29 May 2010

Obedience

I get the girls ready for the day, then I get myself ready. This particular day, we were running a tad late for a doctors appointment. I decided to multitask and finish my hair and make up, giving the girls their final instructions, "Put your shoes on and buckle up!"

This is what I found.

I somehow forgot to say, "Please keep your clothes on". Silly mom.

26 May 2010

Original Artwork by Sophia

Sophia and I first painted 3 canvases-one pink, one dark pink, and this one green. Then I taped on a random flower.

Sorry, we paint half nude. I love how cleanable skin is.

Super cute I think. When we have all 3 canvases finished, we'll post again.

25 May 2010

My Olive Wood Nativity

I bought this nativity in Jerusalem in 1997. I didn't know anyone with a "Willowtree" nativity at that time and I thought that the faceless one left more for me to feel rather than for me to think, "That's not what he looks like, is it?" I love it, and it's up all year long. The same little darling that did these, defaced my olive wood memory keepsake.

Notice the smile she put on Mary's face, and the closed eyes and smile on baby Jesus. Does it make you think, "That's not what they look like, is it?" Maybe they did.

Gratefully, an eraser and some olive oil restored it's beauty, and I can still patiently love my little girl:)

24 May 2010

I'm Cold!

It's snowing. Huge. Fat. Flakes. (read Fat as the bad word it is!) I think that this isn't so bad really except that I'm cold today.

Our ward had a preparedness meeting to discuss the real danger here in Idaho, and it's a winter storm. Could I have been a pioneer? Thanks to Doug's Mom, we're doing pretty good on quilts, but if any of the AZ folk who will NEVER use them wants to contribute one of theirs to our store, I'd take 'em.

The real bummer is creating a happy home for Doug, (who grew up in Hot, Hot Mesa) when I myself feel cold. I've pulled him through this winter with my happiness for this home, and my gratitude for how hard he's working to provide for us, and I've turned every cold night into a snuggly warm time. But I'm cold.

I hear President Monson telling me, "Trust in the Lord." Okay, so I'll snap out of it now and trust that this snow has a purpose in MAY and I'll make chili for dinner tonight, and I'll wear an extra layer of clothes and my socks all day too.

I'm grateful for my home, and space heaters, and an operable oven, and food to cook, and hot water from the tap, and sweaters, and gloves, and kids who don't seem to notice the weather at all.

Jennie's new bed in her very own room


In preparation for Joe's baptism, we needed to figure out sleeping arrangements for my parents and Doug's parents. So we threw the boys down in the unfinished basement, separated the girls, got Soph her queen bed, and Jennie got this darling daybed with trundle. I got the super cute Pottery Barn quilts from Downeast for $20 each, isn't that the dang cutest steal you've heard of in ahwile! The darling green baskets were $1 each in their after Easter sale. I just love how it looks so far, when we get the walls and furniture painted, hang some original art and her mirror, I'll post a real finished picture, but for right now, doesn't she look happy!

Doug's dad George just agreed to paint a tree and some birds on Jennie's wall, a mural of sorts. I'm so excited! I'm in love with these trees from my sister-in-law's craft blog. Thanks for the inspiration Stacie! I love all of these birds, inspiration from googling modern birdie images, thanks google images:)









20 May 2010

Sophia


Mom you can't make me smile. (I'm so in love with these freckles!)

Sophia at 4 1/2 is AWESOME! She has loved pre-school and doesn't even seem to mind that I've been her teacher. She's a fabulous cutter, and can write and say the sound of all of her upper and lower case letters. She's trying to put the sounds together on her own to read the words, but gets a little shy when she notices me listening in on her. She enjoys coloring in the lines and does most pictures in a pink pallet just like "Pinkalicious"

She is very sensitive to the spirit. She'll hold my cheek when I cry, and tear up right with me if she feels it too. She still doesn't understand why Jesus had to die on a cross, and unlike most of us who just accept it, she questions why every time she hears the story. She likes to answer questions in Primary, and her answers are always beyond what the leader is expecting of her.

She's growing like a weed lately. We just found the dress-up box from the move and she was a little sad to realize that she doesn't fit into many of the 2T outfits anymore. She's not ready to pass that stage in life just yet. She almost always carries a purse, the contents of which include but are not limited to, paper, colored pencil, eraser, mirror, and lip gloss... usually there's a few stray beads, a torn ribbon, an old dandelion and a rock or two as well. She still prefers skirts and dresses to pants, and I realized as I unpacked clothes for spring/summer that she doesn't have any shorts or capris and she's totally happy with that.

My favorite time with her is when we read together, if she's heard the book a ton, she'll mouth the words right along with me. She stares into my eyes and sees right into my soul. I also love her fresh out of the tub all snuggled in a huge towel like when she was little... she's still my little girl.

She's snuggly, independent, strong, passionate, curious, bright, thoughtful, helpful, hard working, and just darling. She hates for me to do her hair, but loves when it's done. She hates for me to dress her, but loves how she looks in the ensembles I choose for her. She loves helping me in the kitchen, and sees things before I tell her they need to be done. She is an absolute delight and I'm glad I get another year with her before she goes to kindergarten.

15 May 2010

Palace Beautiful by Sarah DeFord Williams



My friend Sarah has written her whole life. She shared one of her first copy-shop copied books with me a few years back, and I knew she'd make it to a real publisher one day. Well that one day was last month, and I just got my own copy and finished it today.

Palace Beautiful starts with 13 year old Sadie who describes life in color, ("honey black" and "September orange"). Her little sister Zuzu, is the cute prissy one, always throwing a tantrum because, "life isn't FAIR!" They move from Texas to SLC with their Father and Stepmom. While exploring their new/old home they find a journal in the attic written by another 13 year old, generations back. The sisters and their new neighbor friend read the entries ceremoniously and learn about how much can be the same in a different time and a different family.

Sarah develops her characters perfectly and describes life vividly. She's a wonderful storyteller, and I'm so proud to call her my friend. Congratulations Sarah, 5 stars from me!

To my other friends, go buy this book! You'll be happy you did!

09 May 2010

Moms Bed

Up early on Mothers Day because I've been squished for about 4 hours now.

I LOVE my bed, it's huge, it's soft, it's just the perfect hot for my body, cool for my head and there's enough room to sleep in any bizarre position that feels comfortable for the night.

Problem???

Yes, the problem is this, all of my children LOVE my bed too. Dalton and Joseph have been trained, (and I don't remember having to be too forceful) that they're allowed to snuggle with mom when they've had a bad dream or are feeling sick, but only for 15 minutes or so, they sleepily trudge back to their own beds with the lingering comfort of moms bed having calmed them down just right. Sophia comes in, but she's a really good sleeper, and usually doesn't make it into our room until the sun is up and she just wants some snuggle time. Our rule is that anyone is allowed when the sun is up. Jennie is our problem. The baby of the family almost never sleeps a whole night in her own bed since she learned how to climb out of her crib a few months ago. Now she has a big girl bed and if she goes to sleep peacefully and we forget to lock her door, she bolts into our room, (it's funny because she jogs everywhere she goes and we can hear her jogging through the house to get to our room) and climbs into our bed. I specifically bought really nice mattresses for their new big girl beds with the hopes that their beds would be too comfortable to leave...alas it's the mom comfort that can not be reproduced that keeps them coming back.

So, Jennie is in my bed right now and I'm typing.

Here's the thing, I snuggled in my moms bed right up to the day I got married. Not every night, but when I had a bad dream (which was often enough) I always felt safe in her bed. I don't remember her ever trying to kick me out, or pushing me away or yelling at me to get my own bed, (which is what I feel like doing to Jennie most nights) she just always let me snuggle, get warm and feel the comfort of moms bed.

Thank you mom, I'll be nice to Jennie because of you. Hopefully Doug will carry her back like he does most nights and I'll still be the comforting hero. You're mine.

08 May 2010

Direct quotes from, "That's Me Jennie!"


"I was being great and I was not being Moms friend, just my own friend Jennie Crawford. Mmm, my favorite color is orange and Sophie likes blue (totally NOT true). Um, uh, I like to play with my friends, and I know that my friends like me and they don't like lip gloss (again totally not true). I know that my dad likes me. I wanted to play with my friends and be good. Savannah and Kinsley are my friends and Sophie too. Um I know that my friends eat chicken at our house and I love chicken (this has not happened in our new home yet). I know that you (looking into my eyes) are my friend. Butterflies in our house will buzz me in my hair. Happy Mothers Day Granmda 'C', I know that Abuella loves me and I know that Grandpa is sleeping and Grandma Martha, I know that you love me too. My mom teaches me to love and to use good words"

07 May 2010

Dalton's First Piano Recital

We started informal lessons, (I'm his teacher, and he's pretty much caught up to me now:) 2 months ago, and he's already in a recital! My new girlfriend Suzy teaches, but she's full right now. She invited him to perform with her students in their "Spring Recital". I'm so proud of him! His first song he has titled, "The Chase", and his second little ditty he calls, "Just Playin'".



I tried really hard to get him to bow, but he was too embarrassed. He's super motivated to practice on his own and enjoys making up his own songs. Way to go Dalton!

05 May 2010

Doug got a new car


Sweet huh! It's a 2005 (our newest car yet) and thanks to the extra tax money we got for buying our home at just the right time...
IT'S PAID FOR!


(I can't wait until our home and student loans are paid for in 2025,and 2020... maybe sooner!)

01 May 2010

All grown up


Of course I mean Dalton is all grown up, but Doug is all grown up too caring for our first yard, putting together our first lawnmower, teaching his oldest son how to do it too. Moment captured.