A Bit From Christmas

 

A week late, but a few pictures after the craziness of Christmas morning.  We had a great day.  The boys couldn’t have been more pleased.  In Isaac’s letter to Santa, he only asked for one thing, so he was delighted to see Santa brought bonus presents.  We didn’t do a lot of Santa talk this year.  It was nice.  I’ve found you don’t have to say much in order for them to grab hold of that deal, but we were able to spend a lot more time teaching the boys of the Christmas story and more valuable meanings of Christmas.  I think that our teaching sunk in, at least with Isaac.  We were headed over to our friend’s house for Christmas dinner, and I was telling the boys that their kids probably got new toys for Christmas, and they may not feel like sharing them yet, and that it was ok.  Isaac’s response to this was, “Don’t worry, mom.  Then I will teach the true meaning of Christmas which is about giving and sharing.”  Clever.

No Christmas season would be complete without some lingering respiratory infections, of which, we all have.  I’m going on 5 weeks.  The boys, two (hence, the glassy eyes in their picture).  Josie, one, and poor Josh is just coming down with round two of his after a hard fought two month battle with a cough.  Tis the season.   

7 Months

 

At 7 months Miss Jo is growing fast.  I have no idea how big she is, but she is a scooting machine.  Last week I went to get her from her nap and she was proudly standing in her crib.  She now pulls up on everything!  Unfortunately, she has the judgment of a 7 month old and thinks standing under coffee tables and kitchen chairs are perfect spots.  Its just a matter of time before were at that age where it seems like they always have a bruise on their forehead.  Thank goodness for over-sized head bands and bows!  We love you, Josie-pie!

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire!

My sister and I talk on the phone every day.  Her kids are pretty much perfect, and mine are pretty much wild, but there was one thing that we could always feel superior about in our parenting skills.  Our kids had never used the walls as coloring books.  Well, another point to her, because apparently, my kids do.

I noticed this big mark on my wall along with a few others, and immediately began questioning the kids.  Will was at school, but Isaac swore upside down, and inside out, that Will was responsible for the graffiti.  I was skeptical at best.  He insisted it wasn’t him, until I rounded the corner and found this…

What do you think?

Cute

 

Kentucky

We went to Kentucky over Halloween weekend.  My oldest sister lives there, and we got to go stay with her for a few days.  It was a lot of fun, and nice to get away.  Ask me how nice it was to come home.  Go ahead.  I dare you.

Like  a big dummy, I forgot my camera, so I don’t have Halloween pictures and pictures of my family at the Louisville Temple.  I did, however, find it necessary to take this picture so when my kids are older and whine to me about how we never went anywhere or did anything, I’ll show them this, and maybe they’ll understand why.  If that doesn’t work, I’ll be sure to set aside time where Josh and I can join them on one of their family vacations in the future so we can sit in the back and fight with everyone, and spill snacks all over, and ask a bajillion times if we are there yet.  Love you kids!

My living room after unloading the car.  I left the house clean.

6 Months…Check It!

 

Josie is 6 months (and a few days) now.  She had her check up this week.  She is 15lb 4 oz and 27 inches long.  40% weight, and 75% height?  Weird, I know.  We aren’t the 75% height type of people, but Josie is helping us branch out.  Step outside of our comfort zone, so to speak.  I suspect she’ll soon feel the peer pressure of her family, and fall back in line with 50% or lower.  We’ll get you!

Other things about sweet Josie…she is so fun.  She is such a friendly baby.  She is quick to smile at everyone, and for the most part is pretty mild.  October was kind of a rough month for her.  She got a yucky head cold, and then started teething soon after.  My super star sleeper, has reminded me that she is in fact a young baby and not a sleepy teenager.    Her mouth pain does wake her in the night, but I don’t mind.  Cutting teeth is tough business.  She rolls all over.  She can scoot and pull herself along, and is threatening to crawl.  Slow down, Josie.  Not too fast, please.

Post(s)

There are three new posts below.  Be sure to scroll through all of them.  I was too lazy to make each one elaborate, but didn’t want to have them hanging over me anymore.

Walk Around the Lagoon

The month of October has been exceptionally beautiful.  Hardly and rain, and lots of sunny, warm days.  On Sunday, we headed out for a walk around the lagoon near Veteran’s Park in Milwaukee.  It was beautiful.

They drug those big, tree limbs with them the whole time.  Sorry to the other people out for a walk that may have had a brush with a weeping willow branch.

Sundae Store

This was a very successful FHE we did this week.  It is not my idea originally, so I can’t take the credit for it.

Ever since my boys have become friends with little boy a few doors down, Sunday’s have been a fight.  Every Sunday morning begins with me waking up the boys, and then them lamenting Sunday’s and saying, “Sunday?!  I hate Sunday!”  They know this means going to church and being reverent for 3 hours, and then no playing with friends.  So, introduce Sally Sunday, owner of the Sundae Store.

The point is to set up a sundae store where the kids can come in and order their sundae’s.  I had two groups of toppings.  One group that was appropriate for a sundae and the others that are also toppings, but not for ice cream.  i.e.:  ketchup, pepperoni, ranch dressing.  I chose all toppings that my boys like, and then began assembling their sundae’s while choosing from the second group.  On cue they would shriek, “Ketchup!  Not on a sundae!”  After we finished this and everyone had the sundae of their dreams we made a list of things that are not for Sunday’s and ones that are.  They loved it, and called me Sally Sunday all night.

For Two Hours…

For two hours every day, while the boys are tucked safely inside the elementary school, Josie and I get to do this.  Can you tell when my favorite time of the day is?

Mother Heart

I'm pretty sure when Sis. Beck was talking about developing a "mother heart" a while ago (I'd find the reference, but it's too early for that kind of thinking) that she meant to include that you will recognize that you have arrived, or are at least making some good ground when your child comes up to you with a panic stricken face and says, "I think I need some water..." and then the next thing you know a waterfall of stomach contents comes crashing down on your hands, legs, and feet (not to mention your brand new rug) and all you can think while your feet squish in the yuck is, "Oh, poor baby. I'm so sorry you don't feel well."
That is a mother heart! Am I right, ladies? :)

*I've been lucky to have had two opportunities to strengthen my mother heart this week. The above mentioned, and another having to do with a lot of bedding and a completely different child*

Update: Only Not Really

It's been a while since I've posted, and I'm not sure why the post famine, except life is busy. Much busier now that the boys are back in school. That may seem backward, but it's true. Isaac only goes half day and I have to take him, so we have the hour of frenzy getting Will out the door in the morning and on the bus. Clean house, clean mommy, then it's time to frantically get Isaac out the door. We load up, drop him off, and maybe run a couple of errands while they are both gone. It's amazing how fast 2 hours goes by. Then it's time to get them--and then that is when the day really gets nuts. I'm sure other moms can back me up on this. Those couple of hours after school when kids are whiny and tired and hungry, and dinner has to be made and homework complete are pretty much ridiculous. So, there it is, an update. That's what we've been doing. More to come, when life settles down.

Isaac and Jo on a beautiful late summer day

Josie has been working on a little sitting up action. Pretty good, cutie pie.

Healthy Eating

Ever since Will started school, he has been very cautious about eating healthy foods. Instead of chips with his sandwich he'll ask for carrot sticks and grapes. Isaac is completely opposite. All junk. All the time. He has no interest in healthy foods. If you ask him his favorite food, he proudly replies, "junk." As you can see in the pictures that follow, he was started early on this diet, and he has really clung to it.

Will often asks if something is healthy before he eats it, or which is the healthiest of two options. The other night they were eating pancakes for dinner, and I asked Will if he wanted syrup or sugar (don't scrunch your nose at the idea of sugar on pancakes, it is delicious). Will asked which is healthier. Toughy. Umm...well.... I started to say. But before I could answer Will piped in and said, "I'll have syrup. It comes from trees so maybe that makes it kind of like a vegetable." Boy is he going to be confused when he learns that sugar comes from plants, but that is neither here nor there. I laughed to myself and gave him syrup.

This morning after breakfast, while Isaac eagerly awaited the time to pass so that we could get to school, Isaac told me that now that he is in school he will only have syrup on his pancakes, so he too could be healthier. It's important to be healthy for learning. Only syrup.

Baby steps.

First Day

Isaac's first day of K-4
Will's First day of 1st Grade

I have made a new resolution with my approach to motherhood. I value Josh's work outside of the home. He does a ton. That really is an understatement. I know that he is working hard for us, and so I want to be sure that I'm doing everything I can to maximize my time while at my work place. My goal is that from the time the kids wake up in the morning until they are tucked into bed at night that I will be working for the betterment of my family. That means no blogging, or hulu watching, or checking emails until after they are all asleep at 8:30. Here it is, day one, of my new job, and I'm already making an exception. The thoughts for the blog are here now and probably will be gone at 8:30, so I thought I'd better jump on it.

That said, school started!! HOORAY! This summer was long. For all of us. The boys were ready for this day. I was such a proud mama as Will confidently lined up for school without me there with him, and told me to have a good day as he got out of the car. Isaac asked all morning if it was time to go to school yet. He got himself dressed and his shoes on without being asked. Brushed his teeth, and even asked me to comb his hair. Anyone, who is even a little familiar with Isaac knows this is not only rare, but has never happened before. Ever. This is the same kid who likes to be "the king of naked day" and not get dressed. (For anyone wondering if we have naked day at our house, the answer is absolutely not! This is Isaac's own thing and quite frankly, he is the only one who celebrates it, much to the rest of our dismay.)

Finger's crossed that they have a great first day.

I like dropping my kids off at school. Not just for what seems like the obvious reason of the few hours of quiet that follows, but because I like to see other parents dropping their kids off. It seems like you hear so many sad stories of abuse, and families breaking apart, so much so that it is a little deflating, but I like to go to school in the morning and see loving parents drop off their kids with a kiss and a hug, just trying to do the best that they can for their kids. I know that I don't know the circumstances in their homes, and I don't need or want to know, but what is obvious in that moment is that their kids are loved, and that makes me happy.

4 Months

Josie had her 4 month well check today. As I suspected--she is doing well.
She now weighs 13lb 8 oz
She is 24 1/4 inches.
3 more shots, but she is being tough. We love her to pieces!

Say it Ain't So

We got to this milestone way too soon. Josie had rice cereal for the first time today. She did great. The last four months went by too quickly. My Josie is a baby now, no longer an infant. I don't know that I like that much.

Melting

I'm pretty sure that every family has one of these. You know, a worrier. We have a worrier at our house. His name is William. If Will is watching TV or playing something that has his full attention, you can be standing right next to him, practically yelling to get his attention, and you likely won't get it, until you pull out the big guns. What might those be? Just mention the word fire alarm.
Now, before I go any further, I'd like to mention that I realize that this might in fact have lingering consequences that haunt him into adulthood, but it's the only way to get the kid to listen! I could tell him 10 times in a row, getting louder and louder each time that breakfast is ready, and not so much of a twitch to let me know it registered. But, if I happen to say, "Will, I'm close to the fire alarm" panic flashes across his face, and he quickly darts his attention my way. At this time I say, "Hey, your breakfast is ready." I know that it's cruel, but it works because Will is a worrier.
Living in Wisconsin, every summer there is the threat for "severe" weather. Will takes this seriously. He watches the news coverage intently to see that we are all informed. About a week ago, he was monitoring the atmospheric pressure and dew point readings for us as any six year old would, when they flashed a graphic on the screen of the country showing the hottest regions, and mentioned that the oppressive heat was headed our way. They weren't kidding!
Will tried to warn us several times that the "hotness" was coming, but like fools, we planned several outdoor activities anyway, much to his dismay.

First, a sizzler at Miller Park to watch the Brewers play the Diamond Backs. Will was quick to point out upon our arrival that the hotness was here.

You'll notice there are only pictures of the boys and Josh. Where are Josie and me? In the first aid station with nurse Mary. No worries, we are fine, but it was one of the only air conditioned rooms in the whole joint, and I'm pretty sure Josie would have turned into an adorable puddle of sweetness had I not sought cooler air.

Next, the ward picnic. No pictures. It was sufficiently buggy, hot, sticky and rainy. Nothing screams ward unity like being huddled together getting high off of each other's bug spray fumes, and feeling desperate to be sitting closest to the citronella candles. Muskego Lakes Pride!

Finally, on Saturday Josh took the boys out for a long bike ride. It was hot. Really hot, but that didn't stop them. Strangely, Josie and I also participated in this activity but from the comfort of the air conditioned vehicle. I strategically parked at stops along the route to serve as a pit stop and possible medic should things turn sour. They all did great.

Thankfully, we survived the "hotness". Today was beautiful. All is well...until Will let's us know that it isn't.

Forever Young

May 22, 2003

Huntington Beach, CA

Josh turned 30. August 8th to be exact. Thirty is a big birthday by most people's standards. Teen years are long gone. Glorious 20's....over. BUT, my Josh is smart. Really smart. He has figured out a way to stay (or at least seem) forever young. Curious?

The trick is to never, ever, ever stop going to school. It's nearly impossible to feel or seem old if when filling out paper work at the doctor's office you write "student" on the line for occupation. It's like we are in a perpetual state of in between. Not quite young and dumb, and not quite old and stuffy. So smart! With the track we're on now, he gets to claim this for the next 4 years! 34 never felt so young.

Josh's birthday happened to land on a Sunday this year. It began with early morning meetings, frenzied church service, and then meetings/interviews after church. For his present he went to the PGA tour at Whistling Straits, but that wasn't until Monday, so he didn't even have a gift to open. He did get a raspberry cream cake, his dinner pick of chicken fajitas, and an afternoon nap with Josie, but I can tell you that none of it is sufficient to really celebrate our Josh. Taking on the roll of student for years and years is no easy task, and his burden is great! Being married to me is no easy task, although I'm trying to make it easier :) Being daddy to 3 beautiful kids is a wonderful task, yet not easy either. Serving in the bishopric- no easy task, but he does it willingly. Taking care of himself physically and spiritually seems impossible when faced with the obstacle of having to create time to do it, but do it, he does.

After writing out all that he does, thank goodness for him that he has managed to stay forever young, because no average 30 year old could do it all! We love you, Josh.

Oh My Goodness!

A mini skirt has never made chub look so good!

SIX

I can't believe he is six. We have been parents for six years, and I still don't think we know what we are doing. I'm just thankful we've all survived. Since Will was born we have lived in 5 different places, attended 6 years of college at two different schools, and have added two more people to the mix. Josh and I joke that Will is only going to know the "poor student" version of us, and miss out on the "we're finally not too poor for that" version. There is a possibility that he could be graduating high school around the same time that Josh is finishing residency, so that means that Will's dad will have never had a "real" job until then. I have a feeling that he won't think less of him, since according to Will his dad is his favorite person ever.

This picture was taken at about 7:45am. Will had already been up for nearly two hours because he was SO excited for his birthday. Unfortunately, he didn't go to bed until very late, also because he was SO excited for his birthday.

Overtired + extreme anticipation= Moments of complete ridiculousness for mommy, and a raging head ache.

Will opening his new remote control monster truck. We are taking bets on how soon they will break that one. (I give it one week)

Happy Birthday, William boy!

A Hairy Situation

First:

Curly hair, and a lot of it.

Then:

A little at home barbering

Next:

Rock on!

Josie thinks she has a silly daddy.

Last:

All gone, until winter.

Moon Boots

Conversation that Isaac and I had while he was sitting at the dinner table eating spaghetti.

I: Mom?

Me: hmm

I: Mom?!

Me: huh?

I: Mom?! Say, 'what!"

(Isaac insists that you say "what" when he is talking to you, even if direct eye contact is being made, and you have given some other verbalization to acknowledge that you are listening.)

Me: what

I: Did William go to the moon?

Me: (puzzled) what?

I: (frustration escalating) DID. WILLIAM. GO. TO. THE. MOON?

Me: umm...no

I: Then why does he have boots to walk on it?

Me: (eyes wide, head shaking, and big dumb smile that won't leave my face)