Bucket

Did you know that there is a bucket in your heart, and if you give compliments you fill it up?

According to Dallin this is true. Apparently his Principal told him so!

Quick Update

Dallin has soccer practice twice a week and is doing really well. His games are really fun to watch each Saturday. Saturday I also had an intense false labor episode that lasted about 8 hours. We went to the hospital to check things out and ended up back home exhausted. You would think I would know after 5 pregnancies, not so much. I feel like I am in labor all the time! My only consolation was a trip to In N Out on the way home. Contractions finally stopped after going to sleep.

We are trying to enjoy the fall festivities as much as we can. We went to the Harvest Festival at Dallin's school and the kids really enjoyed trying out their costumes. On Sunday we carved pumpkins. Dallin chose to do a traditional jack o lantern and Eden's had heart eyes, star nose and butterfly mouth. The kids love to light their pumpkins each night.

You Silly Old Man!!!

That is what Eden said to Peter when he was teasing her the other day. We were laughing so hard, but I think Peter did take it a little to heart.

I have a strong urge to make THIS. It is too cute and I could totally work on it at night since I am mostly sitting around too big to accomplish much anyway. Maybe it would help with the uncomfortable insanity. What do you think?

You know you are VERY pregnant when...

Your children absent-mindedly rub your belly when they talk to you! (makes me smile)

I added it up. Over 5 pregnancies I have gained a total of 150 pounds! That's more than doubling myself! Only 40 pounds of that is actual babies. Ha ha. Just a funny fact. I am happy that I lost all of it each time so far, but that is pretty freaky. I really am a human rubber band. No wonder I have 4 different wardrobe sizes in my closet!

My latest strange pregnancy dream included Peter having a baby too. I was actually very happy in the dream because that was one less pregnancy for me. But then we realized we were both schizophrenic (Beautiful Mind style) and there was no real baby

Too cute:

Dallin really likes to talk to the baby and tell her he can't wait to meet her.

I questioned Dallin about the vacuum wand being buried thing. His reasoning was actually hard to argue. He was simply installing some underground pipes! Apparently he has more out there too, but I don't know what he used.

Tanner has officially informed me twice that I am his best girl!

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Cute Book

This is such a great children's book. Not just for the kids, but for the reader as well. It is very animated. Grover does not want you to turn any pages once he finds out there is a monster at the end of the book and goes to great lengths to try to stop you. The kids get such a kick out of turning the pages against his will. There is a great surprise ending that the kids just can't get enough of. We probably have a couple hundred children's books but this is our most requested read so I thought I would give my recomendation. Check it out, they will love it.

Lucky Magic Wand

I can't live without the wand attachment to my vacuum. I use it to edge the corners every time because around here it really needs it. I just doesn't look clean to me unless the edges are done. However, almost every time, I have to go searching for it because it has magically walked away. I usually find it in the toy room or in some one's bedroom. I can't figure out what the big interest in it is, but for some reason it must be really fun to play with.

Yesterday it came up missing as usual. I didn't think much of it and began looking in the usual places. But I couldn't find it anywhere! I looked and looked and started to get a little irritated. Then Eden asked me what I was looking for and I told her. Eden is in a stage where she will tell me long stories that take a long time to get out and don't have much to do with anything. This time though she caught my attention when I heard something about Dallin and Dirt. I sat down with her and asked her to repeat the story.

She said that she saw Dallin outside with it and he put it in the dirt and covered it up with mud! Trying to stay calm I smiled and enthusiastically asked her if she could show me where. She happily led me outside to an exact spot at the side of the house and pointed to a place that I never would have suspected anything of. I stuck my finger about a quarter inch in and sure enough pulled out our muddy vacuum wand! I was so relieved that she had seen this crime in action and that she realized I was looking for it and told me about it. How lucky is that! As far as I know, this is the first time this has happened, but now I am left wondering what else is out there.

Thanks to Eden saving the day, our carpets are clean and edged and all is right in the world. Now to find a safe place to keep this slippery wand so it doesn't happen again.

Ready or Not

This is always the time of pregnancy when my sanity is completely gone. I am consumed by nothing else than wondering, when will this baby come? I have no ability to focus on anything. I have all kinds of thoughts all day long like: Will we get there in time? Do I want to go without drugs this time? Will the kids get to be there? Who will we have babysit? Will the house be clean when I need to go? Will she come before my mom gets here? How will my baby Carter do without me for 2 or 3 days? Will we have enough help? Will my water break this time? Will Peter be home when it is time? Will she come before I get too many new stretch marks? What were all the tricks for going into labor? Is this going to be a huge baby or what? Will the birth go as it usually does for me? What was it like to have a waist? To be able to bend? How long will it take to lose all this weight? How will I juggle life with 5 children? Am I ready? Get out, get out, get out!

Welcome to my mind, just repeat this 5000 times a day and now you understand insanity.

Great Tanner Quote

"Mommy, my arm is on backwards."

Wild

On Friday Dallin and I got to go on a special date together. A few months ago we got this book from the library and Dallin thought it was magical. It really spoke to him. He told me he wanted to sail away to the Wild Things! I think the little boy in this book and Dallin have a lot in common. They both have wild imaginations and are a little wild themselves. When I heard about this movie I knew I wanted to take him. We very rarely go to movies, but we just had to go. His teacher read it to him at school the day before so Dallin was excited when I told him about our date.

Reading the movie description sealed the deal, it sounded just like Dallin:

"Max, a rambunctious and sensitive boy feels misunderstood at home and escapes to where the Wild Things are. He lands on an island where he meets mysterious and strange creatures whose emotions are as wild and unpredictable as their actions. The Wild Things desperately long for a leader to guide them, just as Max longs for a kingdom to rule. When Max is crowned king, he promises to create a place where everyone will be happy. Max soon finds, though, that ruling his kingdom is not so easy and his relationships there prove to be more complicated than he originally thought."

We had such a great time. Dallin was so into it and I loved looking at him at the "wild" moments and seeing the big grin on his face. It really seems like this movie was made just him.

Testimonies and Love at Home

I am excited about a couple of new things we have been trying with our children.

A few weeks ago I heard a couple talking on BYU TV about raising children in the gospel. There was one thing that Peter and I particularly liked that we decided to try. They said that as they raised their family, every fast Sunday evening they would have their own family testimony meeting. Our fast Sunday was this last Sunday because of conference. So before bed we had a little lesson and taught the children what fasting was and what a testimony was. They got it, but I will probably focus our FHE's on these concepts for the rest of the month as well. Then we all took turns sharing our own testimonies. Some needed help, some needed moral support with a parent next to them and Some did fine on the first try. What a wonderful experience! Many benefits: practicing reverence and respect, learning to share testimony, kids hearing what their parents believe, feeling the spirit. It was a sweet experience that I look forward to repeating each month.

Something we have been struggling with lately is fighting. There has been way too much hitting, taking toys, pushing, etc. I usually either make the child apologize, or give them a time out Supernanny style. After really thinking about it and reading about discipline on some blogs and parenting books, I decided to refine my approach and it has been very helpful.

When a child offends another child there are 3 or 4 things that happen. If they take a toy from someone and can't work it out, then I come in to intervene and it goes something like this:

First they must give they toy back and I remind them that "We don't take toys." Then I request for them to 1. Apologize 2. Tell them that they won't do it anymore(repentance). I think the second part is really important. Then, with the other child, they must quickly forgive and I prompt them to say "It's okay" (forgiveness). Usually this totally fizzles the argument, but if the offended child is still crying or upset I encourage hugs and kisses which helps too. Because hitting has been a particular problem with a couple of my kids they immediately have to serve a time out before they follow the repentance process. I think that this approach is teaching them character and Christ-like qualities that will be useful their whole lives. It has brought a noticeable amount of peace to our home as well.

After doing this for a while the children have started doing the process on their own. When I hear something going on, I first listen to see if they will be able to work it out. This is what I heard the other night with Dallin and Eden:

(Eden threw a toy and it hit Dallin on the head)
Dallin: Ouch! (starts crying, the really hurt cry)
Eden: Oh, I am sorry, I am so sorry Dallin.
Dallin: It's okay (still crying)
Eden: I said sorry.
Dallin: I know but it still hurts.
Eden: Mommy, I accidentally hit Dallin with a toy, and he said it was okay but he is still crying.
Mommy: Well, maybe you could have him show you his owie and kiss it better.
Eden: Okay. (She has Dallin show her and he points to his head, which she kisses.)
Dallin: (Stops crying)

All is well and everyone is happy. I think it feels just as good to forgive as to be forgiven and that is the special part.

Daily Gem

This was in my email Daily Gem today. I thought this was very powerful, definitely my new favorite quote:

“Brethren and sisters, material possessions and honors of the world do not endure. But your union as wife, husband, and family can. The only duration of family life that satisfies the loftiest longings of the human soul is forever. No sacrifice is too great to have the blessings of an eternal marriage. To qualify, one needs only to deny oneself of ungodliness and honor the ordinances of the temple. By making and keeping sacred temple covenants, we evidence our love for God, for our companion, and our real regard for our posterity—even those yet unborn. Our family is the focus of our greatest work and joy in this life; so will it be throughout all eternity, when we can ‘inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities … powers, dominions … exaltation and glory’ (D&C 132:19).”
Russell M. Nelson, “Set in Order Thy House,” Liahona, Jan. 2002, 82

Blogging Tip

I have been using a blogger tool that has really helped me save time and increase my posts lately. When I empty my camera, I do my edits and then upload any blog pics to the Internet and create all the posts that are floating around in my head. I usually create 4 or 5 posts in one sitting. Then before pushing publish on each one, I click on Post Options on the bottom and change the publish dates so that only one entry will be posted each day. Once the date is changed, you can push publish but it won't go up until that date and time.

This way my blog is always fresh and I really don't have to spend time posting every day. In fact, this is my fourth post that I have written today, but you won't see this for 4 days, and I did all 4 posts in about 20 minutes. To me, more blogging means more memories. Cool trick huh?

Thinking Chair

I just couldn't help myself. I just need to freeze some of this cuteness that I see every day. I never want it to go away.

Nufen

Dallin brought this home in his backpack yesterday and it really made me chuckle. Apparently the assignement was a bit abstract for a first grader to get. I adore the phonetic spelling.

My head is full of nothing.
At dinner that night I explained that we all have a brain that we use to learn and be smart and we use our heads to think. He thought that was a very interesting concept.

Storm

This morning we got to see something that we haven't seen in a LONG time, Rain! Ahhhhh... Dallin came home from school yesterday so excited about the "storm" that his teacher told him was coming. This morning he woke up, and looked out the window at the major wind and rain coming down and said "Oh my gosh!" over and over. My kids have really lost their Oregonian side. They are in awe. For me it is just a little taste of home.

Engagement Session

Check out this cute engagment session I got to do at the State Capital. Click HERE

The Plan

For FHE this week we learned about the plan of Salvation. This was one of my favorite lessons ever. The kids were so interested. They kind of knew parts of it, but it was so neat to teach them what we believe. Dallin asked lots of questions and has thoroughly studied this visual aid over the last few days. I love being a mommy teacher and sharing my testimony with them.

Mine!

Poor Carter gets bossed around a lot. His siblings have a low tolerence for him to play with their stuff. Consequently, Carters latest word is "Mine!" He doesn't say it in a naughty way, but when he want to play with a toy he quickly pipes in with it. Wow, I wonder what else he is picking up from them!

"Do you want a spirit of love to grow in the world? Then begin within the walls of your own home. Behold your little ones, and see within them the wonders of God, from whose presence they have so recently come."
-Gordon B. Hinckley

Fairytale Town 2009

The kids had a great time again this year at Fairytale Town. It is amazing to see how different things are from a year ago. Dallin and Eden were best buddies and did everything together. I pretty much sat at every possible bench.

This was hilarious. Carter really loves slides, even big ones. The other parents panicked every time Peter sent him down this one to Eden. They probably thought I was crazy for just watching and taking pictures. He even went down on his belly a couple of times. Seriously though, it really wasn't a big deal, I don't know why people think he is so fragile.

Quick Enchillada Trick

We really like to eat enchilladas, I make several different kinds. Last week I wasn't feeling well and my sweet hubby was nice enough to do the grocery shopping. I put whole wheat tortillas on the shopping list, but not what size. He came home with the giant wrap sized ones. I was planning enchilladas so I didn't quite know what to do with those huge things. I decided I would just make them anyway and realized what a time saver it was. I made the filling, rolled it up in 4 giant tortillas in a couple of minutes and that filled up my whole 9x13 pan. It was so fast that I thought it was a tip worth sharing. To serve I just cut the tortillas to size with my spatula and served them.

First Maternity Session

I got to do my first maternity photo session yesterday. It was way fun, I loved it! I can't really describe how much I am enjoying capturing life through a lense lately. I have also purchased an official domain for my photo blog. I still have a way to go with it, but at least it is something I can send people to when they ask me about it. Its just one more little check on my long list of things I want to do with it. Click HERE to check it out.

I want to be a first grader!

Dallin is loving school so much. Every day when I pick him up he says, "I had a GREAT day!" His little hands are totally covered with monkey bar calluses. He just loves being a big boy. This week he has had a very busy, fun after school schedule as well. Here is what he has been up to in addition to his school hours and therapy hours:

Monday: FHE
Tuesday: Running club after school, first soccer practice
Wednesday: Playdate with his best friend, Scouts with Dad
Thursday: Soccer Practice
Friday: All day field trip to the zoo, after school skating party(there is a rink next to his school so there are PTA sponsered parties once a month)
Saturday: Fairytale town all day with family

Wow, I wish I had a fun schedule like that!

On Sunday Dallin was really expressing himself about the Gospel. He even wrote a sweet little testimony:

"Jesus is baptised, the scriptures are special, Heavenly Father is special, I will get baptised."


On the back he drew Jesus on the cross on the right and Jesus ressurected on the left.

"Heaven"This is a giant blueprint page. The earth is in the middle with an ocean and specifice states and countries like Oregon, China, Argentina, and the darker spot on the bottom is California. The circles around the earth are the meteors that killed the dinosaurs. Then there is the sun and clouds are on the left. To the right of the sun is a planet with "other kids". Above everything is Heaven with Heavenly Father and Jesus.

Welcome Home

When the doorbell rings at 4:30 all the kids come running, but yesterday they were all outside in the back except Carter so he got Peter all to himself. He came running right into his daddy's arms.

Big kiss for you Daddy,


and more love for you


It's good to be home.