" during these times. I'll admit, generally speaking, we're doing a lot better than when the kids were younger, but we still all have our ways of showing that the family is somehow not as complete when Daddy is missing.

Grades go in tonight! That means normal is coming soon - and Daddy's empty space in the family prayer circle will be filled once again! Relief is in sight!

Baby Names

We don't typically play the baby name game until later - or as my husband has reminded me "it's not the third trimester yet." I think that has something to do with when we were expecting Gabi and I had a whole list and we went through names like they were going out of style... had very few we could actually agree upon. When it came down to it, we had two names for Gabi - the one could only be used if she had black hair because it was Spanish and I just couldn't imagine a Spanish name on a blond... Gabi had black hair for all of one week. So much for that theory. Needless to say, she wasn't actually named until she came.

Bethie was even harder because we didn't learn that she was a girl until she was born. We had a boy's name picked out - though I could not, for the life of me, tell you what it was. And it was the night before going into labor with her that I suddenly had a first name for a girl. Her middle name was written on a scrap of paper and handed to me to okay before the nurses were told her name. Yup... we just take our time.

Jeremy was hard for a number of reasons - and we did finally settle on his name before he came, but not certain enough to announce his name before hand. And Peter - well, I knew his first name about four days or so before he came. And I knew the middle name would be one of two. I was in labor when we decided.

Anyway - though we take our jolly good time about it, it's not like names aren't discussed at least on some level... normally between me and the kids. This time, well, I don't have any names sticking out like sore thumbs just begging to be tried out. Apparently this is one boy too many - or I'm just lacking the brain cells to compute. (Most like it's the latter). So I've been asking the kids what they think...

Part of the problem is we've got some Thomas the Tank Engine fans around here - and as anyone who knows Thomas the Tank Engine will know, there are a lot of names used up there. Not a big deal except that Peter is so into it that any name they have that we might have wanted to use ever now screams "TRAINS! THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE! FRIENDS OF THOMAS!" So that makes it hard already. (But as my husband already said, we're not in the third trimester yet - thus we're not really trying to come up with a name yet)

The cute part to this is that the other day when I asked Peter if he had any ideas he comes up with Isaac. "Isaac?" I said, "Where did you hear that name?"

Beth piped up with something about Gabi's friend back in Maine. To which I said, "yeah, I remember, but I don't think Peter does." So I asked him again "Where did you hear the name Isaac?"

And Peter's response "Because Isaac was a prophet."

(Yeah, we've been listening to the Prophet song which will be used later this year in the Primary Presentation)

Funny Appointment

I know I need to post something with pictures - but that will have to wait.

Yesterday we had another appointment. Being in a rather good mood -most likely because I've been dealing with children who are less than willing to be respectful and obedient when Dad is not around and they were are a sitter - it was a rather humorous visit.

First the doctor tried to tell me I was at 27 weeks. We corrected him, and he glanced at the chart again and tried to tell us again that I was 27 weeks. After a minute of that, he looked closer at the chart and noticed the first markings were listed at 12 weeks, so decided I was at 16 weeks. Nope... corrected again - he looked at the chart again and finally just got out the little dating wheel all over again. Wanted to know when my due date was - so I told him - and I'm guessing he tried to go backwards from there... and ended up with 26 weeks.

Trying not to laugh - because we know I'm not that far along - Bob finally told him when my last period was and he started all over with the wheel going the right direction... bingo - 20 weeks 4 days. It was very comical.

After that, things were pretty much normal routine. Baby was good about hiding off to the side - not unusual - but was found fairly easily this time - let's hear it for baby getting to be too big to really hide! And I got paperwork for my glucose test - which I'm thrilled to report does not involve drinking that nasty "soda-like" sugar drink! Oh how I dislike that stuff! Unfortunately, it does mean I need to have my blood drawn again - and since the first time here I was bruised for over a week (this is not a normal thing for me - my veins have always been good and easy to use and therefore, except when I had hyperemesis and was seriously dehydrated, I've never bruised before - never - and I gave blood all the time)... anyway, I'm not looking forward to that again! Hoping to get someone who "knows what they're doing" - in that they go with the bigger vein, not the small one way off to the side that no one else would touch unless they had to, and that they do a clean stick and draw - not the jab you and wiggle it all over the place routine! Oh well.. we'll see what happens when we do it.

Anyway - it would seem we're both doing well - healthy enough to not worry about! Up 7 pounds - which seems crazy considering the back and forth of gaining and loosing and then slowly beginning to gain again - but then I found that's not so abnormal in the second trimester - just abnormal for me. Always put on my "bulk weight" in the third with my other four.... so, just another way this baby and pregnancy are proving to not follow the pattern - but being much more "normal" in terms of the book.

White Fabric

I finally washed Gabi's fabric for her baptism dress. I'll confess I was nervous to do so because the one fabric cannot go through the dryer and I was a bit fearful as to what might happen in the washer. I'm happy to report, the washer did no harm! Anyway, because the fabric could not go in the dryer (and thus the dress will always have to be hung to dry) I hung up the fabric in the living room (freshly cleaned from yesterday) to dry over night while little hands couldn't ruin it.

Wanting to be sure I got it put away before hands got sticky and yucky from the days adventures, I headed out - and took a picture (last night the lighting was perfect to catch the beauty of the fabric as it glistened.. not so much this morning). Then I proceeded to gather up the fabric and fold it to put away until little hands were preoccupied and I knew I would have sufficient time to pin and cut.

As Peter watched me do this, he said "Is Gabi getting married? When's the wedding? Can we go?"

Too cute - that even at his young age glistening, pure white fabric means marriage!

Snip, Snip

Last weekend I finally "fixed" Gabi's bangs. She had been working on a project for school - laying down, bent over whatever it was she was cutting and caught a small chunk in the scissors. I had waited for a few weeks because it was short enough that it would have just looked awful... for that matter, even now that we've "evened it out" it doesn't look great. Her bangs are still rather short. But, since she'll be getting baptized next month, I wanted plenty of time for everything to grow out - to not look so "freshly cut".

Anyway, while I was at it, I trimmed the bottom of her hair - it'd been at least a year. And then moved on to Beth. I think I should have done what my mother always did for me - flip her over the table and just cut one fresh, straight line. Natural layers and maybe more luck with the curls. Beth wanted layers, so that's what we did - and though her hair is cute, we rarely see a curl any more. And even though I layered it with the longest layer on the bottom, shortest on the top, it's acting like it was cut the other way around. Yup - it has a slight curl under (if you can call it a curl). Very cute, but we miss her dancing curls. I'm hoping that within a couple of weeks (when the hair fully relaxes and realizes it doesn't have to hang like it's heavy) that the curls will start to pop up again. Water does help a little - but we'll just have to see.

The good news to the short hair cut (which she's not had in at least two years, maybe three) is that she can brush it herself - and she doesn't wake up with horrid rats nests that have to be ripped from her head! It looks healthier and more full. And it's still long enough to pull up (and her hair grows really fast) so dance recital should not be an issue.

I'll post pictures after I locate the camera (which seems to have found a new home) and after there have been a couple weeks to see what the hair will really do.

What We Do Matters

Back in November, the father of two boys (both classmates of my girls) was killed in an emergency helicopter flight accident after delivering a patient. Though I do not know this family - not really - the accident impacted our family as well as our children. Our hearts have pulled and hurt for them.

The younger boy made a connection with me when I volunteer - so much so that whenever he sees me he runs to me for a hug. He's so precious, so innocent to it all. And so hurt. His brother has likewise been hurt and even angry at times. His reaction was so strong and so confusing to Gabi that she asked me about it back in December.

It was a wonderful discussion that we had about how grief affects different people in different ways. That the important thing for us was to remember that they were hurting and continue to be the friend we were before the accident happened. Gabi has spent many a night and day sobbing for the hurt of this young boy - while at the same time reaching out to him and being his friend even during the times when he tried to shut everyone out.

Today was full of valentine parties at school. The girls were eager to look over all their precious valentines when they arrived home. Gabi pulled one out - a very special, way more than expected valentine. She was the only one in the class to receive one. It came from this same boy because he was grateful for her continued friendship through all he's been and continues to go through.

Gabi was not looking for reward or compensation. She was simply reaching out to a friend in need, refusing to turn her back on him. She was shining forth as a remarkable example of Christ-like Love - true Charity.

Our family is so blessed and so lucky to have her as part of it. Her example shines through and we are constantly learning from it. But what amazes me most of all is that this little boy noticed - and it made a difference. We are always watched - our examples are seen by all around us - and what we do really does make a difference in the lives of someone else.

Things To Do

Yesterday I took Lynne to the airport so she could visit Marie's family (and help out with the new baby). We're excited for her return so we can see lots of pictures, but truly hope she has a terrific time while she's there!

While in the area, she and I stopped in and found fabric for Gabi's baptism dress! Gabi had told us several things to look for, and in the end we found stuff that we were fairly certain Gabi would really love, but it wasn't exactly what she told us to look for. We went with it - and sure enough, Gabi loves it! She's so excited. I'll be cutting out the pattern between today and tomorrow and then she'll help me get it pinned to the fabric on Saturday. I'm not sure we'll get it cut Saturday - likely I'll wait and do that part once the girls are back to school this week. Gabi will get to help with some of the sewing - though it will be limited - since she's had experience already with sewing clothes and she wants to be involved!

But, the bulk of the day today will be spent trying to get the house back in order. It's gone rapidly down hill - at first it was because sick kids (even with just a cold) are cranky and mean and I was too tired because I spent my days dealing with that instead of slipping in a nap here and there.

Then, because that wasn't enough, I cut my finger last Friday night. I was cutting onions and apparently had my finger set just right to slice a small chunk off. Fun. Washed up and wrapped up - but knocked around numerous times - and it was throbbing by bed time - it kept me up most of that night. The next day it felt a little better - I figured it must have been positioning - but then the pain picked up again. With some Tylenol I got through a good chunk of the day (reading a book mostly) but finally gave up. After a shower, I unwrapped it to reveal a slight infection and then, on the completely opposite side of the finger, what appeared to be a second infection - or at least fluid gathering. I guess that should have made sense since that's where the pain was radiating from (at the worst points it was all through my hand and running up to my elbow).

Well, I had Bob rewrap the finger with some really good, heavy duty, antibacterial cream, took more Tylenol and laid down. When I woke up, the pain was contained to the finger. This was good - and we had it rewrapped another time the same way - the fluid pocket appeared to be going down, though we were only treating the actual cut on the finger.

Yesterday, I noticed what appeared to be a change in color at the "fluid pocket" tip of my finger at the top of the band-aid. I pulled it off, the sliced part was healed enough that there was no longer a flap of skin to worry about (just tender with direct pressure), but I definately had an infection at the "fluid pocket" - which no longer appeared to have fluid. It was a weird whitish - yellow at the tip, but there was a "blood stain" under the skin that extended most of the way to the first knuckle. Needless to say, the finger is still being wrapped, but the antibacterial cream is being focused at this other point - already the "blood stain" has subsided...

Who would have thought onions were so deadly?

Anyway, so the house is no where near ideal, and that's what I'm attempting today.... we'll see if I can put that finger in water for dishes - but even not, there is plenty else that has need to be completed!

It Would Seem...

that we're having another boy.... Peter may not have gotten his twins, but he did get his first choice of brother... the girls, on the other hand, don't think it's quite fair.

Safe Arrival

It's my understanding that our nephew made his grand arrival last night! Welcome Eli Scott Johnson - 8 lbs, 20 inches long, nurses say he's a red head.

Okay - so the details come from Bob who talked to (I believe) both his mother and his sister... but he's a guy and sometimes such details aren't as detailed so we'll forgive him if we're off a little.

Congrats, Marie and family! (Peter's excited that his cousin has red hair just like him)

To Make Me Smile

We've been pretty lucky to not be sick much or for very long this winter... especially when you consider we moved to a new location, which normally spells trouble for such things. But, this week we've had a cold moving through the family - rapidly, but it's still around since it didn't hit everyone all at once.

Last night the boys came down with all the wonderful symptoms - mostly just a crazy runny nose with runny eyes. Nothing that can't be survived easily, just symptoms that make you shake your head and yell "ARGHHH"!

This morning every time Peter's eye would fill with tears and start to spill over and he needed a tissue to dab at it, he'd yell to me "My eye has water in it! My eye has water in it!"

Though I know the feeling of runny eyes (by far worse than a runny nose in my book), I couldn't help but smile. The way he said it, and with such innocence, not frustration, was just way too cute!

Nature Lovers Unite

Talking in the wee hours of the night with Bob, I learned that Gabi and at least one other friend had started a Nature Club at school. He didn't really have any details, but said he hoped it wasn't (and wouldn't become) exclusive and have to be shut down.

So this morning, as I'm preparing her breakfast, Gabi starts to tell me about the Nature Club. I don't know how many people are in it, though it's enough to play tag and hide and go seek. But not just any tag or any hide and go seek... their first order of business was to create their own versions in a true nature theme. It's Monkey Tag (and, no, I don't remember how to play that one) and then Lion Hide and Go Seek (where when the lion is done counting he / she just creeps up on the people never having hollered "ready or not" - when the lion tags someone, then the lion yells "NEW LION" and everyone scatters to hide again while the new lion counts).

She's hoping as it warms up that they can look for birds - she's excited to have at least one other member over to "play" while they explore the nature around them.

Seriously - what a great club - and so easy, since, at least for now, it's all kid ideas that don't cost money and just explore what God has given us all!

Now What?

At school, the girls are part of a reading program. It's one that I don't mind so much. It involves a reading log that keeps track of books read, time spent, and then signed by mom or dad. My children love to read - never have (as yet) had a problem with that. Each grade has a different "bench mark" to reach each month. Kindergarten is 6 hours each month, 2nd grade is 10 hours each month. As you can see, it goes up by 2 hours each grade.

The problem in the beginning for my children is that they've always read and never had to worry about recording time. So, often we'd find a girl reading and discover that they hadn't looked at the clock before starting and had no idea how long they were reading. Beth still struggles with this - though if we hear or see her starting to get into reading mode, we try to remind her to grab a clock and her reading log. Gabi has less problems with it - in part, I believe, because it's a personally assigned (by herself) challenge for her to meet (and well exceed) the goals. There are times, though, that I still find I'm reminding even her.

Well - a bench mark can be made for the month, or one can earn more than one in the month. Each bench mark takes the child's marking pin to a new location on the world map. Each month, as part of the experience, the children learn about a new place in the world.

Today, I signed the reading log which will bring Gabi completely around the world... yes, she's officially met every bench mark for the whole year! I'm not hugely surprised, but apparently this was her goal for herself all along! I mentioned to her that I thought her continuing to keep track of her reading would count toward the entire schools reading goal - now she has another reason to keep track of it all.

(The best part, she's reading and rereading books all around her - becoming less picky about what she reads. And, Bob and I've begun a list of "classics" we think she'll enjoy that we can look for at the library. She's thrilled!)

***As a side note, Jeremy is beginning to read the Magic Tree House series. He's not reading well enough to do it on his own yet, but he loves these stories and can read most of the words in them so far. Peter sits near and listens, so it's a great way to encourage Jeremy's reading fluency and decoding while spending some great time in the world of imagination with both boys.***