Called

Today has given me much opportunity to reflect on what it means to be Called of God. Called to Serve. We had a missionary farewell in church today, the oldest son of a friend and fellow blogger will be entering the Missionary Training Center this Wednesday. We also had a special fast in our ward, for a very recently returned missionary. He has just been diagnosed with bone cancer. The Bishop had forgotten to return his missionary plaque earlier, and so did it today. Two missionaries, two callings. One is just getting ready to go, another has served faithfully for 2 years, and now faces the biggest trial in his life. I know Heavenly Father has a purpose for both of them, and will continue watching over this young man in his great trial, he is not forgotten. In addition to the missionary calls, I am reflecting on the call I've been given. I am the visiting teacher to the mother of the young man with cancer. How can I serve her?? What can I do?? It isn't often that a special need in the ward falls under my personal responsibility. But in this case it does. I've been asked to be one of the people that she can call on, that will step in and help her when needed. This isn't a random assignment, it comes from Heavenly Father. I have been a bit intimidated by being called to serve her already, she has much more experience than I do. Now, it is really time for me to step up, get out of my comfort zone, and stretch my abilities. I know that I will have help from the Spirit when I do. Meanwhile, I'll be praying, and listening. If you have a moment, will you please pray for both of these young men and their mothers??

Christmas Spirit

Well last month was fun, counting blessings. This month I'd really like to get more in the Spirit of Christmas. This means I will not have time to blog daily. But I'll try and post weekly at least. So far for the month of December we have 2 advent calendars, and 2 nightly stories to be read. One calendar is a wooden Christmas tree the kids helped me decorate with buttons. It currently says "22 days 'til Christmas" The numbers are interchangeable. I got it at a Super Saturday with my mom, but I think mine is the only one decorated on 2 sides. The other advent calendar is from the Friend magazine. Our stories are a Christmas story book put together by my mother in law for us, with some of the standard stories, and a gift from the primary to Abby which guides us to read stories of Jesus from the scriptures every night, also an advent calendar of sorts. We are going to be decorating this weekend, so my primary goals right now are to get cleaned up so we can. I'm looking forward to reading stories from the Ensign and Friend. Christmas stories are one of my favorite things about the season. Along with the movies and music. I'm soaking it all in, and doing my best not to stress about what I haven't done yet. What are you doing to welcome Christmas in your home??

Tradition! Tradition!

29- I am blessed with Tradition. Thanksgiving traditions abound in the family I sprouted from. Thanksgiving is the biggest holiday in our family. I think it stems from generations of good-pie-bakers. Not fancy bakers, just really good ones. My dad took a room-mate home to his Grandmother's for Thanksgiving one year. The roommate was concerned that he might be intruding, or that there might not be enough food (??????) or something. My dad assured him there would be at least 30 pies. Roommate doubted, roommate repented of doubt. There is generally an open-door policy at all Stewart feasts, which is anything Grandma puts on, it's all a feast. But Thanksgiving is still special. Aunts fill brown bags with treats and toys, Uncles hide said bags all over property (in most absurd hard to find places), and cousins make the great search for the bag with your own name on it. And get a good laugh at the cousin who has to climb up a pole to retrieve his/her bag. Some years have brought sugar cookies but in the shape of pilgrims to be painted with colored milk by kids. There have been plenty of football games on the large back-lawn. Many years have brought late nights of board games while feasting on pie. One year, the boy cousins took a bunch of pies out to the trailer they were staying in and polished them off on their own. The funniest part? No one missed the pies, there were plenty more. In a large (very very large) family, everyone has their own specialty, and when many hands pitch in, the load is lightened and the feast is amazing. Turkey, pan gravy, potatoes, rolls, cornbread dressing. Rainbow Jello, green salad, sweet potatoes, green-bean casserole, some-other jello, fruit salad, fruity-sugary-yummy drink concoction. Pie, pie, pie, more pie. They all come together so beautifully on our giant plates. But don't fill them too full. 'Take all you want, but eat all you take' (or else) says Grandpa. No worries, there should be a nice handful of teenage boys to help you out when your eyes are bigger than your stomach. This year, things weren't quite the same. Not as many people gathered together, and while we tried to make up for it, they were missed. The food was still good, but no Rainbow Jello procured itself. No pilgrim cookies. We even had to sneak the kids leftovers to the trash, because there was a decided lack of boys to finish it off. I really did not do my mom's rolls justice either. Unfortunately, it is a simple fact of life. We are growing up. It's hard enough to get together 11 households. (or even just half of them) but now that cousins are moving out, getting married, having kids, it's nigh unto impossible. My marvelous Aunts and Uncles are probably just as grateful as my parents are when they can get the kids back to their own homes, to say nothing of Grandma's house. But the traditions are still there, waiting for us to carry them out in our own ways, with our own children. I have a lot to learn before I can make a holiday run as smoothly as my Aunt PhyllisAnn can. I'll probably never pull it off, but I can take the most important parts, and create a wonderful Thanksgiving for my own family.

30- I am grateful for my extended family, and all they are. oxoxoxoxoxoxo(((HUGS))) to all of you. And Tyler, I'm gonna tackle you with my biggest one, just for old times sake.

Counting THANKSGIVING

26- Pie

27-Rolls

28- Turkey

'Nuff said.

Counting Blessing 25

I am grateful for my SLING. When Willie arrived, I ordered a ring-sling from an Etsy shop. I'd always heard that baby #3 was hardest because you didn't have enough hands anymore. And boy, oh boy was that true. Since I figured it out, I've worn Willie practically everywhere and gotten lots of compliments. I was able to tend to almost anything that needed my hands, and still have him right there 'in my arms'. It was great. It hasn't been used as much since he started walking, but this morning he brought it to me, and when I put it on he reached up to be picked up. Actually he's done it twice this morning. He may be a bit more independent but he still like to be secure with his mommy I guess. I am so grateful for this apparatus that made having a clingy baby a joy, not a frustration.

23, 24

23- I am grateful for Harvey. He is such a playful, incredibly fun little guy. He makes me laugh and smile, and drives me up the wall. Often times he doesn't seem to have a clue what he means, or what he wants. But it's always an adventure trying to figure it out. He's very loving, and just wants to be around the people who love him. His playful smile is very difficult to stay mad at. And his favorite response when he is told no is 'But it's FUN'. Harvey is our rubber child. He bounces right back from almost any hurt. Of course this sometimes means he bounces back and forth from emotion to emotion, opinion to opinion. But I wouldn't change him for anything. What would life be like without Harvey's imagination?? No fun, that's what

24-I am grateful for Willie. During the first half of his pregnancy Jeff and Abby were convinced we were having a girl, I expected we would have a girl, because my family came GBGBGB. And I was depressed, it just felt all wrong. I didn't know my baby at all, I never saw him in a dream like I did the older two. But as soon as we had the u/s and saw it was a boy- I realized I had known all along that a boy was on the way, and all was right with the world. Willie is very much a Momma's Boy. He is my most affectionate child, he really loves to give love, be loved, cuddle, and more. Before he was mobile he hated being put down, and was kind of difficult that way. But when he finally learned to crawl at 9 months old, his whole attitude changed. He's been into everything ever since. He's at that perfect stage where he is incapable of being naughty. And he almost never throws a temper tantrum. I am so glad we had another boy, because Harvey very mcuh needed a friend that would look up to him. If we had had a girl, Harvey would be the only boy as far as the eye could see, and would never get over it. Definitely grateful for Willie. I keep trying to tell him to just stay the way he is now, but I'm pretty sure he is ignoring me.

November 22nd, my best blessing.

Today is November 22nd. Six whole years ago my daughter was born. It is a day emblazoned into my brain, my heart, and my soul. The day that a first-child is born is an especially momentous day for any mother. It is not just the child born in that moment, but the mother. The past nine months discomfort is a barely adequate introduction to the immense change that your life is about to go through. We eat right, we visit the doctor, drink lots of water, take lots of naps, make frequent bathroom visits, don't sleep well, worry over every little change, desperately wish for it all to be over so we can hold our little miracle. But in the end, a healthy baby arrives and a mother is born. Or so it should go(and usually does). We tend to take for granted that it will indeed play out in that very way. I know I did. But, apparently Heavenly Father (and probably Abby too) saw fit that I have true appreciation for the miracle that was my daughter. And so they forced it onto me.

November 22nd 2003 was a Saturday. I don't really remember what day of the week my boys were born, I'd have to go look it up. But I remember lots of which-days in Abby's birth story. From the Wednesday night that she was more active than she had ever been, turning somersaults and doing flying acrobatics. To the busy Thursday where the doctor said things were looking well, how was the baby moving? 'Not much that I've noticed today, but that's normal and last night she was going nuts.' 'OK then, we'll see you on Monday (due date), then discuss possible ways to encourage labor'. The Sealing Session at the Temple that night was interesting, kneeling down on a narrow ledge with a giant belly in front of you is tricky. Dinner out was good, I was tired, I still hadn't felt my daughter move really. But, her movements in general were so slight, and I'd been so busy today, I probably just hadn't noticed. And I really don't want to go to the hospital just to be told I was being paranoid and should simply take time for kick-counts every day. It's late, we have an hours drive ahead of us, let's just go home. Friday still nothing much. Definite decrease in movements. But I second guessed myself ALL DAY. We ate a big spaghetti dinner in and effort to jump start some baby movements. That night I called my mom. In tears. And she promptly told me in no uncertain terms to call the doctor RIGHT NOW, who said yes, go get checked. Rather than drive an hour to St George where my doctor was, just to be told baby was sleeping, we went to the local hospital. Apparently the nurse was about to send me to St George where I already was a patient, but changed her mind and hooked me up to some monitors. I think it was about 8:00 at night. Friday night blurred into Saturday.

On the monitors, I was relieved to see Abby's heartbeat. Pretty steady at about 156. Definitely good. As is standard practice, they kept me on those monitors for a full hour, and handed me a button to push so I could record any movement. I pushed it a couple of times, but the sensation was very, very small. While I sat there all relieved that my baby's heart was beating, Jeff and the nurse were noticing that the monitor line was practically flat. She had no accelerations or decelerations at all. It took me a little bit longer, but I'd gone to the pre-natal classes too. I knew this wasn't good. But she might be sleeping after all. A thought which seemed far more hopeful than silly now. The nurse said it seemed likely that the baby would need to be delivered, I asked if we should get to St. George. She said no, if I was transferred at all, it would be after. They have a tool they use to wake up sleeping in-utero-babies, did you know? I don't know what it's called but it vibrates and sounds like a power tool. So the nurse pulled out this little gadget, applied it to my belly and **BUZZ** **BUZZ**. Nothing, not a flinch, not a twitch. Her heart rate remained steady. I was terrified. I wanted my baby out right now, because something was very, very wrong. The nurse called the on-call ob and he arrived quickly, with an ultrasound technician and machine. They began what I have since learned is called a bio-physical profile. An ultrasound in which they score certain indicators regarding babies well being(like an in-utero apgar). It usually takes a half-hour. They took a lot longer on mine. During which they asked me if there had been anything unusual found on my ultrasound a few weeks prior. NO. Should there have been??? Well, there's something floating by her head. The doctor showed me her upper lip, it was perfectly formed with lines like a bird flying high in the air. She was beautiful, I knew. With the BPP, immediate delivery is recommended for scores 6 or lower. Abby scored a 2. Time to set up an emergency c-section.

In the middle of the night, in a small but well-equipped hospital, an emergency c-section takes some time to set up. They need to get an anesthesiologist out of bed, along with some operating room staff, a pediatrician and neo-nate nurses. Then everyone had to drive in the middle of the first big snowstorm of the season. If the emergency had been a delivery complication, it would have been different. But there was a baby coming that was going to need some help. Just what the problem was, no one knew. And the situation was steady, better to have everyone there than to rush. The pitocin that they had given me for a required 'trial of labor' made every muscle in my back spasm, so the nurses used a sheet to roll me onto the operating table, where the anesthesiologist gave me the spinal. Jeff got all decked out in the surgical coverings, and came to sit with me. Up went a big teal curtain across my chest and they started prepping. An important part of which was making sure the anesthetics were working. They pinched my abdomen, yes I could feel it. Then they pinched my arm, ok NO I didn't feel that much. So they proceeded since I didn't feel any real pain. But I felt the pressure. And it isn't a little bit of pressure either, the pulling and tugging is remarkable. Especially with stomach half-full of spaghetti dinner. So the anesthesiologist held a bowl and a vacuum hose while I vomited, and talked to me. He reassured me that I was doing fine, and let me know what was causing the sensations ('They just opened up the uterus') while Jeff held my hand and kept his mouth shut. Kept his mouth shut about the copious amounts of blood all over the table and floor. Kept his mouth shut about the doctor's comments that they had never seen this much blood, where was it coming from??. When Abby was delivered at 4 am, not a single sound came from her. She never drew a breath, her apgar score was 0. I only saw the top of her head as they took her to the NICU. She had beautiful dark hair. It was off to the recovery room for me, where I think they drugged me so I would sleep for a few hours.

It was about 10 am before I got to go see Abby. Dr. Ghaffari had spent 6 hours hand-bagging my baby to keep her alive. The only reason they let me get up at that point was because the life-flight team was there to get her, and she would be transported soon. Getting into the wheelchair was agony, and the trip down the hall felt like a roller-coaster. I looked at her and set my finger in her hand. That was all I was allowed to do, because more touch would cause more over-stimulation. Her beautiful upper lip was covered in tape that secured the ventilator tube to her nose. Her body was swollen from the IV fluids they had pushed to keep her blood pressure up. The life-flight attendant came to talk to me, get the required permissions, and confirm which hospital they were taking Abby to. They gave me the choice of sending her to a hospital in SLC, or to the Utah Vally hospital in Provo. I chose Utah Valley, they had taken very good care of my baby brother 4 years earlier(this whole thing was like a horrific flashback for my family), and it was a little closer. She told me that I needed to sign forms for a possible heart-lung bypass, informed me of the high risks, and said some other scary stuff that I gratefully have forgotten. Jeff came to kiss me goodbye, and followed Abby out into the hall. They had given permission for him to go with her. I had just had surgery, and would have to stay in the hospital for 48 hours. I was taken to my room, where I would have to wait alone.

Many details of my time in the hospital are blurry. I know I had visitors. Jeff's mom must have been with me a good deal of the time. My grandparents drove up to sit with me for a while. My Aunt and Uncle came by. My parents left Green Bay earlier than they had planned and drove straight through, so they must have been there on Sunday. But I think I was alone a lot on Saturday. I know I was alone when Jeff called. It was 2 o'clock in the afternoon. He called to tell me they were at Primary Children's Medical Center in SLC. They had tried going to Provo, but a large cloud bank rolled in and they couldn't land. So they had to fly to Salt Lake, where Primary's said they had plenty of room, hurry up and bring her in. There was still no real change in Abby. They'd gotten her apgar scores up to a 2 at this point. But nothing was improving. Jeff was calling to let me know that they were going to get ready to put her on an ECMO machine. The heart-lung-bypass. They would have to administer blood thinners to prevent clotting. This was likely to cause a bleed in the brain, and if it did they would stop trying. I was in tears. I vehemently told Jeff that he couldn't let them take her off of life-support. At least not until I got there to say goodbye. He didn't say much, we'd talk more later. He was going to go talk to the doctor and wait. I was alone, so very, very alone. We had home teachers assigned to us, but I couldn't remember their names. So I looked up the phone number of Bishop Steffensen and called him. No one answered, and I left a message on their machine through my tears. As I sat there and grieved for my daughter, I wished desperately that they hadn't taken her. Why did they take her away from me?? Why couldn't I have just held her for an hour? I just wanted to have a relationship with my baby, if she had to die, couldn't she die with me? Then other thoughts forced their way through my grief. There had been so many close-calls. If I had waited until Saturday morning, she would have died. If I'd gone to St. George, that extra hour may have been too long. That bank of fog?? If they had gone to Provo first, they would have been transporting her to PCMC right now, because only PCMC had the ECMO machine she was needing. Heavenly Father was taking care of my baby, and he wouldn't let her die alone, I'd see her again. I was sure. I was fierce in my certainty, I practically growled at the demons in my head. "You can't have her!! She is my baby, and she is here to stay!! God wouldn't take her away from me now, not after all this!" I was a little concerned that I was being irreverent, but held onto the hope. Sister Steffensen returned my call then, Bishop was not home just now, but he'd be home soon, and would come see me right away. I told her I appreciated it, and that I just desperately needed a blessing. I needed some comfort, something more than the hope that had formed in my mind. I don't recall exactly which happened first. But 2 things happened. At 4 o'clock I got another phone call. It wasn't Jeff, it was the doctor. She had wanted to call me herself. Abby was finally stable. They hadn't needed the bypass. She didn't know how long recovery would take, or how much permanent damage there was but for now, Abby was fine. Jeff would tell me later that Abby was literally being prepped for surgery when the improvement started. It wasn't medicine that did it, it was Heavenly Father. Bishop Steffensen came in and gave me a blessing. In that blessing I was promised all that I had desperately prayed for earlier. In almost the very same words. A relationship with my daughter and she would live. I hadn't told Bishop what exactly I was wishing for, but someone had heard my prayers, and was answering them in a way I could not ignore.

I believe in Miracles. I believe in the power of the priesthood. I know that my daughter is a blessing straight from Heaven. She is my daughter, and she is incredibly special. There is so much more to tell about this story. The blessings Jeff and other worthy priesthood holders gave her. Men who were nearby in the hospital and could help him. I don't tell them now, because I was not there for them, and this story is what I remember about that day. There is more I'd like to share, but it will have to wait for another day. The miracle of her recovery. The impact she had on the people that helped her. The impact they had on us. The prayers of dozens of close-family members. The worries that my mother and husband hid from me. Then there is six years of wonderful life stories. Abby is my refining fire. She is intense, and stubborn, and loving, and smart. I am so grateful for her. I am so incredibly grateful for the priesthood power that kept her here. It is very, very easy for me to Give Thanks this time of year.

13-21 !!

Whoa. I have a lot I'd like to blog about, and really wanted to do this Blessing Blog daily this month. HAHAHA. Let's just say I've been busy.

13- I am grateful for Sisters. For all the women in my life that have had, or will have that role. Whether by birth, marriage, or pure survival bonding us together. For Irene who calls me, even though I'm horrible at calling her. For Melissa, who joined our family in a whirlwind and I'm so glad she did. For Emily, my baby sister who seems to like us as much as we like her, and has rightfully earned the title of Favorite Aunt to my kiddos. For Trisha, who lets me feel needed and is a fellow mother-of-kids-the-same-size-as-mine. For Bekah, whose fun detail oriented mind keeps the parties WAY nicer than anything I can pull off. For Helen, a wonderfully gracious woman. For Shelly, her smiles and spunk made me feel loved when my other sisters went so far away. For Leigh she's quiet, beautiful, and amazing, I just wish I knew her better. I'd love to spend more time with some of my sisters and get to know them better. It seems I blinked and suddenly I was surrounded by amazing women. Some new in my life, some just a lot more grown up. I am so grateful for my sisters.

14-I am grateful for second hand clothes. Why pay full price when it will look used just as soon as you wear it?? Hand-me-downs have really been a blessing for me. I have 2 little boys, and I've been blessed with lots of boy clothes, so that I don't really need to buy any play clothes at all. And this week, I had a neighbor give me a bag full of size 12 pants. Hurray!! Because those size 10s? Vanity sized. And those 14s? too big. Now I have pants that will fit me and my legs will not turn blue from frostbite.

15- I am grateful for Bountiful Baskets. I've been wishing I could join a produce co-op for years, but there weren't any in the area. Bountiful Baskets came to Cedar City in September, and I picked up my first basket on Halloween. Basically with a large group of people contributing we are able to buy produce at the same price the store gets it. I don't get to pick and choose, but I do get a large basket of produce for an excellent price.

16- I am grateful for a yeast infection that plagues my belly button. I don't know, don't ask. But if I've been eating too much sugar, boy oh boy does the flaming itch on my navel motivate me to change my ways.

17- I am grateful to be a nursing mom. So what if I'm super saggy and deflated, so what if I can't just run off for a whole week? I've lost all of my Willard-baby weight, plus an extra 30 pounds. And Aunt Flo hasn't come-a-calling for at least 13 months. (What is with that one random cycle 2 months post-partum???) Do I miss her? No not really.

18- I am grateful for color. All my life, or at least all that I can remember, I've lived in homes with whitish walls. But when we painted Abby's room pink, wow. It is so very fun having a colorful room. So I think it may just be catching and spread all around the house. I love our colorful world, I always have. My Grandmother Langford had a beautiful flower garden always full of many colors. Staring into the eyes of my little family, I'm amazed by all the facets of color in that one little spot. How dull would life be without color?

19-I am grateful for my education. I may just have an Associates degree from a community-just-turned-state college, but it has served me well. I may have spent all of my time taking practically redundant classes on child-development, but those have served me well too. I've also learned a few things from my various jobs and assignments working in preschool and with special needs kids. My first teachers in that field were my baby brothers therapists. I owe them so much. Without all of the knowledge gleaned from these sources, I'd be completely befuddled in Nursery. Some days, I still am.

20-I am grateful for dirty dishes. I am grateful for food thrown in the garbage can. I am grateful for hours spent in the kitchen. It means we have an incredible bounty of food to eat.

21- I am grateful for my Mother-In-Law. I think I have the best one in the world, really. She loves to spoil the kids, but her version is taking them outside and playing. She will do what I rarely condescend to and pretend to be whatever animal strikes Abby's fancy at the moment. She encourages dirt, thought, music, and imagination. She never tells us how to run our lives. (Well except to say that she thinks we shouldn't sell our car, but that is always a suggestion, not an order). And best of all, she raised the awesom-est sons in the world. They pitch in, they rock babies, they are gnetleman to the core, they respect their mother, but they put their wives first. There is only one left and he's just 18, sorry ladies.

Counting My Blessings 10-12

(This is totally harder than I thought it would be, sorry I'm not more consistent)

10-I am grateful for Kindergarten. Abby is having a wonderful time learning at school, making new friends, picking up on new things, interacting with OTHER people. I have had the opportunity to go and assist at the start of class a few times, and it really is so much fun working with little kids on classroom stuff again. It reminds me of when I was assisting at the DSC preschool, the kids are cute, friendly and oh-so-bright. Harvey tags along with Abby while I'm doing the parent-job and is none too happy when we leave. Willard gets into everything, I am going to have to figure out something else before I take him back in there. Abby has started sounding out and reading simple words. Today she read 'facts, moon, from, cheerios' and a few others. She also is starting to write out simple sentences to label her pictures 'early at school' looks like this 'R L Y A T SOSL' Personally I thought her spelling of early was dead on for sounding it out (and super cute). She is struggling some with counting to 30, she gets completely tripped up in the teens. If she remembers 14 and 15, the next in line is usually 51, lol. But we are going to practice some with the calendar. Which totally makes her giddy because her birthday is coming up very, very soon. I'm grateful for all that Kindergarten has offered Abby. I'm also grateful for the opportunity I have to bond with Harvey. I'll admit right up that reading blogs and For Better or For Worse usually takes most of my time. But today I unplugged the TV, and read to Harvey. We got sleepy holding each other in the rocker, and went to lay down on my bed. Harvey fell asleep and took a nap, for the first time in FOREVER. And he has still gone to bed at a decent hour. Oh yes, I am very grateful for Kindergarten.

11- I am grateful for my gym membership. I know I need to make better use of it, and as I sit here relaxing in my post-Pilates Class euphoria, I wonder why I hadn't gone in so long. There are many reasons for it, most of which can be classed under timing. But I've got to get back in there. Not only is it essential if I am to have any chance at all of shrinking my saggy baggy elephant skin. But the effects are almost as good as a massage. I can relax, my body stiffness almost melts away, I can get up and out of bed without silently cursing my various achy spots. Not that I wouldn't still appreciate a nice foot or back rub, but in general I feel much better. Ironic as it may sound, I also have more energy and fewer munchies. When Abby was a baby I was able to put her in the stroller and go for a walk on a nearby trail. Now that there are three kids and no trail, I am so very grateful for a gym membership. Now does anybody want to be my gym buddy??

12- I am grateful for my Bosch Mixer. And my NutriMill. We are out of bread right now, I made a double batch last week and it all got eaten that weekend. So tomorrow I need to mix up some fresh bread. And I am so glad I've got a mixer with the muscle to pull it off. When I first started making bread I was using my Kitchen Aid and although it is a nice mixer it could only do a half batch of bread at a time. Neither did it have the power to knead whole wheat dough until is was nice and smooth, so I got to do that. Whenever I got sick of that process and decided to buy bread, we'd go to church within a week and taste once again Sister Fife's bread. (Her son was bringing their bread to be used for the Sacrament.) ONE bite and I would automatically thing, "mmmm, real food". Now, I can't afford to buy 3 or 4 dollar loaves of real bread, so I make it. And I am very grateful for my Bosch mixer, which will take 12-16 cups of whole wheat flour and knead it into beautifully smooth dough. Dough that makes pretty decent bread. If I don't mess it up. :D

(Now that I've done that, I can remember a beautiful list of blog worthy blessings. Hopefully I'll still remember tomorrow!)

Counting Blessings-9th

9th Blessing- I am so truly grateful for Jeff and his work. Jeff has an amazing work ethic, and always has. It is a good thing because it offsets my procrastinating lazy self. Jeff has a good job, with great employers. He loves to work with them, and even though they put him on salary they let him work on the side for some extra. Because of this I am able to stay home and tend to my kids. Most women I know have had to get at least one job (many full time) to make ends meet in this economy. Jeff works hard with a good job and it pays all of our bills. I may often wish for more fun stuff/shopping in our budget, but really that is so unimportant. Jeff is good at what he does and loves finding challenges at work. It's a job that we can see keeping us here in Cedar City for life. A strange thing to imagine for me, but it is a lovely place for us to put down roots. Sometimes I feel like grumbling because of long hours, but Jeff tries to spend most of his non-working time with us. Several times he has turned down a men only activity in favor of staying home with us. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful and hardworking husband. Definitely one of my greatest blessings.

Counting Blessings

4th blessing- I am grateful we are a 2 car family. And I'm grateful I bought Abby 2 booster seats and a SKRadian before Willie was born. Because when the only key you have to the minivan disappears and you are supposed to be driving to St. George, it is nice to have another vehicle loaded with extra car seats to transport everyone in.

5th blessing- Sunshine. Really it is such beautiful glorious stuff. As is sending my kids out to play without having to run the gauntlet of snow gear. Yay for Indian summers.

6th blessing- Nap time. Specifically MY nap time.

7th blessing- A dog to walk because fresh air, a lovely sunset, and some time to myself can be hard to come by otherwise.

8th blessing- New days. Tomorrow is always another day, and I can start over again.

Month of Gratitude and Counting Blessings

Wow, what a brilliant idea. I got the idea from DeNae at My Real Life Was Backordered. I've been needing to count my blessings anyways. So for this month there will be at least 30 things I'm grateful for. One per day. Maybe more because I do have quite a list, and I'm going to try and name them one by one. Will you please fill up the comment boxes with some things that you are grateful for???

Nov 1st- This day I was especially grateful for Sacrament Meeting. Specifically Testimony meeting. I got to sit in Sacrament meeting with all of Jeff's brothers and sisters, I got to hear the wonderful testimonies of his mother and grandmother. And wondrously, the very first person who got up to bear a testimony was not a family member and spoke directly to me. About Counting Blessings (imagine that). I'm even grateful for FASTING. I pulled it off for the first time in probably 2 years, I tried once earlier but was nursing too often and got sick. Now that we are weaning I was able to fast, and it was wonderful. So there you go, I am GRATEFUL for Fast Sunday.

Nov 2nd- I am grateful for Doctors and generally good health. Harvey had a frightful coughing fit last night, and I got him an appointment in the morning. It's just and ear infection/sinusitis. No pneumonia, but if it was starting then the antibiotics for the earache should help any infection in the respiratory too. Despite the weeks of snot and coughs, there have been no fevers. Jeff is well and able to work. I am well and able to care for the kids. Abby is well and able to go to school. The boys, well they will be well soon!

Nov 3rd- I am grateful for my Saggy Baggy Elephant skin. Ok, really I hate it. But I'm grateful for it too. Why??? Well because, it's a mark of something I had to overcome. It's a mark of general improvement that I never thought was possible. I certainly hope that weight training will reduce the saggy baggies. It may never, but until it does I will be grateful that I no longer fill that skin so well. My kids may never need to be grateful for saggy baggies of their own.

Pictures!!

So I found my camera, uploaded the pictures, and here are mys super cute kids, and what they've been up to since umm August. :S

Abby wanted me to do her hair in a STAR. This was what I came up with, it isn't particularly good, but it was fun trying. Maybe this weekend we'll try again.

Her idea. Completely hers. Well actually, Harvey was quite agreeable.

Yes, she actually did succeed in pulling both of her brothers in the bike trailers. Smart, strong, clever girl!

My goofy little trick-or-treaters

Yes, that's more like it. Lovable, sweet, darling children.

Our Unicorn Keeper. Yes, I made the costume. Blood, sweat and tears (lots of tears) went into that robe. But it worked out in the end and she loved it.

Super Harvey!!! He kills bad cows, lol . He is so wonderfully imaginative. It's a boy thing I guess, but he always wants to be killing something or other. Why Super Harvey gets bad COWS I have no idea.

Yep I made the cape for this one too, and it turned out quite nicely if I do say so myself. No tears.

Tiger Cub. It was Abby's, then Harvey's. I don't quite dare say it- but I think my kids keep getting cuter. Is this not the cutest little boy anyone has ever seen? I mean really- sparkly eyes, toothy sweet grin. Freeze time here please. I can't bear the thought of him growing up.

A shot I got on his Birthday. He keeps trying to grab the camera when he sees it.

Ode to October 2009 (so far)

Crisp Fall Air

Beautiful colors

Apple and Pumpkin; Apple and Pumpkin!

Birthday Shopping!!

Size 10 pants?? Yes, really.

Conference and Inspiration

Baby Steps, walking baby.

Hopes, dreams, aspirations, goals

St.George Marathon by 2012

Dissapointments and tears

Baby Elephant at Hogle Zoo

Homemade Costumes

Cousins playing

Full nights sleep

Children playing in the wind

Mother staying busy- but a good busy

When you're doing what you should...

Heavenly Father will find a way to tell you so. Recently Jeff and I were able to go to Lagoon with his company for a retreat. It was for adults and nurslings (Willie) only so my wonderful sister agreed to take Abby and Harvey for 2 nights. She also agreed to watch Willie the first evening so we could attend the Provo temple while we were there. When a sitter and an opportunity to attend the Temple happen to come along at the same time, we try to take it. It was late in the evening, we still had a few hours of driving in front of us, and Willie is fussy in evening so we decided to do Sealings instead of a session.

When we signed in for sealings the Sister that helped us asked if we were just finishing- she had signed in Brother and Sister Pectol not very long ago. Jeff's brother Mike lives in Provo with his wife Helen- so we realized they were already there. She told us what time they should be done, and made a note that we would like to be excused when we were done with our portion of the Sealing session. We finished before they did and decided to take some time upstairs, just to feel the Spirit. We rather hoped they would go upstairs too and we would see them there. They never came upstairs, and after a time I felt like we should probably go. We went down the North stairways, and as we were rounding the corner to go down the second flight of stairs- there was Mike, sitting on a bench! We were looking for him, but he had no idea we were there- 3 1/2 hours away from home. As it turns out the Spirit very much orchestrated that meeting. Mike and Helen had been planning on doing a session, but at 36 weeks pregnant, Helen thought better of it. They had come to the Temple earlier in the evening, but decided to eat in the cafeteria first. Additionally there happened to be a much needed women's restroom (aaah 36 weeks pregnant what fun), with a bench just outside it, on the second floor, right by the stairs, which they had never seen before, and that is where we found them. Poor Helen wasn't certain where she was when she saw us- we don't belong in Provo, we belong in the St. George Temple. (Well we each belong in any Temple we can get too, but St George is our district.) Only 2 of Jeff's siblings attend the temple, and we have only gone with his family for weddings. So running into his brother there in the temple was the best blessing we could have gotten. Jeff said it made his day, his week, his year. Mine too.

Personally, Heavenly Father has expressed little things to let me know I'm doing fine too. When Jeff was gone overnight for work this last Thursday, the kids and I had a very smooth evening, even though it was a busy one. I was definitely sustained with Divine Help for that. My friend Tawnya called and let me know of some free peaches I could get, then helped me pick AND bottle them. (Great friend isn't she??) Then last night I invited another friend, Tia, to come with me to the General Relief Society Broadcast. I didn't want to go alone. She went with me, but while I was getting ready, another sister(actually in the ward) called to ask if I'd like a ride. That may seem like a very, very small thing. But it was an answer to a prayer, and a blessing for me. The messages last night were rather generic, but I still found ANOTHER answer to a prayer in them. Today in Nursery, it went so smoothly that I decided I won't beg to be released after all. It's been a very, very good week. Not all weeks are like this, and I know I will have bad days/weeks again. But right now I know I'm doing what I should- including trying to improve some things. Hopefully writing this down will make it easier to remember and be hopeful when life isn't so perfect. For now, I will go back to enjoying my Sabbath. After all, the Sabbath was made for man, and is a great blessing. Enjoy yours too.

A New Phase In Our Lives

Abby just started Kindergarten. Her first day of school was just yesterday. For months, a full year even, I've been looking forward to this for her. She is a bright and social little girl, and I didn't feel I was fully meeting her needs at home. With no children her age on our street she craves someone- a GIRL- to play with. Despite taking all the Early Childhood Ed classes I did, I'm not a good teacher at home. Home-schoolers have my highest respect. Harvey spends much of his day being railroaded by his strong willed sister. For all these reasons and more, we were looking forward to school. And then came the day. I couldn't believe it, my baby in school. I had to put some effort into not crying when I would think about it. But off she went, and she loved it. She 'sang her song' (recited a poem) for me that night. All about Inch the Worm and the things he ate. Very funny, Harvey has adopted it now too. Up until now, our lives have been fairly unstructured. That is definitely changing now. Just having Abby in school will be forcing a routine upon us, and while I was worried I now look forward to it. Yesterday was kind of a bad day for it- I was a minute late dropping her off and picking her up because I lost track of time, and Willie was asleep. Now we will have to have a regular nap time, that ends in time to pick her up. Regular lunch hour- that allows her to get there on time. And mom is going to have to stop sitting at the computer all day. I confess her entire first day of school blew by while Willie napped, Harvey played, and I surfed the net. NO MORE. My first project is to get the house dejunked and decluttered for a yard sale. I need to make more space so that Abby can have Willie's room and the boys can share. Currently Willie shares with clutter. I'm not sure what I'll do after that, but I hope to incorporate projects for Harvey, and some true home-making. Hanging up pictures will be a good place to start. We needed a schedule, and now I have a good starting point. In fact, it's time for me to go get her RIGHT NOW. See you all later- bye for now

Goblins and Guardians

There is a goblin following me around, I'm absolutely sure of it. He likes to take things I will need and move them. As far as I can tell he doesn't just hide them, he moves them to another dimension. How else can the loss of the memory card for our camera be explained?? Friday I used the last of the juice in my camera batteries to get a few shots of Willie on his birthday. Then I sat down at the computer, plugged the memory card into the flash drive, and waited for the download window to pop up. My intention was to blog about my baby and this big milestone. Well, I was surfing the net while waiting (sometimes my computer is incredibly slow) Willie was crawling around, Polly was around, all the kids were in the living room and went nowhere at all. I looked back down at the computer to see if the card was in right, because it still hadn't started to load. It was GONE. Poof, vanished. As I said nobody had gone anywhere, but Willie had been down there, so we started to search the living room. Nope it's gone. LONG gone. Not a trace. It is possible that the dog ate it, but I don't think she could just swallow it whole and there are no pieces to be found, neither have I found any evidence of it passing. So we have a goblin, definitely a goblin. He has also taken the battery charger for the camera (last of the juice used up remember?), and Harvey's floaty vest. Which brings us to the guardian.

Last night we had a swim party with Jeff's company. I had kept the kids floaty suits on top of the laundry sorter, and went to get them into the bag. Abby's was there, Harvey's was not. We spent 20 minutes looking in all the places we could think of for that floaty vest. When Harvey is wearing that suit and in a floaty ring, he has a lot of fun just leaping into the water and playing. I felt horrible when we couldn't find it for him. But off we went, nothing to be done. Later Jeff was helping Abby in the restroom, and I was watching Willie on the deck. Harvey was wearing his water wings in the pool. The pool we were at has a large ledge that creates a kiddie depth at one end, with a drop off into water 3-4 feet deep. There were quite a few people in the water, including adults, and some giant inner tubes. Earlier this summer I had read an article about pool dangers. It pointed out that small children do not splash or yell, and most accidents happen when a parent assumes that one of the other adults close enough is keeping watch. When you are swimming with 3 small children and 2 adults there is the chance that one will be unsupervised for a while. I remembered the article at that moment, and looked up to see the inner tubes crowding Harvey on the ledge some bigger kids were pushing them around, and it looked like he might just get pushed off the edge. Yep, pretty sure he's off the edge. I stand up and drop my stuff, to go ask someone to push him back. His water wings were holding him up OK, but he was floundering, then just as I got to the edge of the pool, down his head goes. There was an adult 2 feet away from him, but no, they weren't looking. I jumped right, in grabbed him up, and held him tight. He was sputtering and scared, but otherwise fine. We got out and dried off, he ate a few chips, then got back in when Daddy was back. I am so very grateful for the guardian that whispered into my head that article. I don't know how bad it would have been if not, but everything is fine now so it doesn't matter really. The goblin can take my stuff. I can replace it. I'd really like to find the card so I can have those pictures, but I have what matters- my kids.

Girly Day

Or that's what Abby likes to call it. Friday afternoon Jeff's brother called and said there was some emergency work to be done on family property, and could he borrow our car so he could go get it done? We have asked them to borrow our car if they need it, as they are currently a one car, 2 job, live next to nowhere family. So we said of course. Saturday morning Jeff asked if he could be of any assistance, and decided to go help too. That is when Harvey started begging to go. So it worked out that Jeff took Harvey and the dog with him and Abby and I had the day to ourselves- baby in tow.

She rode her bike over to the playground while I helped get Harvey ready to go, then Willie and I went to meet her. It's hard to believe I have a child old enough to ride a bike and go somewhere without me, but she is basically there. After we played on the playground we came home and cleaned up the garage while Willie napped, so we could park the van in it again. Abby was a great help, sweeping and picking up garbage for me, while I hung up bikes and lifted things to shelves. It wasn't a hard job, but it was one of those things that was very nice to get done. Abby had done a lot of listening to stories to earn reading minutes, and her prize was a Happy Meal certificate. I got a certificate for a premium salad for doing the reading. So off we went to McD's for lunch. The last time we went to a play place it was no fun at all and the kids kept getting stuck. But apparently they've upgraded- adding in Foosball, air hockey, and basketball. That's in addition to the traditional tunnel maze, which Abby really loved. Her favorite thing is to play in the tunnel slides on the school playground. Next on the agenda was dropping off stuff in the back of the car- recycling and a stroller for DI. The recycling center seems to have shut down. The gates are closed, very frustrating. We went over to DI to drop off a too bulky single stroller, and found a nice compact one for just 3 dollars. Then we went inside and found that they were having a clearance sale- several racks were just one dollar. I was able to buy Abby quite a bit of fun clothes so now she has some that will work for school. Not new, but that is actually a good thing, I think. I was also able to get some onesies for Willie, and some tshirts for me. Best thing though was I ran into a friend from St George at my Cedar City DI. We came home, had a fashion show, and kicked back to relax. All in all it was a busy but good day.

*****

Ok so now that I've bored you to tears with the play by play of our Girly Day, I'm going to just make this longer and say how grateful I am. Abby is my personal challenge. She's very dramatic, and precocious, and I am not sure what to do with her most of the time. I usually find myself expecting her to behave much more grown up than her actual age, or treating her like she still is incapable of doing anything. Maybe it is because she's the oldest, and I'm still figuring this out?? At least partly. I have tried in the past to take time with just her, but have struggled with enjoying what she wants to do. Yesterday was a good mix. I found myself really enjoying watching Abby playing on the play ground and the Playplace. I didn't have any of my sort of thing to do, just hold the baby and watch her. Usually that would drive me batty, but I really was able to enjoy it. I had fun shopping, and while she got a little bit bored, it was mostly about her so she enjoyed it too. Abby and I were really able to just enjoy each other and that one on one time when I didn't have to worry about Harvey or the dog was really very nice. Jeff and Harvey had a good time too. They spent the day chasing cows and mending fences. Harvey occupied himself digging cow-traps, lol. Harvey declared he didn't miss me at all when they got home today- and I didn't miss him much either. Yet it was absolutely wonderful seeing him again. We need to take more opportunities to enjoy our children on a personal level. They are quite different people on their own. I don't know if Harvey will ever be as excited to spend time with me instead of Daddy, or if Abby will get quite as thrilled about a Daddy Date as she does Girly Time. But soon we will do it- split them up and enjoy them, then come back together as a family appreciating each other even more.

Parenting Perceptions

Parenting is the most important responsibility available to us in this life. To raise our little ones and teach them all they need to know. To discipline appropriately, provide support and love. To feed, clothe, bathe, teach. There are so many different aspects to it, they simply cannot all be listed. Suffice it to be said that this parenting thing consumes my days, my nights, my thoughts, my heart.

For the last 5 years and 8 months the well being of my child(ren) has been the number one concern in my life. From the moment I checked into the hospital to have Abby, it is something I always worry about. What can I do for them? What if I'm doing it wrong? Am I too harsh? Too lax? How do I teach them? Really it's just one great big huge question mark riddled with a lot of underlying doubt about my abilities. Ultimately, this is a good thing. Parenting really does require, above all else, humility. Humility to know that I don't know the answers and that I must rely on Heavenly Father in order to parent these little ones. With His help, and the examples of good mothers around me, I feel like I'm doing fine. I know that I need to give my children love first and foremost. But it doesn't take much to change my perceptions again. With one single comment I can end up doubting my abilities entirely.

"You train your kids to be clingy." "I'd send her straight to timeout." "Your kids are really picky eaters and you cater to it." Comments like these trap me emotionally- just like a deer in headlights. I can't help but wonder "What am I missing? Really what MORE do you expect?!?" I have put a lot of energy into doing what's best for my kids, and somehow it's all wrong? In short order I feel quite defensive and ready to fight it out about my parenting style. I haven't yet, but I kind of wanted to all the same. Of course, the logical part of me knows that my defensiveness is a red flag in and of itself. What am I so defensive about exactly? Maybe there is something to those comments? Then again, maybe it's just because of people they come from. When someone close and with lots of history has a criticism for me, I take it personally. My perception becomes completely skewed. My imagination runs wild with the thought of previously loving eyes turned into critical ones. I am absolutely convinced (for a while) that my every move is being observed an criticized. Nothing is less helpful when dealing with drama from children than worrying what other people think.

What other people think. How it skews our perceptions. I know in my heart and mind that I shouldn't let what other people think change my perception so much. Especially my self perception. And yet it does. Fortunately, there are the other things too. An Aunt who sent me an email telling me I'm a good mom. Friends who are willing to confess to their personal parenting trials and let me know that I'll get through this too. I really appreciate those, more than I can ever share in words. I hope I can pay it forward and help those around me keep their perspective. Because really we are all doing just fine.

Worth A Thousand Words

Sunday, just before dinner- We'd had a busy week.

There really is nothing sweeter than sleeping children.

What Abby sees...

through the lens of our camera. And what happens when she enlists Harvey's help. So I let Abby use our camera for a little bit, a few of them Harvey took, but Abby was definitely deciding what he should take.

Our Camping Trip

Well now that I have 2 comments on this post already- I'll actually take a minute and tell all about our camping trip! My original plan for the 4th was to stay in town and enjoy the festivities but when Jeff said he'd like to take advantage of the 3 day weekend and go camping, that sounded better. Then the weather started looking ominous, but we decided to brave it anyways. We went to Panguitch Lake and stay in the South Campground. It was really nice. It was our first time in the area and it is so very pretty we are looking forward to going again. So, the run down...

Abby and Harvey had fun collecting pine cones, rocks, and a few wildflowers. They dug in the dirt, climbed on rocks, and played with Polly. Polly had a great time getting herself tied up with the long line we brought for her. Willie was not so sure about the whole thing. He likes to be able to explore but a crawler in the dirt- not so much. He got really mad at first every time I put him in the play pen so my arms could have a break. But eventually he got used to it and we all were able to kick back and enjoy. We got there Friday by lunch time and got the tent up, had lunch, and then proceeded to set up our big screened canopy- after all rain was in the forecast. Jeepers, in the past we've had all the Pectol men to get that thing set up, this time it was just us, so we tried to enlist Abby and Harvey's help. Abby did great with most of it, but Harvey had a hard time figuring out how to move with us. But eventually we got it up and moved it over the picnic table. Saturday we went to Panguitch and enjoyed some indoor Kiddie games during a rain/hail storm. We went to Brian Head for fireworks that night and were able to attend Sacrament meeting at the little chapel Sunday morning. I forgot to pack a skirt for myself and Abby but we saved our nicest clothes, scrubbed everyone clean and went in jeans. It was a really good experience. It was nice to know that I can feel the spirit and reverence just by preparing my best, whatever that may be. It also helped to see others doing the same, but next time I'll try to remember a skirt. The pictures loaded backwards (one day I'll remember to put them in the other way) so I'll just explain our highlights in reverse I guess.

The kids and I in the lake. The original plan was to just let them get their feet wet since it was Sunday before we made it to the lake (rain) but after Harvey fell in and got all wet I just went with the suits. They'd been looking forward to the lake all week and really enjoyed it. I did too- the water was great. Jeff wasn't interested and Willie was asleep.

Jeff and Harvey watching fireworks while Harvey works on the BRAT diet. Yep, he needed it. Sorry about the finger- it was dark outside!

Abby's unicorn. She got her face painted in Panguitch and was so thrilled with the unicorn, I promised to take a picture before it all washed off.

Willie and I during our wienie roast. He has such a good smile and is so fun to hug.

Jeff, Abby, and Harvey during the roast on Saturday. It's smokey, but was the best shot to see all 3 and Harvey's marshmallow goo.

On our way for our first hike/walk. My hat looked like a good idea. But it kept flopping in my face and didn't last. My kids are sure super cute though!

Abby and Harvey Friday afternoon. Harvey was cranky and wanted to test his sleeping bag. It was cute, but no it didn't actually result in a nap.

Willie napped though! Waiting while Mommy helped Daddy set up camp was an exhausting job for a little guy I guess.

When life slows down-

There isn't much to blog about. My friend Tia had her baby in February- he's over 4 months old now and I wanted to go see him and help her out when he was brand new. But since he's been around my fmaily has either been sick, busy, and/or in recovery from the madness. But this last Friday I actually had a chance and Ic alled her up to see if we could come for a visit. She was planning on going over to the park for a music fest and said we could meet them there. It was great. I took the kids and the dog, we went to the park and enjoyed the extrememly pleasant weather. We even enjoyed some of the music. Our kids got to wrestling- knock down drag out, chase each other and tackle wrestling- which was kind of funny because usually Abby whines 'I don't like to play rough' when other kids are playing. We came home and got the kids some dinner and to bed then Jeff went and picked up a redbox movie for date night. We got Faith Like Potatoes because I thought it sounded good and had an A rating. I really really don't recommend it for entertainment. I like faith inspiring stories, but this movie never got me to connect with the primary characters at all. And then it didn't really seem like a story of hidden faith growing as it was a story of sharing faith- It was very much the kind of movie you will find in the Church Library except it was an Evangelical ministry movie. We stayed up til 12:30 because it got started late, and it really wasn't worth the missed sleep. At least it was only a dollar. As soon as I'm done posting this we are going to head out for a family drive to find a good camping spot for this weekend. Hurray for a 3 day weekend!! Hurray for camping!

Last night Jeff put Harvey in a shirt my sister made last year that says "Small Fry" on it. Harvey asked what it said, then informed Jeff that he wasn't the small fry any more- Willie is the small fry now and Harvey is the "Big Fry" Kids really do grow to fast.

Sweet Baby Boy

Willie is 10 months old now, plus a week. I started a post when he had turned 9 months to announce his crawling, and never finished it. I did post about the puppy, right? Well apparently the puppy motivated Willie to start moving around too. For most of my readers this is not news- you've all seen him at it since then! It has made him a much more content baby because being set down on the floor is now an opportunity for adventure rather than a sure sign of abandonment. Right now Willie is just full of life and character. He loves his mommy, hates his bed. He has an incredibly expressive little face, and is just funny to watch. (He was pretty thrilled with himself when he was up and wide awake with everyone else before 6 am, thought that was great fun. I disagree.) He is starting to stand without support for a few seconds, and cruising will come very soon I just feel it. My sweet little baby boy is growing up way too fast, so I'm trying to enjoy it while it lasts.

what weve been up to

I finally uploaded the pics from my camera and was reminded of how things have been around here lately, or recently, or not so much. All of these pictures were taken in the months of April and May.

This is Harvey after he got into some yummy smelling lotion that was on the floor. His explanation? " Look Mom I'm a pancake with SYRUP!! (hahaha giggle giggle)"

The kids set themselves up a lovely little tea party- complete with center piece- right after we brought in the kid table I inherited from my parents. If only it were still that clean

Just before Easter Willie broke out in hives. Scared the bejeepers out of me. It was most likely a reaction to the lobelia drops I had used the night before to help his earache. And of course, being a holiday weekend the Doctors office was closed so we went to Instacare.

Another Harvey episode. He actually did this the day before the lotion. Yes, that is GLITTER all over the kids room. Their messy room, and thus the toys. But it did motivate us to clean up. Alas, it never does stay that way.

Will update more later on the other happennings since the arrival of our dog, and maybe even on surviving the weddings of our younger sisters with 3 kids in tow. Either that or I will just block it from my memory permanently.

Our Cups Runneth Over

Well has it really been just a week since I posted that email because I had nothing to blog about? Ha ha the laughs on me. I considered titling this, 'Biting Off More Than We Can Chew', but decided to stay optimistic about all of our blessings. After a mad mad mad month of not being home on weekends, we had a Saturday at home, oh YEAH! In just one day at home my cup began to fill up, and quickly started running over. Our day started with an easy breakfast and then clearing out our old garden spot, a new spot for a strawberry patch, and measuring off the fence for grapes. We went over to LadyBug Nursery and got 4 grape plants, 6 new strawberry plants, a six pack of Rainbow Peppers, a six pack of grape tomatoes, a 6 pack of pear tomatoes, a 6 pack of sugar snap peas, and a packet of wild flower seeds for Abby. We will start the zucchini from seeds.
My cup is Full. I'm not planting a garden with any aspirations of bottling, no sir. This garden is all about the joy of eating, and being healthy. I'll work up to bottling some day. After arriving home with all of our lovely plants we know we need to hunt down some mulch, at a hopefully better price than the nursery had. So during lunch I called up my good friend Tia and ask where the stuff they put in their garden. Walmart, of course. Willie was worn out so Jeff and Harvey went to Walmart while Abby and I stayed home to clean up and clear out a patch for her flowers, I also started digging the holes for the grapes. Jeff calls and asks if he can get ---- I am not so sure but I don't like to tell my husband NO, I'm not his boss. So I tell him so, I don't really think so but whatever. What does Jeff come home with? Peat moss, soil conditioner, manure, potting soil, stepping stones, landscape edging stones, and a puppy.
Yes a PUPPY. Overflow. Really life is just too perfect in it's way right now. Jeff got the grapes and strawberries planted (oh happiness). Yesterday my sister and new brother in law stopped on their way home from Vegas, we had Jeff's mom over to teach us a little about dog behavior and training. Our garden is shaping up to be beautiful, the kids are thrilled about the puppy, and I'm just grateful for such simple pleasures that God has blessed us with. I'm also really intimidated and overwhelmed. But when I focus on the blessings, it seems like I'll get through it.

Just too funny

My Aunt recently sent me this email, since I was laughing so hard I had tears rolling down my face, I decided to share

25 REASONS I OWE MY MOTHER

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE .'If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.'

2. My mother taught me RELIGION .'You better pray that will come out of the carpet.'

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL .'If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!'

4. My mother taught me LOGIC .'Because I said so, that's why.

'5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC .'If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me.'

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT .'Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident.'

7. My mother taught me IRONY 'Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about.'

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS .'Shut your mouth and eat your supper.'

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM .'Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!'

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA .'You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone.'

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER .'This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.'

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY .'If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!'

13 My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE .'I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.'

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION .'Stop acting like your father!'

15. My mother taught me about ENVY .'There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't havewonderful parents like you do.'

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION .'Just wait until we get home.'

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING .'You are going to get it when you get home!'

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE .'If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way.'

19. My mother taught me ESP .'Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?'

20. My mother taught me HUMOR .'When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me.'

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT .'If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up.'

22.M y mother taught me GENETICS.'You're just like your father.'

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS .'Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?'

24. My mother taught me WISDOM .'When you get to be my age, you'll understand.'

25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE'One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!'

Tiny Dancer

Isn't she a beautiful little girl? Abby got to be the 'flower girl' for my sisters wedding on Saturday, and she loved it. I forgot my camera in the packing process but my Aunt took this and emailed it to me (Thanks Kim!) Abby loved her dress, her basket of flowers, and wearing flowers in her hair. She was charming and sweet the whole time and , as usual, hammed it up for the camera. The best part of the night for her came when Irene and Jens had their dance and then opened the floor for everyone. Abby was able to get all of my brothers, her daddy, and Harvey to dance with her. I took a turn with her and so did the bride. Long after everyone else quit Abby and Ian were dancing. She danced the whole time. When the reception was finally over she was so tired she could barely walk to the car, but since Jeff and I were carrying her brothers she had no choice. To express just how she felt Abby said "I'm tired, my feet hurt. I wish I didn't HAVE any feet!!" I love this girl.

Its a conspiracy

There is so much I would like to blog about right now, but I'm going to keep it brief(er) and stick with this one particular point for now. It would seem that combined circumstances (maybe the universe) are conspiring against me. Or maybe just for me. Willie is going on 9 months old now and if its anything like the last 2 kids, that means I'm PMSing. Yes indeedy Aunt Flo is getting ready to come back and visit me again. Here is where the conspiracy comes into play- Jeffs brothers and their wonderful wives are ALL expecting babies. And it's relatively newish news on all fronts.

Matt and Leigh just found out they are expecting a Girl. Oh a baby girl, I miss having a baby girl. I saved all of Abby's so so so cute baby girl things, and they have been sitting in storage for 5 years. Additionally John and Trisha just got an unexpected surprise- number 4 will be arriving in December. Trisha and I have shared most of our pregnancies, and while we probably lied when we said it the first time- it was actually kind of fun. And it is definitely a LOT of fun having kids the same age. Cousins are just the best built in buddies. For cousins are allowed to do sleepovers, and other friends aren't. Cousins will be there at all the family things, cousins will learn your funny little quirks and love you anyways- because they don't actually have to spend every day with you like your brothers and sisters do. At the moment all of my kids have at least one cousin less than 3 months younger, and other cousins pretty close in age too. It seemed likely to happen again- Mike and Helen were going to wait 5 years to have kids, and that is next year. I think I'd be ready for baby number 4 next year. You've probably guessed by now- Mike and Helen are pregnant. Yes indeedy they decided not to wait so long after all and just told us that they will have their first shortly after Matt and Leigh do.

I'm telling you it's a conspiracy. It's not JUST being the only Sister-in-law that isn't pregnant. My sister Irene is getting married this week, and Jeffs sister Shelly gets married on the 30th. When our brothers were married and we went to their sealings I was pregnant, both times. It could be an interesting coincidence to continue. And the PMS thing. Has anyone else ever noticed how PMS and early pregnancy symptoms are so terribly similar? Cramps, mood swings, hunger, nausea, sore boobs. So just for good measure and peace of mind I took a pregnancy test this morning. Nope not pregnant. Ok now I know and I can stop thinking the crazy "I must be pregnant" thoughts. Willie isn't even 9 months old yet. I'd like to get down to my goal weight, wouldn't that be cool?? We only have 5 seat belts- and already have 5 people. So having more time before we announce baby number 4 is really a good thing. I still look forward to having that baby number 4 (and 5, and hopefully 6, and we'll just have to see what happens). But meanwhile I will enjoy the time I get with my 3 kids, and I'll start making slings for presents. Maybe in a year or so I'll be the onve makign room. And who knows? Maybe Irene or Shelly will get an earlier than planned for blessing so number 4 can have a twinny cousin too. (bwahahaha)

Procrastination, or Paved with Good Intentions

The story of my life. Quite seriously. I am a procrastinator. In fact, this was the post I meant to put up last week. Yeah. But better late than never. I completely FORGOT to memorize D&C 4 that first week. We got to class and the returned missionaries started jumping up and reciting it and I was just kicking myself. But one of the other class members had high-councilman duties during class and wanted a chance too, so Brother Elliott gave us another week. Aren't I lucky? I still put off memorizing it, intending to do so in the car on the way to/from Provo this last weekend. Yeah, right. Fortunately I was able to study it some while sitting in the chapel waiting at the Temple. I memorized the last half during Sacrament Meeting today while I sat in another room with Willie. I did recite it word for word during Sunday School. The price of my procrastination was a heart that I thought was literally going to race right out of my chest. Something I've heard about but never experienced before. I wasn't sure I had it memorized, and was so nervous. I didn't pass out, I did completely freeze a few times, but I also passed it off. I think I get that plane ride. Jeff just informed me that the teacher wanted to talk to me, but I had been unavailable.

I also put off until the last minute the organization of some file folder games that my Relief Society was doing for a Humanitarian project. This particular project was started last AUGUST. Yes, they have been sitting around colored, waiting for the next step for 8 months. My excuse is that I did not know what to do with them because I wasn't around when they were started- having just had my baby. But the honest truth is I hadn't even LOOKED at them in that time. So I had no idea what they needed. And our good President has followed up on me, and put them on the schedule for Thursday, April 23rd. So on Monday Caralee called to see if I need help, I confessed I had no idea. Tuesday I finally pulled them out and checked. I counted out pieces to make sure all the games were complete, then that evening I went and bought the files, scissors, and glue sticks so that they could be assembled. Then since we were leaving town on Thursday, I did deliver them to Caralee before the scheduled activity. They've turned out very nicely. Now I just need to figure out how to laminate an envelope for pieces to it. Once it's laminated how does it open?? If one of you knows, and can share that would be great.

Let me see, what other great procrastinations are recent enough to be worth confessing? Irene's bridal shower is rapidly moving up that list. The invitations are out, except for 2 I need to find addresses for. I did forget to take the extra invitations to my mother so she could give them to a few neighbors. She's in Germany now so that is not happening. On the other hand, I actually DID order all the kids clothes for Shelly's wedding. 4 little dresses, and 4 little knicker suits for all the nieces and nephews. More on that later, I promise. I did procrastinate cleaning up our picnic on Friday and ended up being late for Irene's convocation. But that also worked out nicely because my family sat with Mike, Melissa, and Aidyn in an adjoining area in extremely comfortable chairs, we could hear fine, Harvey stretched out on the floor and fell asleep, Abby ran around, and the baby's babbled and played. It was great. It seems that somehow my procrastinations have been working out just fine lately. But I bettered not push my luck. I really do have good intentions to do these things- but we all know where that road leads. Anna Flambe, yummy.