Pajama Sam

The kids went to bed REALLY early Saturday night. It was heaven except for the fact that John and I really didn't know what to do with ourselves. Emily was still awake reading so we went to Target. We were only gone for 30 minutes tops but when we got back, Jack and John had both woken up. When we came upstairs to go to our room, we found this. I guess Sam had woken up too but made it as far as the stairs to our room and fell right back to sleep. It was cute.

Then I decided there was a weird "air" in our home because Jack and John couldn't sleep and I couldn't sleep. Around 11:30 or so, little John came into our room and said "Dad, come here". I thought that was weird but he said "something is wrong with the lights" From our room I could see the dining room lights flashing off and on and getting brighter and darker. It was creepy. It is a dimming light and I guess it wasn't all the way off and decided to be weird. I don't like nights like that. They make me scared. Finally everyone fell asleep and made it through the night.

Bad Sign

It's a bad sign when your...my...daughter walks in from school and says "Is someone coming over or something?" So I ask, "Why? Because the house is clean?" To which she replies, "yes".

Oh man....not a good mother. (I did ask her to get her room cleaned when she walked in. I'm hoping that added to the wonder of why we were cleaning.)

And just so you know....I cleaned because my goal this weekend is to get the house really clean and a couple projects done. And I actually got to work doing it! Shocking, I know.

Back to BYU

We've told our kids (well, John) that we would try to get to a BYU basketball game this year. This week was our last chance so yesterday as soon as they got home from school, we packed them up and headed down. John got 6 tickets on ksl classifieds for $20 so we met the guy we bought them from at Ikea and made our way. I love the nostalgia of Provo. University Parkway exit, the long drive to campus, and seeing everything new since we were there. We went straight to the Creamery on 9th for dinner, BYU mint brownies, and ice cream. From there we went to the game and even though our seats were way at the top, we had a great view and enjoyed the game. After the game, we stopped at Krispy Kreme for about an hour while we waited to watch the fresh donuts get cooked. We each ate a donut then headed back home. We made it home about 11:30. Whew. It was a great evening and fun to 'splurge' a little bit and doing something different.

Problem was we had a rough night with Sam. He cried for 2 hours in ear pain then I was awoken with knocking at the door this morning at 8:30. Oops. Everyone was late for school. I rushed to drop off Thomas and John then took Sam to the doctor and got him antibiotics for an ear infection then to Urgent Care to have Emily's arm x-rayed. Broken. She was balancing on a basketball on Saturday night and it flew out from under her. She fell to the ground in pain. We kept a brace on it all week but it wasn't getting better so I finally took her in today and it is 'buckled'. She is in a splint and gets a cast on Tuesday.

John came home from work a little early to run errands with me. When we got home the kids were home from school and Thomas is burning up and has a horrible cough. You know, I just said the other day that we've been really lucky this winter season with no sickness. Without fail, you say it and it all changes. Hopefully this is the end of it.

Happy Birthday Samuel Bruce

He's so cute!

Everyone wanted to help.

Sam turned 3 today!! For the most part, it didn't phase him one bit but he did get really excited when John came home from work with 3 balloons. He walked around with them for a couple hours saying every once in a while "Happy Birthday to me?" It was really cute.

Grandma and Grandpa H stopped by for a minute and sang to him. Without any prompting, Sam sang the entire song changing the word 'you' to 'me'. "Happy Birthday to me...." It was very sweet. Grandma C. stopped by for a few minutes as well and when we sang again he did it again. He opened a few presents from the grandparents and us and that was it. What a sweet little boy. Little John and I left for YM/YW soon after and he went to bed.

John got his bike down from hanging on the ceiling in the garage and while John and I cleaned the garage he rode around for about 45 minutes. About every 4 minutes he would say "Mom (or Dad), I like my bike." over and over and over. He is such a sweet boy. He asks questions a lot and has the sweetest soft voice saying "okay". What a difference from the other moments of being the boss and loud with Thomas and Jack.

On Friday, he saw some of his underwear I bought him to prepare for potty training and wanted it on so he put it on and has been wearing it since. Thanks to Leslie, we made "Samuel's Potty Chart". He gets excited to put on a sticker but he still hasn't figured out that he needs to go to the bathroom when he feels like he needs to go. But I'm determined not to give up. Hopefully he catches on soon. I had to wash 10 pairs of underwear yesterday so he could start over today. He's happy about trying so on we go.

We sure love this little boy. Everyone in our house dotes all over him and he smiles 98% of the time. If we happen to make eye contact, he grins huge and he's got the cutest smile with a cute little dimple under his left eye. Can't help but be happy with him around.

Saying that, I've always said 3 is worse than 2....the age...and it's starting to show. I don't know why terrible twos was ever a phrase because with all 5 of my kids, 3 is harder than 2. Man, the things he suddenly is getting into and he is so wild. But I love him just the same. It's just my patience that needs to change.

So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE BUDDY!!! You sure are loved and you bring a lot of JOY into this home. We are so glad to have you in our family.

If we had stopped at 4, we'd be missing something special. We love you!!

You're a Good Man Charlie Brown

Max
Trouble Maker
Mean Kid #6
Sophie

Twitch

John, Emily, Thomas, and Jack tried out for the school play last October. John and Emily were cast as leads, Max and Sophie. Funny thing about that is our dog is named Max and my mom's dog is named Sophie. They had practice for an hour and a half a day, three days a week, for the last 3+ months. Thomas was cast as Mean Kid #6 on the Mean Team and Jack was cast as Twitch, a little bird and one of Woodstocks sidekicks. They practiced for an hour and a half one day a week until the last month then had more practices.

They did a great job. It was so fun to watch them each perform. Jack was so nervous at first that the night before the first performance, he woke up in the middle of the night really sick to his stomach and said he didn't think he should go to school. He went anyway and started the first show nervous but by the fourth show, he was a natural. John blew us all away with the animation he did in the play. He did great!!! Emily surprised us by not being as animated as we thought she would be but still did a great job and Thomas performed exactly how we expected him to. He did great but in his shy little way. They had a lot of fun and we were so proud of them for taking the time and making the effort.

Samuel just had to put up with the show 4 times with me. The kid is out of control. He ran out of the room several times to go outside and get soaked in the rain, get soaked from the drinking fountain, and run wild around the school. Finally I got smart and brought John's iTouch for one show and the DS for another show.

Super Mom vs. Abiding Mom

I saw this on this blog and loved it. What great wisdom for mothers and women.

Jack just went with me to my doctor appt. then to the store. I bought 6 donuts to bring home for the family. He ate one in the car then when we got home I asked him if he was going to take the rest in the house. He said yes then a few seconds later, very seriously said "Mom did you know the house is in my mouth?" no giggles or anything. It was so cute and funny.

Love you Jack.

"Where did we ever get the crazy idea that in order to make children do better, first we have to make them feel worse? Think of the last time you felt humiliated or treated unfairly. Did you feel like cooperating or doing better?"

-Jane Nelson

Lisa just sent me this quote and I needed it desperately. I feel guilt continually at my failures as a mom in this very thing. This is a good reminder. Thanks for sharing Lisa. I happen to be reading a book of hers that my friend Heidi recommended years ago, "From Here to Serenity". It is a great book with a lot of helpful information.

This is the handout I will be giving our YW in our lesson on Sunday. I love this lesson. It is all about our divine potential, as women, and keeping the commandments so we can fulfill the purposes Heavenly Father has for us. It is full of great things and can be found here.

Crazy Hair Day

Crazy Hair Day at school today and they all looked great!

Elder

I just checked my facebook and saw this picture posted. This is John's nephew, Nathan, at the airport on his way to Finland to serve his mission.

His aunt on the other side works at the airport and was able to see him and snap this picture. He's going to be a great missionary and we are very excited for him.

Earning Merit Badges

I was at Young Women's tonight but John was lucky to get to go to the Court of Honor where John received three Merit Badges. Communications, Swimming, and Citizenship in the Nation.
Good job John. From what we can see, the scout leaders try to get all the boys to earn their Eagle by the time they are 14. He has great leaders and we are learning right along with him how to do all this scout stuff.

After I went to Temple Square with the Mia Maids and Teachers, I met up with my family at Bountiful High School where we watched Caroline (our niece) compete in the District Spelling Bee. She won the school spelling bee and tonight was one of the top students to advance to the County spelling bee. It was so exciting. Good job Caroline!!!

"Love of work is success."

-David O. McKay

Tonight I went on a mini tour of a visitors center on Temple Square with the youth. Downstairs in the humanitarian section, that quote was on the wall. I read it over and over and over. I thought it went so well with my thoughts on my hate of cleaning so I had to remember it and remember that as soon as I love it, it will be success. Maybe I will be a success.

The full quote is

"Let us realize that the privilege to work is a gift, the power to work is a blessing, that love of work is success."

A lesson I found where this quote is used can be found here. I am pasting it for future reference for myself.

Teaching Families the Value of Work and Responsibility.

HELP ME!!!!!

THIS IS ME!!! Pretty pathetic, eh?! On a day that I happen to clean, my kids come in and without fail "It's clean!! Thanks Mom!!" Shouldn't that be enough? Shouldn't that be all the motivation I need to get it clean every day? Because I sure love it when they love it. "A clean home is a happy home." Hello?!! I so believe that. At least it helps....A LOT!

So, help me please. I HATE cleaning and I'm beginning to think the cleaning bug is never going to hit me. My mom, sister, and brother all have it. I remember my dad having it. My grandma's have it. Where did I go wrong? Why didn't I get that gene? Does anyone have the secret to getting it? Oh how I want it, it's just not happening.

Suggestions? PLEASE!!!!! (or the money to pay someone else to do it.) :)

Picnic

February 9th and my children are outside having a picnic. It's beautiful outside but still cold. Jack came in and got everything he needed and said they were going to have a picnic. He got bowls of candy and filled two cups up with water. I finished it off with sandwiches, apples, and their own little pitcher of water. They are in heaven. Jack just came in and said, "if you hear this, 'ding ding', that means we need more water in that thing." I love it!!!

Jack and Samuel

Jack and Sam are good buddies all morning before Jack goes to Kindergarten. We've had the Wii and DS going quite a bit since Christmas and I got so tired of it. It affects their attitudes and moods and everything about them. It also affects the spirit in our home. So I took everything away one day and said they were done until March. No one complained and the change in our home is awesome. The tv isn't on very much anymore and even though it's still cold, it's been beautiful outside so all the kids have been spending hours outside every day. Sledding on our small hill in front, playing basketball, and swinging and jumping on the trampoline. I love it.

Above Sam and Jack are waiting for their little capsules to melt in the water to see what little sponge animal will appear. They are great brothers. They share a room and a bunkbed and love to be together. I love them both so much.

John and Thomas

This is the project we worked on until late Sunday night. Turned out pretty cute and luckily John's parents had a dice puzzle done years ago on their wall in their basement. Made a great backdrop. John looks so tired.

I was washing my walls and came across this paper. At first I didn't look, just noticed someone had stuck a paper on the wall and almost tore it off without looking. Good thing I looked though because I needed to see this. So I looked up.....

And this is what I saw. Three lego hostages. That was a great laugh and so needed.
I knew who the culprit would be because every day he is writing a story or finding random items to create something.

And here he is. Hard at work doing his homework.

Thomas is a smart kid. He is a whiz in math and reading and is far above his grade level in both. He is on the shy side. Sometimes painfully shy. Our heart aches for this kid sometimes. He is a good kid with a bad mouth. :) He thinks potty words are really funny but now that Jack and Sam are following suit and we had a talk about the girls not liking boys who talk like that, he's trying harder. We sure love Thomas. There is something different about him than the other kids. A sweetness and softness about him. He has always been a bit of an angel in our home. We are so grateful for him and all the stories, treasures, and rocks we find laying around that could only belong to him. (And for some reason, I just can't get rid of his rocks. I have a nice little collection of Thomas's rocks.)

I tend to get angry too quickly....with my family. It's not good and I don't like it. This came through on "daily gems" a couple days ago and I couldn't delete it. Every time I get on my email, I can't help but read it again. So I printed it out large and I'll put it in my room. (The place I try to go often to cool off.) Wouldn't it be so nice if it was so much easier to be better.

"To be angry is to yield to the influence of Satan. No one can make us angry. It is our choice. If we desire to have a proper spirit with us at all times, we must choose to refrain from becoming angry. I testify that such is possible."

Thomas S. Monson

The pictures of the kids and the quilts from grandma and grandpa are finally posted. Click here to see.

What a day yesterday was. Little John passed the sacrament for the first time. He did great but was given a couple tips after. 1...don't put your hands in your pockets while you wait. 2...sit reverently. People are watching. Be a good example.
He was adorable in his suit and we had several comments or congrats to us on what a great job he did.
Our family was asked to sing in sacrament. HELLO!!!! The lady asked me if I was okay with it and I said NO. But told her we would figure something out. Don't get me wrong. I am so okay with John and the kids singing. I am NOT okay with me singing. So maybe I'll play for them and they can sing. We'll see. I'd rather just sit and watch and love it.
Teresa spoke to all of our Young Women today. The topic was "I will be strong and of a good courage as I learn to be positive about my life." As soon as I heard the topic, I knew who needed to speak on it. She did an amazing job and it took us a long time to get out of the church because she was running into people she knows every few steps. We chatted for a while after and I am so grateful she came. She is a great sister in law and friend and I love her to pieces.
Next our home teachers came as I pulled in the driveway coming home from church. They are wonderful. We love them and the kids have asked them to come every week. But they love them sooo much that they get a little wild when they are here. John asked them for some advice on getting our kids to not fight so much. He said they get choices. Stop fighting now or you will have to make a choice. If they fighting continues he gives them their choices.....such as.....lose the car for a week or go clean the kitchen. They are already past the choice to stop fighting so at this point they have to make one of the other choices. We liked his idea. It is a father and son and the son seemed to act like it works.
Then...Thomas had his baptism preview. Yeah Thomas! He seems too little. The more we go on, the littler my kids seem and it doesn't feel right for them to be growing up so fast. It was special to get to go the the preview with just John and me and Thomas. He is really excited and we are excited for him.
We came home to Emily who had cleaned the kitchen, the dining room, the front room, made my bed and cleaned our bathroom.....and put on a little makeup while she was in there. She was so happy and we could tell she felt so good.
We had a little family meeting where John told us about the fifth Sunday meeting with the bishopric and the encouragement they are giving us to make temple goals this year. We are going to read a book on temples that the church put out for our first months goal. We congratulated John on passing the sacrament, Thomas on his baptism preview, and Emily for doing service for us without having to be asked. We asked her how she felt and hopefully it catches on with some of the other kids and continues with her. It sure was nice. We then congratulated Jack on being the cutest blue eyed boy in the world. He was not happy with that. We then practiced our song, did the nightly routine, and spent the next several hours working on little John's science fair project. ahhhh. That was fun. :( It did actually turn out really cute.
The day ended well and that always feels good.

I HEART Valentines!!!

I've decided I LOVE the holiday, Valentine's. I forget about my love of it throughout the year until it shows up again. Then I remember how much I LOVE it.

I love that it gives us extra motivation to love each other and do secret little things for each other to show our love for each other. I love 'heart attacking' my husband and children. I love to celebrate LOVE.

Last night Thomas asked if he could prepare our Family Home Evening lesson for tonight. So he got out the friend, got a paper and pencil and got to work all on his own. When he was done, he brought it to me to show me. He had the songs listed and the prayers and who would be giving them. He found a story he wanted to read and talk to us about and wrote that down too. Then he wrote "activity" and wrote down that everyone would be given hearts to write things they love about each other on. I asked him where he came up with that and he said "I just thought of it. That's what we do in February." I was so happy that through all my years of doing this, that he has remembered and it hopefully has meant something. It makes doing these things so much more fun and worth it when I know the kids remember and they like it. And how fun for it to be spear headed by one of the kids.

So, here's to sugar cookies with cute sprinkles (that I bought a month ago and have been sitting and waiting for the season to arrive to use them.) :) Here's to "heart attacks" and secret acts of kindness and love. Here's to celebrating those I love and vowing to treat them better...always.
And to my sweetheart. Oh how I love him. How lucky I am to have HIM to LOVE. And oh do I ever feel so loved by him.

Watch this. It will help with the spirit of loving and giving service.

Happy Valentine's.