He Needs A Mom

Last night we bought an episode of Survivorman from iTunes.  It is the one where he goes to the Sonoran Desert.  He wasn't doing so well he was suffering from dehydration, and hunger.  So his seven day journey was cut short to six days.  I was saying wow, he doesn't look like he is doing so well.  Emma said, "Ya, I think he needs a mom."  I asked her why.  She said, "because a mom can take care of him, they know what to do."

Does this mean I 'm doing a good job???  -Ma

Naughty Toilet

We went to Walmart the other day and we were there for a looooong time so naturally the kids needed a potty break.

Upon entering the restroom, Abby runs into the first stall, quickly shuts the door.  Then she goes about her business.  

Emma runs to see if the toilets flush on there own, then says, "I'm not going in by myself."  

David looks for the one that is the cleanest then does his business.

Before Abby is done with her "business" the toilet flushes.  We hear this little voice bellow out, "Naughty Toilet!!!  I didn't put the toilet paper in yet!!!  You can't flush yet!!!  You toilet!!  Ahhhh!"

Emma and I are laughing so hard!  Then Abby walks out and said, "That toilet flushed and I didn't put the toilet paper in yet."  She has this cute squeaky voice and when she gets mad and yells it is so funny and cute.  And the fun thing is, is that she can laugh at herself, so she too is laughing at the situation.

David is in his own little world singing as he goes potty.

Then Emma and I go into the stall, as her mother and protector, I have to put my hand over the motion detector so it will not flush on her. 

These kids are going to grow up so fast I just have to laugh at what happens in a public bathroom.  -Ma

A Sisters Love

I once heard that if your kids are not getting along that one way to help them be better friends is to have them sleep in the same bed together.

I think it was November 2008 that I started having the girls sleep in the same bed.  Partly because of space, I am sure I mentioned it before but our home is only 945 square foot.  Another reason was because little Abby couldn't sleep by herself, and Emma did not want to be around Abby.  She was alway irritated with her.

They have been getting along lots better.  It has been fun to seem them become closer friends.

This morning we woke up to find them all snuggled up.

- Ma

What's this? A fence??

A fence, a fence it's now up!!  We don't have a gate, sorry kids!!  However as the fence was going up, the little feet found out how they can get in.  Do you see the stairs on the play set?  They work there way up them and over.  They know better, so it is done rarely!  And Jacob can't figure out how to get over.  Yea!!

Our pretty flowers will will now flourish, because little feet will not trample!

Our pea's will get plump, little fingers will not take and eat before ready.

We will get green beans, this will be fun!!

The pretty flowers will stay on the tomato plant so we can taste the goodness of a tomato.

The chickens will stay away from the strawberries.

It amazes me how a plant can grab on to wire.  Isn't it beautiful.  These are our new pea plants.

Our lettuce is overgrown because it is bitter.  We really need to figure out why it gets this way.

Oh no what is this?  Mushrooms.  eeeeew.

Sorry not the best picture of the mushrooms.  They are in the middle at the top of the picture.  

-Ma

Little feet, little feet, get out of my garden!!

What a beautiful flower garden you have...

And oh those peas, they look so strong and healthy,

And those strawberry plants, they are coming back well considering the chickens ate them to practically nothing.  (Two new plants were planted with the 4 old ones.)

And your corn rows, they are so beautifully done!! 

Oh, little feet, little feet, please oh please get out of my garden!!!

What?  It's not just little feet?  Bikes too?  PLEASE GET OUT OF MY GARDEN!!

Spying

While working in the back yard, David started "inventing" something.  He had no idea I was taking these photo's.  It appears that he is trying to put something inside of the tube.

He is in deep thought.

Oooops he caught me!

Now he is just being silly!!

Boys are fun!!  -Ma

Chicken Run

We have wanted to take a good photo of the chicken's run.  This is it!  We are very proud of ourselves for building it by ourselves.  

Whooo Hoooo

I'm Freeee!!!  

I have always been a person that only wanted to nurse my kids till they turned one.  I must have needed some learnin' to be done, cause this little guy went 6 months longer.

As of last Friday we said good bye to those nightly "snuggle" times.

Here is how it was done.  

Pa and I got to go out on a much needed date night.  Jacob fell asleep there and to our surprise he stayed asleep when we arrived home.

Saturday night I went to the adult session of Stake Conference.  Pa got him asleep.

Wow I thought, this can be done!!

Sunday night.  I held him as I finished up some chores around the house.  He fell asleep in my arms.

Monday night he fell asleep in my bed watching the news.

And it goes on to be about the same through out the week.

Side note, I am not one that likes the whole cry it out routine with my kids.  It breaks my heart!

Last night there was a little bit of the head banging and body slamming.  But he seems to be doing well.

And me?  Well, I am doing great!  It is so nice not to have to worry about teeth.  -Ma

Thank you, thank you!!

Thank you so much for all of your comments on the previous post.  And thank you too for the phone calls.  Being a mom can be very tough!  I am thankful for friends that are so supportive.  I got some great advice that I am putting to the test.  Thanks!  -Ma

Random Thoughts

So, I have been battling a war within my self wondering if I should homeschool Emma or continue taking her to public schools.  For the last two weeks she has been struggling to go to school and to do her homework.  Last night it took her 1 hour and 40 minutes to do her homework.  It should only take 20 to 30 minutes tops.  She knows her stuff she just gets so distracted.  So last night I tried not to get mad, or at least not let it show.  The mood was better.  Then this morning I went to drop her off at school and she didn't want to get out but there were two boys waiting for her outside of the van, the were saying come on Emma, open the door.  Finally she opened the door and they had big smiles on there faces and off they went.  Boys are good friends to have.

What is it with people?  When we see an accident we have to see it really good, for me I want to see how this accident may have happened, what happened exactly and if everyone is okay.  Well there was a car accident at the high school this morning.  A mini van lost it's front bumper, and a red suburban was laying on its top.  Looked pretty bad.  Don't know if anyone was hurt they were already gone.  I just think how tragic this is.  The suburban looked like it was a teenagers car, maybe it wasn't but it had the look and feel to it.  (That is judgmental isn't it??)  But when I think of teenagers I think that they really don't like to wear their seat belts.  I hope and pray that they did.

Kids were sick this week but appear to be better now.

Emma is going to see an neurologist this Monday for her headaches.  Still getting them.  Would like to find an iridologist.  Does anyone know of one in mesa or the phoenix area???  I looked on google but just can't find anyone.  Oh, Mom or Aunt Susan, do you know of one in Prescott?

-Ma

Blowing Bubbles = Good Speech

I have once heard that when children are given the opportunity to blow bubbles it will help them in their speech development.  Jacob got ahold of this empty bubble bottle and he went around the house pumping the wand then taking it out and instead of blowing he would say "t". Then he would pump the wand again and "t t t".  He would giggle and run away.

Here's is to better speech!!  -Ma

And Here is the Rest of the Story

Emma's teacher called yesterday to give me the rest of the story.  She sat the 4 girls down that ate lunch together on Friday.  She asked them if what she was told was true.  All the kids said that it was true.  Except one part... Emma forgot to tell me that Ashlyn said she was joking.  Teacher said, joking or not. We do not say that, she said that when those words are spoken people can misunderstand and feelings can get hurt and parents can get upset.  She told them that I was very upset and that Emma feelings were hurt and she said that it is to be expected.  She also asked Emma why she didn't tell me all of the story.  Emma said that she "forgot" that part.  Ashlyn was crying, so I hope it is all over now.  I still think she needs to get into marshal arts for the confidence building.  Does anyone else have any confidence booster ideas?  -Ma

When I Get Big

David found a sticker with Mr. Clean on it.

He said, "This is what I am going to look like when I am big."

I said, "Really?  That is cool."

As he was walking away he said, "Ya, it's because I eat lots of banana's, I am going to have big muscles."

-Ma