Forever Family

It was 10 years ago last Friday on April 19th that we went to the temple where Andy was sealed to our family for time and all eternity.  His older brothers, who were in kindergarten and 3rd grade at the time, were able to dress in white and witness the sealing.  It was such a special day.  I told Cameron that he and Janessa watched us from heaven. Andy was a chubby red-headed 14 month old, and it was only a few weeks before this that we found out we were pregnant with Janessa. (such an exiciting surprise!)

My parents were on their mission at the time in Wyoming, but received permission to come to the sealing in the Ogden temple.  We had lots of family there, and ward members.  The next day in sacrament meeting Andy was given a name and a blessing.  (The adoption date was Wednesday the 16th, so he hadn't been given a blessing in church yet).

So this weekend my thoughts have been on that special day and how much our family has changed in the past 11 years.  He is such a special boy with a tender heart and spirit, and a body that can hardly contain his energy.  I admit that he and I have our challenges (as I do of course with every child--just differently) but he is so much fun and we just might be a dull family without him.  Little did we know that two more kids would follow him in joining our family.

Mothering these last 3 children has not been easy for me.  Of course motherhood is not easy for anyone, though some people sure make it look easy!  Maybe its because I am older or because they are closer together in age than my older boys.  But I really think it is personalities.

My number 3 and 4 children are much more demanding than my others.  Why?  Were they born that way or was it circumstances that have made them that way?   Do they feel they have to compete for attention in a large family?  I often wonder why the Lord sent these children to me because I struggle with them so often.  I wonder why our personalities are so different and why the Lord has confidence in me to raise and teach these children, their strong personalities with my soft-spoken introverted nature.  I know that stronger spirits were saved for the latter days and they will do great in life. I just have to get them through elementary school, middle school, and high school!  Which I know is really a short time and I will look back when they are leaving on missions and getting married thinking "it seems like just yesterday when..." But the moments are hard to get through sometimes.  I need to rely on my Heavenly Father and truly believe that He has faith in me to nurture and love his precious children.  I truly am grateful for them.  For all my children.

I have enjoyed slowing down a bit and reflecting on that day 10 years ago when I knew that two more children were being added to my little family, one by adoption and one by birth.  The memory of the beauty of the temple and seeing my children all in white with my loving husband.  Taking time to look at the "eternal perspective" and marvel how our family came to be.  And how the Lord sent us another blessing when we surprisingly got pregnant again with Cameron.

This busy life, and the trials that come with it, is exactly what I wanted, and I really am grateful, and hope I can stay up to the challenge of being a mother to my children.

"I said my words"

I thought it was time for some more Andy on my blog.  He is funny with words, mixing things up sometimes and just saying things in an odd/funny way.

1.  A few weeks ago we had personal kid talks, where each of our kids gets to talk to Scott and I about whatever they want and we can see how they are doing etc.  (Usually this happens when we are worried about one or more of the kids for some reason or other--this time it was Janessa cuz she was being so grouchy and ornery).  so..
     Andy's turn.  I feel bad that I can't really remember what we talked about.  However, I do remember how it ended.  He got up and started to walk away.  "Is that all?" I asked.  "Yep.  I said my words." and he left.  Scott and I started laughing.  He said his words and he was done.

2.  We had snow!! so school was delayed 2 hours.  Sometimes after the initial delay, they will just cancel school altogether.  So that morning when it was apparent that the kids were still going to go to school Andy said 'Darn it.  I wanted school to be deleted!'

3.  Lunches. Ugh.  anyway, one morning after I had made sandwiches Andy wanted me to make his lunch and put it in a bag for him and I said no.  He tried to guilt me by saying "Why won't you be loving mother and make my lunch?"  It didn't work.  He still had to do it. But it has been a family joke now. "Are you being a loving kid?" "Your loving mother wants you to..." etc.

Conversations with a First Grader

On a Saturday Morning:

Me: Come on. We need to go to Janessa's soccer game.
Cam:  I don't want to go.
Me:  I know but you have to. Dad is at Andy's game and Brennen isn't here. You can't stay here by yourself.
Cam:  Why?
Me:  Because you are only 6.
Cam (arguing back):  Ya! I'm six and I can even make my own toast!



At Home Depot:

Cam:  Can I buy this flashlight?  It is $5 and Andy says I have 89 cents.
Me:  Well you need 500 and 89 cents.
Cam:  ARE YOU SEWIOUS!!??  FIVE HUNDWED CENTS!!??!!


Cameron is so much fun.  "Seriously" and "actually" are about his favorite words.  However, he is the baby of the family so I realize that I don't give him all the responsibility he needs and do way too much for him.  So I am working on that.  Making his own toast is a step in the right direction!

Bet you didn't know...

That you can buy freeze dried crickets at Walmart. (see previous post)
so now you know.  Even though Andy is boy #3 this is my first experience with lizards

Today we had a parade in town.  I had a doc appt at the same time as the parade and it was only a street and a half away from the parade.  So I drove by the doctor's office and showed A & J where it was, then took them to a parking lot to watch the parade and we agreed that if I got done before it was over, I would walk to them. Otherwise they were to walk to the doctor's office.  It was a cute sight when I was done with the doctor (which of course took way too long) and I saw two kids sitting on the steps surrounded by candy.  And guess what Andy caught while walking away from the parade--yep, another lizard.

Happy kids.  Amazing to think we only have two more weekends til summer is over and school starts.

Simple Pleasures

"Mom, want to help me look for crickets?"

A question every mom wants to hear.  He asked me this after I was the best mom ever today.  Because I took my boy to the park which has a creek and small irrigation canal.  On the way home he said "This is the best day ever!"  Cuz with his friend he caught 3 toads (I called them frogs but was corrected), a giant spider, and 5 lizards.  But they let one lizard go so it would be even.  They each brought home a small lizard and a bigger lizard.  And his friend kept the giant spider, thank goodness.  He also told me I the best mom since I am letting him keep lizards.  I will have to remind him of that when he thinks I am the meanest mom.

The park was actually a pretty good time for me too.  I didn't have any other kids with me so I sat in the shade and read a book while Andy and his friend got wet and muddy and had a ball catching critters.  Haven't read much this summer at all.  It was nice quiet time.

Well, I don't even know where to find crickets for his lizards to eat.  And the best thing I could find as a habitat was a 5 gallon bucket which we put rocks and dirt in.  Hopefully the lizards won't get hungry too soon because I didn't help him look for crickets.

Mornings 2

I have two children who don't like to be wrong, and think they are never wrong, or its never their fault.  And I know that most people don't like to be wrong, but maybe most people just aren't so stubborn about it.

This morning we were doing scripture reading as a family--one thing that has been good for January. we have been more HIT than miss on this.  So today J started reading the verse that D just read.  So he said that he just read that one.  Instead of her accepting a mistake and reading the next verse she got mad and wouldn't read anything.  I know it is just a little thing but that is how she is all the time. I don't know how to teach her that it is okay to make a mistake and she doesn't always have to be right or always know the right answers.

Later on, maybe 10-15 minutes before time to leave for school, I reminded A to get his shoes on and lunch packed and he got mad at me.  "I am reading!"    So I told him I am not going to remind him anymore and if he is not ready when its time to go too bad.

We do have a rule that they are supposed to have shoes on before breakfast but I have gotten lax about it and it came back to bite me today.  Also, I make the sandwiches and they do everything else for their lunch.  Andy always had school lunch until this year when he decided he never wants school lunch again, so it is a new challenge.

Anyway, I leave him and comb J's hair.  In fact I French braid two braids which takes about 8-10 minutes--plenty of time for A to get his shoes on and put his lunch together. Scott tells the kids "lets go."  (I had already prepared Scott and told him to leave Andy if he isn't ready). A gets franctic because he is not ready and doesn't have shoes on. Scott walks out the door with the other kids so A starts going balistic having one of his meltdowns.  He said "I was getting my lunch!"  and I said it doesn't take 10 minutes to get your lunch ready."  (I know he has a problem focusing but how and when is he ever going to learn?)  I was trying not to argue but I am not very good at not arguing.  And he is trying to tell me he was not wrong and it wasn't his fault because I told him to get his shoes AND do his lunch and he was doing his lunch just like I said.  He has his shoes on but won't go out the door because he "can't catch up to them."  a bit more arguing.  Finally I realize that I have to get out of the situation so I tell him I am going to get in the shower, and I do.

I take a long shower.  Scott comes home and tells me A caught up to them at the cross walk.  I was actually surprised that he left. Maybe next time I start arguing with him I will go take a shower.  It seemed to work.

but the lunch?...well, he left it on the couch...

Mornings

So here is a glimpse of my morning today.  I thought you all could use some laughs or at least feel better that you are not the only one that has crazy mornings.

The dishwasher didn’t get started last night so besides having to wash some forks for breakfast and the fact that I won’t be able to have someone unload it before school, it causes another problem later on. 

For the 2^nd day in a row the cat decided to use Andy’s bed as a litter box—because of the urine smell I suppose.  (Andy still has night-time problems).

Cameron started crying because Andy “jinxed” him and said he is in a locked jinx, meaning even if someone says your name 3 times you can’t get out of it until Andy says he is not jinxed anymore.  Still tears even though I explain that jinxed doesn’t really mean anything.

Because the dishwasher was on, and Andy decided to make hot chocolate in the microwave, and I was making pancakes with the electric griddle, the circuit breaker tripped and the power went out in the kitchen.  (the refrigerator and range are on that circuit too).  When I tried to explain to Scott that the power was off in the kitchen and he needed to fix it he didn’t understand because I didn’t say the “breaker went off”. He thought I was talking about power going off in the middle of the night.     Anyway, finally he understood what I meant and went and reset it.  (and I realize that I am capable of flipping the breaker, but I haven’t learned which one it is yet, which I guess I should put on my to do list).

"Didn't we already do this?" Dustin asks looking at the order form for his cap and gown that came in the mail. I answer "Yes, but it didn't get mailed on time and it expired so they sent us a new one." so he asks if I can mail it today.  yes.

Andy got up early to do finish his homework, and he did great and finished but then he is ready to early and too playful and wild and silly which prevents anyone else from focusing on getting ready.  

The dog got into the bathroom garbage so it was all over the floor in the bathroom when I went in to comb J’s hair.

Janessa wanted her hair braided like the little sister on Narnia.  I haven’t a clue what that girl's hair looked like but I do my best with her describing.  And I am happy that she is letting me do
her hair :).

I overwatered the plant on the top of the bookcase and so water was running down splashing on the books…

I bought Strawberry-kiwi Capri-Suns for lunch and Cameron doesn’t like that kind.

 Andy almost leaves his homework on the table as he walks out the door, but I get it in his backpack.  (yay Mom!) 

But finally everyone is out the door and it is quiet.  (Everyone except the animals and I wonder why exactly we have pets?)

We did have scripture reading with the kids before the big boys left and I made breakfast—more than frozen waffles or pancake sausages on a stick.   Not really a bad morning, just a regular morning with a few extra things to be expected I guess with a family of 7 people. (and two animals).

Beautiful Snow

We woke up to beautiful snow on the ground mixed with fall colors.  And the storm was over so it really is a beautiful sight looking out my window across the park.  However, it made for a challenging morning.

Because snow makes kids excited.  And then Andy decided he needed gloves.  and in the process of finding gloves and he discovered hats and so the others joined him and instead of getting ready for school (combing hair, brushing teeth, backpacks, etc.) they were looking for gloves and hats.

And do you think that this is a harmless activity? Of course not! because that means getting out every hat, gloves, wool socks, all winter things and dumping them all over the laundry room floor.  (thank goodness they didn't think of boots).  And is it easy to get them to clean it up without arguments?  maybe some kids but not mine.  sheesh.

I had decided to drive them to school because I thought I would drop them off and head to the grocery store.  That I would actually be ready to do that.  Yeah right.  but I tried.  Anyway,  running late after cleaning up the mess in the laundry room and finally getting outside (some kids without their lunches and backpacks because snow is so distracting) I realized that I should have been out 10 minutes earlier to warm up the car and clean the snow off the car.  Because it was actually frozen to the windshield so it wouldn't brush off.  and I am short and drive an SUV so it was a bit challenging and frustrating trying to scrape it off.  But finally the defroster kicked in and I was able to drive.

The kids were about 5 minutes late to school.  I don't think they are ever late when Scott walks them to school (or drives them).  And I didn't make it to the grocery store yet.

But the sun is shining and the snow is beautiful!

First Field Trip and Halloween Photos

After Cameron started kindergarten he began asking quite often "Do I have a field trip today?"  I am not sure what put the idea of field trips in his head but he was pretty persistant.  Finally, the week before Halloween he got to go on a field trip to the Pumpin Patch at Sutherland Farms.

The kids got to go on a hay ride, a train ride, play in the corn pit, go through the corn maze, milk a pretend wooden cow with rubber udders, look at some animals, and pick out their very own pumpkin to take home.  I got to go to!  As he was waiting in line to get back on the bus Cameron told me "This was so fun!  My field trip was funner than Lego Star Wars!"

So there you have it--life on the farm is funner than a video game.

making a 'corn angel'.  I have never seen anything like this--very fun to play in.

burying a classmate

the corn maze

the train ride

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

  I wore this costume (the dress) when I played one of Tiger Lily's Indians in the musical Peter Pan in high school.  good memories!  (the dress was a lot shorter on me and it is pinned in the back to fit her) My mom worked hard on that for me! there are beads on all those fringes...

Uh-oh. Andy is cooking...

He didn't realize you shouldn't put popcorn shrimp on a plastic plate and then put it in the toaster oven.  However, he did figure that out while it was only melting and not yet on fire...by the way, the plate used to be square.

Andy's Socks

I just couldn't resist the picture.  There are socks with holes and then there are Andy's socks.
How can he keep wearing it and it doesn't bug him!  You can't see it in the photo but part of the sock (a thread or two) is still around his big toe. 

I do tell him repeatedly to either put his shoes on or take his socks off when he goes outside...but if I am not around or not paying attention then this is what we get.

pick your battles, and this is not a battle worth fighting with him cuz we have plenty others.  However, I may make him buy his own socks next time with his hard earned money.  But he may just choose not to buy or wear socks.  Hooray that summer is on the way and he can wear sandals (or more likely go barefoot).

He may have a ruined sock but he is sitting still reading which is WONDERFUL!!!

The Collection

What do little boys do at their big brother's soccer game?  Collect things.  There are all kinds of cool things in and around the high school bleachers collect.  Lids from water bottles and Gatorade, pop can tabs, broken balloons, pieces of metal, zip ties, feathers, candy wrappers, ticket stubs, pens and pencils...

Andy's collection

Andy had a great time at the game last night.  Janessa and Cameron followed his lead but soon found other things to do so their collections were pretty meager.

By the way, Dustin won his game.  It was great weather, and we also got a lightening show out east (far enough away from the game) and a beautiful sunset.  Fall is awesome! 

My First Born

I need to give some blog time to my oldest son.  He is a bit of a character.  He is out-going and fun-loving.  Defined as: loves to have fun. Pretty easy going and very confident in many ways.  I will give you an example.  He wore this to the youth church dance.  It was NOT a theme dance, just casual dress.

When he was tie dying his pants and shirt he decided to tie dye the dog too.

He has a great tan line on his chest.

He recently went on a 4 day, 3 night pioneer handcart trek with youth from our church stake and surrounding areas.  This was a great experience for him.  He really enjoyed it and when he came home he was so happy and in such a good mood he actually seemed to be glowing (though it might have been the sunburned face).   

He had the most noticeable pants on the trek, I think. 

He just turned 16 and will be getting his driver's license soon.  I think that will be great because he can run errands for me and run kids around!  Driving with him these past few months as he has been learning has been a good experience as we have spent a lot of one on one time in the car together. 

He was ordained a priest a few weeks ago and has been blessing the sacrament in sacrament meeting.  I have to admit I was a little emotional the first time he did it.  I am proud of the choices he is making (except maybe his long hair) and that he is the type of person everyone likes to be around.  Of course he is a teenager so sometimes it seems like his brain is missing, and there are frustrating moments as a parent, but for the most part, I think he is turning out okay.

It is hard for me to think that my job of guiding, nurturing, and teaching him is almost done.  Only two more short years and he will be on his own.  It seems like only yesterday he was dressing up as Batman, Peter Pan, and Superman and playing with pokemon figures and cards.  (Okay-- so he is still "dressing up" as Superman...)

Oh What Do You Do in the Summertime?

My kids have already had some sumer adventures, and school has not even been out for three weeks.  In fact, these adventures happened last week all in a two or three day period.

1) Scott was trimming our tree and Andy got the idea to make a jungle.  We have a cement pad (we have lots of cement in our yard...) at the side of our house with a clothes line.  Put the branches atop the clothes line and viola:  

Not a bad little jungle . . .

2) Andy was found in the garage spray painting his bike with his brother's spray paint.  Purple and green if you are wondering. 

3)Research.  Cups of water and dirt and rocks and grass and bits of cheese and some crackers . . . and who knows what else. . . Research. 
(I did say no to the food coloring and they don't know where it is...ha ha ha). (we have had food coloring adventures before.  In fact there is still green food coloring in my deep freezer and garage floor.  Hey, I just realized it matches the spray paint!)

4) What do you have when you get a big bowl, a hose with water, and a big bottle (all of it) of Dawn dishwasher soap?  Lots of bubble fun in the front yard. 

No, I wasn't supervising my children.  I was watching TV, which I rarely do, and hubby wasn't home.  Who knows where the big brothers were.  I should have had a hint about something when Janessa did tell me at one point to come and see their bubble cakes, but I sort of ignored her with something like "okay, in a minute." 

4) I got out some chalk for them to use on the sidewalk.  But it was hot outside.  So naturally they decided to get wet probably by the sprinkler or the little pool.  And the chalk got wet.  And one thing led to another and they decided to have a chalk 'fight' and smear wet chalk all over each other.  Only it wasn't sidewalk chalk, it was regular colored chalkboard chalk from probably the 1970's or something before things were washable that I picked up at an estate sale.  A big box of it.  I didn't know that it wouldn't wash off of them!  I didn't know that they would go to church with their arms and necks and legs looking bruised like they had gotten a good beating!  (Good thing the boys wear long pants). Janessa was the worst because she had been wearing her swimming suit.  They had a shower on Saturday and another good scrubbing on Sunday morning but were still stained).  Unfortunately, I did not get pictures. And for the record--Dustin was babysitting.

Good thing Andy had cub scout day camp most of this week.

A Week of Lost Shoes

I had a pile of sand in a bowl that I was going to take a picture of and title it "The Sand From One Shoe On Any Given School Day" and post it on the blog.  But my husband saw sand in a bowl and of course dumped it out so it wouldn't spill all over.  Not that it really matters...there is sand all over my house (of mostly wood floors) from the school playground.  So I have no picture to go with this post.  I haven't dumped any sand out of shoes today. 

Speaking of shoes, Andy lost his Sunday shoes at my sister's house.  They were found eventually but we forgot to get them before Sunday.  He wore his school shoes to church. 

On Monday morning we could not find one of his school shoes.  He had to settle with wearing old shoes he doesn't like because he can't run in them because the backs are broken down.  (Can you imagine Andy not running?  didn't think so).

Tuesday was soccer practice.  We could only find one cleat.  (Note: this is the last week of soccer and most of this spring I have been very good at keeping the socks, shin guards, cleats, shirts, for two kids in one place.  But at the end I fell down on the job).  However, we did find his other school shoe!  It was between the mattress and the footboard of Cameron's bed.  So he wore his 'skate' school shoes to soccer practice.  Later (after he was at practice) we found his other cleat in the van. 

On Wednesday morning, the shoes he had worn to soccer practice (and wears everyday to school) came up missing.  They are still missing.  He has had to wear the shoes he can't run in to school all week.

Contagious

We are contagious.  Pink eye and impetigo. 

Cameron has been to the doctor for pink eye.  (some complaining:  It took two and a half hours from the time I left home, saw the doctor, and picked up the prescription.  I knew he had pink eye.  I know how to treat it.  Why can't I just buy some eye drops?!?)  So pink eye is very contagious and I got it too, and used Cameron's drops.  Then Andy woke up with a little bit of goop in his eye.  I wasn't taking any chances so I put drops in his eye.  But I had to take him down to do it.  Great wrestling moves I have, even though he is 8 now and weighs more than 50 pounds.  After the take down, I sat on his chest pinning his arms down between my legs (more like kneeling over his chest--not crushing him or anything) and put a drop in his eye.  If you haven't learned this move yet and you are a parent of children who resist taking medicine or eye-drops, you should because it is very useful.  I learned it with my oldest son.  Anyway, so far no one else in the house has gotten it.  Cameron can go back to preschool and church and playing with friends in a day or so as his eyes are pretty clear now.

Janessa had what I thought was a cold sore on the side of her mouth.  But it never really went away and then flaired up again.  So my mom and I think it is impetigo, which is an infection of the skin.  However, it isn't spreading and she only has the one sore so I am not positive.  Impetigo is contagious too, but she as she is not a baby putting toys in her mouth, it is okay to send her to school.  I am treating it with antiboitic cream.  If it doesn't get better soon, I will make another trip to the doctor.

Another Andy Story

Andy got a new wallet.  In fact he bought it from Brennen, who is making and selling duct tape wallets.  So far Bren has made about $15 I think.  (Well, he spent $25 on colored duct tape so he hasn't cleared a profit yet). 

Andy was excited to put his money in his wallet.  He got out his coins and asked his dad to change it into dollars.  Then he got his library card out of his Dad's wallet and put it in his new wallet.  Then he asked his dad "Now, how do I get credit cards?"

And It All Started Out So Funny . . .

We had some great spring weather this week.  Which means kids out on scooters and bikes and playing ball at the park.  Wednesday evening just before six, Andy got in a little predicament.  His pants got stuck in his bike chain.  One of the neighborhood kids came over and told us so Scott went across the street to the park to free him.  It was kind of funny--a bunch of kids gathered around while Scott worked to get the pants out of the stubborn bike chain.  I walked over and took a picture.  And I was reminded of the time Andy got stuck in his seat belt (don't ask me how) and we ended up having to find an Allen wrench and unscrew the seat belt from the wall of the van. 

Anyway, Scott was successful and Andy was free.  I walked back to the house and as I turned into the kitchen I caught a brief sight out the windwo of Scott falling over the fence. I only saw the end of it and I couldn't really tell that he was hurt.  He had been climbing, or hopping over the split-rail type fence that goes around the park (you can see it in the background of the pic if you look closely).  He had put his hands on the fence and then went to hop over, or swing his legs over, or whatever, and somehow caught his feet and fell to cement sidewalk.  Again, the kids were gathered around.  (Later I would learn that they were saying "Ooh! Gross! Look at all the blood. And the big bump on his arm.")

Well, he was hurt--pretty badly.  He had a gash in his left eyebrow and a broken elbow, which put him in the hospital for two nights.  He got four stitches in his head and had surgery to piece his elbow back together, which broke into 6 or 7 pieces.  The doctor called him "a tough case."  When he does something, he is very thorough, just like any accountant should be. 

A Special Day

Andy turned 8 years old today.  He was able to be baptized on his birthday!

Andy is a very special kid.  I am proud of him and so happy to have him as part of our family.  Life is never dull with Andy around!

 His motorcycle cake that my sister helped me make

Fun at Big Bounce

Too Smart?

I was overly ambitious the other day and made cinnamon rolls.  My three-year old didn't eat his dinner (again) and I told him he couldn't have one (I'm so mean).  He responded "Daddy said 'Yes'".  Scott had just left to play raquetball.  I am pretty sure that Cameron knew that Daddy was not home.  Already trying to work the system! 

My other son, who is very bright but sometimes just not so smart, decided he wanted to lick the frosting off of the cinnamon rolls that I was icing.  But they were still in the pan and the pan was still hot.  Hmmm.  He burned his lip on the pan.  Silly kid!  It wasn't a bad burn or anything--no blister or red spot--just enough to realize that it wasn't a good idea.