Random snippets 7.22.12

Mason is very quick to apologize. Sometimes he's so fast that you aren't through being upset with him before he says "sorry".

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Over the last couple of months I've turned the laundry over to Elise. She does a great job!

Saturday night I was downstairs and noticed that there were wet clothes in the dryer. I'd reminded Elise several times earlier in the day to be sure to start the dryer, so when I saw the wet clothes I sighed in aggravation and started to call to her in an annoyed voice. I checked myself, however, and scolded myself out loud for getting upset with my 10-year-old who does all the laundry. Still out loud, I said, "Elise is amazing. How can you get upset over something like this???"

I was glad I talked out loud to myself, because when I turned around Elise was standing there with her head hanging down. I apologized, gave her a hug and told her how wonderful she is. Because she is.

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Lincoln calls Sammy, "Mommy", so the other day when we were all hanging out in the living room together, I decided to try to teach him to say "Sammy".

Me: Can you say 'sssssssssssss' like a snake?

Lincoln: Ssssssssssssssssss

Me: Good! Try this 'Ssssssssssssss...ammy'

Lincoln: Ssssssssssssss...mommy'!

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Saturday I taught Elise how to make strawberry jam--and she did a batch all on her own! She was super proud of herself. At the same time (don't know what I was thinking!) I taught Mason how to make pizza/spaghetti/whatever sauce. I tell you what--fresh basil makes the sauce! Mason was really proud of himself, too.

I must say, I was quite proud of myself, too, because I was relaxed and even had fun through all the chaos! Dinner was a little late, but the trade off (of having fun together) was well worth it.

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Lately Sammy has been disappearing downstairs for hours at a time. When he comes upstairs he always has a new creation to show me. Yesterday he made a marble game out of recycling salvaged from our bin. He gave it to our neighbor for her third birthday.

TD in the tub-ish

Trevor needed a bath after dinner...many long years ago, my friend Michell introduced me to sink baths...

Cheerios

Trevor got the Cheerios out last night. He was having so much fun, and they were already all over...I let him play for awhile while I did the dishes...

...and when I turned around, he had moved on to other open cupboards!

Lincoln's first haircut!

I think I've trimmed it before, but today I took about an inch of curl off--a little more in the back. Sorry, Mom, I couldn't wait until September! I mean, really--look at that party in the back!

Random life snippets

Being sick and having to stay home from church results in my doing my family history...aka, blogging. This is the third Sunday in a row that my family hasn't been together at church! First Elise, Sammy & Lincoln had hand, foot & mouth. Stephen stayed home with them because I was playing organ that day. I left Trevor, too, because it is difficult to play the organ with a wiggly 7-month-old. Last Sunday Mason had hand, foot & mouth, so I stayed home with him and Trevor. Today I am sick, so kept the baby home with me. Yeeha.

Anyhoo, here's the fun we've been having!

We passed 100,000 miles on the van! It's all that driving to ballet and back...

I love walking in on scenes like this:

Here is my sweet baby Trevor! Yesterday we discovered that his two bottom middle teeth have come in! That explains the fussiness the last few days...

Sometimes I get preoccupied doing other things and so the 2-year-old has to step in and take care of other important responsibilities.

Lincoln is pretty sure that if he can't see me, I can't see him...with his binky in his mouth. Sometimes he walks through the kitchen covering his eyes so that I won't notice that he has his binky off of his bed. 

Um...maybe I need to get some more boy dress up in our dress-up chest!

This kid is just CUTE!! His hair is getting so long that he has to brush it out of his eyes now. This morning Elise combed his hair and put a bobby pin in it to keep the hair away from his eyes. He wasn't very happy with me when I took it out. :) It curls so beautifully when it is humid out!

Independence Day

Independence Day has always been one of my favorite holidays. Growing up we always had a huge party at the farm, ending with the big Corvallis fireworks display over the Willamette River. I love fireworks! The booming and colors and oohs and aahs just make me happy. And since my birthday is the 5th of July, I always say that the fireworks celebrate my birthday early.

We started the day off with a flag-raising ceremony, pancake breakfast and bike ride (long for me, around the parking lot for the kiddos) at the church.

Aren't their t-shirts awesome??? Mason wanted to "hand salute" the flag, so chose to wear his Scout uniform instead of his flag shirt. I went on a 16-mile bike ride just before the breakfast. It was very fun!

In the evening we had some friends come over for a BBQ. The highlight of the evening was when we read the Declaration of Independence together. I printed off 6 or so copies and highlighted different parts on each copy, so we read it like a reader's theater. Some of the parts we all read together. It was really nice to remember why we celebrate July 4th. 

I told the kids that I had $20 to spend on fireworks, and with the money they chipped in we had a pretty good fireworks display! I was pleasantly surprised at how good the fireworks were! I remember them being pretty lousy when I was a kid.

Mason, of course, was more interested in learning about how the fireworks work than actually watching them. It was kind of hilarious--as soon as he would light one, he'd walk away and sometimes not even pay attention to it! The kids in the top left corner are singing "Christmas, Christmas" while waving their sparklers around the little tree in the front--which they decorated with flowers from the backyard.

*Trevor actually was part of all these events...there is just no photographic evidence of that fact*

One of those people

When I grow up, I want to be the kind of person who others can call when someone needs help. You know, the Janell Watsons or Brenda Paynters or Cailynn Brinkerhoffs of the world--those marvelous women you can always count on to have charity and do the dirty work with a cheerful and a non-judgmental heart.

At church I'm the compassionate service leader, meaning that it is my calling to have and show charity. From setting up rides to chemo to recruiting for housework for invalids to arranging meals for new moms, I'm the go-to person when someone has a need in the ward. It's a calling I hope I'm growing into.

Tonight I had the experience of going into someone's home who doesn't have much. What a humbling experience. I've never been without food--and some to spare. Never.

This woman has a teenage son and an infant daughter. Her husband just went home to their home country. She was working and going to school, but with such a little baby and complications from her cesarean, is home recovering. She is all alone with a newborn baby and a teenage son and no income. She can't nurse her baby because of the medications she is on as a result of the delivery complications.

I have a confession: I am on WIC. A few months ago, after over-spending on our food budget for many months, and beating myself up about it every. single. month., I prayed and pondered and talked to people I trust (particularly my Dad, because I inherited my distrust of government from him) and took the plunge into government assistance.

It wasn't an easy decision for me. I've looked into it every year since we started back to school--so since 2008. I'd review my decision to stay away from government programs annually, and until this year, couldn't bring myself to do more than look into them.

But now I'm one of "those" people. The kind who suck government resources while talking on their cell phones. The kind who make you stand in the checkout line forever. The kind who has so many children you think I'm irresponsible.

Only...I'm not.

And really, whose place is it to judge? Do the people in line behind me, impatiently tapping their toes, know my situation? Do they know that I'm a darn good mom who just needs a little help right now? That my kids will grow up and be amazing contributors in society? Do they know that I shop at thrift stores, but mostly rely on clothing I squirreled away during our seven years of plenty? That I hate the shame of receiving help from the government? Do they even need to know those things? 


At what point do we stop judging and start being kind?

At the store the other day I was filling a bunch of WIC vouchers, and it was taking forever. I was blushing and feeling so ashamed as the line grew behind me. I apologized to the man behind me and he said, "Don't worry, honey, I'm retired! I could stand here all day!" Oh, bless you, kind man!

So next time you are waiting in the grocery line and are unfortunate enough to be stuck behind someone like me...think of me. Think of this struggling woman, doing her best to make ends meet. Think of how you would want someone to treat your own daughter.

The world can use more people like Janell Watson, Brenda Paynter and Cailynn Brinkerhoff. When I grow up, that is my goal!

Sammy's primary talk

Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

I’ve been doing things for Mason when he was sick. I filled up the water bottle for him because Dad didn’t do it—I just noticed it would be something to do, so I did it! And I’ve still been helping out. It makes him feel good. I like to help out because he feels sick, and I like to do it.

I know Jesus Christ is the Savior. I know he can help you like you can help others.

QOTD

Sammy: "Chickens are pinned to the silliness board in my head. They're just pinned there!"