Pictures.

Do any of you find time to take pictures of your third child?  Neither do I. 

This was the most recent from the camera- taken Jan. 5th.  She was 2 months old.  

Slightly newer-March 5.  4 months old.  Thank you computer cam.

Don't be fooled by that serious face- I think she was just focused on computer screen.  In truth, she's quite the smiler and has WILD hair.  It usually stands straight UP.  

See?

Maybe one of these days I'll get one with the camera again... maybe...

Rambling

Nothing specific.  Just a thoughtful Sunday afternoon.
I've recently modified how I'm studying my scriptures and I've started writing in my journal again.  (Does that mean I'll blog less? Who knows.  It can't get much worse.)
And I've started making more concrete goals for myself.
Study.  So you miss school?  Study.  The scriptures are waiting.  There is lots of good literature around! (My new scripture study plan is helping...)
Laugh more.  Scold less.  Your children are funny and aren't TRYING to make more work for you.
Think more before you talk.
Exercise. Ouch.
Call/Talk to the people you care about more.  
Make home a nice place to be- where they'd CHOOSE... if toddlers got to choose that.
Take more pictures of my kids.
Play inspirational and just GOOD music more often.  My mom often played good music- I can still hum along to Enya and many Motab CDs thanks to the Sunday Morning music that always made the house feel better. I want this for my kids.
Look for opportunities to serve. Random acts of kindness.
Enjoy.
Like all my goals- most of these are far easier said than done, that doesn't mean I'm not trying, or that I forget or mess up or fall on my face.  But I can always try again.  Isn't that a beautiful thing?  I think so.

Lent

Lent begins tomorrow.  Some give up sugar.  Not I. (Though I should.)  Some give up sins.  I'm trying.  But my goal for Lent this year is to give up clutter and junk.  Sounds odd- I know.  I'm wholeheartedly buying into trying to keep life SIMPLE.  We've been in our home now about 3 1/2 years and I keep wondering how we've accumulated so much!  Though much of it was discounted/free, we still have too much.  We don't need THINGS to be happy.  So using a great idea from Clover Lane I'm about to embark on the 40 bags in 40 days challenge.  Here's how it goes.  Each day of Lent (and I'm skipping weekends) you pick an area of your home.  Some areas will require more than one day- and that's fine.  Each day you organize, declutter, and improve that area.  Sort out what you keep, what gets moved to another belonging place, what you donate and what you toss.  Simple sounding- harder in practice.  The goal is to remove or donate 40 bags of "stuff" you don't need, don't use, and doesn't contribute to the environment you want in your home.  My areas are (and there are only 31 because of weekends):
Filing cabinent x3 (wow- there's a LOT there that could go- I might get 3-4 bags here!)
Office shelves
Game Drawers
Cleaning Closet
Man Bathroom
Master Bathroom
H Toys
E Toys
Basement Toys
My closet .... my hardest spot!
King's closet
Laundry/Craft room x 2
Baby Gear and totes
Utility Room x 2
Built in cupboard x2
Kitchen x 3
Garage x 3
Shed x 2
Piano books and books
Car
Guest room closet
Linen shelves

Now, I don't have to go in order- I just have to complete one area a day. I plan on having the kids help so I 1) go faster, 2) include them, and 3) hopefully teach them we want to stay organized and SIMPLE as a family!
Wish me luck... I'm fairly sure I'm going to need it...

Birthdays

We've had a few birthdays around here.
1) An actual birth... and all of a sudden she's three months old!
2) Sister turned "three."  Not really- just two- but I'd like to see you tell her that.
3) King turned an undisclosed amount- to which my younger brother declares- he's almost fourty!  Not true folks, not true. 
While my keeping-up-to-date skills are sadly lacking- you need to know a few things about these birthday people!

1) The littlest is a joy.  She may have given us a run for our money the first few months, but she's learned to smile and she's learning to sleep.  Those two things make ALL the difference.  I'm so glad she's here- even if we don't get much done around the house or eat real breakfasts anymore.  Its worth it... and we'll learn.

2) Sister is a growing, learning, copying, independent girl.  I can only imagine what she'll be like as a young woman.  I hope she keeps her self confidence in her ability to do things on her own and applies her will to doing great and wonderful things.  She's learning more words by the day- mostly by imitating big brother and I think she enjoys hearing herself sing and talk!  She loves to "help people" and can frequently be found "helping" baby by putting the binki back in her mouth- whether or not she wants it or is even awake.

3) King is a noble, kind, wonderful soul who is often overshadowed in my mentionings (mostly because he's not mischevious or terribly spontaneous).   He is so fantastically helpful coming home from LONG days of work.  He jumps right in - delighting waiting children with games of chase, wrestling, story telling etc.  He is dearly, dearly loved.  (Pictures of him to come.... crying baby.  Part two... later...)

Thinking

I get bouts of sentimentality (if that's a word).  I keep thinking of funny things I need to record here for posterity's sake.  Like the fact that Lady loves the word "self" newly developed to "by myself!"  (Also heard as "I do it!"  It's her new middle name.  She's and independent one- watch out world!  Today she refused to finish her breakfast.  The routine is no snack when this happens.  While I nursed the little one, sister disappeared.   Where did I find her?  On the counter eating a bag of cookies we baked yesterday.  She got up there by her "self!" Ahh....  I hope that's more funny one day than it was this morning.  Or like the fact that brother LOVES the new Leap Frog video sister got for her birthday.  He's watched it a dozen times (its only 25 min long folks) and she's not made it through once!  He keeps asking me about space storms and other serious questions like, "what's a hydro-pergo ergonoimic energy cell, Mom?"  Seriously.  He listens closely to things- especially things he loves.  (In case you're wondering- its a Math video- and the frogs are asking the space ship - I think- what it uses for fuel.  Its a hydro...something!)
There are also sweet things- like how the littlest smiles and coos when you turn her to face you!! She is a GREAT smiler!  Brother eats it up and is constantly kissing her.  He also loves to come over and kiss my arm- or whatever body part is closest when he's feeling especially loving or when I'm having a hard day.   Not wanting to be left out, child number 2 will usually follow- squishing baby's head while she kisses her and then coming over for an awkward, sweet- 2 year old hug for me.  Since they are few and far between from her to me- I try to soak them up.
Back to being sentimental now. Tonight I read the saddest story.  Unfortunately it was true.  A mom in Australia lost her son to a life-long illness this last October.  Then, while on a family holiday a few weeks ago, she suddenly lost her husband to a massive heart attack.
Now, I can't imagine losing a child.  But to lose a child AND my husband in a brief four month span (let alone a life-long span) would be devastating.  And I got to thinking.  My first thought was, "I'd be crushed."  My second was, "What- where's your faith?  You aren't given more than you can handle.  There must be a reason."  Trust me- that's more than I could handle.  And then I kept reading.  Their family motto seems to have been, "Don't count the days, make the days count."  They had only expected their son to live two to four years.  He got ten!  They tried to make the most of the life they had together.  And now it means DOUBLY more.  Her husband was only 39.  She talks about some wonderful moments they had together just the last week of his life.  NOT KNOWING his life was to be cut short like they expected their son's life to be.  And I got to thinking- am I making the most of my life?  Suppose King, or any of my children were gone tomorrow- would I be happy remembering the great times we'd had- within the last week or throughout our lives- or would I regret my angry words, or my frustrated sighs.  Would I laugh thinking of how BOTH my older children had bodily-fluid incidents this morning (which I DO NOT do well with) and how they both looked at me so proudly- or would I remember how I scolded BOTH of them in my dismay that I would be cleaning up TWO messes.  In brother's defense- he MEANT to aim in the toilet and didn't realize he'd missed- he was just proud for "making it in time!", and in Sister's- she was trying to change her diaper FOR me.  How helpful.  I hope I remember that she was sincere.  And I hope I remember this family's situation so next time I can laugh, thank her for her help, and more patiently help her understand that some jobs are just mommy jobs. 
So I'm trying.  I'm GOING to do better.  I'm going to talk softer- explain quieter and more sincerely when I have to correct, and I'm going to let myself laugh at antics (before correcting them) more than I scold.  Ooh- this is hard for me.  I am a perfectionist in too many things - my children are not a project- they are human- little humans at that.  They don't need perfecting as much as they need loving.  So here's to changing my mantra and making days count- not counting days, or messes, or seeming disasters to clean up.
Just breath- and enjoy- and make the day count.
I read the best poem/quote a while back which I've now taped to my dining room cupboard.  I hope it changes my life.

Today is here.

I will start with a smile, and resolve to be agreeable.

I will not criticize.  I refuse to waste my valuable time.

Today has one thing in which I know I am equal with others- Time.

All of us draw the same salary in seconds, minutes, hours-

24 Golden Hours each day.

Today I will not waste my time,

Because the minutes I wasted yesterday

Are as lost as a vanished thought.

Today I refuse to spend time worrying about what might happen.

I am going to spend my time making things happen.

Today I am determined to study to improve myself,

For tomorrow I may be wanted, and I must not be found lacking.

Today I am determined to do things I should do.

I firmly resolve to stop doing the things I should not do.

Today I begin by doing and not wasting my time.

In one week I will be miles beyond the person I am today.

Today I will not imagine what I would do if things were different.

They are not different.

I will make a success with what material I have.

Today I will stop saying, “If I had time,”

For I never will “find time” for anything-

If I want time I must take it.

Today I will act toward other people

As though this might be my last day on earth.

I will not wait for tomorrow.

Tomorrow never comes.

-John Longden

Catch up and Joy.

This is a really, really, ridiculously long and non-edited post.
Just thought I should warn you.

I knew I'd end up playing catch-up after Christmas and New Years, I just didn't know I'd be THIS far behind.  It's been quite the ride.  Let me explain.

 Note: if you don't want all the details here's the nutshell:  all fun, all sick, all better.

A few days before Christmas I called my mom at my wits end.  Motherhood was out to destroy me- that or my emotions, or sleepness nights, or my children were.  Since she's part Saint (you'll believe my by the end of this story) she came up that day, helped with the children, let me nap, let King and I go on a date, and then took the oldest two home with her the next morning for a few days.  Somewhere in that mix- after she'd been watching the baby- she suggested we have her checked for reflux and was certain she had colic.  It turns out she was right on both accounts.  So now baby has some medicine- and that is helping!
Then came Christmas Eve.  It was a blast!  My younger brother and parents were kind enough to come here for the festivities.  We -of course- reinacted the nativity and a said uncle played part of Ceasar, Shepherd, Angel, Star, Donkey... he might have had a few other costume changes.  It was a good night together and I liked how quiet and simple it was.
Christmas morning we headed out to church first (as it started at 9 am and I was playing the organ that day too!).  There was lots of music and I loved it!  I wish Christmas fell on a Sunday every year! 
After church we opened presents with my parents and King's mom.  Then we had a fantastic Christmas brunch! Except for the fact that my children were SPOILED- I loved it. 
The next day my family helped us clean up and then headed home.  We did a few more odd jobs and then headed south as well.  The next week is a blur of parties to me: high-school friend party for me, one for King, a family party, and another family party!   It was great to see family and friends and soak in all the time off of work King had!  We headed home New Years eve morning to party (My mom's birthday is on New Years) and get ready to bless baby the next day.  Mom and Dad headed back up with us to play and to help. Amidst the games that evening, I started to feel sick.  Ug.  That's where this all started.  I skipped out and went to bed early hoping to feel better for the big day in the morning.
The next morning we got ready for church and headed out.  We'd only invited King and I's brothers and sisters, parents, and grandparents.  Even with JUST those people- we had over 50 people come and were missing several!   The circle to bless A. had JUST my brothers, King's brothers, our dad's, and grandpas... I think we had 18 people in the circle including the Bishop! Everyone headed to our house after church for dinner and good company! 
The next morning- all three girls in our family had pink eye.  Joy. 
The NEXT morning, brother got a cold and baby got croup.
The NEXT morning, King was sick too.
The NEXT morning, I was better, but everyone else was sick. (King only made it to one day of work this week...)
Just as we think everyone is on the mend, I start to feel like I'm getting a nursing infection.  Sunday I go to church with Hyrum and the baby because now KING has pink eye and Sister has a cold. 
I got home from church and slept the next four hours till dinner.... and went down hill from there.
King went to work the next morning.  My dad called to check on how we were feeling, and after talking to me, headed up to help.  He ended up staying and taking care of the kids until Wednesday- I stayed in bed.  Wednesday I gave up and headed to the dr.  WHAT WAS WRONG WITH ME?  Hot, cold, shivering, roasting, aching, back hurst.... what is it?!  Kidney infection.  Lovely.  They put me on antibiotics that took 3 days to take effect.  King ended up taking the rest of the week to take care of the kids and myself.  I wonder if his boss thinks he's moved to part time....
SO....
Now we're on the mend.  Two weeks later there is light at the end of the tunnel!  "A" has medicine for reflux, colds are disappering, pink eye is gone, A has started sleeping better since we put her on her stomach (like our other two before her.... its the only thing that works...), King is back at work, and I am out of bed and on antibiotics!!  Whew!  Its been quite the ride. 
NOW- let me say a few things about all this.  I had LOTS and LOTS of time to think over the last few weeks.  Something about staying in bed for hours and days on end....
and I think I've come to a few conclusions.
1) Mom jobs are important.  I watched my dad, my mom, and my husband run around taking care of the thinks I normally do.  My kids, the house, the laundry, the shopping, etc.  I had virtually no part of it.  Everything was falling apart until they stepped in to help! And all of a sudden I could SEE what impact all those jobs combined had.  Sure, I know- just as every mom knows- that mom jobs "count".  That laundry, cooking, cleaning etc are important- but it is hard to see that every day.  It is easy to write those off as something not important.  BUT THEY ARE. When they slide- my house is in ruins, and we feel the difference in our evironment, in our kids, in how we respond to them and difficulties around us etc.  Wow, I am so grateful for the help I recieved!!!  My dad mentioned as he left, "I'm glad I'm not the mom...."  Some days I feel that way- but I recieved a huge BOOST of affirmation that what I do day in and day out counts.  It matters.  Its hard.  And it counts.  More on this later I am sure.
2) I admire those you know, read about, hear about that are cheerful through their sicknesses- especially the long ones.  I won't ever be the one you hear about.  I have a hard time when I'm fully healthy and strong, but I know people who despite what ailments they have (my mother and a good friend) still are positive and happy- still find good things in life.  Those people know about Joy and I admire them for it! I've been working with Brother to memorize a few scriptures- he knows the easy ones/ the short ones.  One is 2 Ne 2:25  Adam fell that men might be and men are that they might have JOY.  I thought a lot about that as I was sick in bed.  What have those people figured out that I haven't?  I found NO joy in my situation.  As much as I'd like to sleep in every morning and have people bring me food all the time, I HATE to be sick.  I HATE to be STUCK in bed.  I didn't have joy.  I was in pain, and my body was doing crazy things.  I was crying, not smiling.  But what about my friend Amy?  She's been sick for over a decade.  Sure- some years have been much better than others, but she hasn't given up yet!  Mom: she's been sick since I was four- and probably longer than that!  She didn't turn over her responsibilities to everyone else and glower.  She is a happy, kind, and serving person- I dare to say she has JOY!   So I've got things to work on.  I'm supposed to have joy.  Not just because I feel good or because people are helping me.  But because I'm alive, and I have a home, and I have the scriptures in my language, and King has a job, and I have friends, and beautiful children, and I know about my Savior!  As I've been setting goals this New Years a lot of old ones have come up: my scripture reading needs some more attention, my exercising (and lack there of) needs a boost, but the most important one to me is how I interact with my children.  I want them to see that I have joy.  That I am happy to be with them!  That I see the importance in the mom jobs and in the things I do with them and that despite my hard days- I can have JOY!  I am such a blessed person! 

So, as I blog and write down happenings this year- please don't let me forget!  Being thankful is a big part of seeing that Joy every day!  I'm going to give it my best!  I'm going to look for the positive and act accordingly- not letting other things dictate my mood and disposition!  Here's to a healthier year than its been thus far, and for having more joy in the journey!

Best Christmas Quote:

During our Christmas Eve Nativity Play, we asked Brother what gifts the wiseman brought baby Jesus.
Brother:  Muir... Gold... and...

... COAL!

Har. Har. Har.

Chocolate Chips

Things God knew about me and consequently prepared/compensated for:
1.  In my world, children have mood swings as crazy as mine.  They are prone to shift and flip on a dime... or a pinhead.
Problem: At any given moment 3 out of the 4 of us at home may be crying, whining, yelling, etc and the next moment we might all be smiling. 
Solution:  The Lord let me find an even-killed, emotionally stable husband.  Solution #2: He helped cell phones be invented during my lifetime so I could call mothers, sisters, husbands, and friends.  And call, and call, and call...
2.  In my world, chocolate chips make some things better.  When it can't do that, at least you had chocolate.

Problem: When too many things crash around you in a day, you eat WAY too many chocolate chips.

Solution:  I have a fast metabolism.  It's a good thing too or I might have hit 300 lbs.

Dear guests,

In case you are wondering why the fitted sheet on our guest bed (ahem... futon) is so wrinkled, its not because we don't like you.  Its because A) I don't iron sheets (or much else for that matter) and B) I CAN'T FOLD THE STINKIN FITTED SHEETS!!!  There.  That's off my chest. 
Some days I meticulously lay the whole sheet out and try to get those darn corners to cooperate.  It doesn't help.  Twelve minutes later, the finished product is still a lumpy pile of fabric.  Today when one came out of the dryer I grabbed it, folded it in sloppy fourths or eights or whatever (which is what it looks like usually anyhow) and was done in 10 seconds.  I hope you enjoy the stay at our house anyhow- despite your wrinkled sheets.
Love, the non-ironing-sheet-folder... Me.

Around town...

Apparently, within a 15 mile radius of us, all of this is going down:

• Around 50,000 homes without power.  They're hoping to have it back by later tonight but it may be 48 hours.
• Northbound freeway is supposedly closed from __ to__  until around 6 PM.  Alternate route is open but be on the lookout for flying debris.
• C mayor declared local state of emergency.
• Even taking surface streets is dangerous because of flying debris.  They're asking people to stay in their homes.
• They showed video of guys who were on the freeway and got hit with pieces of the McDonalds and In-n-Out Burger signs.  They were buying first aid supplies for their faces.
• All schools in ___ are closed.
• Some major colleges closed, some high schools closed.
• The winds are expected to continue until around 6 PM tonight.
• Weather is reporting wind gusts of 78 mph in __, 83 mph in __, 53 mph in __ and 102 mph in __
• Outbound air flights are postponed until further notice.

The local news has photos of downed trees, fences, powerlines etc ALL AROUND US.  In town, the neighboring cities etc.  CLOSE! 
Closer: across the street, the power has been out all day and might be out for as much as 48 hours.  A neighbor who moved slightly farther away brought over her cell to charge at our house because theirs is also out (1 mileish away).  Neighbors are spending the day at families/friends who have power.
Here?  Nothing.  Nada.  Heater on, making fudge, no limbs in the yard, thinking it will be nice to use the stove for dinner etc.  Hmm...