Service Project

This actually happened before Christmas, and I started to write about it.  I now have two seconds to finish it, but it's worth posting, so...

My mom calls me today and asks if she can borrow the kids for a service project.  I think, "Yes!  This is a fabulous idea!" and I enthusiatically commit their evening for them.  She tells me they need work gloves, rakes, etc... and that she will pick the kids up at 4:30.  They are going to help a lady that she visiting teaches who could use a hand...Hey, who cares?  If it:

1)  Gets them outside and working
2)  Gives them a service opportunity, and
3)  Takes them off my hands for a couple of hours

GREAT!!!


So, at 4:30 they show up and I am agressively "assisting" my oldest 5 with coats and gloves and my parents say, "Let's have a prayer before we go!" 

Uh, OK.  I guess this is a teaching moment?  Whatever. 

So as we're gathering Grandma gives the whole "We're proud of you and your willingness to serve; and we'll all be happy and blessed" pep talk.  (Assuming, of course that my little angels just jumped at the chance to do unpaid manual labor--yup.)


Then she offers a lovely prayer thanking the Lord for this service opportunity and asking that the sweet sister that they're about to serve will feel their love for her and God's love for her and will be blessed.

Wow.  Now we're all in the right spirit, and Grandma and Grandpa start talking about this lady we're gonna serve and how she is always serving others and could maybe use a little help; and again I'm shoving them out the door because I'm trying to wrap some presents; and the house is trashed because of the excessive kid-party we had yesterday and, (let's face it), simply because it's Christmas vacation and we're slobs; and maybe I'll get something done, so--Go!  See ya!  Work hard!

Then Mom turns to me and smiles and says, "The woman we're actually serving is your mother."  Let's get to work!

Then they proceeded to clean the house and the yard for the next hour or two.  Also, they brought pizza. 

NO WAY!!!

I was able to get my stuff done, and the house was clean, and the yard looked awesome, and I didn't even have to cook dinner!


Hot Dang!  Best night ever.  Plus, I just kept making discoveries all week, like my microwave and stove were shiny-clean. 


I felt so grateful and so LOVED!

Thanks, people!

The Bible

About four years ago, I set a goal to REALLY study the bible (King James Version); searching out meanings when I was unsure, and reading notes and commentary and supplementary books to increase my understanding.  I completed my goal tonight.  (Well...I have gone cover to cover, but now I only know that I know nothing.  I'm still standing under Niagra Falls trying to get a sip.)

I have learned that EVERYTHING written in the Old and New Testaments was placed there to lead us to Christ and to testify of his Atonement.

 I am overcome by His great love for me!  What a miracle that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind can be saved!  I love him!  I want to follow him!  I want to be a witness of God, and to help others to find the peace and joy that only come from Him. 

I am so thankful for the many, many, MANY that have sacrificed so that I might study these words. 

How amazing that I can have such easy access to the word of God!  I can't believe the time and insights and inspiration that has gone into the footnotes and definitions and commentaries.  I can't imagine the anguish experienced by the early saints who gave their lives to share the good news.

 And people like Martin Luther who struggled to bring forth truth when all was against him.   I'm so thankful for modern revelation and the clarity and understanding that it provides!  I'm grateful to know that when I don't understand, that I can ask and seek and the Holy Ghost will help me to find.

And, OK, I get it; there is no "finished".  I'm gonna have to start all over and read it again and again, and each time I'll wonder where the heck I've been, and why I've never noticed _______ before.  I'm a kid coming home from Kindergarten impressed with my own learning.  There is more!!!  Unbelievable.

Most of all, I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me. I know He lives! He is the only Way! I know that God lives and loves me and will never leave me. Christ will come again!

2011 Recap Part 2

OK.  Here's the final installation of our year in review.  Has the potential for boring, so skip it if you wish.  (The last two posts were maybe more entertaining.)

Mr. Lamadingdong landed such an AWESOME teacher this year.  He's been memorizing all kinds of things like the preamble to the constitution, the Gettysburg Address, etc...He continues to work hard in spelling and is getting really good at it.  Talk about a weakness becoming a strength! 
He started Boy Scouts, so here we go again!  (Secretly, I love it!)

This kid's name is very special (his real name) and we have talked a lot about why he received the name he has.  We gave him to the Lord when he was a baby, just as another scriptural son was dedicated to God, and his first name reflects that.  His middle name can remind him of a mighty man who gave himself to the Lord, and this has been a theme for 2011.  He's taking his life seriously, and has been studying and praying on his own. 
Some of his church leaders challenged him with a pledge that he can choose to sign when he's 12.  We talk about it a lot.

"As a disciple of Jesus Christ, I will discover the "Divine Power" within myself and:
Honor women, girls and children,
Magnify the Aaronic Priesthood,
Become an Eagle Scout,
Fulfill my Duty to God,
Graduate from High School and Seminary,
Receive the Melchizedek Priesthood,
Receive temple ordinances, and
Serve a full-time mission."

What inspired leaders!  He's thought a lot about what each one of these would entail and is taking the commitment seriously and hasn't signed it yet.

Football is still huge for all the guys at our house.  They spend a lot of time looking at scores and discussing teams and strategies and watching games.  That's about the only thing he and Mr. Cool share--the rest of the time it's like oil and water, or dynamite and a blow torch...
He's also big-time into board games, Monopoly is his favorite.  (Grandpa calls it Monotony.)

Mr. L likes to process things and rarely stops on a dime.  Once I figured this out, our relationship has gotten a lot better.  I need to ask him to do something and then count in my head to about 10.  THEN if he doesn't respond, I can take it up a notch.    In my mind I used to accuse him of trying to annoy me and others, but I really think it just takes him a minute to process.  He's such a sweet boy; I need to always give my family the benefit of the doubt.

The Princess had a very fun summer.  She's got some fun friends who are in and out of the house all the time.  Her baptism was quite well attended, and our inspired bishop called her up at the very end and asked her to stand on a chair.  He then asked her to look out at all the people that had come just for her, who loved her and supported her.  She also knew that there were some who were ill and couldn't come, etc...The bishop pointed out to her that she had a lot of people who care about her and will help her to keep her covenants, choose the right and be happy.

Then Princess got put into a 3rd/4th grade classroom with a great teacher and some snotty little girls.  They made her life miserable for a few months until we got things worked out, but by then Princess had decided that she would just rather stay home every day.  She has become the queen of hypochondria--everything from a sore throat, a sore toe, to feeling too crowded--I tease her that she has a bone in her leg.  When she denies that that is the problem, I ask her how she walks without any leg-bones. 

Princess spent a very creative month or two contriving to stay home every morning, and even calling me from school.  I finally took her to the doctor.  It took a higher authority to convince her that she HAS to go to school every day.  She is learning to like it again, and her inspired teacher has introduced some music and acting to the class which has thrilled her to no end. 

I still read to her each night.  We're plowing through the Caroline Years of a Little House series right now, and I love the books at least as much as she does.  This is sometimes the only thing that gets me through the whole bed-time routine.

Now, I know that I am doing a year-end review of each family member, but it's my blog and I can do whatever I want, so I feel moved to register a complaint at this juncture. 
We start with scriptures and prayer about 7:30 p.m. From that point on, my night is dedicated solely to BEDTIME, yet the last person often doesn't straggle in to kiss me goodnight until 11:30 or even midnight.  Then, the Handsome Prince, who takes the early morning shift, starts the whole get-up-and-get-ready-for-the-day routine about 6:30 a.m.  It often takes me until at least 10:30 to complete the task with the little girls.  This means that at least 8 hours of each day is spent just getting people ready for bed or out of bed and ready for the day.  Sheesh!

Little P

She learned how to ride a two-wheeler this fall, and is also getting really good on the roller-blades.  Little P can climb just about anything, and has scaled the lamp-post outside, several trees, and can climb the door-frame of the house to the top unassisted. 

She continues to hold the world record for tantrums, and is really packed with a punch.  The only way to end a tantrum is to distract her in a subtle way.  This kid CAN stop on a dime, and usually does--the tantrums don't taper off, they just end.  She turns it on, she turns it off.  Stinker.

Little K continues to provide comic relief.  She says or does something funny every day.  Today she came to me with a paper and pen so I could write a letter to Santa.  She asked for a sled and some skiis.

Yesterday when I returned from volunteering at the school, she asked me if she had been in charge while I was gone.  (She LOVES being in charge!)

Little K is the supreme helper in the family.  She helps with laundry and dishes and especially baking. 

Every afternoon after we get Little P off to kindergarten, I put the caboose down for a nap and turn on a movie for K (then I clock out for an hour).  It started out the Backyardigans or Barney, but one day she declared that they were stupid baby movies and asked for Phineas and Ferb.  I think big kids influenced this one.  Anyway, every single day she wants to watch a show with an apple cut up into slices and put in a bowl.  It rarely varies, and if we're out of apples I'm in trouble.

She has a couple of cute little friends and has been known to be a little bossy.  The cutest little guy next door sometimes provokes her and they have had knock-out-slam-down fights.   She is P's shadow and is quite interested in spelling and reading right now.  They play together in a super-cute way.

The Caboose has perfected the arts of climbing and naughty.  She can now climb a stool to the stove and access the microwave, climb the toilet to the counter and use the sink, and she was scaling the crib to the top of the dresser until I one-upped her and lowered the mattress almost to the floor.   I have to use a stool to get her in and out.   (HA!  We call it monkey-prison!  FYI:  Little P can escape monkey prison if she is sufficiently furious.  Sigh.)

Caboose now wears a onesie under all her clothes, as she was a little too free and easy about her diaper and its contents.  Eeewwww...

Family Home Evening is her favorite thing ever, and it's so fun to watch her spin around as we sing. We bought her a circle of bells and she rings them as we sing, "Jingle Bells". The Christmas Tree lights are and endless souce of fascination.

If it's organized, she can be depended on to fix that; if it is clean, she'll tackle it, no job is too big or too small.  She does help sometimes, though, and can put things in the trash, down the laundry chute, or into the dryer.  She is just so proud of herself when she's helping.  She also loves to help with baking.

Kid is an amazing snuggler and it just feels so right holding her in my arms.  I mourn each stage as she leaves it, yet the sigh in relief at the same time.  I think being a grandma will be funner in some ways, but won't be the same...

All I know is that this new season in my life is a good one.  I used to hear women say they were done having kids and Hallelujah!  And I felt dismayed.  How could someone feel that way?  Well, now I completely understand--in fact, last night I dreamed that I was pregnant again, and I spent the entire night feeling sorry for myself. 

We've settled into our new home and community and feel so blessed to be here!  We love the Savior!  What a blessing to know that we have been bought with a price and that He loves us with a perfect love!

We have a good income, beautiful home and yard, kind neighbors, peace, safety, enough to eat and what we want and need.  We've been blessed with a huge, loving family and amazing friends.  It was a beautiful, blessed, exhausting 2011!

My Favorite Things

Some idiot decide that the cute Sound of Music song, "My Favorite Things" was a Christmas song. Then another idiot felt that it could somehow be improved (REALLY?  You're gonna do it better than Julie Andrews?) and that  is the rendition our local radio station used to play, along with an amazing amount of Felice Navidad and that stupid song where the sad, sorry guy bumps into an old lover and they drink in his car and nearly have an affair and somehow this makes us think about the Savior of the World and his upcoming birthday?  Huh.  I don't miss that radio station.  I like this new one where it seems to be OK to be Chrisian on Christmas with Kenny Rogers and "Mary Did You Know" and the MoTabs. 

There was a point to all of this ranting, and I'm getting there.  I was thinking about my favorite things, and here is a partial list, in no particular order:

1.  Crawling back into bed in the middle of the night, knowing that everyone is asleep and all is well.  Then Handsome Prince rolls over to snuggle and he is so strong and nice and I know the HE IS SUCH A GOOD MAN and mine forever!

2.  Being able to comfort a small baby, and the feeling of baby melting into me and how soft and sweet-smelling, and I know that little person with such an intimate knowing.  Heaven is so close!

3.  The feeling of catching a teaching moment and knowing exactly what to say. 

4.  The high of finding a really good sale and triumphantly getting off with the goods.

5.  Having the perfect words arrange themselves before me as I try to place my thoughts.

6.  The feeling that God has used me to bless someone else. 

7.  Having a teen confide in me and listen to my counsel.

8.  The feeling of swinging in a hammock.

9.  A really satisfying book.

10.  Hiding with chocolate.

11.  A hot bath with a good book and some ice cream or cold chocolate.

12.  Sunshine.

13.  Writing and knowing that someone was touched by my words.

14.  Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus"

15.  Salty, savory food.

16.  Clean and order and quiet.

17.  The feeling that I am doing what the Lord wants me to do and that He is near.

18.  Large joyful crowds and amusement parks.

19.  Talking in front of a group when I have profound things to say.  (Most of you reading this won't be surprise to know that I often consider myself quite profound and I greatly enjoy hearing my own lips flap. )

20.  Laughter.


Just for fun, a few things I hate:
1.  Static
2. Sticky
3.  Unkindness
4.  Evil
5.  Hearing my name over and over and over from many sources--everyone needing me at once.
6.  Tattling
7.  Exhaustion
8.  Migraines
9.  Failure/criticism
10.  Offending others
11.  Guilt--I maybe choose the wrong profession for that one
12.  Disappointments
13.  When children are hurt
14.  Innocence mocked

Moppin' Like My Mama

If my mother is ever famous for anything--other than her singing, of course--it will be because of her immaculate kitchen floors.  Even when things were at their worst, there was never a time in my memory that one couldn't eat off her squeaky-clean floor. (Simulation)

So I got the message--if the kitchen floor is clean, everything is all right.  Kind of like how one can tell immediately which patients in the hospital are the sickest just by looking at their hair.   One can tell how insane Mama is just by looking at the kitchen floor.


"Let's mop the floor!"  I announced brightly this morning to the three tiny people velcroed to me.  Sadly, I couldn't remember the last time it had been more than damage-control washed.


So we picked up all the stickers and dolls and dirty socks and cookie cutters and shredded papers and shoes and mittens and pokemon cards.
Then I swept.  As I looked for the dustpan Little P finished sweeping for me.  So I swept again.  Let the dog out. Picked up all the measuring cups, spoons and canning tools that Caboose had emptied from the drawer.  Then I swept the pancake that Caboose had shredded.  I started to mop.  Answered the phone, changed a poopy diaper, answered the phone again and picked up all the contents of the previously mentioned drawer.  Then I washed Caboose's face and wiped Little K's nose.  Mopped another section.  Put all the measuring stuff back into the drawer and quickly mopped that section, and then washed Caboose's face again and put the markers away. I let the dog in.

Then I hung 15 paper snowflakes on the fridge, swept up the little papers and quickly took the scissors away from Caboose.  After putting a band-aid on Little K's finger where Caboose had tried to remove it, I mopped the final section. While I changed Caboose's shirt, Little P mopped some of the places I must have missed.  While Little K changed her own clothes, I dried the floor where she had slipped and tossed all the wet clothes and towels down the laundry shoot, wiped up the final puddles and surveyed the job site.


And, even though it will probably never be completely clean all at once, I know in my heart that underneath all the paw prints, shredded kleenex and barbie barbering that it is pristine.  Sigh.

I have to wonder how my mom did it.

 I have a vague memory of us all, little dog included, sitting in a row on the edge of the carpet, watching her mop the clean floor.  Not one of us would ever have dared step on it while it was in progress.  Huh.

2011 In Review

At some point, I'm gonna print this sucker into a book for the family archives.  The goal is to have a book for every year.  So, I thought I'd jot down some thoughts about the year and each one of us.  This little post will most likely bore the general public, so all my fans will have to wait with bated breath for my next entertaining blog post.  (Or, if you're bored, scroll down and review some of the previous posts.  Of course, you'd have to be pretty bored...)

Handsome Prince felt that he just didn't have his finger on the pulse of the company he was working for, so he'd been looking for a new opportunity for a while.  Some of the companies he'd applied to took FOREVER to go through the hiring process, so we were really surprised when the O.co thing happened.  It seemed like he interviewed one day and then started the next.
He left me with the kids and lived with his sister Claudia.  For the first few months he had to drive into SLC every day--not a fun commuting game.  He was still working part-time for the old company, and looking for a new home, AND trying to problem-solve long distance so that I could remain functional with the kids in Boise.  Fun times were had by all.
We moved in April.  He now continues to work a little for the old company, and the new Overstock office in Provo is close enough that he rides his bike to work almost every day.  He has to drive to SLC about once a week or less to work in that office.  His bike collects "goat-heads" and he's continually patching his tires.
The company had a bike sale, so we're all equipped and have had some fun adventures.  He continues to find great scenic adventures, and we've been hiking and exploring.  He's currently working as a Scout Committee Chairman.

Mama  supervised and painted the entire inside of the house, staged it, packed it and sold it.  (With a lot of help!)  The Boise part, even with all the chaos,  without the husband, and with the whole Eagle Project thing, was SO MUCH EASIER than moving in.  I didn't realize just how much help I had from friends and family until it ended.
But first--finding the house.  The Prince had been looking at homes and sending me info online.  Prince's older sister kept talking about this house in her neighborhood, but I was a little reluctant to be so close to any family.  I didn't want her to feel like we were in her back pocket, and I had come to value our privacy, also.  He finally went to see it, and liked it.  It was smaller, with less land, and cost a lot more than we were selling ours for.  After looking at all the homes online that Handsome had seen that day, I knelt to pray before going to bed.  As I prayed, I knew this was our house.  I also felt impressed to offer a specific sum (long story, but we ended up paying a little less.)
I was finally able to see it, but was willing to buy it having only seen some of it online.  We were so blessed and carried by the Lord!
Moving in was one of the hardest times of my life.  We ended up with the stomach flu, and I was SO SICK and SO TIRED.   Everyone was ill and whiny and in upheaval and emotional angst and messy and disorganized and laundry and no one could help because we were SICK and obviously very contagious and homesick and OH!  It was so hard!!!  Getting everyone in school and established and happy and well and clean and everything organized and...Happy to be settled!
I was called to be the Sunday School teacher for Mr. Cool, which I really enjoyed, and then only a few months later, called to be 1st counselor in the Primary.  Went in kicking and screaming, but LOVE it now.
I'm half-way through the 3-year-plan now, and am more organized and healthy (mostly).  I hope to continue to organize the home, stay on top, volunteer more and get more physically fit.
This has been my year for migraines.  Since Caboose came I've had about one every two weeks, but when I weaned her last June, they stepped it up a notch and for the last month or two it's been out of control.  Hope to get that taken care of here shortly.  Also, quite a few "female troubles."
My spiritual retreat and the Mother/Daughter Boise trip with Lil' Mama are the beginning of my new life NOT PREGNANT!  Love it!  I've been writing more and catching up on pictures, etc...
I earned the YW medallion with L Nellie (it was the 2nd time for both of us) and started the program again with Lil' Mama.
L Nellie was on top of the world with friends, school and activities before we moved.  The move was very difficult for her and she worked really hard to get established here.  She was helpful and determined and lonely.  It's been slow going, but she's finally established and happy.
Over the summer she played for a week at Park City with a best buddy, went on a Pioneer Trek and to part of Girls' Camp.
L is mature and graceful and a righteous Daughter of God.  It's weird to think that she's 17.  It's been fun watching her grow and progress and I'm so proud of her and all that she has overcome and accomplished.  She has a great talent for empathy and knows when and how to help others.  She's a good student and is taking several honors classes and an AP class this year as a Junior.
She's still nutty about animals and has started babysitting for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Puppies-In-Training.  I'm trying to pressure her into finding a JOB. 
She still gets lost on her way to the kitchen, and we're in a new town, so it's been difficult to get her to drive anywhere.  Also, Mr. Cool flushed her new UT driver's license down the master bathroom toilet.  Grrr...
Mr. Cool completed his Eagle project and has earned 1 palm.  He made balancing stools for a classroom of Special Needs students.  He an L Nellie and Lil' Mama went on the Pioneer Trek for about 4 days, and then he turned around and went on a Boy Scout 50 Miler.  It was crazy weather the entire time, and they were soaking and lost for a great part of the trip.
Mr. Cool took on the role of "Man of the House" during the move, and it was awesome to see him slip out of the role of "Chief Tormentor" and into a more mature one.  He has worked hard to grow in self-control and is an honorable priesthood holder.  He'll always be a turkey I'm afraid, but it's nice to know that he can step up and be a man when called upon.  (I don't want him to lose all the ding-bat.  He's a lot of fun and very entertaining.  Of course, I'm not his sister...)
Lil' Mama Finally became a teenager.  She was demoted from Middle School back to Elementary School when we moved.  We almost skipped her up a grade during the move, because her grades were so good, and we were afraid she would have to retake some of the same classes in Jr. High.  Half way through the winter term last year, when Lil' Mama's grades were posted, she was missing exactly 3 total points--and they were from Home Ec!  After teasing our Home-Ec flunkie for a few weeks, she finally confessed that the three missing points were from a self-graded assignment.  What!!!  In my book, self-graded means I just got an A.  Whatever.  (Freak!)  She even qualified for the GT program.  So.  I didn't want to hear about how bored she was for the next year as she repeated pre-algebra. (Plus, really, one who had a grade of 107% should not have to repeat.  Sheesh!  How can one have 107%?  Isnt' that mathematically impossible?  Hmmm...)  Her early birthday made her one of the oldest in her class, anyway.
It goes without saying that the idea of her skipping freaked Mr. Cool completely out.  In the end, we decided that she would end up missing some important classes, and they offered Algebra for 7th graders, so it was all good, and she got to just coast through the end of 6th grade for a month in Elementary School, making friends and surviving the move. 
She has made new friends and seems to be doing well.  For her birthday she decided that a Mother/Daughter trip to Boise was in order.  Oh, LOVE that kid.  Funnest time EVER!  We hoteled it one night with a best buddy and then stayed with another best buddy--her friends' moms are some of my favorite people--had the most enjoyable time.

Side note:  L Nellie decided that she wanted a Mother/Daughter horseback riding session for her birthday.  I am having the best birthday year EVER!

Lil' Mama had a hard time getting settled in her 6th grade class at first.  She's such a joyful, free-spirited person, and there was a lot of "I'm too cool for this" going on in her class.  We talked a lot about being yourself even if it's not cool.  They were doing some little class plays, and she was so frusterated about the cool lack of participation.  She decided to do it her way anyway, and had a lot of fun.  Then, one of the teachers who just happens to own a local theatre called and offered her a scholarship to one of the summer drama programs.  What a hoot!  She had so much fun, did so well, and got a lot of positive feedback from a lot of sources.  Hooray for exceptional teachers!  It was such a great answer to a lot of prayers.  BE YOURSELF!
Well, this is the first installment.  Stay tuned for updates from the rest of the crew.

The Beasty Family: Riddled With Germs

I think it's worth mentioning that SIX of us tested positive for Strep today.  (Mommy, too.)

It's like a plague. 

 Sadly, Princess was not one of them--she really wanted an excuse to stay home from school tomorrow.  "But I think my throat is feeling scratchy.  Honest!"
Girl has definitely had her share of mental health days this year.  She's GOING to school.  Period.

Trailing Clouds of Glory

William Wordsworth once wrote,

Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:
The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star,	60
Hath had elsewhere its setting,
And cometh from afar:
Not in entire forgetfulness,
And not in utter nakedness,
But trailing clouds of glory do we come	65
From God, who is our home:
Heaven lies about us in our infancy!

This could have been written about Lil' Mama.

Last night as I quietly shut The Littles' door, sighing with relief that at least three of the crazies were asleep, I heard the Caboose and Lil' Mama talking reverently by the back door.

"Snow!  It's snowing!" Lil' M
"..no!  Ohhh..."  This was the 18 month-old's attempt.

It dawned on me that Caboose wouldn't remember ever having seen snow.  It was coming down in the darkness as thick puffs of white.  Beautiful.  And Lil' M was introducing the entire concept to Baby.

Before I could stop it from happening, Lil' Mama had boots, coats, hats and gloves on them both and Baby was standing with  her face to the sky as Lil' Mama busily started a snowman.  (It was really coming down! And it was about 10:00 pm.)

Somehow, the active three year-old from next door joined us.
As I responsibly tried to get all the toys into the garage, the three of them joyfully constructed a snowman, which because of its size quickly became a snow-horse.  (Snow too heavy?  Change the parameters.)
 Then at the impulsive suggestion of the neighbor boy it became something to kick with reckless abandon.
There aren't many teenage girls who would dance in the moonlight snowfall with two toddlers bent on destroying her hard-won snow-horse.

Lil' Mama is one of a kind.

The girl was born three weeks early with a fully-stocked diaper bag in one hand and a party plan in the other.  After smiling at me, she politely asked where the nursery was, as there was an elaborately detailed extravaganza about to happen, and she was the coordinator.

Besides being incredibly beautiful, this young woman is intelligent and fun.  If there is a baby around, she's probably loving on it.

This girl is impeccably honest, dependable and clean to her very core.

If there is any possibility of something social happening, count her in!  (Chances are she planned it, anyway.)

It's rare that I can pull one over on her, but on her 12th birthday, I was triumphant.  This child spends the entire year planning her birthday parties, so I had a pretty good idea about what I could do for her surprise party that year.  In fact, she helped me with the entire thing three months beforehand.

I had to throw it early to throw her off the scent.  She had a day/time planned by August (her b-day is the end of October) so I just planned my surprise for a week before.

One of my most cherished mind-photos occurred when my animated, glowing daughter sat surrounded by 30 of her closest friends as they shouted, "Open mine first!  Choose me!"  Sweet.

Each one of these children is my favorite for his or her own unique, delightful reasons.  Lil' Mama brings sunshine, peace and fun to our home.  Her helpfulness and cheerful outlook on life helped us to know that three children were definitely NOT ENOUGH!

A funny little K

So we've got this little live-in comedianne.  She says something funny every day, and I always think I'm gonna remember...Here are a few of her recent gems.

Standing in McDonalds, "MOM!  WHERE'S MY Mc...STUFF!?!"

 As I was stuffing the pinata (duh, how do you add the ~?) in her thoughtful voice:

"I'd like to share a few thoughts about candy:"
(Seriously, those were her words.)

Then she broke out into a rock-n-roll dance and song,

"Oh, yeah!  Candy!  It's for eating!  Eat candy!  Oh, yeah, BABY!"

While playing "Angry Birds" on my touchpad:
"Mom, who gave you this thing?"
"Daddy."
"No, I mean who gave it to Daddy?"
"Uncle Thor."
Very seriously, "Mom, you need to write that man a letter that says, 'Uncle Thor, you are so nice.  You are the nicest man ever!  We love you for giving us the angry birds game.  Thank you very, very much!'"  And then under her breath, "Uh!   Stupid pigs!"

Every time we go into a store she waves her hands around and says,
"Open, Sesamonie!"  to the automatic door.  Then waving her hands behind her after we've entered,
 "Close, Sesamonie!"

She is the kid that started the "Pants, pants, I need pants!"  routine that we all reference anytime anyone is bare.  It is a sing-song chant accompanied by a butt-wiggle fancy-dance.

Fabulous little K!

p.s.  Overheard conversation at lunch table with little friend A.

A  "I need a drink.  I'm tirsty!"

K  "A, you say that wrong.  I will help you.  It's shirsty.  Sshhhhursty.  Try to say it the right way."

 

CHOCOLATE on a Train Filled with Soul-Sucking Dementors

Yesterday, I was part of a glorious neighborhood parade.


(Not a real representation of said parade--wish I'd taken pictures.  This is just for your viewing enjoyment.)

Tamborines, ribbons and floats.  Joyful dancers--CANDY!!!
It was a spectacular celebration!!!

As the crowd thinned and we started for home, I turned to my friend and sighed, "Twenty years ago, if someone had predicted this day..."

See, my friend's three-year old had FINALLY pooped in the potty!


Hence the parade--it was around the cul-de-sac with about 7 neighbor kids and an enthusiastic grandma.  But the rest is true, too--OK, there was only one float, and it was really a wagon.  Use your imagination.

Anyway, we grinned at each other and returned to our real-life craziness.

My whole life, I dreamed of being a wife and mother. 














I thought I knew what I was getting into.  Never, never could I have imagined...

Who knew that one could experience so many rich, intense emotions in one day? 

Such extreems of peace, discouragement, contentment, longing, enjoyment, discomfort, love, frustration, rage, rejoicing, dispair, extasy, interest, exhaustion, exhiliration, overwhelming incompetence and amazing sucess. 

I love it and I hate it, but I mostly love it.



There aren't enough words to express and not enough time to try. 


It's a fabulous life that doubles as a soul-sucking dementor.






I thank the Lord for it every single day.  It's just what I wanted.  I also plead all day long for His guidance and mercy--He is the only thread I'm hanging by most of the time--but He never lets me down. 


I feel so blessed and honored to be a mother, and so happy whenever I've survived another day of it!

Little P Meets Dr. Seuss

OH, THE WONDERFUL THINGS LITTLE P CAN DO!

SHE CAN RIDE WITH NO HANDS...

AND SHE SCOOTERS, TOO!

SHE RIDES ON THE ZIPLINE,



WRITES LETTERS,

DOES TRICKS!

SHE READS!

AND SHE PAINTS!

AND SHE EVEN HIGH-KICKS!

SHE CAN BATHE A NEW BABY!

HAS FUN EVERY DAY!

 LITTLE P IS AMAZING IN E-VER-Y WAY!!!

 Other remarkable things about Little P:
1)  She can catch a fish with her bare hands!
2)  She can touch her nose with her tongue!
3)  She can climb high things like trees and lamp-posts!
4)  She collects slugs, bugs and slimy things!