Follow-Up

I've had a few ask what Emmy will name her resurrected cat - so I literally said the words, "Hey Emmy, what are you going to name your resurrected cat?". The answer, "cutie". So when you see Emmy with her new cat, it's Cutie now, not Shanni.

Millennial Promises

I hope it's not bad to promise things that will take place in the Millennium. If it is bad, I'm in trouble because I've done that with Emmy. Emmy, my daughter who would love a pet more than anything, and who has parents who dread a pet more than anything. Because she doesn't have a pet she has to live vicariously through others. One day while I was doing her hair she was asking me all about my cat I had as a kid (yes, my parents were nicer than me and let me have lots of pets). I was telling her about my cat Shanni - what color she was, how I got her, the fact that she's dead now, and all the rest. Then she says, "When Shanni is resurrected could I have her?" Now here's a question I can say yes to! Of course she can my resurrected cat! The girl thinks she's won the lottery and is totally thrilled with her great luck - I've made her day. Then later she says to Derek, "Guess what! Mom said I could have Shanni when she's resurrected! But I'm going to change her name." Like I said, I hope it's not bad to make millennial promises.

I've Been Released

Friday morning our 2nd counselor in the Bishopric came over and released me from my calling. I'd been the Primary chorister for almost 2 years and he told me I needed to be released. I knew it was coming so I was dreading his visit. Part of the dread was the idea of losing this calling, and part of the dread was what if I get something worse. I wondered what he would say if I said 'no' to being released - and then I quickly realized he wasn't asking if I would be released, he was simply informing me that I was being released.
I've been really sad about getting released. It really felt like the Bishop was taking away my 90 kids - they're my kids and I don't want to share them! Being the Primary chorister has been a lot of work, but because it's been so much work I think I've gotten so much satisfaction out of it. It just seems the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. There has been down sides to this calling - doing it every week takes a lot of effort (and a lot of sugardoodle.com), and getting a sub has been a pain. I can't tell you how many times I told Derek we have to be back from our weekend plans by church because it's so hard to get a sub for this calling - it's out of a lot of people's comfort zones. But this calling has had so many positives too . . . I've loved working with both presidencies I've been in for, I've loved getting to know the kids, and my favorite part has been to be able to be in Primary with my kids. Since Bay started Sunbeams this January I've gotten to be in Primary with 3 of my kids. It's so fun to see my kids take part in sharing time and singing time and it's fun to see them learn the gospel. So many times we've had FHE based on the Sharing Time we just had, because it was such a great idea or a topic I hadn't thought about teaching our kids.
Sunday was my last day in Primary and I had to tell the kids goodbye - I was so sad! I told the kids that being in Primary is my favorite place to be. I'm sure by next week the kids won't even remember what singing time with me was like, but this calling has meant a lot to me.
And of course there is the other side of being released - the new calling. I did get a new one, the Enrichment Leader. I don't know anything about Enrichment so this is certainly going to be something entirely new for me (since I've been married - 10 years - I've only had Primary callings). All I know about Enrichment is that I always go, and I always hope there's dinner! I'm sure my Enrichment I.Q. is about to increase (I have my first meeting tonight - where I'm sure I'll learn a lot, like if I want dinner at Enrichment, I have to make it!). It seems like such a big change for where I've been for so long . . . but change is good. I'm excited . . . I think.

Love is in the Air

My kids are so excited about Valentine's Day coming up. Tyler and Emily both gave me their requests for their type of Valentine's and off to Walmart I went. Emmy was so excited when she got home and couldn't wait to start picking out who would get what Valentine. She was just in heaven assigning Valentine's when I heard her say, "This one is for Russell. And it's going to say, 'To Russell, You always sit in the front row and that's not fair to the rest of us. From, Emmy". So if you see a Valentine from Emmy in your mailbox you might want to brace yourself!

There Goes the Bus!

This morning Tyler missed the bus. We were doing our regular routine (read as . . . we were having family prayer in the living room so I could have one eye reverently opened looking for the bus) when the next thing I knew the bus was there, kids loaded, and passing our house! I started yelling 'Bus! Bus!' (Derek kept praying), and I started grabbing Tyler and dragging him to the door. He seemed to be much more interested in Derek's prayer (all of the sudden), than getting himself on the bus. I was out the door, pajamas and all, trying to chase it down! All the while Tyler very methodically was putting on his coat, then his backpack - by the time that kid was ready I think the bus was out of the neighborhood!

So I'm telling Tyler I can't believe he missed the bus and he's just trying not to smile . . . for some reason this is good news to him. Because he obviously doesn't get this is bad I have to spell it out for him . . . now Derek or I have to take him! He's still just trying not to smile - he was faking being sad about this! So I had to up the ante on how this is bad - and not just for me. Since now he was home for another 15 minues - he got to do some spelling words. When that was over and we still had time he got to do math flashcards. Still, trying not to smile about his good fortune.

So Derek says he'll take him to school. Ok, that's great for me. Then Derek sees Logan sitting there and says he'll take Logan too. Ok, that's great too. It took half a second for the girls to see this happen and they both stampede for the door saying they're going too. As Derek's walking out the door with 4 kids in tow he says, "this isn't what I signed up for". All of the sudden I had 15 minutes to myself . . . and I had to try not to smile.

The Love of Captivity

For a very long time my little Emily has loved stuffed animals. She has a million, they all have names and personalities. These 'pets' are her favorite thing. But her favorite thing to do with them is to put them on leashes, put them in cages, under bowls, under laundry baskets - basically keep these little guys in captivity. She loves animals to be trapped! At any given time you can walk around my house and find yarn tied around bar stool legs, chair legs, piano bench legs, cupboard knobs, anything that an animal can be tied to, all to ensure it doesn't get away. One day last week I walked in her room and found one animal under her pillow with a cookie sheet blocking the exit. Also I found she'd pushed her doll cradle in front of her closet doors - why, I asked, so the pets in the closet couldn't get out. The girl is crazy about captivity. Don't ask me why, I don't get it. But I do know that she's not the only one, her much-loved cousin is all about captivity too - when they get together those stuffed animals don't stand a chance! Both little girls got real dog collars and leashes for Christmas just to make the animal-control issue even easier.
But I'm starting to get worried because she's taking it to a new level - her next target . . . Logan. Logan has found that stairs can be really entertaining, and I've seen him go up one step several times. I wasn't too worried about him on the stairs, because going up one stair usually took 15 minutes and I'd find him by then, or he'd lose interest. But last week I noticed I hadn't seen him in a while so I went looking for him. I found him 8 steps up and climbing. Luckily I found him before he fell, I got him down, and put him down for a nap. I told Emmy I'd have to get out the baby gate now for sure. She insisted on getting it out immediately. I kept telling her that he was asleep - he wasnt' going anywhere. This wasn't good enough for her . . . she couldn't relax until that baby gate was up and Logan was contained for good!
Then today, another disconcerting moment . . . Logan had just woken up this morning and Emmy and I went in to get him. Emmy sees him and says to me, 'get him out of his crate'. Crate? That's right, crate. She thinks her brother sleeps in a crate. And that's just as it should be!

Sad Day

Thursday was a sad for me. I went to the dentist and was told for the first time I have a cavity. I was completly shocked - I kind of thought if I'd made it 31 years I might be immune from the things or something. I'm sad that I have to give up my standard repsonse in the game where you write something true about you that no one knows - I've always been the 'never had a cavity' girl! I'm sad that I have to go back to the dentist and find people to watch my kids AGAIN. I'm sad that I have to get it filled - from what I hear that's not going to be pleasant. It's a sad day.

Grandma Aftershocks

Derek and I have been home from Orlando for 6 weeks and we are still expericencing aftershocks of my mom tending for us. Every day Bailey has a waffle for breakfast and every day since I've been home Bailey has told me to cut her waffle like Grandma does. At first I had the attitude of 'you get what you get' but after a month of hearing that I'm doing it wrong I decided to take it as a challenge to cut her waffle right. I have tried every way there is to cut a waffle - and no dice, I can't cut it like my mom and I can't cut it right.
Then there's Emmy. She came up to me a few days ago and asked if she could have a granola bar. I say 'sure' and she's off eating her granola bar. Afterwards she comes up to me and says, "When Grandma was tending me I asked her if I could have a granola bar and she said, 'help yourself' and then I asked if her if Icould have another one and she said 'yes'. So I can have another one now?". "No" was the answer her mean mom gave her.
It's really no wonder why my kids weren't happy when we came home!

Foot Loose & Passey Free

Logan is officially passey-free. I let my babies have passeys until they turn one. The day after their birthday those things hit the garbage and we embark on a transition time to be independent of pacifiers. So a few weeks ago his hit the street. Today I took him in for his one-year well baby and I told Bailey that she would need to help him be happy because he was getting 6 (!) shots. She told me she would get his passey for him. I told her they were all in the garbage and she said, "what garbage?". She was going to go get one out for him! I thought it was so funny, cute and distgusting!

Echo, Echo

For quite a while now Bailey has been such a copy cat of Emmy. No matter what Emmy does, says, or plays with - that's what Bailey will do. Every day when I do Bay's hair I say, "how do you want your hair today?" - without hesitation, she'll say, "like Emmy". If Emmy's wearing a skirt - Bay has to wear a skirt. I used to think it was just like having twins - but twins would be different, this is just like having 2 Emmys. As I've thought about what to get Bay for Christmas I can't come up with anything the just she would like - she'll only want what Emmy gets (which makes for a really good Christmas for Emmy). But today takes the cake . . . they were playing together and Emmy says, "hold on, I have to go to the bathroom", without hesitation I hear, "me too!". And off they both went!

Facebook

Last week I couldn't have told you anything about Facebook. I'd heard of it but that was it. Then I got some emails telling me to check out a few cousins Facebook pages. So I decided to check it out. To see their pages I had to register an account - the next thing I know I have an inbox FULL of emails from people telling me they'd added me as their friends on their Facebook pages - I don't even know what that means!
So back to Facebook I go. I've started to figure it out and think I might be the last person to join Facebook. You can go to some friend's page and see who they're friends with - some people have hundreds of friends (I think I might have 4!). But all of my old high school friends are on Facebook and they're all connected. It's funny to find so many old friends.
Here's the thing about Facebook though: I think it's like blogging on speed (or possibly for people with ADD). People just write one sentence on their page and then people comment. So instead of a writing a complete novel on my trip to Florida I would have written "I went to Florida." and someone would have commented, "cool". It's the epitomme of a snapshot into someone's life (or day depending on how often they post).

Logan's Birthday

Logan's Birthday

Logan turned one this week - I can't believe it's been a year since he was born. He was born the day after Thanksgiving last year - Black Friday. I had planned to go shopping with my sisters and mom that morning, but at 2:00 a.m. Derek and I were headed to the hospital instead of the mall. Logan was born at 5:13 that morning and because he was so close to being a Thanksgiving baby all of the nurses called him Butterball (it helped that he weighed 7 1/2 pounds!).
He had a fun birthday party with my parents and Lance and Megan's family. He had chocolate cake and ice cream for the first time (unfortunately the cake gagged him and the ice cream was too cold). It was a fun day for my cute one-year old.

Say No to Drugs . . . and Yes to NFL

Tyler has become obsessed with the NFL. Mainly he's obsessed with team cities, colors, mascots, and most important, rankings. He memorizes the rankings of each team every week. He is always talking about what a team is ranked, who they just played, if they won or lost, if they played at home - I'm telling ya, it's endless. He can talk about it all day, and his favorite question is "who would win between the . . . and the . . .". He loves to also consider the at-home advantage a team has. If a lesser ranked team beats a better ranked team it just blows his mind.
So what does this all have to do with drugs you ask, well here's the explanation. Monday Tyler was in health and they were talking about drugs, what they are, and what to do if anyone ever offers them some. He came home with a paper that he had to answer the following question: "Here is what I would say if someone offered me a drug." Here is what he wrote, "Did you see the Pittsburgh and Cincinnati game?" When I asked him for some further explanation he told me that he would just change the subject from drug offering to football. Then his accompanying picture was a picture of a football player from each team. Hey, whatever keeps him off drugs!

Fun in the Sun

Derek and I just got back from the best trip to Orlando. We got to spend 6 days there - without kids. Crazy eh? HP invited 500 of their employees, and spouses, for an annual program they hold and this year Derek got invited to go. It's held at one of the Disney World Resorts and is first class all the way.
We had to be at the kick-off dinner at 6:30 Wednesday night and since we couldn't get there by that time by leaving on Wednesday we got to leave Tuesday (the biggest scare of the trip came when we checked in at the airport and found out that our plane was delayed enough that we were going to miss our connecting flight, so they tried to put us on a red-eye flight that would have landed in Orlando at 6:00 Wednesday morning! Luckily a different airline had room on their flights to get us there Tuesday night at 11:30).
Because we got there Tuesday night we all day Wednesday to ourselves since the HP things didn't start until that evening. Animal Kingdom - here we come! Derek and I had heard that Animal Kingdom had a great roller coaster called Expedition Everest and an awesome safari attraction. All of Magic Kingdom could fit inside this safari. You ride in these trucks and see awesome wildlife - a giraffe came right up to our truck. It was incredible - maybe our favorite thing out of all the parks. It was so foreign to be at Disney World with no kids - everywhere I looked there were strollers and crying kids and Derek and I were empty handed! We told each other we'd only do rides that had height requirements just because we had no kids. It was sad every time we saw a character to be there without kids - I felt like I was betraying them when we just walked past Mickey and Minnie (I consoled myself with a giant roller coaster ride though).
The only HP things on Thursday were breakfast and a dinner program so Derek and I went to Hollywood Studios. Two reasons why we picked that park - Tower of Terror and Rockin' Roller Coaster (a roller coaster in the dark that takes you from 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds!). We saw a few stunt shows and almost melted in the 80 degree, 96% humidity weather!
Friday morning we had an HP breakfast where they had as a guest speaker the first American woman to summit Mt. Everest. She was awesome as she told about climbing it. That ended our HP part of the trip and we could come home then . . . but we were all the way in Florida, so why not stay throughout the weekend eh?
Friday we went to Universal Studios and then went to see Blue Man Group that night. We were all excited to go because we got front row tickets - which was in the 'poncho section' - because paint might get splashed on you they provide ponchos for everyone in the first three rows. The downside to being so close was that they picked poor audience members to come up and be a part of their act - and lucky Derek got picked! He had to go up and be a part of it - I was laughing so hard I was crying! Blue Man Group was my favorite thing out of the trip.
Saturday we went to an indoor sky diving wind tunnel. You take a 30 minute class, put on a flight suit and helmet, and then they let you go in this wind tunnel with 1000 horsepowered fans blowing air at you. You have an instructor in there with you so it's not scary. You just stand at the doorway and fall in and the air takes you up. It was awesome! Skydivers practice all of their manuevers there because you can stay up as long as you want. Afterwards we went to a lake to go on an airboat ride and look for alligators. All we saw were two bumps out in the water that our guide said were alligator heads (I think they might have put logs out there just in case you don't see anything your guide can take all these tourists there, tell them their alligators really far away and everyone's happy). Afterwards we did get to hold a baby alligator though - and that thing was creepy! For dinner that night we went to a Pirates Dinner show - it was really fun and both Derek and I had to participate (Derek had to do the can-can with a bunch of guys!).
Sunday the vacation was over and we had to come home. I was so excited to see the kids and I thought they would come with my mom to pick us up. No, when asked who wanted to come the the airport all of my kids who can talk said 'no thanks' - Logan came to get us only because he can't voice an opinion! I couldn't believe my kids were completely indifferent to us being gone! And then that Logan . . . I was so excited to see him that I threw open the van door to see him and he burst into tears! So I unbuckle him - still bawling, give him to Derek - still bawling, he gives him to my mom - stops bawling. Can you believe it? That was quite a welcome home! But of course that only means my kids were so happy to be with their grandparents - and of course that's what I want (though coming to the airport wouldn't kill them!).
Now of course this whole trip couldn't have happened without my parents being so willing to tend my kids. My mom had to take days off of work to tend, they had to move into my house so kids could sleep in their own beds, ride the bus, go to preschool and all the rest. I had 7 pages of instructions for my mom! They took Tyler to his school concert, got kids to all the places they had to be, do naps, baths, homework, dinner, and see Logan in the middle of the night! And things at my house were better when I got home than when I left it - my mom thought one of my pans was a bit too old (and that's putting it mildly!) so I came home to new pans, fixed bumper pads on Logan's crib, and the weeks' worth of laundry done They were incredible to be so happy to tend for 6 days, they made it so easy the big joke was that we might extend our vacation a little - I promised I'd be home by Thanksgiving - and I am. We had a great trip.

Orlando

Logan's Travels

All of my kids have followed the same pattern from getting from immobile to mobile. They've all been really slow to roll, and then roll for a long time. Then they crawl - and crawl for a long time. And finally they walk. Each kid has gotten later than the previous one too. Tyler was 15 months before he walked, Emmy was 17, Bailey was 18 (and only learned the week she started nursery - I think because she was afraid of going into nursery as a crawler! Those kids would have eaten her for lunch!). So Logan has NO pressure in learning to walk - if he walks before he's 2 I'll be perfectly happy.
But he's totally into his rolling phase right now. He'll roll throughout my entire house. He'll just roll from room to room looking for what he wants. He's really careful when he rolls on the tile or hardwood to not put his head down too. I started taking his picture every time I found him in a funny place his rolling has gotten him. So here are pictures from a day in the life of Logan.

Logan's Travels

Expendable Letters

Kindergarten has heightened Emmy's sense of letter awareness. She's always asking what letters certain words start with and sounding out words to tell me what they start with. She's in love with this new knowledge, but the letter K is killing her. She thinks there is no need for the letter K when C makes the same sound. So she has decided, quite adamantly, that there should be no letter K. She finds it completely redundant and expendable. When I tell her all of the words that have K in them she simply says 'it can be a C'. When Derek told her that his name has a K she said it would be no problem to be Derec from now on (Derek thought that looked too French by the way). So just so ya know - there's no more K's at our house.

Halloween