Cookies

My children are getting so grown up! We made cookies last night and then decorated them tonight. They did so much of it on their own. And they even cleared the supper table and did the dishes so we could decorate cookies. I would have brought cookies to you, but my kids gobbled them up!

Taneal, Camie, and Danielle can pretty much decorate cookies on their own. Not decorate the kind to give away, but the kind that doesn't make too big of a mess, have too many sprinkles, or too much frosting, and they lick the knife a lot. They do really well. Spencer is so passive that he watches and copies and does a great job. Nathan just wanted the candy corns. He didn't care about the cookies or the frosting, they just get on his hands and feel yucky.

I love having big kids! I thought the best stage was the toddler stage, where Nathan is at. They are just so dang cute! But then I think about the stage that Spencer is at, the preschool stage, and I LOVE how they are sponges and soak up everything you teach them. But then again, maybe the 'bit more independent stage where my girls are at is pretty great too. And then sometimes I see newborns and want one of those too. I guess maybe I just like children, no matter the stage.

Conference

General Conference has evolved for me. I remember as a child going to the church building and sitting through the two hour Sunday morning conference broad casted from Temple Square in Salt Lake City. I looked forward to the potluck meal we would have right afterwards. As a teenager I even got lucky enough to leave a little early from the chapel and go to the kitchen and help with the set-up of the dinner.

I didn't realize that there were two sessions on Saturday. Either that or I don't remember that I knew.

And now I look forward to General Conference. I love hearing from a prophet of God. I know the Prophet receives revelation from God and delivers a message that He wants us to hear. And this is one of the ways that I know:

Over the last few months I have been a bit overwhelmed with having 5 children. The clean-up alone is enough to overwhelm. But there is so much more then that. I have five children because I love them. I love having children. Children are a breath of fresh air. They come with unique personalities, they love to learn, and they amaze me. I can sit and just watch for hours and be fully entertained. And they teach me so much. I am a different person then I was 10 years ago. I have learned patience, understanding, and my ability to love has unfolded.

I love to watch other moms with their children. There is so much to be learned and ignored. My church is full of moms with only one, two, and three children. They are amazing mothers, love their children so much, and are able to read, play, and really enjoy their kids. That is how I was. Then I got more children and more, and now I don't even really scrapbook. Days go by that I am so busy with the business that comes with a big family that I didn't get a chance to brush Spencer's teeth, or I let Nathan eat chalk, I didn't read with Danielle today, he has been wearing that dirty shirt all day.

The message from last Conference was there is good, better, and best out there. When we have to choose what to do, always choose the best. That has been on my mind. I wanted to make the best with my time. I quit farming on Facebook Farm Town because that wasn't the "best" way to spend my time. I don't really watch tv. I blog because it is sort of a journal. I try to choose wisely how I spend my time, but still relax and not run faster then I have strength, to have some down time for me so i don't get burnt out. I want to be a good mom and let go of what isn't important and focus on what really is.

And as I have been pondering what is most important, I had thoughts come to me. Smudges on my children's face are fine. If I miss a day of brushing teeth, they will live. If my dishes don't get done tonight, they will still be there in the morning with even more. The laundry can wait, usually. What is more important? My children. They are growing up so fast and I don't want to miss a moment. But, having a lot of children means I will miss something, I have to choose the good, better, or best. This was the thought that came to mind: I need my children to know how to recognize and feel the spirit. Each of us feel the spirit in our own way. And knowing how the spirit feels and speaks to us is what will guide us the rest of our lives. I must teach them to know for themselves of Jesus Christ. They need to know that He loves them. That He atoned for their sins. That He was resurrected so we can live again. This is the stuff that will carry them through the hard times in their lives. There will be many bumps for them, but knowing about the Savior and trying to become more like Him will make the bumps a little smoother.

As I flipped Conference on Saturday morning, the first talk was about exactly the thoughts that had been so heavy on my mind for months. Then the next talk was about the same thing, just a little different. And so was the rest of Conference. God lives. He speaks to prophets today. He leads and guides us. I don't think it a coincidence that conference was about exactly what had been on my mind. I needed to hear it, have my thoughts clarified. He spoke to me through the mouth of a prophet, a latter-day prophet that leads and guides us just as Moses of old.

I need to choose the best. I need to teach my children to recognize and feel the spirit. And I am so thankful for His inspiration and guidance.

Chalk

My little Nathan, or "Nater" as he has been nicknamed. He loves to be outside. I can let him loose in the backyard and he can stay out there for hours. I'm not sure what is so entertaining, I took down the ladders so he can't climb up the play set. He just pokes around looking at everything, peeking through the fence, and eating chalk.


Yes, chalk. He LOVES chalk. Maybe he is vitamin deficient. They say that about children who eat dirt. He gags with the dirt, but loves the chalk. Several of my other kids have liked chalk, but I was a good mom back then and would take the chalk away. I was taking the chalk from Nathan, but he continued to find chalk hidden in the grass. I finally gave up. Hopefully it can't cause damage, seems to come through quite well.


Don't get me wrong, it isn't a ton of chalk, just a few nibbles and scrapes from his teeth here and there. This picture is the worst, which is why I took a picture. It was just after a good rain and he found a small piece in the yard and it pretty much disintegrated as soon as he put it in his mouth. He was even grossed out.
Little kids. They can be so cute.

Soccer Season, Again

We love soccer. Taneal and Camie are both playing again, and I should have had Spencer and Danielle play if I had been on the ball. We have practice twice a week with games consuming Saturday mornings. It really is fun, Danielle, Spencer and Nathan really enjoy playing at the park (not playground) collecting sticks and bugs and frogs. It gets them outside and out of the house. It is a good thing in almost every way. And so here we go again. More pictures are sure to come and you now know the happenings in and out of our home. Next time I need to get pictures of what my other kids are doing.

Rise and Shine

I am not a morning person. I survived four years of early morning seminary with nearly perfect attendance. I have 5 early birds that are my alarm clock. Evan loves mornings. And I try to love mornings, to get out of bed and start my day before anyone else in the house does. And then I drag all day. I love to burn the candle light on the other end. My mind is clearer in the evenings. I always studied well in college in the late evenings. I've tried to change and my body just is what it is. I am not a morning person.

Again, my children are. They rise at the crack of dawn which means so do I. Our morning starts at 6am and if I'm lucky, I don't have to until 6:30. I remember well when Camie was a newborn and Taneal wasn't quite 2, laying in bed after a sleepless night and Taneal putting her feet to my back saying, "Up!" I remember thinking it was cute, but still not wanting to get up. I did, though. Others don't need to suffer through my morning problem.

And what brings me to this post: 6am this morning. Nathan is at my bed side. He is 13 months old and just beginning to talk, has a handful of words he says. He pulled on my covers and clearly said, "Get up!" over and over. I was sure I was imagining it until Evan nudged me and asked if Nathan really just said, "get up!" Yep. Some of his first words were to tell me to GET OUT OF BED!

Maybe in the next life I will enjoy mornings. Maybe not.

Dimples

Forgive me for this post, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share this story. Children sometimes make you laugh when you really shouldn't. Sometimes you just can't suppress the laugh, no matter how much you ought to. This was one of those moments.

We were sitting around the dinner table eating supper. Evan made a comment about Spencer's cute dimples. Spencer inherited them from Evan. Spencer has to smile to show his dimples, so I asked Spencer to show me his dimples.

He pulls up his shirt and points to his nipples!

I never realized those two words sounded so similar. Evan and I tried, but couldn't hold back the laughs. it was too cute and innocent. And the moment has passed. Now, when we ask Spencer to show us his dimples, he smiles.

September Fun

With the drought we've been in, and the lack of sprinklers in our yard (we are supposed to get enough rain to where we don't need sprinklers very often), we've been doing a lot of watering. Nice water bills, and fun pictures. I put the sprinkler in the front yard and Nathan immediately went up to it. I hadn't turned in on yet, so I waited a minute and then blasted it. He was startled and then soaked with a big grin on his face. It got Spencer, too. And then all the girls joined in. It was great fun and they all got wet.

Crazy places

Spencer hasn't napped in probably two years. He will take a nap maybe once every two weeks and then is up until 11pm that night. We basically try to avoid naps. The other day Spencer fell asleep and so Evan got him up to take him to the bathroom to avoid an accident. In hopes of waking Spencer up, Evan lifted Spencer off the toilet and let him walk. He walked right out of the bathroom to the stairs and fell asleep. It was one of those Kodak moments. Only a small child can fall asleep ON the stairs and stay asleep. Sweet dreams!

Open House at the School

The kids had their open house and I packed the camera in hopes of getting pictures of their wonderful teachers. I usually forget the camera at home and don't end of getting pictures until the last week of school when the classrooms are ready for summer and no longer decorated. It was crazy busy having three teachers to meet that night in a 1 hour period. I wasn't able to get a picture of Taneal's teacher, but I did get one with their favorite PE teacher. Great teachers.

Markers

What compels children to color on themselves? Or on the walls for that matter? Nathan will color on anything, given the chance. Last week he took the dark wood chips from my flowerbeds and used them to color on my white garage door. He consistently tries that one.

Spencer took a grey marker and colored all over Nathan. Spencer knows better. When he got caught he even had that guilty look. It kind of looks like Spencer drew on Nathan to resemble a tiger's stripes? And what is the saying? Before you get mad, take a picture. That always seems to work for me and by the time I have taken the picture I have also calmed down.

I have discovered Mr Clean magic eraser and good 'ol fashioned paint work the best to cover things up.

Danielle learns to ride her bike

My little 5-year-old learned to ride her bike without training wheels. Evan out that cool, tall handle on the back of her bike making it so easy to steady her bike and keep her from falling. I was so impressed. She is growing up so fast and doing such big girl things. It took two different tries and she had it. Way to go, Danielle!

Boys Pictures

I finally made it down to the studio to get Nathan and Spencer's pictures taken. Nathan turned 1

last month and Spencer turned 3 in June, so I wanted to get their pictures made for their birthdays. I was very pleased with the results. I even had them retake Nathan's bath pictures since I didn't like the results of his at 6 months. I have all my kids baby bath pictures hanging up in their bathroom. Nathan was such a clown. I knew the kid had personality, but I didn't realized just how much he liked to tease and play around. He couldn't be serious! It was so much fun. And I feel happy that I got the pictures taken, don't have to worry about that not being done and time ticking away. Oh, I had the two boys taken together because when I just had girls, I had their pictures taken together. I have a big print of Spencer and Nathan that I can hang in their room. I think I inherited the love for pictures from my mom. She loves pictures, is a sucker for buying pictures. And if I could, I would be even a bigger sucker. Hope you enjoy these, I sure did.

Can ya tell she's sick?

Last Friday Danielle mentioned to me that her throat hurt. I looked down her throat with a flash light and didn't see any pussy white bumps. Looked like a good throat to me. She didn't have a fever and was still bouncing off the walls with full energy. Saturday we swam, once that day a mention of her throat hurting. Same on Sunday (sorry if you were in her class, I had no idea). Still no fever. I sent her to school on Monday, and that night she complained a few more times about her throat hurting, so I promised her I would make an appointment with the doctor the next day, but since she didn't have a fever and wasn't acting sick, she was going to school. Tuesday at the doctor they told me she tested positive for strep throat. Huh? I asked him to show me. I didn't see the pussy white spots, but I saw a lot of red little spots all over the back of the roof of her mouth. 5 kids later and I am still learning. We filled her prescription and came home. She was thrilled to be home and asked if she could play in the sprinklers with Spencer in the back yard. I guess. And this is her in the back yard sick with Strep Throat. No fever. No symptoms. No wonder I missed it!

How do YOU eat an Oreo?

I eat an Oreo dipped in milk. I couldn't imagine eating one any other way, until one day I was forced. I was at Lake Powell, out on a ski boat, a package of Oreos and no milk. I was also hungry and it was going to be a while before I got back to the house boat where all the milk was. It was a hard decision. Hmmm. Do I waste the Oreos by eating them without milk, fill my belly full of bad calories for an okay treat, and curb my craving, or do I save the delicious desert for later and enjoy it with the milk? Evan likes to make fun of me. If there is a treat, or any kind of food for that matter, that is really, really, really good, then I really enjoy it. If it isn't so good, just okay, I will pass and save my calories for something that I can really enjoy. Evan, on the other hand, will eat anything. I don't think he really tastes it. Everything is good to him. So, when there is a treat that I really enjoy and he thinks it is okay, he shouldn't eat it and save it all for me because something else would satisfy him just as easily. Of course Evan just doesn't get it and thinks I'm crazy. At Lake Powell, I decided to indulge myself on the Oreos and eat them without milk. The first few bites were really sad. I needed them with milk. But then as I kept eating, I realized that they were quite good even without milk. I still prefer them with milk, but if none is handy, Oreos are still a good treat.

As to the title of this post. My cute baby was given an Oreo. Bad parent?maybe. I admit it. The little boy picks up the Oreo (no dipping allowed at this young age), turns it vertically, and tries to open his mouth as wide as it will go so he can take a bite. Huh?!? If he would turn the Oreo horizontal, a bite would be so easy! So he scrapes the Oreo with is teeth. It is hard to get a bite this way. And that is how he eats an Oreo. He eventually got frustrated because it was taking so long to eat and crumbled it to pieces. I tried it again a few weeks later and got the same result. He also does this with Ritz crackers and any round shaped food. Funny boy!

Obama speaks to the children

President Obama addressed the children of the nation. I really had a problem with it. I'm all about teaching children respect and authority. So how to teach my children respect, when I didn't feel it was appropriate that this man, who lacks all the values that I want to instill in my children, wanted to talk to my children. He is a very charismatic leader. How else did he win the hearts of the nation and get their vote? He knows how to win a crowd and is a great speaker. The message he was going to deliver to the children was about education and probably a great message. Seriously, no harm in the message, in fact, it is great that education is encouraged. The problem was who was delivering the message. He wants to win the hearts of the children, just like he did with the nation during the election. He is a sheep in wolves clothing. He will gain the trust of the children, which is easy to do, and then launch his agenda. It is like the frog in hot water. If you put a frog into hot water, it will immediately jump out. If you put a frog in warm water and slowly increase the temperature, the frog will remain in the water and eventually die because it didn't feel the temperature increase. I don't want Obama gaining the trust of my children. I don't want him getting into the hearts of my children. Let me be the parent and teach my children and when they are 18 and able to vote, let him speak to them then. But for now leave them alone. Their minds are too impressionable. I would not let Hitler, Bill Clinton, Gadianton, or any leader without integrity speak to my children. Obama is no different.

So how to teach my children respect for their leaders and for adults yet still keep this man out of their hearts? I kept them home from school. I talked to my children about values and leaders and how some lack those values yet we should not disrespect them. Just because they allow things does not mean it is okay, yet we should never disrespect someone. We need to follow the example of the Savior and respect and show love for other yet still not tolerate evil. I do not support Obama, how could I support a man that promotes abortion? I can respect the office, just not the man.

In this post I am not searching for debate. I plan to make this blog into a journal for my family and I want to express some of my views about what is going on around us. Just that.

Mom's 60th Birthday Celebration Video

After five months, I'm done. I compiled and sifted and organized over 2000 pictures, combined with music, into one complete video. It not only contains many pictures that recapture the experience, but also gives ten different lists of highlights from the trip. And now, it is yours for the viewing. I am posting this 16 minute video on my blog so you can not only enjoy, but so you can give a little feedback as to where it could be improved upon before I burn copies of the final product. Enjoy!

Out on the Lake

Troy (Evan's brother) and Becky invited our family to go out on the lake with them. We had such a great time. I did some knee boarding, got up the nerve to cross the wake, and was so proud of myself. I didn't grow up water skiing, so this is new and exciting to me. I was so impressed when Taneal got up on the knee board. Okay, maybe proud would be a better word. I was one pleased mamma. And then Camie got up, didn't release the rope from the board, but did really well. Then Danielle decided she could do it and also did well. And finally Spencer agreed to do it. I couldn't believe all my kids knee boarded!!!! With the exception of Nathan, he is barely walking. Nathan did enjoy a day out on the boat and getting in the water.

Another fun thing the kids surprised me and did was jump off the boat as the boat was moving. We gave them the green light so they knew when the boat was going a safe speed to jump off. Of course Taneal and Camie did it, but Danielle and Spencer joined in. I guess those many months at the pool this summer got them used to the water and now they are little fish!

Ice Skating with Camie

This summer I traded with a mom in my neighborhood and we did some "one-on-one" time with our children. It was so much fun. I have some truly wonderful and amazing children and I was so spoiled to be able to spend quality time with them. It was like going on dates. I loved it! And I really loved spending time with my kids individually and how special they felt that they had me all to themselves. They may have felt like they were special, but I think it was the other way around. I am so blessed that I have so many children that are good, fun, and happy to be with.

These are a few pictures that I took when it was Camie's turn. She chose to go ice skating, which I hadn't done since high school and she had never been. She thought it was about like walking, had no idea it was so slippery, and she took off onto the ice without me. She immediately slipped and then someone fell on top of her smashing her finger with the blade of their skate. Camie bawled because it REALLY hurt. We had to go get the blood cleaned up. And then Camie wanted to go back out on the ice! What resilience! Camie is really amazing! I would have quit and gone home feeling sorry for myself. She is such an example to me. She was cautious through the two hours of skating, but we had so much fun together.

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First Day of School

This year I sent all my girls to school. I only have my two boys with me at home. All three girls were so excited and couldn't wait for school to start. It really helped that they were able to meet their teachers the Friday before school started.

Taneal's teacher taught 2nd grade when Taneal was in 2nd, so Taneal knew who she was. Her good friend was in her class, so that made everything wonderful. She could have had the worst teacher and as long as this friend was in her class, nothing else mattered.

Camie's class was basically the same as last year and kindergarten. She didn't know anything about the teacher, but she was back in school with all her friends, so she was happy.

Danielle - - I was so nervous! She turned 5 a few weeks before school started so she is one of the youngest kids at school. She still likes me to feed her bites at dinner! I still help her out in the bathroom (yes, shame on me). She is like my little baby still. There are 9 kindergarten classes and I knew many of the teachers that I didn't want her to have and there were only 2 that I was okay with her having. And she got one of the two! My prayers were answered. I think if she had gotten anyone else I would have been in the Principal's office trying to make a change that would have been denied and then I would have had countless sleepless nights and ulcers. Or, I would have held her back a year until I was ready for her to go. I am just thankful for who she got and that I could put the anxiety aside. I am sure some of the other teachers would have been fine, but going through uncharted territories is so hard for me.

The first day of school began at 6:15 as I arose and put German Pancakes in the oven, per Taneal's request. I then looked at Taneal's typed lunch menu and began packing the girl's lunches. I should have gotten a picture of what everyone wanted. It was pretty funny. I the rousted the girls out of bed (NOT). They were already awake, dressed, and ready to eat.

And then I put all three girls on the bus! Even Danielle. I wanted to do it the way we would be doing it everyday so that Danielle could get used to it and not have it so confusing. As the bus pulled away, I hopped into my car and headed for the mall! Not really. I headed down to the school so that I could be there as the bus arrived and still walk my girls to their classes. This is a picture of Danielle and Taneal getting off the bus at the school. Danielle knew I was going to be there, but she quickly told me that she knew where she was going and she wanted to go by herself, that I could go with Camie to her class. Ouch! I said good-byes to Taneal and Camie and ran after Danielle down the hall. She made me walk behind her because she knew the way. Good thing I was there because she forgot the way. Once she reached her classroom, she hung up her backpack and then walked into the class, took a seat and started playing with the blocks at her table. I asked her if she was going to go say hello to her teacher and she told me she wasn't. So, I kissed her goodbye and she didn't so much as kiss me back or even look at me. She was a big girl now. I left and kept peeking in for the next 10 minutes. She was really fine without me.

I did meet her three hours later for lunch. It was so much fun. I got to see Camie at the end of her lunch, Danielle for all of her lunch, and Taneal for the beginning of her lunch. The school had asked for volunteers to help with the kindergarten lunches, so I thought I would help out. It was so fun to see all the little kindergartners.

Danielle rode the bus home and had a great day. Taneal loved being in class with her friend and Camie said the day was boring. The little time I was home was so quiet with only two kids. I did go to the grocery store and I kind of felt like I was doing something wrong, something was missing - oh, three kids.

We had a wonderful summer and I loved having all my kids at home. I sure miss them being at school and I am so glad that over the last week they haven't had homework so they can come home and play and we can still have some family time together. I wish I had the energy and time to teach my kids at home. I'm kind of jealous that the teachers get to spend so much time with my kids. They are so fun to be around and they love to learn. And I love to be with them and teach them and learn from them.

Taneal is really into the Harry Potter books. She said to me the other day, "just think, if I was going to Hogwarts, I would be able to go in two years!" That thought was cool to her but so sad to me. I really love having my kids around. I have a hard time sending them to school, although grocery shopping is much better. But I know it is where they need to be and they love school so much.

Traveling to church

I downloaded pictures that Taneal had taken. Oh how I love that girl. I love the perspective she gives when taking pictures. Camie does the same, just doesn't have her own camera yet. When she get ahold of my camera she gets some really great pictures that I never would have thought to get. These are some pictures that Taneal took while we were on our way to church. They are how things are, and I would never think to get them while I am in the front. She didn't get any of Camie because she was a little annoyed with Camie, and I'm not sure why there aren't any of Danielle. Taneal tends the take more pictures of the little kids more and she does a really good job. I thought they were worth posting because of the different perspective they give.

BIshop's Challenge

The beginning of the summer our wonderful and inspired Bishop spoke to us in Sacrament Meeting. He challenged each family to step up our family scripture study, family prayer, and Family Home Evening. He didn't want us to slack from our duties as summer often allows. He recommended we have some kind of reward at the end. I decided our family needed to participate in this challenge, so I made a poster board and my children helped color it.

We each had to do our own personal scripture study each night, but we reminded each other to do it. We had family prayer together and on Monday nights we had Family Home Evening. My Bishop is truly inspired. I loved how we all worked together as a family to help one another. We all read our scriptures every day for seven weeks. And at the end of the challenge, I got a baby sitter for the boys (thanks Aunt Becky) and Evan took a day off from work and we all went to a local water park. It was so much fun. It brought us closer as a family and filled our home with a wonderful spirit. Hopefully we can carry this daily scripture habit with us throughout the school year. I'm already to make a new poster and have the reward be Disney Land or NASA or something fun like that.

Some of us in my family are great at reading our scriptures and some of us are not so good. I am thankful for a wonderful Bishop that listens to the Lord and takes the time to challenge us to be better.