Maybe it was a good thing all 4 kids ended up being girls.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Playing Dress Up
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Counting My Blessings
I'm a whiner and a complainer. I find it very easy to focus on the negatives in my life. Ryan's truck has been in the shop (getting the clutch replaced) all week. The weather is cold and dreary, which affects my mood and sleeping pattern. The twins are in yet another challenging/whiny/messy stage. Elizabeth can't stay clean to save her life- I don't think any of her clothes will survive her and be able to be used by Annie and Maddie. You know, just regular run-of-the-mill everyday challenges that make up this thing called Life.
Most days I feel a little bit sorry for myself at some point. The twins spilled their cereal all over the floor and then stepped on it again. I can't get Emma and Elizabeth to pick up after themselves without threatening and bribes and the Mean Mommy Voice. Ryan has evening meetings a few times a month that leave me alone during dinner time. Other people have family close by that provide free babysitting and I don't. My favorite shoes have holes in them. Boo hoo. Poor me.
The funny thing is, my life is actually really good. I have 4 beautiful and healthy children. I have the best and sweetest husband. I have wonderful and thoughtful friends. I have a home. I have a dishwasher installed. (This house didn't have one when we moved in- and the dishwasher we have was actually a mobile unit originally. I am stoked that it is under the counter now where it belongs!) I have a washer and a dryer so I don't have to do the laundry by hand. I can hop in the car and drive to the store and by just about anything I need. I am very blessed.
I have a little girl named Ella in the Primary class at church that I teach who gave the closing prayer after my lesson last Sunday. It was about the longest prayer I have ever heard a 4-year-old give. (All 8 other 4-yr-olds were very squirmy by the end.) She listed off all the things she was thankful for during her prayer. I figured if she (and her family- who must be providing the behavior to be copied by their daughter) could be thankful for so much, I could too.
Here's a little background on her family: Not quite a year ago a baby boy named Cannon joined their family. He was a quiet and sleepy baby that Natalie (Ella's mom) found a relief after her first two very colicky babies. But Cannon didn't develop the quite the way he should have. After months of tests and research on their own (you can read about their emotional journey by clicking here) they found out their son has a rare disease called Menkes.
Menkes is fatal. Most children with Menkes do not live longer than 2-3 years, the average being 20 months.
Cannon can't swallow well enough to eat on his own, and has respiratory problems that make a good day for him challenging. On top of that, he is sick often and has been hospitalized several times. And on top of that, Kent (the dad) tore his Achilles tendon, had to have surgery and is out of commission (work, helping around the house) for a month.
If they can find things to be thankful for, surely I can as well. And I am thankful. My heart is also full for those who go through such challenges, and I hope that I can be there for them to help in any small way I can. It brings to mind a song we sing at church-
Because I have been given much, I too must give.
Because of thy great bounty Lord each day I live.
I must divide my gifts from thee, with every brother that I see
Who has the need of help from me.
Because I have been sheltered, fed by thy good care,
I cannot see another's lack, and I not share-
My glowing fire, my loaf of bread, my roof's safe shelter overhead
That he too may be comforted.
Because I have been blessed by thy great love, dear Lord,
I'll share thy love again according to thy word.
I shall give love to those in need, I'll show my love by word and deed.
Thus shall my thanks be thanks indeed.
Most days I feel a little bit sorry for myself at some point. The twins spilled their cereal all over the floor and then stepped on it again. I can't get Emma and Elizabeth to pick up after themselves without threatening and bribes and the Mean Mommy Voice. Ryan has evening meetings a few times a month that leave me alone during dinner time. Other people have family close by that provide free babysitting and I don't. My favorite shoes have holes in them. Boo hoo. Poor me.
The funny thing is, my life is actually really good. I have 4 beautiful and healthy children. I have the best and sweetest husband. I have wonderful and thoughtful friends. I have a home. I have a dishwasher installed. (This house didn't have one when we moved in- and the dishwasher we have was actually a mobile unit originally. I am stoked that it is under the counter now where it belongs!) I have a washer and a dryer so I don't have to do the laundry by hand. I can hop in the car and drive to the store and by just about anything I need. I am very blessed.
I have a little girl named Ella in the Primary class at church that I teach who gave the closing prayer after my lesson last Sunday. It was about the longest prayer I have ever heard a 4-year-old give. (All 8 other 4-yr-olds were very squirmy by the end.) She listed off all the things she was thankful for during her prayer. I figured if she (and her family- who must be providing the behavior to be copied by their daughter) could be thankful for so much, I could too.
Here's a little background on her family: Not quite a year ago a baby boy named Cannon joined their family. He was a quiet and sleepy baby that Natalie (Ella's mom) found a relief after her first two very colicky babies. But Cannon didn't develop the quite the way he should have. After months of tests and research on their own (you can read about their emotional journey by clicking here) they found out their son has a rare disease called Menkes.
Menkes is fatal. Most children with Menkes do not live longer than 2-3 years, the average being 20 months.
Cannon can't swallow well enough to eat on his own, and has respiratory problems that make a good day for him challenging. On top of that, he is sick often and has been hospitalized several times. And on top of that, Kent (the dad) tore his Achilles tendon, had to have surgery and is out of commission (work, helping around the house) for a month.
If they can find things to be thankful for, surely I can as well. And I am thankful. My heart is also full for those who go through such challenges, and I hope that I can be there for them to help in any small way I can. It brings to mind a song we sing at church-
Because I have been given much, I too must give.
Because of thy great bounty Lord each day I live.
I must divide my gifts from thee, with every brother that I see
Who has the need of help from me.
Because I have been sheltered, fed by thy good care,
I cannot see another's lack, and I not share-
My glowing fire, my loaf of bread, my roof's safe shelter overhead
That he too may be comforted.
Because I have been blessed by thy great love, dear Lord,
I'll share thy love again according to thy word.
I shall give love to those in need, I'll show my love by word and deed.
Thus shall my thanks be thanks indeed.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Heat
We bought our house over four years ago. It's funny how our list of things to fix in the house doesn't really get shorter even as Ryan putters away. On the contrary, it seems to grow longer the longer we are here.
We have boring ol' baseboard heaters throughout the house, and non-programmable thermostats to go with them. This means someone (ahem Ryan) needs to brave the cold hardwood floors to turn on the heater every morning. The thermostats in our house aren't precise, and I've been known to crank the heat during the day when the warm-blooded man of the house is away.
That is going to come to an abrupt stop.
Last month's heating bill arrived on Friday. It was a painful one. In my defense, December was unusually cold this year. I guess that gave Ryan the incentive to purchase a programmable thermostat and install it, 'cause Saturday morning Ryan went and bought this thing:
He's so optimistic.
By the time this picture was taken, the temperature had already started the slow crawl up to 70. Tomorrow morning, it'll get there.
Artistic Endeavor
Annie and Maddie like to spend time with their color crayons almost everyday. I find if I color with them, the crayons have a less chance of being spilled all over. Or the crayons being used on the table, chairs or walls.
Saturday Morning
Tall Towers
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
More Impromptu Rules
Honestly, I think I make up new rules every day. I've been at this parenting thing almost 8 years. You would think that we've covered them all by now, but every once in a while the kids surprise me with new and creative ways to test their limits.
Here are some of the recent ones:
1. You must have at least your underwear on to color at the table.
2. Don't stick paper in the toaster.
3. Dirty flatware goes on the counter or in the dishwasher, not back in the drawer.
4. Don't pick your sister's nose.
5. Bums belong on the seat of the chair, not on the back of the chair.
6. Don't pee by the house. We have a toilet- use it.
7. For the 7.6 millionth time- food belongs AT THE TABLE. This should not be a surprise.
8. Your shirt sleeve is not a napkin.
9. Don't bite your toe nails.
10. When you use the toilet- FLUSH.
11. Don't stand at the window naked.
12. Don't color on your sister's picture.
13. Tortillas are a food, not a frisbee.
I did another post about this a couple years ago, which you can read about here. Boy, are the kids creative.
If I'm not careful, the list of rules will be longer than Obama's health care bill. :)
What are some rules you've had to make up on the fly to combat your kids' creativity?
Here are some of the recent ones:
1. You must have at least your underwear on to color at the table.
2. Don't stick paper in the toaster.
3. Dirty flatware goes on the counter or in the dishwasher, not back in the drawer.
4. Don't pick your sister's nose.
5. Bums belong on the seat of the chair, not on the back of the chair.
6. Don't pee by the house. We have a toilet- use it.
7. For the 7.6 millionth time- food belongs AT THE TABLE. This should not be a surprise.
8. Your shirt sleeve is not a napkin.
9. Don't bite your toe nails.
10. When you use the toilet- FLUSH.
11. Don't stand at the window naked.
12. Don't color on your sister's picture.
13. Tortillas are a food, not a frisbee.
I did another post about this a couple years ago, which you can read about here. Boy, are the kids creative.
If I'm not careful, the list of rules will be longer than Obama's health care bill. :)
What are some rules you've had to make up on the fly to combat your kids' creativity?
Monday, January 17, 2011
Funny
It would appear the Cullens got a job locally...?
The Mom in the Hat
Sometimes it feels like my brain is turning to mush. Talking all day in terms a 2-year-old will understand makes my once college-level vocabulary slowly, slowly disappear. I did go to college, people. But you'd never guess it, when the only things out of my mouth these days goes like this: "Did you hear a train? Choo choo! Choo choo! Was the train loud? Did you hear it with your ears?"
To keep the synapses from going away, every once in a great while I try to challenge myself. It might be reading something by Charles Dickens; it might be to learn a new skill. Since I haven't learned something new in who knows how long, I bought myself a couple of crochet hooks, some yarn and went looking for a pattern that specified its level as "easy."
I found something at this Etsy store that seemed to fit the bill. I settled in with my instructions, the computer (for crochet lessons courtesy of You Tube) and away I went.
This is my 2nd attempt:
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