Patience
9 years ago
Friday, December 30, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Baby Reindeer!
We have a weekly family Google+ hangout, which unites our family from Southern California to Indiana to Montana to Massachusetts. Usually, we play with the mustache feature far more than is dignified, but this week we got a special treat - antlers!
Monday, December 19, 2011
Mornin' Zoe!
Zoe and her collection of friends, plastered to the bed after a long, and apparently riotous, night's sleep.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Morning, Zoe
Zoe just walked in, sleepy pink ruffled and pajama clad from bed, church shoes in one hand and her pink rice hot-pack in the other. "I got my stuff" she said. But what it really sounds like it "Ah doh mah duff!"
Monday, December 5, 2011
Black Eyes
Text Message History:
12:01 PM - Me: Zoe fell down the stairs and landed on her face. She's ok but she's going to have quite the bruise.
A few moments later, a concerned Michael, who is out hunting for a few hours, calls to see what happened. We were going to go outside and kick the ball around since the weather was so nice, and while I ran downstairs to get the ball, Zoe decided it would be clever to climb down the stairs in her big coat and floppy rainboots while carrying a large basket, which is never a good idea. Since she is missing the instinct that tells every other normal person to throw their arms up to protect her face, she landed right on her nose, as usual. I tell him she will probably get a little black eye and has a bloody nose but seems generally unhurt.
12:25 PM - Me: Ummmm ok now Jed definitely does have a black eye. This has been a busy morning for us.
Michael arrives home not long after. I hem and haw a bit but the real story is that we were running around the house playing tag and things got a little wild and Jed ran right into my knuckle. OK, we were both running, but there was NO flinging of fists going on, he really did run right into my hand! And then there was a popping sound and he fell down. And now he has a blood blister and a black eye. Whoops. Mom of the year award.
Here is the photo evidence. See, it isn't that bad. I will admit it looks worse in person. Jed was doing all right until he saw himself in the mirror and then he collapsed into a wailing heap, screaming "I LOOK TERRIBLE!!! I CAN NEVER LET SOPHIA SEE ME LIKE THIS!" That's right, his first concern was what his little girlfriend would think.
See how happy and well adjusted they look? These are photos of happy, content, abuse-free children.
Even with, er, two black eyes, they're cute as buttons.
Black spotted buttons.
12:01 PM - Me: Zoe fell down the stairs and landed on her face. She's ok but she's going to have quite the bruise.
A few moments later, a concerned Michael, who is out hunting for a few hours, calls to see what happened. We were going to go outside and kick the ball around since the weather was so nice, and while I ran downstairs to get the ball, Zoe decided it would be clever to climb down the stairs in her big coat and floppy rainboots while carrying a large basket, which is never a good idea. Since she is missing the instinct that tells every other normal person to throw their arms up to protect her face, she landed right on her nose, as usual. I tell him she will probably get a little black eye and has a bloody nose but seems generally unhurt.
12:25 PM - Me: Ummmm ok now Jed definitely does have a black eye. This has been a busy morning for us.
Michael arrives home not long after. I hem and haw a bit but the real story is that we were running around the house playing tag and things got a little wild and Jed ran right into my knuckle. OK, we were both running, but there was NO flinging of fists going on, he really did run right into my hand! And then there was a popping sound and he fell down. And now he has a blood blister and a black eye. Whoops. Mom of the year award.
Here is the photo evidence. See, it isn't that bad. I will admit it looks worse in person. Jed was doing all right until he saw himself in the mirror and then he collapsed into a wailing heap, screaming "I LOOK TERRIBLE!!! I CAN NEVER LET SOPHIA SEE ME LIKE THIS!" That's right, his first concern was what his little girlfriend would think.
Black spotted buttons.
Changes
I recently finished up my long tenure serving in the Newburgh Ward Primary - almost four and a half years, to be precise. Six months as a nursery worker. Just shy of four years in the Presidency, two of those as president. Three babies! I started when Jed was just 6 months old. Back then, I knew virtually no children and had very little experience with them. Now, I count hundreds of children among my very best friends and favorite people. I love teaching them, I love knowing them. I have been very, very blessed to serve them. I will miss them.
I will miss belonging with my presidency and teachers, too. On Sunday, after helping out with Primary just a little bit the first hour, I found myself standing in the hall outside the Relief Society room, awkwardly, like a teenager who had just moved here from out of town. My hands felt strangely empty; I felt purposeless, unsure. Do I really just walk in and sit there? Do I just make chit chat with all these other people milling around waiting? When they asked if anyone one was a visitor, I nearly laughed out loud -- does it count if you've only attended three times in the last four and a half years? People made announcements and gave me gifts and handouts and taught me lessons and it was all very strange. Funny to feel so out of place in such a familiar place.
But don't worry, I won't be sitting around for long. I've been called to serve as the Beehive Adviser, the Sunday teacher for eleven reputedly very chatty twelve- and thirteen-year-old girls. Fortunately, since I've worked with them since they were eight or nine (!), I'm quite familiar with all of them so it should be a ball.
I will miss belonging with my presidency and teachers, too. On Sunday, after helping out with Primary just a little bit the first hour, I found myself standing in the hall outside the Relief Society room, awkwardly, like a teenager who had just moved here from out of town. My hands felt strangely empty; I felt purposeless, unsure. Do I really just walk in and sit there? Do I just make chit chat with all these other people milling around waiting? When they asked if anyone one was a visitor, I nearly laughed out loud -- does it count if you've only attended three times in the last four and a half years? People made announcements and gave me gifts and handouts and taught me lessons and it was all very strange. Funny to feel so out of place in such a familiar place.
But don't worry, I won't be sitting around for long. I've been called to serve as the Beehive Adviser, the Sunday teacher for eleven reputedly very chatty twelve- and thirteen-year-old girls. Fortunately, since I've worked with them since they were eight or nine (!), I'm quite familiar with all of them so it should be a ball.
Matching
I still remember feeling so proud when my mom dressed me and Eric up in matching clothes when we were little ones. So recently I decided that now that I have three kids, it was time to match. I made up my own patterns for vests and a skirt, Michael took the kids for most of a Saturday and I sewed and sewed and sewed and ended up with three little matching fall outfits. Now I feel like a "real" mom!
So close...
He was belly laughing right before this! Zane loves being up on the table with his big siblings. He's a pretty gregarious kid.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Horseback Riding
Just after Thanksgiving, the awesome Daetwilers invited us to come over to their farm for horseback riding and a campfire dinner. I was super nervous that my children, who harbor a deep and abiding terror of dogs and all animals not stuffed, would make the divine-sounding evening a misery. But, fortunately, after many, many hours of watching videos on youtube of small children riding horses, and a few horse riding instruction videos, my home-made animal therapy worked and they did AWESOME! They both hopped right on with big grins on their faces.
I am allergic to horses so I didn't get to ride, but Zoe was REALLY excited to ride with her Grandma Jan. Later on in the trip they had quite the adventure when the saddle on their horse started sliding around the side of the horse and they both fell on the ground. Grandma valiantly saved the day but putting herself under Zoe's little body. I know Grandma was pretty sore for a few days, and we appreciated that she sacrificed herself so Zoe could have a soft landing.
The greatest victory of the day for me was "the dog thing." After a number of traumatic dog experiences as a toddler, Jed has been really REALLY terrified of all dogs. Big, small, loud, quiet, whatever, he screams if one gets close and attempts to climb my leg in terror. I hate this because there are a LOT of dogs here in Kentucky-Hoosierville and poor Jed is so upset when they are around that it is hard to visit friends or go out. And I just don't like the idea of my child being held back by fear. We have a dog across the street and for a long time Jed wouldn't even go outside and play. The last few months, though, I have been taking the kids to visit "Star," a therapy dog who is at the library every Tuesday. I was hesitant to do it because we have to skip quiet time (which as you all know is religiously observed at our home) but I thought it was worth a try. AND IT IS TOTALLY WORKING!!! At the Daetwilers, Jed walked right by the big hunting dogs without flinching. "I like well trained dogs," he told me, "just not the wild dogs." I am so happy and grateful to see that with a little work his deeply-ingrained phobia is melting away and soon I hope he will be able to be go play with dogs just like all the other little boys.
The greatest victory of the day for me was "the dog thing." After a number of traumatic dog experiences as a toddler, Jed has been really REALLY terrified of all dogs. Big, small, loud, quiet, whatever, he screams if one gets close and attempts to climb my leg in terror. I hate this because there are a LOT of dogs here in Kentucky-Hoosierville and poor Jed is so upset when they are around that it is hard to visit friends or go out. And I just don't like the idea of my child being held back by fear. We have a dog across the street and for a long time Jed wouldn't even go outside and play. The last few months, though, I have been taking the kids to visit "Star," a therapy dog who is at the library every Tuesday. I was hesitant to do it because we have to skip quiet time (which as you all know is religiously observed at our home) but I thought it was worth a try. AND IT IS TOTALLY WORKING!!! At the Daetwilers, Jed walked right by the big hunting dogs without flinching. "I like well trained dogs," he told me, "just not the wild dogs." I am so happy and grateful to see that with a little work his deeply-ingrained phobia is melting away and soon I hope he will be able to be go play with dogs just like all the other little boys.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Happy Reminders
I love finding Jed's latest artwork on my daily list. I'm not sure why, but the list is a VERY coveted art spot for both children. Perhaps because they know it will get a full day's worth of appreciation by Mom. Often I can't even get the list written before the clipboard has been snatched from my hands and filled with the latest Stanfill Masterpiece.
You can see me, in my love cottage. I am smiling at the door. A gift waits for me outside on the steps. A flower grows near the basement window. Hearts float around me, the sun shines above, and kisses and hugs fill my little home up to the rafters. Pretty accurate, I'd say.
Jed liked that particular picture so well that he drew me another, but this time in full color and cut out.
The other day, after witnessing one of Jed's latest creations, his dad said "Well, Jed, you're becoming quite the little artist!" I added, "Just like your Daddy!" (After all, Michael does have a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts.) "NO," Jed corrected us, "not like Dad, like Annie. She is a real artist." Michael didn't appreciate that much but I had a good giggle over it. Like that, Auntie Annie?
Several days later, Jed found a post-it note pad left out loose and unguarded. Crowing with excitement, he informed me that he was going to post smiling notes all over the house to remind us to be happy. And he did. Here is a small sampling.
This happy face lives sideways in the hallway.
This one lives a little farther down the hall. In case you can't tell, it is a heart. Hearts (also often called "flowers" by mistake) have been tricky for Jed and he has only just started to get the hang of them. Now that I look closely the left figure may be a heart-flower because you can see it has a stem.
Walk into Jed's bedroom, and you will see this fantastic adornment.
Most of the dresser pictures are of race cars, monster trucks, or dragsters. Here is my particular favorite:
Jaunt across the hallway and into my bedroom. Close the door and you'll find this joyful little beauty staring back at you.
(That's me, in case you aren't adept at Jed-Art-Character-Identification. People with sticky-up hair are male. People with "flat" hair are female. Big females are Mom, small females Zoe. Naturally.)
I've saved my favorite for last. A portrait of happy Mom and Dad, together, right smack in the middle of our closet doors.
Jed was right -- I've had these little pictures up for a week now, and every time I see them I can't help but smile.
Jed liked that particular picture so well that he drew me another, but this time in full color and cut out.
Several days later, Jed found a post-it note pad left out loose and unguarded. Crowing with excitement, he informed me that he was going to post smiling notes all over the house to remind us to be happy. And he did. Here is a small sampling.
This happy face lives sideways in the hallway.
I've saved my favorite for last. A portrait of happy Mom and Dad, together, right smack in the middle of our closet doors.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Pink Princess
Monday, November 7, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
A visit to the fire station
Our Friday FunDay group took a tour of the little local fire station this past week. The kids toured the engine, saw a firefighter in all his gear, and toured through their living quarters. The best part was when we were standing in the firefighter's living room and the fire alarm went off! The three firefighters ran out of the room and put on their gear. One peeked his head in and said "We'll be back in 10 or 15 minutes! Make yourselves at home! Stay around if you can to finish the tour!" and then they jumped on the engine and headed out with the siren wailing. And there we sat, twenty or so moms and running, squealing kids, all one in the fire station. Ha! We stayed and they came back later, tearing into the station with lights and siren flashing, flag waving. It was totally sweet. I loved it.
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| I love this shot! |
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| Zoe felt a tad shy, but not enough to stop her from taking a tour of the engine. |
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| Still keeping a close eye on him... |
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| I had to drag Jed over but he lit right up when he got to spray the firehose! |
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| A bunch of good friends |
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| Kids and firefighters. Notice Jed's skeptical gaze. He was, um, shall we say a bit "standoffish" towards the firefighters, as in "stand on the far side of the room-ish" , but by the end he was willing to stand within ten feet of them, so we considered that progress. |
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| We love Friday FunDay! |
Thursday, November 3, 2011
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