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.

$2 Tuesdays

A local roller rink has had $2 Tuesdays all summer long. I found out about this a few weeks ago and decided to brave it and take my kids there and see if we could have a good time. It was such a hit! Even Spencer loved it. Danielle and Spencer mostly skated around on the carpeted area and Taneal and Camie hugged the walls in the rink, but we lasted the full three hours and had so much fun. Nathan cooperated and ate his fill of gold fish. We left determined to go back soon.

Today was the day we went back. Not so good. I brought water bottles because I would rather the kids drink from my water bottles then a public drinking fountain. Spencer decided he was thirsty and because I was watching all my kids in a crowded area, I didn't realize that that little three-year-old somehow managed to drink two water bottles in the first half hour we were there. After two trips to the bathroom and him REALLY going, I realized what happened. I was taking him to the bathroom every fifteen minutes. And, the bathroom was a public restroom, so not so clean. The floors in the restroom were tile and extremely slippery with skates on. Of course taking off the skates and putting shoes on every 15 minutes didn't seem like the easy way out. So, I somehow pushed the stroller, managed to keep Spencer from falling, pulled down his pants, helped him on the toilet, had to pull his pants back up (tugging causes slipping and sliding), getting out of the stall with baby and Spencer, washing hands, etc. Not fun. Nathan had had it, wanted out of the stroller and the gold fish weren't doing their trick. Spencer was too tired by this point and started the tantrums. TIME TO GO!

Now to get the girls off the rink. A very nice lady comes and sits next to me and comments that I have my hands full (why does that comment bother me? I do have my hands full). She then explains to me in a "I'm trying to be compassionate" sort of way, how sad it is that I have so many children and so I can't be out on the rink helping my children learn to skate because I have to tend to the little ones on the bench. (Sorry about the run-on sentence there.) I just grit my teeth and try to flag down my kids that we REALLY need to go. So, this lady goes onto the rink, asks Danielle if she can take her out on the floor and help her skate. Danielle comes and asks, and of course I'm feeling somewhat less then a great mom at that moment and so I grant permission. Spencer on the bench screaming, Nathan squirming in my arms, Taneal and Camie zooming around the rink not paying attention to me, and some stranger hand in hand with my little girl.

When I finally got my girls attention that we needed to go, we were out of there within a minute or less. We piled into my van and drove home. I promised that we would NEVER do that again. Taneal's comment was great, "of course we won't, Mom. School starts on Monday and $2 Tuesdays will be over." I love that she know me and still loves me and can find humor in a bad situation.

And all I was trying to do was be a good mom and take my kids skating.

So to change the perspective. I love being a mom of 5 children. If I could, I would have a dozen more. My children are my life and bring me so much happiness and joy. They are the reason I get out of bed every morning. They are the reason I have an added skip in my step. They are the reason I cook and clean and shop and sing and smile. They are the reason I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice and example that allows me to try to be a better person each day. I am so thankful for temples that have allowed my family to be a family forever, and not just for our time here on earth. I have a great husband that supports me and works so hard to provide for all these mouths to feed, and occasionally changes diapers, too. We feel so blessed to have these five truly amazing children with us each and every day. I do have my hand full and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Nathan is 1

Nathan had his first birthday. They grow up so fast! We had Troy and Becky over for the celebration. I made taco salad and birthday cake. Nathan wasn't too thrilled about either. Someone put his hand in his cake and he couldn't stand the sticky feeling, so we had to wash his hand and try it all over again. I love the first birthday and the cake because you never know what to expect. Some kids will dive right in and others, like Nathan, don't want to have much to do with it.

I must confess. I don't know if I have fallen victim of having a lot of children or what. But as Nathan's birthday neared, I couldn't think of anything to get him! I have too many toddler toys as it is, I had two bags that I had just dropped off at Good Will. I really didn't want more toys. And summertime is so busy with all the kids home that I never made it to the store.

My neighbor across the street had a baby a few days before Nathan was born and you should have seen the party that they threw for their firstborn. And Nathan, Sunday morning rolled around and I neglected to get him anything. The girls asked of they could help wrap his presents and told them of my dilemma. They said they would take care of the problem. Awesome girls!

We went to late afternoon church, came home and prepared dinner for family to come over, and I didn't give the gifts another thought until Becky showed up with a gift for Nathan. Oops. Taneal and Camie happily marched downstairs with some wrapped gifts in tow. They had indeed taken care of the problem. They grabbed some of the toys that Nathan plays with and wrapped them. They also got out a package of diapers and wrapped that as well.

So is it because Nathan is baby #5 that I didn't throw the HUGE party for? If my neighbor only knew. And now you know. I love that little boy so much and have been so blessed to have him in my home and as part of my family. The giftless birthday is no reflection of the affection I have for that little spirit.