This one is for me...

"We live in a world that is filled with options. If we are not careful, we will find every minute jammed with social events, classes, exercise time, book clubs, scrapbooking, Church callings, music, sports, the Internet, and our favorite TV shows. One mother told me of a time that her children had 29 scheduled commitments every week: music lessons, scouts, dance, Little League, day camps, soccer, art, and so forth. She felt like a taxi driver. Finally, she called a family meeting and announced, 'Something has to go; we have no time to ourselves and no time for each other.' Families need unstructured time when relationships can deepen and real parenting can take place. Take time to listen, to laugh, and to play together."

-M. Russell Ballard, "Daughters of God," Ensign, May 2008, 109-110

Should I be worried?

Cason is really good at numbers...he really is.

He can recite from memory

• my cell phone number


• Rich's cell phone number


• our home phone number


• his own birthdate


• our address

But asked what he would do if there were an emergency and he ALWAYS replies

"dial 9-9-1"

Please, if he's ever my only available help, just let me maintain consciousness long enough to remind him the right number to dial...

Sometimes we just need to say "yes"

Am I the only mother in the world who finds herself saying "no" and "later" and "maybe tomorrow" way too much?

Yesterday I said "YES" and I think the kids weren't exactly sure what to do with that response.

It was a beautiful, sunny, warm day and the kids came to me and said "can we go on a bike ride to the park".

Now, there was a house to finish cleaning, dinner to make, preschool to prep, enrichment projects to complete - and those were just the immediate pressing tasks. But I said "yes"!

I think it was exactly what we all needed - a break from the house, some fresh air and sunshine.

Turns out, all those projects were still there when I returned from the park.

I think I may just try saying "yes" a bit more often!

Ty at Eight Months

I was reminded that I neglected to post Ty's ongoing photo with his blue chair and his bear.

So at the demand of the fans, here it is...

The fact that Ty isn't sitting in the chair is pretty indicative of what Ty is all about these days!

Preschool 2009-2010

I had the question come up in a comment on a post a week or so ago, so I thought I would go ahead and address it and put in a plug (for myself) while I was at it.

I WILL be teaching preschool again this fall. In fact, I will be doing two sessions. I already have five students, which seems crazy because I can't believe that I only have three more months left of my current class. I have LOVED teaching and I feel very grateful to be able to do something that I totally enjoy and that I can do within my own home.

I'll spare all the preschool specifics, but if you have interest please email or call me and I'll answer your questions. Also, feel free to pass my name to anyone that may be looking.

(my SUPER CUTE class from this year)

Everyone Loves Ty!

And who can blame us?

Eight months ago Ty joined our family.
Happy Birthday Ty!

All Hail the Mighty Nebulizer

Who would have realized all the use we would get out of our nebulizer?
This is what we have looked like for the past week...

For Jake: albuterol every four hours (including those hours that come when most sane people are sleeping) and pulmicort every twelve hours. He has been a trooper - he will actually beg me for treatments, which tells me how much they must help him.

For Ty: albuterol every four hours and we're actually beginning to wean him. Ty HATES it, but has made such a quick recovery that mom is being very diligent as to prevent us from back sliding.


Quick time warp to 2005 - same machine, same treatments, but two other kids...

What they don't know won't hurt them...

I have a secret...

Sometimes, when the big kids are at school, I let Jake play with anything he wants - even Kaitlyn and Cason's "off-limit" toys. It just makes Jake so happy. And it tends to keep him busy for a really long time (all you moms know what I am talking about).

Baby doll diaper bag.

Dance recital bag.

Special pink suitcase.

Kaitlyn would be SO unhappy if she knew that Jake was playing with all of this.
White dance leotard layered on top of a pink dance leotard.

Dance class skirt.

Ballet slippers.

And, yet again, special pink suitcase.

Rich would be SO unhappy if he knew that Jake was playing with all of this.

Hmmmm

I don't know what it is.

I don't know why it is.

But with my daughter asleep under it, it just seemed like something that deserved it's photo taken...

One is good, Two is better

My parents gave Jake the fire engine step stool for his birthday.

Jake welcomed it's addition!

I'm reminded that it's been a long time since my parents have had a two year old :)

I'm okay...really

My previous post was not a plea for pity. Really! It was just a dose of real life, which we all live. I just never want to have anyone read my blog and confuse me for someone who has it all together 100% of the time.

But amidst the real life of this past week I recognise all the good that abounds....

• despite Ty and Jake being ill, there is something about a sick baby laying their head on your shoulder that melts your heart as a mom. All the exhaustion and sleep loss is worth it when you recognize that your shoulder is the only medicine your little boy needs.
• the credit card charges were discovered thanks to a bit of a tender mercy. I seldom check my credit card account online and I never pay bills in between paychecks, but this week I was prompted to pay a bill outside of my routine and while I had the bank account open I clicked on my credit card statement. Both totally out of my routine (and I'm a routine kind of a gal) with the result being that I caught the charges early and I was reminded that I'm known by someone that knows all.
• as I was holding my sweet Ty Friday night, I looked at my three other children, all of whom were laying on their tummies, sharing a box of crayons and coloring. They were all getting along and the thought "this is what it is all about" came to my mind.
• I had the chance to watch a friends son on Friday and fix their family dinner. I adore this friend and she has gone through more challenges in the past 6 months than most of us combined. She is a pillar of strength and an example of faith to me and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to serve her in this little way.
• after getting the call from the doctor that Ty had RSV, I was saying my prayers and praying for this sweet little boy. Remembering our 5 day hospitalization with Jake and RSV I realized that the health and well being of my little family means more to me than the cost of gas or the stock market movements - the economy may be on my mind, but I'd take my little family wearing rags and living in a cardboard box over all the riches of the world without my family.
• Valentines came and you would have thought it was Christmas morning for all the enthusiasm my kids showed. They had made endless cards for one another. At the end of the day, I really do think they like each other. What more can a mother ask for.
• my husband made my Valentines Day shine by giving me a card listing all the reasons that he loves me. I would take a heartfelt card any day over any store bought gift. I tell him that all the time and yesterday his words gave me the strength to give 6 breathing treatments and suction snot and lay with a sick baby until after midnight. Thanks honey.

So we're all good.
No, make that, we're all great!

Under the Weather

The weather this week got cold, windy and rainy.

I think the weather rubbed off on me. Be warned - the result is a reality post...

The week started off busy with Valentines cards to make for Kindergarten, 2nd grade and 3rd grade (K goes to 3rd grade for math), as well as putting together my own Valentines party for my preschool.

The busy mode quickly turned into survival mode.

• Ty and Jake have both been suffering from yucky coughs, which means I have two tired boys who both want to be held by one mom....
• We've lost The Backyardigans DVD from the library...
• My garbage disposal died...as did the green bulb in the television...
• The weather made my morning runs miserable, which meant I was stuck going to the gym (which I hate) so by weeks end I'm feeling sluggish and fat...
• The scale confirmed the fat part by creeping in the wrong direction...
• Our tenant in Lehi ditched out on their contract with no notice and left us with our their trash to deal with, as well as a need to find a new tenant ASAP...
• I discovered that my credit card number had been stolen when there were five fraudulent charges on my card in just two days...
• The doctor's office called to tell me that Ty's snot tested positive for RSV...
• RSV means breathing treatments that make Ty scream and daily doctor's visits for the next week...
• I received an email that warned me that our entire country would be without food within 6 months and that if we didn't have our food storage in place, along with ammunition and guns to ward off our hungry neighbors, all would be lost...
• And in the midst of all of this I forgot my sister-in-law's birthday (sorry Neesha)

I'm ready for spring - warm weather, blue skies and some silver linings. What about you?

Bevrs Roc

I love, love, love the stage that kids go through after they start reading...that stage when they start to sound everything out and spell words the way they sound.

Cason's hit that stage and it makes me smile!

Hold On...

I think I set a record today.

A record that I doubt anyone wants to attempt to beat.

I called the bank at (approximately) 8:40 a.m. I was transferred FIVE times before I was asked "can I put you on hold?" That was at 9:20 a.m.

My call was answered at 1:23 p.m.
No Lie! No exaggeration! (Melanie and Rich can both confirm as I kept sending them "still on hold" emails)

Do the math - that's FOUR HOURS! Four hours of NOTHING but music!

After two hours I did call from our other line to tell the bank that I'd been on hold for two hours. They apologized and said they'd been really busy. I was then transferred TWICE and ended up back on hold - despite my begging with the man not to do it - I ended up with the same music I was already listening to in the other ear.

And the worst part?

They told me "no".

That face!

I realize that I may be the only one that can truly appreciate this face.
Jake is the boy of many looks and he can crack me up with most of them.
He is just a fun boy with a personality many times his size.

I LOVE my Jakers!

Dressed all in white...

What a wonderful weekend we had! Kaitlyn's baptism was on Saturday morning.

The week leading up to this special occasion has been one of reflection for me...when did my daughter get old enough to be baptised? Have I taught her everything she needs to know to be baptised? How can I protect her from the challenges in the world that lie ahead? Are the next eight years going to go as fast as the past eight years? etc...

Needless to say, I've been a bit emotional.

In the end, the weekend came and went and my daughter was baptised. I still can't quite believe it. She was simply radiant! Dressed all in white, with an excited smile and a bit of a giggle as she entered the water. Then she was dressed in white again - a beautiful dress made by my mom - to be confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She was surrounded by worthy men, all holding the priesthood and was given a loving blessing by her dad. Again, a bit of an emotional time for mom!

I'm so grateful for Kaitlyn's excitement and enthusiasm leading up to her baptism. I hope she always remembers how she felt that day. I also pray that she always remembers the promises that she has made with her Heavenly Father and the promises He made to her, dependant upon her willingness to obey His commandments. I'm so proud of you Kaitlyn!

A quick thanks to all the many people who came to support Kaitlyn that day - we had family from out of state, as well as lots of friends and ward members. Every person there meant something to Kaitlyn and made her special day all the more special. We all felt very loved and supported and, for that, I say "thanks".