Me and My Helpers

I made these aprons a while ago. The kids think it's fun to wear them when we bake. I also tell them when it's time to clean to "put on your uniform". When the apron is on it is time to work. I'd say it motivates them for at least a whole minute.

I just had to take a picture of Hyrum when he put his helmet on and his hair was poking through. Notice the great paint job in the background. Currently our living room wall has about 5 different shades painted on it as we try to decide on a color. I think we finally have it (after 5 trips to the paint store). Unfortunately we started painting in the boy's room. We thought we had the perfect color until we noticed that the tan we had picked out has a very strong pink tone to it. But it's painted now and I don't feel like painting it again so my boys are going to have the most feminine room in the house. Oh well. They think it looks cool.

The things that stick

Kids brains are funny things. You can repeat some things over and over but they never get it. Other times you can give just one lesson and you will be amazed at what they remember. Not only remember but put into practice in their lives.

Yesterday we were doing our duty to the nation and putting landscaping rock in our yard with the money from the stimulus package. Our neighbors came out to help us to shovel and rake it. After about an hour our neighbor must have said that she was going to go get a drink because the next thing I heard Alan say was "I would sure like some soda too". For the last couple of months we have been trying to teach Alan that asking for goodies like that is rude. That is not a lesson that has stuck.

Before I can say anything our neighbor says "what kind of soda would you like"? Alan's reply was "Anything without caffeine in it". I was dumbfounded. I looked over at Allison and she was looking at Alan with those "I am so proud of my son" eyes. We had 1 FHE lesson last week on the word of wisdom. I guess it stuck. Funny thing is that we gave only 1 scenario to Alan during the lesson about a word of wisdom scenario and it had to do with someone offering soda.

Maybe that's the trick. If I could come up with all the possible scenarios that would make Alan want to hit Hyrum and come up with an alternative then maybe that lesson would stick too.

Bed Time Stories

Truth be told, I don’t like telling bedtime stories. Creativity is not my strong suite. When I was in school I dreaded creative writing. Even in elementary school, my stories that I wrote always had rather abrupt endings because I just got so tired of trying to think up a story that as soon as I had the story long enough to satisfy the assignment I would end the story. So now when my kids want a bedtime story, it goes something like this. “Once there was a little boy who liked to play with his toys all day and when he got tired he went to bed. The End.” Luckily my kids have a dad who delights in telling bedtime stories.

The kids absolutely love it when John tells them stories (they don’t even ask me anymore). John will tell stories based on movies like Bedknobs and Broomsticks and just make up the parts that he doesn’t remember (often over half the story). Or he might make up a story about a famous person, like Tony Hawk (now, when you ask Hyrum what he likes to do he says that he practices riding his skateboard. He didn’t even have a skateboard until a few weeks ago).

One of the kids favorites was John told the kids stories about when he went to scout camp. I told John that he’s not allowed to tell stories that involve his misdeeds and getting in trouble. Consequently he says that he doesn’t have many stories left to tell.

So it’s a good thing I married John. He picks up the slack where I fail miserably. The kids love his stories and best of all . . . I don’t have to put the kids to bed anymore.

All Alone

This is it. I'm all alone. Just me and the dog, for 24 hours. The most beloved and highly anticipated day of the year is finally here. The father and sons campout. Some people feel bad that I don't have any girls. Those women have kids home with them right now. Not me, I'm just sitting here listening to . . . what's that? Silence.

I'm going to take some time to do what I want to do. I'm going to sleep in tomorrow. I'm going out to dinner tonight, and I'm not going to Mc Donalds. I'm going to go grocery shopping all by myself and try to buy enough stuff to last me for 2 weeks so I I can have 2 weeks that I don't have to take the kids to the store with me. I am going to go buy new sandals, because I can never really take the time to try on shoes when I have two kids running wild around the store. I'll also do some painting which is not quite as fun, but I will do it with out worrying that little hands will get in the paint and then do who know what. This is it. I'm all alone. And I'm as happy as can be.

All grown up

All grown up. Well, not quite. But my little boy is starting Kindergarten next year. Alan had his preschool graduation today. It was an especially bittersweet moment because this is Alan's teacher's last year doing preschool. Hyrum had been so looking forward to going to preschool with Miss Michelle, but I'm glad that at least Alan got to have her as a teacher. I am so impressed by her ability to love each of the students even when they are difficult (I know Alan's one of those). I really think that each student felt like they were a favorite of Miss Michelle's. But all good things must come to an end. Alan is looking forward to kindergarten next year. He got accepted for a school with open enrollment that we are really happy with. Now if I can just keep these kids busy this summer we will be good.

Miss Michelle and Alan

Alan

The greatest job in the world

I woke up this morning to hear Alan saying “It’s Mother’s Day! I want Mom to open my gift!” Apparently John told him that it would have to wait because I woke up again a half hour later with Alan standing in my doorway watching me. As soon as he saw that I had my eyes open he smiled and said “It’s time to open your present now Mom!” Alan ran in and jumped on the bed and gave me a white paper bag filled with a gift that he made me at pre-school. Inside I found a corsage (with plastic flowers), and a book that his teacher helped him write. It was one of those books where his teacher asks questions about me and it has his candid answers. I love it!

Q: How old is your mother?
A: 84 or maybe 86

Q: What is your mother’s favorite thing to do with you?
A: Give hugs and kisses.

Q: What does your mom always say to you?
A: That she loves me . . . that she likes me. And that I can only watch ONE TV show.

After I finished reading my new favorite book, we went down to the kitchen where I was greeted by a delightful, “Mommy!!” and a big hug and kiss from Hyrum while I saw John making waffles for me for breakfast. What a perfect start to the day.

Growing up I think Mother’s day was probably the most sacred day of the year in our house. My Dad taught us how important mom was and how we needed to show appreciation. Mother’s day started on Saturday when my Dad would take all the kids out grocery shopping to get ready for Mothers day. He always got my mom a corsage and something nice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I remember often running into some of the men from church out shopping for their mothers day dinner too. I loved that all these men knew how important it is to treat their wives right. I’m glad that I married a guy who knows how to treat his wife right too!

My mom had the greatest job in the world, and from her I always knew what job I wanted. A mom. OK I’ll admit that it’s often a frustrating job and I’m often not the mom I want to be, but I’m getting better. And who can complain when every day starts and ends with a hug and a kiss. Happy Mothers Day Mom! I wish that I was there to start your day with a hug and a kiss (Though a hug and a kiss from the grandkids would probably be even better).