Two Little Mommy's

Tonight I gave Bryan two ounces of prune juice. It is fun to watch his face, when he first tastes prune juice he pulls his head away and looks at me like, 'what are you giving me?' Then he comes back for more. It is also fun to watch him try and figure out how to drink from a bottle.

Well, he drank the juice at 7:00 pm and before 8:00 pm he had a bowel movement. Emma picked him up not knowing that he pooped. She got it on her arm and then all over the back of his shirt. She comes to me saying that he pooped and it got all the way up to his neck. I informed her that really it was she who was spreading the mess.

I quickly changed him then gave him a bath. After the bath Emma wanted to take him in a towel to the bedroom. When she took him Bryan spit up something brown. Emma ran to me panicked saying, "Mom! Look, Bryan spit up this." We decided it must just be the prune juice. Emma is done, she is off to do other things.

Abby comes in after Bryan is dressed. She sees that there is a diaper to take care of. She picks it up and I told her specifically where she needs to throw it away. Abby discovers that it is a poopy diaper, so she asks, "Mom, was it seedy?" I said, "yes it was a little bit." Abby said, "oh, thats good."

These girls are learning so much. It is fun to watch them be so motherly and loving with Bryan.

Sticky Fingers

I remember when I was about six or seven we were at the grocery store. I saw a big bin of pacifiers. I wanted one of those so bad! I asked my mom if she could buy one for me. She said no, like any good mother would. But I really, really wanted one. So, while she wasn't looking I put one in my pocket. We continued to walk the isles. The guilt kept sinking deeper and deeper in my soul. We got to the cashier, I quickly said, "Mom, I will be right back." I ran through the store and put that pacifier back and ran back to my mom.

Today I was at goodwill with Abby, Jacob and Bryan. Abby asked if they could get something. I said, "no, not this time." Abby said, "then I am going to look on the floor for something." I said, "well you can't keep whatever you find."

I find a pair of pants for David and then we go to check out and then we get out to the van. Abby said, "oh, I am so glad that we are back at the van." She then took of her soft sole ballet slippers and pulled out a pretty bracelet, and some pieces of plastic that probably came off toys or something.

Part of me just wanted to get into the car and go home. Then something said to me, this is small but the next time it could be lots bigger.

So, I sighed and said, "okay, we need to take this stuff back."

Abby said, "okay mom, I will wait in the van and you can take it back."

Me, "no, this is something you need to do."

Abby, "so, when we get inside can I just put it back on the floor and then we can leave?"

Me, "no."

As we get closer to the door

I said, "I need you to tell the lady that you are sorry that you took these, then give them back."

Abby, "how about if you say that?"

Me, "nope."

So, we get inside and I hunt for a cashier that is old, hoping that they won't just say, "oh, it's okay you can keep it."

We have to stand in line. I couldn't wait any longer so I interrupt the checkout process that was going on. I felt bad but I had a baby that needed to get out of the store.

Abby quickly and quietly said, "I'm sorry I took these."

The cashier looked like she got a little emotional and said, "oh, well thank you very much, thank you for coming to our store I hope you come back real soon."

I mouthed thank you to her as Abby hid behind me. She held my hand all the way to the car. I could even feel her trembling a bit. I don't think she will try that again.

Out of the Mouth of Babes

I need to get this off the side bar.

December 2010

Pa was taking Emma and Jacob to the grocery store. Abby was very upset that she couldn't go.

So David asked why Emma gets to go.

I said, "because she has been listening so well."

David looked a little confused then said, "well then why does Jacob get to go?"

I said, "because I need to get Jacob out of my hair for a while."

David said with a perplexed look, "I didn't know Jacob was in your hair."

I laugh and said, "Oh, it's just a figure of speech."

David, "oh, okay."

Abby said, "I don't get it."

David, "It's like in Martha, Abby. He isn't really in her hair."

February 2010

The song Hot N Cold by Katy Perry came on in the van. Emma got so excited she said,"Hey, I know this song. I invented this song!"

Future Mom

Being a Mom is so exhausting!

Abby could hold Bryan for hours if we let her.

She is really a big help.

Abigail and Jacob's Birthdays

My two youngest, as of right now have the same "birth" day just two years apart. So, their special day was in August. On their birthday we made cupcakes and just enjoyed being a family. Jacob was so excited that it was his birthday after watching cousins have birthday recently. He kept asking if it was his cousins' Alice birthday, I would tell him, "no, it is Jacob's birthday." He would jump up and down and say, "it's dadups (Jacob's) birfday?" This went on and on and on... Abby was so excited too. She got a little more attention than Jacob because she was able to go out with Grandma and Grandpa Hardy to Toys R Us to pick out her very own present. She picked out a battery operated dog that sleeps and has his own sleeping bag. She really likes it and loved the attention.

So, back to the cupcakes. We put one candle in a cupcake for Jacob and one candle it Abby's cupcake. After we sang and they blew out their candles, Jacob said, "More!" So we lit the candle again and again and again and again and again and again, you get the picture. Well, Jacob and Abby were successful in using the entire candle, all that was left of it was the piece that was inside the cupcake. Jacob had so much fun, he was laughing so hard, David wanted to 'help' blow out the candle so he would try and Jacob would blow it out first and he just thought it was so funny that he (Jacob) was in control. Abby loved the attention too, however she didn't get as excited about it.

Then we had another party that only a little bit of family was able to come to. This time I was able to make some fun cakes. Abby the princess castle, it was super easy to make and only took one cake to make it. I just really need to get some nice cake decorator stuff, frosting tips, etc. I used the kind of frosting that comes in a can and tried to make flowers on her cake and well, it didn't work like I would have liked it to.

Jacob's cake was an air plane and this only took one cake too. He has been loving air planes lately. Every time he sees one in the sky he asks if he can go in. I always tell him one day Jacob, one day.

Abby is getting so big, she picked out what she wanted to wear for her party probably 2 weeks before the party and she remembered and wore it. I was very impressed.

So here's to my children that are getting so big. Abby is 5 and Jacob is 3. WOW!

Two Very Special Girls

Abby was asked to give a talk in Primary on Sunday. The theme was My Love for Jesus Grows When Studying the Scriptures. So I thought I would ask Abby what her thoughts are about reading scriptures, and how she feels about Jesus and the scriptures. I was amazed with her answers. So, after listening to her I put her words into the talk.

When I read the scriptures I am doing what Jesus asks me to do.

When I read the scriptures I learn how I should be.

I feel like being respectful,

I feel like I should love others,

and say sorry.

I feel like doing nice things for others.

Scriptures help you learn about the Holy Ghost, Jesus and Heavenly Father.

(I thought up this part.)

We read in Doctrine and Covenants Section 4 verse 6, "Remember faith,

Virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness,

godliness, charity, humility, diligence."

As we read the scriptures, we feel close to Jesus and he tells us how

we need to be.

In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Later on that day, Emma came up to me and said, "Mom, I just don't think I can handle listening to another talk, or practicing the primary program again." I asked, "why do you say that?" Emma says with a very frustrated tone, "because, when Abby said her talk I felt like I was going to cry! I just wanted to run out of there! Then when everyone gave their part for the program, I felt like crying still. The teachers in the front called me up and they asked if something was wrong, I told them I was fine. But they kept asking me. I just don't think I can do it again!" I asked her why she thought she felt like crying, she said, "I don't know I wasn't sad." I said, "Do you think it could have been the spirit (Holy Ghost) telling you that the things you were hearing were true?" She said, "Yes Mom, that is what it was. I just don't think I could do it again. It is so embarrassing!"

Later that night we sat down to read scriptures, we read in 2 Nephi 3:21. They are speaking of Joseph Smith and how Heavenly Father can make weak things strong. It says, "and the weakness of their words will I make strong in their faith." I felt like I needed to broaden on that. So I told them how I felt as a missionary. I was sooooo shy, someone would look at me and I felt like crying, my face would get bright red. I wondered how I would be able to go up to strangers and tell them about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Oh it was so scary! I told them that I was able to feel the power of our Heavenly Father work in me. I would open my mouth and I would speak words that would pierce peoples hearts, for the good. I told them that even when we feel weak we can be made strong through Heavenly Father. Emma was so cute, she said, "Mom, why does it keep happening today?"

I am so thankful that we are reading the scriptures again and I am so thankful that Emma is able to talk to me openly and I am so grateful that Emma can experience this at such a young age. And that she is such a good example to her brothers and sisters.

3 Days and 2 Nights

Abby and I spent 3 days and 2 nights in the hospital.

Last week she had a bump in her private area.  To me it looked like a bug bite and I thought it would just go away.  Three to four days went by and it wasn't getting better.  It was just getting worse.  It was swelling and it had a small dot at the center of it.

Saturday she was talking about how bad it hurt.  I took her to a doctor that is in our ward.  I am so thankful that she helps me out so much.  The doctor told me I could bring her over to her house and she would take a look at it.  She said that it looked like it could be a boil that we would just need to take her into the hospital and they will nock her out for about 15 to 20 minutes, drain it and she would probably go home the same day.

So, I waited till Sunday and we stayed till today, Tuesday.

The rest of the story will have to come another day.  I don't think I am awake enough to tell the story properly.

She will be okay.  It will just take a couple weeks to heal.

Good night.  -Ma

Kids

David woke up last night at 12:00, he had to wake me up to find out if he could go potty.  Of course I said yes all was well, he went back to bed.

David then woke up at 2:00 am.  He was crying uncontrollably, I went in asking what was wrong.  He said that he can't stop crying.  I asked if he had a bad dream.  He said that he did have a dream but it wasn't bad. He was crying so much that we had to wipe his nose.  He then calmed down and said very bluntly, "Mom, you can go now."  He laid back down and went right to sleep.

Abby woke up this morning because she wet the bed.  Luckily this happened while I was in the shower.  No lost sleep.

Jacob was sick all day yesterday.  All he wanted to do was snuggle and he had a fever.  We gave him this "Miracle Mineral Solution" (MMS), and a blessing.  He woke up this morning happy and ready to EAT!  (He hardly drank or ate anything yesterday.)

Abby and Jacob's Birthdays!

Abby and Jacob had a birthday.... and it has been a few months now. So, now Abby is 4 and Jacob is 2!

Abby is such a fun little girl. She can make anyone smile. We will be walking at the store, down the street, at church, etc. And Abby will have the biggest smile on her face. She is quick to wave and smile at everyone. Everyone!! Children, Parents, Elderly, Scruffy Men, and even the Ritzy!! And Everyone! Smiles back and comments on how CUTE she is. She has such a special spirit to her, that just makes ya feel good.

She is still very afraid though. She will not go to class at church and if we make her go she ends up screaming one of those screams that says she is really truly afraid. I just can't figure out why she is so afraid and why did it start when she was just a baby.

She gets picked on a lot from her big brother and sister. But she can also dish it out very well.

She is always hungry, always! Yet she wont eat what she is given, we have a lot to work on with that one. Sometimes she wont eat what she asks for.

Jacob is 2, I can't believe that my youngest is 2. He is such a little ham. Always getting into trouble. He loves to climb. He loves balls and cars. When he has a hard time getting into his car seat we give him a car and he is happy as can be. He loves to work, whenever Pa or I are working in the yard we are sure that Jacob will be out there with a shovel in hand, or asking for cloves so he can be just like us. He loves to wear shoes. The minute he wakes up in the morning he is asking for shoes sometimes before he is even out of bed. He still climbs into bed with us at night. He thinks it is soo funny to let the chickens out of their run. He also likes to go in and terrorize the chickens that are trying to lay eggs. He walks into the coop and just screams as loud as he can. The chickens usually protest and cluck back at him. He loves to terrorize everyone else too. You can catch him chasing his sister around the house, just so he can hear them scream. He loves his brother David, if David is doing something you can be sure that Jacob is watching, learning, and laughing!

These two were born on the same day 2 years apart.

Grandma and Grandpa Hardy came over before the party.

dolls name is Robin

We made a doll cake for Abby, Emma put on the candles. She did real well keeping the flame away from the dolls hair.

Jacob loves cars so he got a "road cake" with a car and a bike.

David is not too fond of cake, he had about 4 or 5 servings of ice cream.

He was very happy!

David really needs a dog. He was rough housing with anyone he could.

Thanks to everyone who came and thank you for the gifts and helping eat all of those cakes!!

Cowgirl

September 8, 2009

Now if this isn't cute, I just don't know what is...

Daddy Daughter Date

August 15, 2009

Our church had a daddy daughter date night luau theme.  Strange though they said it was for ages 5 and older.  Abby wouldn't stand for it.  She is 4 and she was going to go.  So we went to Savers to find some hawaiian clothing.  Pa found his shirt for about $4, Emma's dress was $1.50 and Abby's was $5.  Abby's dress is a size 6/7, it's a little big but very cute!!

Emma said she was bored, too much talking. Abby had a wonderful time. Pa said that Abby was a little chatter box the entire time.

They had a class on etiquette and they were asking the group to give an 

example of good etiquette. Abby raised her hand and ran up to the front of 

the room and whispered into the ladies ear, "You should never chew gum in the car." 

Don't know where that came from but Pa said it was cute!!

-Ma

Photo Shoot of Abby

When the kids went to their first day of school, we all just kind of looked at each other not knowing what to do.  Abby asked if we could curl her hair.  Sounded fun, so we did.  Then we had a fun little photo shoot.

-Ma

Sleeping Beauty

Our Little Angel

Abby really struggles to go to sleep on her own.

So, this particular night she asked if she could sleep in my bed.  I told her yes just for a little while.  She was asleep before I finished brushing my teeth.  

As I sat there watching her in dream land.  My heart was melting and I thought about how precious she is and how she will only be little for a short time.

I wanted to remember this very moment, so I asked Pa if he would take a picture.  (I know he will do a better job than me at capturing this moment.)

Why do they gotta grow up so fast??? -Ma

Fish draw blood?

April 20, 2009

We have a bata fish in a small bowl on the kitchen counter.  The kids think it is so fun to let a finger sit on the water and wait for the fish to come up and give their finger a "kiss".  Besides what other kind of affection can one get from a pet fish.

With that in mind we went to a Bass Pro store.  We really have fun going, because you get to see so many big animals.  You even get to touch them.  

Emma, David and Abby were kneeling by the stream that they have inside the store waiting for those fun "kisses" from the fish.  However, to Abby's surprise a very big fish came up and bit 4 of her fingers.  She was screaming so loud, I couldn't figure out what was happening.  You see I was behind them, when I looked at a father that was up on the bridge in front of the kids he said that the fish did come up and bite her.  I asked well does it hurt?  He said, "Na, I think it probably just scared her."  So I look at her hand and hug her close.  She wasn't crying like she was "just scared".  She was crying in pain.  I look at her hand again, and she has blood all over her little fingers.  I stand there in shock looking to see if anyone else was there to help me figure out what to do. Pa is off shopping so we can catch those icky, mean ol' fish.  

(These pictures were taken 2 days after the bite.)

So it was just me.  

I need bandages, I need comfort... for me.

I go to the front of the store, and ask the welcoming guy for lots of band-aids, I tell him, she was bit by a fish.  He just doctors her up.  No report.  No manager.  Nothing.  I asked how often this happens.  He says oh maybe 2 other times.  Are there any signs up?  I don't remember seeing any.  It makes total sense now.  Little fingers can look like worms, fish will want to eat them.  And those fish are so big, I am surprised that it didn't pull my little Abby right in.  

So, any of you that go to Bass Pro, enjoy the dead stuff and keep your hands out of the water!! 

-Ma

One Little Thing...

Can bring back so many memories.

Early Sunday Morning.  Abby comes in and said, "Mom, I am wet."  It is 2:30 am.  I said, "oh, did you go potty in bed?"  Her little fists ball up and she shakes them at me and said, "Noooo, my blankets made me wet!!"

"Okay."  I replied, "lets get you cleaned up then."

I get Abby in the bath, and Emma off the shared bed and onto the floor.  Back to the bathroom I spot a COCKROACH!!  Of course I can't just grab a shoe to squish it, it is far to big!  I freeze for a moment then I remember that Pa is here and he is MY protector.  He can come squish it for me.

(This is what it looked like)

He comes in to take care of the ugly beast.  But he says that it got away and went back to bed.  I still had chills going up my spine.  The little creature returned (I knew it would).  So I go back to sleeping Pa and say, "honey it isn't gone will you come take care of it please."  He gets up out of bed and I hand him a shoe.  That little critter is running for it's life and Pa, thank you so much, he squished it with one blow.

I get Abby out of the bath and get her dressed and on the floor with her sister.  As any Mom would do.  Or maybe just a Mom like me.  First thing on Mothers Day I am cleaning up potty off of a child's bed.  I can't stand to let it sit their and dry all night.  I've gotta soak it up and then clean it with vinegar.

With that done I am off to bed.  But how could I sleep after seeing a roach in my house.  We don't have roaches in our house.  I figure it is because Pa has been digging in the back yard and it probably got confused and came in.  So thankful it was squished.  

But I couldn't sleep.

I could however think about the times that I have encountered those dreaded cockroaches.  I think the first time I ever saw them was when I was probably 10 or 11.  My family had gone to visit another family.  There home struggled for cleanliness.  The kid's room had papers from school shoved in corners.  I have always been one that wanted things in order. so I thought.  I will just help this family out a bit.  I went into the room with all of the school papers, I reached to the corner with the papers, grabbed a big handful of papers and out crawled hundreds of roaches all up the wall.  I shivered with yuckiness.  Quickly put the papers back and stayed by my Mothers side the rest of the time.  

Another time I was in Hawaii as a missionary.  Hadn't been out very long when Sister Bagley comes up to me and she doesn't say a word she just uses her finger to say come here.  I follow.  I notice she is holding a small bathroom disposable cup.  We continue to her side of the apartment, go through a door and she closes the door and bit hands me the cup, points above the door and said, 

"Get it."  

"Uh, not with that." I said.  

We go to get the bug spray.  

I use the bug spray.

The roach doesn't like it.  

It turns and starts flying at us.  

We scream like little girls running down the hall. 

Sister Matsuno comes in.  She is just smiling.  "What is wrong sisters?"  She asks.

We point under the table.

She laughs, shakes her head and said, "That is not how you kill it."  

She grabs the church news rolls it up, then she starts whacking the bug and it is DEAD!

Yuck, that gives me chills.

A while later on my mission.  We went to teach a lady.  She was on the couch and we were on the floor.  (Hu, I never thought about that before.  We taught many people from the floor while they sat on the couch.  Interesting.)  She had hard wood floors and those roaches kept coming out from under the couch to visit with us.  I could tell that the lady notices that we were uncomfortable with the "bugs" crawling around.  So she spoke to them like pets.  "Shoo, shoo." She would say, "they don't want you here, you go away!!"  They would run back under the couch.

One more memory  I will write.

I was taking a tour into one of the video rooms, I notice a large roach hanging out be the doors. It wouldn't go away.  So I step on it while I am holding the door open.  The guests go into the room, as do I.  The roach just walks away.  (My shoes were soft and so was the carpet.  It wouldn't squish.)

Oh, one more.  I am just having all of these fun memories.

It was a Sunday.  (I was on my mission)  We were late for church.  We had to sit on the stage in front of everyone.  I quickly shake out my shoes, throw them on and run out the door.  It felt like I had a stick in my shoe but I didn't have time for that.  I needed to get to church.  Still no time we go to church.  During the meeting I realize what is in my shoe.  But I can't take it out and put on the floor in the church building.  So I wait.  I forgot about it till we get to our next appointment.  We park and I pull the large roach.  It had gotten in between my shoe and my shoe insert, but the leg was up by the side of my foot.  I threw it on the ground and the ants took care of it from there.

I sure was brave on my mission, but now... I am so glad that Pa is around to protect me.

Back to reality.  After having all of those memories goes threw my mind I was able to sleep. Knowing that we don't have roaches in our house it was just one because of the digging.  But we are still going to put some bug spray down just to be safe.  :o)  -Ma

P.S.  Happy Mothers Day!!

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

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.

Abby's Hanger Creation

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

-Ma

Because They Are Famiwy

After putting the nativity set out.  The kids love to look and touch.  I don't know what kid wouldn't because the set is from Dreamsicles and they have the cutest faces.  If they weren't breakable I would let the kids play with them.  I remember when I was little and my mom would put out the nativity set I loved to take Jesus out and just hold him, I felt closer to Jesus when I did this.  So I try not to get mad when they are touching.

Back to the story...

Abby climbed up on a little table up to the shelf with the nativity set.  I noticed her up there as I was passing by and I stated, "You can look but please don't touch."

Later I was passing by again and Abby was still on the table looking at the set.  However the set was now clustered together in a tight circle.

I said, "Abby, I asked you not to touch."

Abby said, "I not touching Mommy, I just looking."

Me, "Abby, they moved and I asked you not to touch."

Abby, "I not touching Mommy, I just looking."

Me, "Abby, if you're not touching, how did they move?"

Abby, "Because they are Famiwy.  They are together."

-Ma

Sassy Three Year Old

I have something to say to who ever came up the the term, "terrible two's".  I think two year olds are so fun.  I absolutely love them!

3 year olds now that's another story, I struggled with them.  Even before I had kids I just can't seem to figure them out.

At age 2 they know how to say no, but it is so cute.  Because  they can't stand their ground.  A 3 year old knows how to say no and they know what it means, and they use it.

This little beauty is amazing.  She loves life, and is so affectionate.  She has a smile that will melt even the most angry heart. 

I think we will take the good with the bad.  But please I can only handle 9 more months of the sassy 3 year old.

Love you Abigail! -Ma