My sweet E brought home her monthly calendar she made at school. For November she had created a turkey and traced her sweet little hand 5 times to make lots of feathers and then listed by herself the things she is grateful for...familys, pets, god, erth, me. I love the last one...it made my day!
Cause I'm intimidating!!! I got a call for an emergency meeting on this super crazy election morning - the "no on 8" people were standing too close to the entrances of some voting places (they legally have to be 100 feet away) and they were leaving their pamphlets on the voting table so we were to go to the precincts, look intimidating and report the problems. I was all ready, looking as tall and menacing as a 5'2 person carrying a baby can, but was disappointed - all was good at my places to check :) But man was I ready!!!
We put up the last prop 8 signs early this morning with the kids and then dropped off our ballots at a voting booth - they had stickers and kid ballots -the kids voted for the "tea party" (as opposed to the birthday or pool party!). Guess what we'll be doing tomorrow!!! It was cute and we had lots of good discussions driving all over the city before school this morning and I was grateful.
And above all - I'm grateful that election day is here and it is over!!!
Daddy thinks the last post needs a disclaimer. I hate Halloween. Why should I buy a bunch of candy that we don't have money for and no one needs (especially my fat folds!) and then have to come up with costumes. My costume philosophy - look in the dress-up box. I'll buy you a $5 accessory and we're done. Do they REALLY have to make princess costumes that cost $40!!!!! Honestly!!! Even if I had just one kid and we were rich and famous give me one good reason why my kid needs to wear a $40 costume for one night at night-time when no one will see it (our school does not allow costumes on Halloween). Then we add in Halloween parties that keep the kids up late at night - so we have kids waking up at insane hours of the morning because they're so excited they can't sleep and then going to bed late so by the time we get to Halloween night they're so tired they can't stay awake and Tinkerbell is too tired to get her costume on so she trick or treats in the leotard she happened to have on when we left. Now I have grumpy girls that don't want to clean the house because they're tired (even though Mommy has spent tons of time and energy preparing food, parties, pumpkins, costumes, etc) and constantly fight and ask for candy. And I'm supposed to LIKE this holiday!!!
On top of that it is fall. I don't like fall. Okay, I am enjoying the pretty trees, but it's getting colder (I hate the cold) and darker and it's raining (yuk) and all the pretty butterflies and flowers have gone away and the weather man told us to say good-bye to 80 degree weather last week and that just depresses me.
And on top of that WHOEVER created the dumb idea of daylight savings time obviously never had kids. Great...now instead of the baby waking everyone up at 6:00AM she'll wake them up at 5:00AM and they will be more tired. What a dumb idea.
And did I mention I DON'T need more candy in the house - I've gained enough weight lately, thank you, and this stupid (excuse me...not my favorite) holiday isn't helping, nor is the weather since it isn't much fun to exercise in the rain and it's too dark to play soccer at night!!!
Did I explain myself well enough? Are my feelings clear? I hope so. Daddy was concerned about my Halloween post - do you understand it now? Good. How many days until spring?
A poodle girl, a fairy princess and Tinkerbell
This was A's first Halloween - she is wearing a shirt that says "Little Monster" because that is what she is :) Monsters can be cute!! She likes Smarties :)
Today was one of those days we scored BIG!!! We made a last minute and very quick trip to Costco today and the girls, as always, were hoping for free samples. On a good day we'll get 3 or so that we really like, occasionally we get one that actually convinces us to buy something new and different but usually there's just one or two and life is good. We walked in the door today and they were trick or treating! Bring on the Hershey's. After a few aisles we were treated to pita bread bites which a few kids liked and we tried pirate booty. I've had it and it's fine but this is the first time the kids had it and ALL 4 LIKED IT!!! (that doesn't happen often!). So naturally we got that. We had my FAVORITE brownies bites WITH ice cream being samples, some fabulous hamburgers, yogurt, shrimp (that will teach Daddy not to come along!), pizza, cheesecake, pancakes with berries, and meatballs. WOW!!! I love it when that happens! Our quick trip took a little longer just because it took so long to try samples. But we were happy! Thanks Costco!
I promise pictures will come soon! We've been busy with soccer games, parties, pumpkin patches, pumpkin carvings, etc. Lots of fun!
One of MANY crazy reasons I haven't posted much (but this one gave me a good smile!!)
(for those of you outside CA he is holding our "Yes On 8" signs posted everywhere around here!) Some days it really feels like all the arrows are being thrown at us!!! I just wish they understood that we look at homosexual people as our neighbors and respect all of their rights, but when courts allow them to marry WE will begin to lose our rights. For example if our bishops refuse to marry a homosexual couple for religious reasons they can get sued for discrimination and we will no longer be able to be married by our bishop. In Massachusetts Catholic adoption agencies had to shut down because they refused to place children in homosexual homes for religious reasons. I wish we could all get along and live nicely with each other but when certain groups try to take away MY rights to live my religion it's time to stand up. I wish people understood that the homosexual groups will not lose ANY of their rights such as tax benefits, hospital visitation rights, etc. Those are all protected under law and that's great! It is actually US that stands to lose. I have homosexual friends and I will continue to remain friends for we are all neighbors - but can't we all get along!
That was much longer than planned :) What else have I been up to - Daddy has been REALLY busy finishing his dissertation - he hopes to be done in another couple of weeks. The girls are busy with school, Mg loves preschool and gymnastics, A continues to cause trouble but manages to be absolutely adorable at the same time, our church's creche festival is coming up and I'm in charge of the live musicians for the event (REALLY busy with that!!!!) , Halloween is in a few days, Daddy's birthday is after that, my in-laws are coming for Thanksgiving, Mg AND M's birthdays are after that along with the actual creche festival, Christmas and heaven only knows if there is a move somewhere in there. It's not looking likely but still a slim possibility. We'll update if we ever know anything for sure :)
With everything going on Mommy was starting to really feel stressed out so I RAN AWAY!!!! It was wonderful - I spent last Saturday in San Jose on a impromptu trip to visit my grandparents. It was wonderful! A nice quiet 2 hour drive with beautiful colored trees to enjoy and CHRISTMAS music to listen to (HOORAY!) and no children to interrupt me, 3 wonderful hours with each of my grandparents, and a nice ride home to find a clean house and happy children and an amazing husband. I didn't think about any of the pressures going on and escaped it all and came back healthy and happy and ready to face the last CRAZY week (for awhile). THANK DADDY!!! I love you!
I'll try to get pictures up in the next few days but until then know we're happy, healthy, busy, enjoying fall and looking forward to the weeks festivities!
...and then I feel like facing another week.
After a long day of cleaning I had to run an errand Friday night and I just happened to be going past the grocery store and these just happened to be on sale. Haven't had one in a long time. Forgot how good they are. Guess there's a few more pounds I'm not going to lose!
Toddlers
She is truly adorable. She is so excited just to be walking. She will walk in circles and just be happy she is walking. She is learning to be like her sisters - she is now obsessed with shoes and tries to put everyone's on, she wants to talk on a phone, she babbles when everyone else is talking, she loves to be held and to be snuggled (especially when I'm giving someone else attention!) and she's just so sweet and innocent!
A clean and organized home
I'm telling you - you're all invited to my house Saturday nights! It's amazingly clean - I love it!!! We spent part of our day doing another crazy mommy idea and baby proofed the playroom and made it more A friendly. Which turned into reorganizing the bedroom to make it more "older kid" friendly. Which turned into cleaning out the girls shelves (well, M's. E keeps hers well organized). It took all afternoon (and evening!) but it's done and I love it! (so does Mg and A!!).
A manly husband
Who replaced our brakes all by himself saving us $100. And it didn't take very long at all! I love that my girls were all outside checking out what Daddy was doing, just the way their mommy used to follow her daddy around! (thanks for being so patient Dad!)
A great city to live in!!!
It certainly has its quirks but I love the parks, the agricultural atmosphere, the animals, the bike paths, great schools and activities, etc. We've been happy here. We really love our friends, too!!
A cuddler
I love that Mg loves to just sit in my lap. She is happiest there. We make sure every morning after we take the big kids to school we come home and I tickle Mg and we laugh and giggle and then she grabs her bunny (or two or three) and sits with me. She loves back scratches, hugs and kisses. And it's great. There's nothing better than to give love.
Laughter
No matter how grumpy I am when I wake up there is nothing like a warm wiggly body climbing in bed for a quick snuggle and then their squeals as I tickle them. And then the squeals of their sisters coming to rescue. And then the big pile of bodies, toes, and belly buttons to tickle. And when Daddy comes out as backup the fun doubles. And I am in a good mood (although poor A is not - she hates it when the big girls really squeal and kick!)
A beautiful World to Live in
I like spring - it's my favorite time of year. I despise just about everything dealing with winter (except flannel sheets) and fall only means that winter is coming. However, we've had incredibly gorgeous 80 degree weather lately and the colors are starting to change and it is pretty and I've been enjoying the world. And life.
Education
I love to learn!!! There are so many things to learn about! I LOVE watching E learn how to read and to learn to love to read. She's starting to pick up books around the house that she realizes she can now read the actual words - and it's exciting! Someday I will have my own library - heaven to me! I love that M is learning new things and is excited to come home and tell me how many oceans there are in the world or her new book project she made. They're growing up so fast!!! (but they still love to just sit and have mommy hold them for a minute - especially if I promise to not tickle)
Faith
Family
Friends
Talents
Hobbies
Friends
Too many things to go into...but I have to say...
Family - I don't even know where to start when it comes to my family. What incredible parents and siblings I have. What an example. What an amazing heritage I come from - as I read stories of my ancestors and realize that they struggled so much so that WE could have a good life I am overwhelmed. To think back on all my parents gave us - the strength of their testimonies, family values, their hard work to teach us what is right. to have grown up so close to loving grandparents. I feel so frustrated that I can't tell you how much I love my family or how much I appreciate all that they have done and continue to do for me. It's impossible to describe or put into words. But I love them. More than I can ever express.
The gospel - where would I be if I didn't know that Jesus Christ loves me, that my Heavenly Father cares about me and needs me to serve his children (especially the little ones he has blessed me with). If I didn't know that my Grandpa and Great-grandparents are watching me and blessing me and are so close to me. If I didn't know that Christ loves me for who I am and yet still encourages me to be all that He knows I can be. What a great blessing to know who I am and that He loves me. Even when I'm far from perfect. I am loved.
This turned into something much longer than expected (all I planned to share was the chocolate!) but I am so grateful and happy. It's fun to make a list, and to realize what a blessed person I am.
I simply remember my favorite things....and realize I have so much to be grateful for!!! (especially those Haagen-dazs - man do those make your night!!!). I love you all!!!
**This was typed up last Saturday but I'm just now getting to post it...enjoy!**
So Daddy was wonderful this morning and took the three big girls out on a bike ride (in the cold wind) while the baby slept and I got caught up on a lot of work I really needed to get done. They rode for a little ways and then came back for kites. Great! I've been saving kites from last season and now we're actually going to use them! I pat myself on the back for not only saving them but for even knowing where they are. We spend time untangling the three kites. Then we start to put them together. One looked great, one was all right and the other needed lots of help. We found some wooden skewers to replace the missing sticks. We retape most of it. Untangle the obnoxiously long kite tails and the string and send the girls off. Daddy will continue the story...
We get out to a large field with nothing around. All three kites strings became tangled with the kite tails on the walk over. We untangle and I start to put Mg's up and she is happy. Moving on to E - SHE is tangled in her kite string. Untangle her, untangle her tail and her kite is up and she is happy. Then E's kite gets loose and flies away. E is "not happy." Wait - Mg's kite saves the day by trapping E's kite and they both come down, tangled together (the kites, kite strings and tails). While untangling them E's kite string breaks but a simple knot fixes that. It took quite a bit of time to untangle the two kites from each other and then to untangle the kite strings from the kite tails but eventually Mg's kite gets up in the air. I turn around and see that E has now hog tied herself in her own kite string, tangled and stuck, unable to move, again. Untangle E, untangle the kite string and tail, tie E's kite string BACK to the kite (the reason it originally got away) and send it up. Meanwhile M is helping Mg - Mg's kite keeps nose diving so M decides to run with it - right into E's kite's path. Thankfully Daddy prevented another collision. They never got the third kite up (the surgicially repaired kite never made it) and Mg's kite kept nosediving so everyone got to take turns with E's kite.
To quote M "Daddy, I think we spent more time untangling the kites than we did flying them." Daddy says "That's the truth." Daddy gets home and says, "We need new kites." Everyone got a turn to fly the good kite at least once. I asked Daddy if they had a good time...he says "It was an experience" (said with a smile). The kids were fine (except for when E was tangled up) but...we need new kites!
NOTE: I tried to send this post as an email to my mommy but stupid gmail (which EVERYONE said was SO wonderful!) will not let me embed pictures into my email without creating a document or some other random way. If I am wrong please correct me because I think this is LAME!!! Since many of your SUGGESTED I use gmail you can all suffer through a boring post meant for my mommy who loves me even when I'm boring (and who got me started on these projects!!)
A little background - I love crafts. I particularly love the kind where there are VERY specific instructions for me to follow. I am not creative but am happy to follow instructions and occassionally enjoy changing the pattern/colors slightly to fit my needs. I have tried many different types of crafts and love to try new ones. A year ago during a Utah trip my mom got me hooked on embroidery. I love it!!! It's quick, easy, fairly cheap and lots of fun. My kids even enjoy it now. I also LOVE seasonal things so I got some dollar store frames for my wall and I enjoy changing them for the different holidays and seasons. At least in theory. It seems I'm always behind. For instance, I JUST finished my fall ones. When I put them up I took down the spring project - somehow the summer ones didn't happen :) But since I can reuse them next spring there is hope that summer projects might happen. Anyways (I'm rambling) here are the fall ones - actually DONE, ironed and HUNG UP!!! Miracles happen!!
I have to say there were a few color choices I was not happy with but hey, they're done and up!
This last trip to Utah my mom got me going on crochet. I learned from my Grandmommy how to knit growing up and later my mom taught me to crochet to put edges on baby blankets (which I enjoyed). I have always wanted to learn how to make delicate doilies and with Mom's help I learned to crochet last summer. I started with a few fun ponytail holders for the kids and such and recently finished my first doily - I AM PROUD!! It wasn't as hard as I thought and I think it turned out well! It was done awhile ago but I finally got around to starching and ironing it...what do you think!
That is a quarter in the middle to give you an idea on the size. Pretty cool, huh!
I think it is SO important for Mommy's to have hobbies and activities that THEY enjoy doing so they have some enjoyable personal time. We spend so much time taking care of everything and everyone and it is so often that we forget ourselves, and that makes for an unhealthy mom. I'm grateful for an amazing husband who has learned the value of this concept and makes sure I am able to get together with friends to scrapbook or go to church activities and doesn't complain (much) when I spend money on supplies that are probably not necessary but bring a little happiness to life. For some reason it does me so much good to look around my walls and think "I made that" or to come home from scrapbooking and have a completed page to show my man. I'm grateful for the little things in life and joy they bring me (and for a wonderful mommy!! I love you!)
I would like a new box for Christmas - this one is getting a little small.
Also, I would really like a box of Kleenex and a roll of toilet paper - Mommy keeps taking them away from me.
Love, A
Isn't she a doll! Yes, the box WAS full of toys. This morning it was turned into a climbing toy - she practiced many times getting in and out! Then it was something fun to put on her head, which led to a game of peek-a-boo. THEN it became a ride, courtesy of big sister Mg. I'm not sure who laughed more! Sure enough, after nap time the "container to hold things" became "A's favorite toy" again! And WHY do we buy them toys????
