Mom, What Do You Like?

About a month ago David asked, "Mom, what do you like?"  

My response, "I like you!"  

David grinned that cute grin of his and said, "Noooo Mom, what do you like?"

Me:  "Well, I like happy kids and a happy family."

David:  "No Mom, that is not what I mean.  What do you like?"

Me:  "I am going to have to think about that Dave, I can't think of what I like right now."

I have lost myself in my kids.  What do I like???  I used to like to scrapbook, don't know if I like that, now.  This is kind of morbid, but when my kids get hurt, I get excited to "doctor" it up. Don't get me wrong, this sounds bad, I really don't like it when they are hurt, I just like to fix it.  I think I would really like working in the ER.  That sounds fun.

I have been thinking about this question a lot.  "Mom, what do you like?"  Right now I just love my babies/family.  -Ma

One of "Those" Day's...

So, we just need to have "one of those day's" occasionally so we know when we have a great day! Yesterday was "one of those day's"  I woke up a little tired so I was a little cranky, but I can usually keep the crankiness under control.

As I was getting dressed I asked Emma if she could get herself dressed, she was excited to pick out her clothes, so she quickly went into her room, got her shirt on then she stopped.  I asked her at least 4 more time to get her pants on.  She would look at me then continue to do "her" thing.

I asked her why she wont get dressed her reply was that she wanted to write on her chalk board first.  She knew that she needed to get dressed and she just wouldn't.  This was making me so angry.  I kept thinking if she would just listen then we could work as a team.

Finally we got her dressed, fed and out the door.

Still frustrated by her attitude and disrespect.  This is not a problem that just started, she wont listen when it is time to do homework, eat dinner, go to bed, etc..

I went outside to "become one with nature" it usually makes me feel better.  I pulled some weeds in the garden.  David was a great helper.  Jacob thought it was great that there are flowers on the pea plant and pulled one off.  Thankfully he listened when I told him that the flowers stay there. 

 

Found an egg on the ground in the chicken run.  For some reason the last couple of days a chicken wants to lay her eggs outside of the coop.  Can't say that I blame her, she made a nice nesting hole and there is straw in there, it looks so cozy.

I was feeling better, but still on edge so I went to the store to get chocolate... peanut M&M's. One knows that this IS a fix all.  And of course it did work.

At about 1:30, I was just getting started on the dishes.  Jacob was walking towards the house, speaking in baby talk about his hand.  It looked serious, so I closed up the dish washer and and went to help out.  Thinking he was upset because his hands were dirty, I scooped him up and proceeded to clean his hands.

Ohhhh, what is that poking me I thought.  Looking closer I could see all the hair like cactus needles in his hand.  I grabbed the tweezer and sat in the sunniest part of the house, the front door.  He sat still for about 3 minutes.  Then I realized he had a stinky diaper and I also knew that he wouldn't sit still long enough for me to get all of the needles out of his hand.  Changed the diaper, then packed up the kids and went to a neighbors house to get help holding him down.  He sat really well, I mostly needed help holding his hand opened.  It took us at least 10 minutes to get those out.  Upon returning home I went to look at his sweater that he had on before.  It has needles all over it, unbelievable!!

Eat more chocolate... the day will get better!!

Emma gets home, we have a pleasant greeting.  Day seems to be going well.  

Make dinner Mac and Cheese for the kids and burritos for us.  For some reason Emma just doesn't want to sit at the table.  She says that she is not ready to eat.  Pa and I ask her to sit at least 7 times.  One would think that is enough.  Nope she still fights.  Emma runs down the hall, Pa asks her nicely to come sit down and if she doesn't she will not be able to eat.  Emma screamed, "I HATE YOU!"  Whoa--- where did that come from????  She is sent to her room, she fights that.  What is happening I think, this is not MY little girl!

After everyones composure is back, we sit down as a family and talk about what happens when we make choices and that with every choice there will be a consequence, whether good or bad there will be a consequence.  We talked about how we (Ma and Pa) love the kids and that we don't want to do anything that will hurt that.  We talked about how Ma and Pa have a role, that we need to teach the kids, and how important it is for them to listen.  Everyone was in agreement, until Emma decided she was now hungry.  I told her that her consequence for not eating with us is that she can't eat till morning.  Then she kicked me.  Okay, now it is bed time.

After many tears, she finally fell asleep, and I was very surprised that she wasn't crazy hungry this morning.

My heart hurts that she is pushing buttons and that we have to go through such hard ship with her.  I am hopeful that she is learning, and hopeful that she happily learning and not angry.  I think that if she is happily learning the we will have the love and respect that I always dreamed I would have in my family.  Sigh.  -Ma

Miracles

Pa was saying the other day that there have been some signs of miracles.  

An airplane crash and no one dies.

The cardinals win.

A black president.

I am sure there are more.

Do you think Heavenly Father is trying to tell us something before things get really really bad?

-Ma

Happy Birthday David

Every year David gets to have his birthday in a different month, sometimes it will be in November and other times we will celebrate in January.  I think we celebrated it once in December.  for those of you out there that plan to have a baby in December I would strongly suggest staying away from that month.  

David was born Christmas day 5 years ago (it is amazing how fast time flies).  We had a small party this year with Grandpa and Grandma Nyman.

David really wanted a pinata this year so we negotiated and got him the less expensive #5 instead of a super hero.  He was happy.

This is a transformer.  Turns into a motorcycle.  Pa put it into a motorcycle, then he handed it to David, telling him that it is complicated and he doesn't think that David should take it apart.

Well, David is our inventor, so he took it apart and put it right back together.

Batman graced us with his presence.

Grandpa and Grandma got this really cool spiderman costume.  David put it on then ran as fast as he could down the hall, saying that he was the fastest super hero.  Emma is modeling it for him.

Happy Birthday David!  -Ma

Abby's Fear

Abby has always been so scared to go to her Sunday class.  Now that she is a Sunbeam it has not changed.  Pa sits with her during primary, but then she comes with me during her class time. She is terrified!

Last Sunday Pa had to go into work so I was by myself.  David and Emma went to class fine. Abby wanted to try and go to her class, she said she wanted to go and sit with Emma.  So, I took her to primary, sat her next to Emma.  She looked so proud of herself, like she was being such a big girl. They say that within 2 minutes she started to cry uncontrollably.

This Sunday (Today), Pa sat with her in Primary, then she said she would go to class all by herself.  He let her stay, 2 minutes later she is brought to me.  She was shaking she was so afraid.

I can't think of anything that would have scared her so much.  It is amazing to me that these little children come to us with such personalities.  Abby is just so afraid to be without Pa or I. However I do know that she will not be like this forever and I am enjoying this clinginess, most of the time. -Ma

Oh yes, on a side note.  When Emma was getting ready to go into her Sunbeam class.  We would talk to her and say, "This is so exciting, you get to be a Sunbeam."  For a few weeks she wouldn't say anything, then she stated with tears in her eyes the week before her class started. "Mom, I don't want to be a Sunbeam, I want to stay hear with you."  Shocked that she knew what a sunbeam was I asked her if she thought she was going to go into the sky.  She said yes, that is what she thought was going to happen.  I am glad we got that cleared up.

New Calling

See, I knew there was more to be blogged.

The end of December I got a new calling at church.  I was a Wolf cub scout leader for the last 

2 1/2 years.  It was a nice calling, I learned a lot!  But I was feeling like my time was up.  It was really nice to get this new call.  

I am now the Nursery Leader.  I really like it.  It is kind of funny because I have been in there helping out for the last 3 years.  So, I guess while I was standing on the "outside looking in" you would think that I have learned a lot.  I think so far I have learned that the place was too cluttered.  Over these last few years I have seen papers and projects pile up, because you know, "maybe the next person will want to use it."  I have heard people complain about a kitchen set that is in there.  "It distracts the kids."  But no one will do anything about it.  And for some reason the nursery room is a dumping ground.  We get more junk in there then wanted/needed. So, the first thing I have learned to do is let go.  If I am not going to use it, then get it out of there!!  And I have done well so far.  I know that many have worked hard on the "projects" but I think that is why we are called with not much training, we are all unique and we can bring our personalities into the called and do a dang good job!  We don't need the last person telling us how to do it.  And that goes for when we are released, there are set rules, follow them.  But let your personal talents shine.  As it goes for working with others, let them be themselves.  I have a great partner,  and wonderful helpers.  I am so excited to work with them.  It will be a great year. -Ma 

Sweet Sunday

Here I am googling how to prune a banana tree, ours froze a bit.  Found out that I can cut the top off and it will still be okay.  Yea!!  So, while I am finishing this up, I sit back in our uncomfortable metal fold up chair.

I see my sweet little boy Jacob venturing outside.  He loves to be outside.  Then I see my sweet Abby in a green dress with flowers.  She is on her way inside, she is just as content as can be.  A tear comes to my eye and I think, wow! I have some very beautiful children and they are so good.

About 30 minutes ago David and I pulled out a carrot from the garden, he was so excited.  He said, "Wow, this is the coolest carrot EVER!!"  He insisted that we save it, I told him he should eat it because it is so yummy!  After a while he washed it off and ate it up.

Emma is outside in her slip top and a jean skirt.  She loves that slip so much.  She thinks it needs to be worn in public. -Ma

Update

I don't know if anyone else feels this way, but when one hasn't blogged/journalized in a while it just feels like you don't know where you want to start.

CHRISTMAS:  We had a really good Christmas.  Pa and the kids were all sick with vomit and other stuff.  So we were not able to have our family come for the dinner that we had planned for. We are however very grateful that Katie was able to take over and have dinner and the family at her house.  All of the places we planned to go to they came to us.  That was a fun change.  I was actually able to clean up the "Christmas mess".

DAVID TURNED 5:  Christmas day David turned 5.  That was the day that he was most sick.  It was funny because he opened his stocking I think it was something like 4 am.  He was wide awake and he wouldn't let me or Pa sleep.  But then when it was time to open presents later that day he was so out of it.  He didn't even know what he got.  It was a few days later that he started noticing new stuff, and he would get so excited, "Look what I got!" he would say.

JACOB GOT FROSTNIP:  He was eating a popsicle and his finger was touching it for too long. He came to me screaming.  I could tell that he was in pain but didn't know it was that sever.  I took the popsicle away, washed his hand off and the skin was a bright red.  He wouldn't let me touch it.  So I put him down and didn't think much of it.  However he got a blister.  Shocked that this happened I had to find out if he had frostbite or something of that sort.  I turned to a really good book that my Mom had gotten me, Healthwise Handbook A Self-Care Guide For You By Yavapai Regional Medical Center.  This is what it said, "First degree ("frostnip"):  Skin is Whitish or Red and tingling or burning, but there is little likelihood of blistering if it is rewarmed promptly."  Who would have thought?  A popsicle???  Crazy!!

PA TOOK A TWO WEEK BREAK FROM WORK:  This is always fun, I love it when he is home. It is however a little nerve wracking to take time off because of the times.  It feels like one has to prove themselves at work just to keep their job.

WE WENT TO SHOOTING IN THE DESERT:  Poor kids loved being in the desert but didn't like the sound of the gun.  Pa loves to get out though.  We would have loved going camping however it is too cold at night especially for kids.

Kids playing with bubbles

HAD FUN AT THE PARK:  I don't know what happened but I am now in underline mode and I don't know how to fix it.

Feeding the ducks

I know there is more that has happened, but life is calling, I need to be a Mom now.

Till later. -Ma

Emma and I

Pa saw us taking care of some grooming matters and thought that this needed to be documented.  

Tender moment

Love ya Emma.  -Ma

Marker Ideas

Hey Mom!  My ears are dirty!  I think I will clean them with a marker.

Well, I feel better.  -Jacob

Early morning church

We now go to church at 8:30 in the morning.  Yawn!  One thing that I really want to do each Sunday morning is make breakfast, we don't want any hungry bellies.  

When I went in to wake Pa and Jacob this is what I found.  I thought Jacob was just snuggled up to Pa.  Arm wrapped around neck...

However this is what I found on the other side.  Pa is always complaining about the lights being too bright in the morning.  I guess Jacob wants to help him out.  he, he, he.

For Breakfast this morning I made...

Cream Brullet

(I am sorry, I really don't know how to spell that.  So, I wrote it like ballet, spell checker didn't like it.)

(It is oven baked french toast)

1 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

2 Tablespoons corn syrup

Melt these ingredients together.

Pour into cake pan.

One loaf french toast bread or jewish egg bread cut into slices with or without crust.

put bread into bottom of pan, make sure to cover all spaces.

5 eggs

1 1/2 cups half and half

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon salt

Mix these ingredients together and pour over the bread.

Cover and chill over night

Next morning bake uncovered at 350 for 45 minutes or till golden brown.

Remove from oven and sprinkle with powdered sugar (optional).

The top part was really good, however I burnt the bottom.  We were all very sad about this.

Jacob likes to play a game at the table.  He raises his arms, then we do the same.  He waits till he feels he has made us wait long enough then he drops his arms.  Laughter, always goes along with this game.

-Ma

Way to go Emma

Emma's report card was sent home yesterday.  She is doing so well.

For the last 3 grading periods.

Phonics: B+, B, A

English:  , C, B

Spelling:  , C, B

Mathematics: C, D, B

Penmanship: O, O, O

Citizenship: O, O, O

Homework Completed: O, O, O

Academic Effort: O, O, O

Books Read:  , 11, 11  I sure do struggle with this one.  I always have visions of us snuggled on the couch reading the best of books.  We get to the library and then I don't know what happens. Any advice would be great.  How do I just sit and read with the little lady?

Days Absent: 0, 0, 5 is this why she did better this last time?  She was able to have a bit of a break?

Days Tardy: 1, 0, 0

Teachers comments:  Emma has done an awesome job improving in all academic areas.  She is working hard.

Emma is going to a school that teaches about a grade or two above the grade she is in.  So, I am so proud of her, she does work so hard, and it is so fun to see her grow and learn.

She is still having her headaches.  I did get the x-rays done, they came back fine.  I am starting to think it is not related to stress, because during the  winter break she was still having the headaches.

Pa and I were talking and we are thinking maybe it could be a sensitivity to light.  He too gets lots of headaches and light is one reason why.  They also struggle with getting enough sleep, last night Pa was up late, just laying in bed, couldn't fall asleep.  Then Emma came in I think it was when Pa finally drifted off to sleep, she had had a bad dream and woke up then couldn't go back to sleep.  Every time I would move she would comment about something or other.  Yawn, yawn. -Ma

Abby's Hanger Creation

Mooom, take my picture too!!  Look what I did!

-Ma

Hanger Creation

He's done it again.  He has made a new creation, he calls it his hat hanger.

He is such a fun and funny boy!

-Ma

Meant to Be

Today, I've gotten Emma off to school I exercised, raked out the chicken's run, did a little laundry, ate TRIX, changed a stinky diaper and did some laundry.  All the while I am thinking about what a special day this is.  

Today 8 years ago Pa and I were married for time and all eternity.  I feel so blessed to be married to such a wonderful man.

Going back to memory lane...

Pa and I met July 22, 2000 while tubbing down the salt river together with a group of friends. We were both 25 at the time.  At that time in my life I just wanted to focus on my self, I wanted to go to school.  It is true, once you stop looking you will find. 

My first impression:  I thought he was cute, but I didn't think he would be interested in me.

Pa's first impression: he thought I was mature and he liked that I was 25, and had been on a mission.

On Wednesday July 26, Pa asked me out on our first date.

July 28th, we went to dinner at Applebees and then to a friends farewell party.

After the date I was still unsure as to how I felt about about dating.  Pa's feelings didn't change. He was still very impressed with me.

August 13th Pa gave a talk at church.  I felt such an amazing spirit from him that I just couldn't turn my head again.  So I called Pa.  From that night on we either saw each other every day or we talked on the phone. 

August 28th we became an official couple.  He asked me to be his girlfriend, I wanted to say no because I had a plan, I wanted to go to school.  But the spirit was so strong I couldn't say no. Ask him, I stuttered all over my words, trying to say no, trying to get him to change his mind. 

September 12, Pa fasted that I would know what he knew that we were meant to be together. Unaware of what he was doing.  I went to Institute that night and the teacher spoke of personal revelation and then marriage.  (The teacher didn't plan on talking about marriage, but felt that he needed to briefly.)  By the end of class I was in tears because I knew with out a doubt that Pa and I were meant to be.

September 23, I told Pa that I knew we were supposed to be together, I told him that it scared me but I knew it.  Pa was so happy he said, "Well if you know, and I know, how does January sound?"

15 weeks later we were married.  Knowing each other only 5 1/2 months. 

Crazy it may seem, but when you know it is right, ya just do it!  

No wedding can go without at least one snag.

January 4th, the day before.  I receive a call from one of my brides maids, she is trying on her dress and she says, my dress doesn't fit.  Frantic I run to the mall unable to find anything.

Upon returning home I get a call from Pa.  He can't find his temple recommend, he asks me to look through his stuff that he has already brought over to my place.  I couldn't find it, so he comes over and finally finds it in his scriptures.

And of course I am a "little" late showing up.  I am sure my mother and husband to be were a little nervous.  Because I was like the girl in RunAway Bride.  I was engaged twice before Pa. Third time is a charm.

So glad that Pa and I are married and so glad that we were brought together.  Thank you Pa for being such an amazing friend, husband and father.  I love you!! -Ma

Resolution

A few weeks ago some one from the High Council spoke at church.  I felt very inspired.  His talk was on unity.  Something that I have struggled with ever since I moved here.  We moved here from ASU campus housing, so everyone was on the same page.  Income, students, income, young families, and did I say income???  Well, when we moved here.  I was so, so excited to live in my own house, so excited to have more permanent neighbors, and so, so, so excited to be in a new ward family.  We have been here for 4 years now and things are getting better.  But I still feel lonely at times.  I tried to get to know people, sat by someone new each Sunday, went out and met my neighbors, went on walks often, went to the park, went to all of the church activities.  I didn't get one friend until 3 1/2 years after moving here.

Okay, I am probably putting too much information out in the world, but this is like a journal to me and I need to get this out some how.

So, here is my resolution... I can't remember what the High Councilman said, but this is what I got out of it.  

For too long I have been letting others determine my mood.  Looks that I would get, or comments that would be made, or even no one saying hi, or no smile.  This made me feel so sad.

Some would ask, why did you keep going to church, or even stay in your neighborhood?  We continue living here because we are close enough to Pa's work and the housing is affordable. We continue going to church because we believe in the teachings, I know it is true and I know that I need to be there.

Well, we all learn from our trials and after 4 years thus far I have learned that I need to say, "Good riddance!"  "Stop letting others determine how you feel!"  So from here on out I am going to let me be happy, if someone is not on their best behavior that is okay.  They don't have to be.  I can always be nice, I can always have a smile on my face, or if I don't like what has happened, then I need to speak up and not let it kindle inside of me.

I have a good example of this.  Someone was telling me what I needed to do to get my child to go to class and instead of being angry behind her back, I spoke up.  She understood better and I think she respects my decision.  

Another thing that I learned from the talk was gossip... what is gossip?  Gossip is when something is spoken that you wouldn't dare say to the persons face.  So as the person who I am this can be tough to not judge others and speak of it.  I will bite my tongue.

These are some pretty deep thoughts and feelings, if you got this far I hope you can learn from my trials, and try and be a better person.  I know that I am going to be better this year.  Wish me luck! -Ma

Grandma came to play

AND THEY PLAYED CHICKEN LIMBO!!

I love these bonding moments. -Ma

Quotes by the Kids in 2008

August 2008

"Mommy, why does my mouth keep saying ah choo?" - Abby

"Cheese is when you get your picture taken, and what you eat." -David

"Mommy, can I broom the floor?" - Abby

"My nose is broken, can we trade?" - Abby

September 2008

As Abby yawns she say's, "Why does my mouth keep making me tired?"

October 2008

"It's okay guys, the princess is real but the wicked is not." 

- Emma

After a conversation about how electricity works, "When I die, I am going to tell Jesus about this.  Uh, Jesus knows a lot of stuff... I think he still wants to know about this." - Emma

November 2008

"I like the way the bottom of my feet smell." - David

"Know what else, I like the way they taste too.  I just spit out the dirt" - David

As I was exercising David was looking at the guys arms on the exercise video and said, "Mom, I don't like how they look they are so fluffy."  There you have it, don't exercise or you will get "fluffy".

"Do you know the color crayon batman?"  "He gets the bad guys and ties them up with crayons." -David

"I've got expensive words.  Do you know what expensive words are?  They are words that no one ever heard of, I only know about them." -David

Pa asked David, "Will you use your fork when you eat?"

David replied, "But I want to eat more that my fork can hold."