My “Biggest Loser” Moment

(absolutely, not necessary to read if you are only looking for kid updates or the funny antics of the boys)

A sweeter moment in mothering.

I should preface this by saying that this post probably never would have made it to the blog if Josh were awake. Normally, this is the kind of thing I would talk to him about, but he has headed to bed for the night, and the thoughts are all there, so I just couldn’t help myself.

Last night, Josh took Will skiing again, Josie went to bed at 7:00 and Isaac fell asleep on the couch at 6:30. That left a lot of down time for me. Did it have to be down time? No. Was there plenty that I could have been doing? Yes, but I didn’t. I wrapped up in a blanket and settled in for a very unproductive night of television watching. I happened to catch parts of the “Biggest Loser”. Normally, this is not a show that I’m thrilled to watch in a pregnant state, because it always makes me want to exercise, and by exercise I don’t just mean a brisk walk on the treadmill, but I watched anyway. Without going into too much detail, there are many parent/child teams this season, and this week there was a good chance that one of these parent’s children was going to be sent home if they didn’t lose enough weight. It is natural to think that a parent would do whatever it takes to ensure that their child gets the best, but I was struck by what I saw. Of the 4 parent/child teams, 3 of the parents chose to purposely gain weight that week so that their children would definitely lose more than them and be safe, but one father did something much more noble. I believe if I heard rumors correctly these guys might actually be Mormon, but that is neither here nor there. Instead of “sacrificing” himself, Moses, the father woke his daughter up at 5:00am every morning so that they could get an extra work out in before the day began for everyone else. He pushed her as hard as he could, and by doing so ended up saving her because she lost a lot of weight that week. He lost weight too. Neither went home. That is a real parent. There was a tough situation ahead of them, and they both fought through it, and got exactly what they deserved. The others were handed their places, and are none the better for it. Holy smokes! why the long synopsis of the biggest loser?!

I’ve been feeling like that lazy parent lately. The winter wears long, I’m watching my stomach grow, and thinking, “I just did this!” and just generally feeling blah. I watched the show last night and was impressed, and then while at the gym tonight I was reading from the March Ensign. I would post the link, but it isn’t on LDS.org yet. In it there is an article by Sister Beck. The whole thing is awesome, but there is one paragraph that jumped off the page.

“Live in your home so that you’re brilliant in the basics, so that you’re intentional about your roles and responsibilities in the family. Think in terms of precision not perfection. If you have your goals and you are precise in how you go about them in your homes, youth will learn from you. They will learn that you pray, study the scriptures together, have family home evening, make a priority of mealtimes, and speak respectfully of your marriage partner. Then from your example the rising generation will gain great hope.”

Precision. Why wouldn’t I need to be precise? Was the Plan of Salvation perfect and precise in it’s plan and execution. Absolutely. Is it naïve to think that Satan isn’t exacting a precise plan in destroying families and inflicting pain and suffering wherever he can? Most definitely. Why is my plan not precise? Why am I not dilligent and careful as I prepare to bring another spirit into this world? I need to be. What kind of parent is going to make the greatest difference in their child’s life, one who easily sacrifices for them, but teaches them nothing, or one who works hard, side by side as difficult situations come?

I am only speaking for myself here, but I know that whether I spend the day feeling blah and lazy, being more irritable with my kids, and getting less done, or if I’m precise in my mothering, and homemaking, and am fully engaged in the teaching and happiness of my kids, that I’m equally tired when my head hits the pillow. It is not as if lazy days make me feel better. That is never the case. I sink deeper into the blahs as the guilt is piled on top for all that I didn’t do. Tomorrow I’m looking for precision in my home. Not perfection…have you met us?! Not really a possible aspiration at this stage of the game, but precision is goal worthy. Wish me luck.

Lately

Lunch with Josh at MCW. Isaac was thrilled to meet him up there, and if you notice the Jimmy John’s wrappers I was thrilled too!

I’m not really great at just writing about what goes on around here day to day. But, I thought that I would do a little post to write what has been going on lately. Yesterday was Sunday. Like every Sunday we go to church. My boys love going to church. OOh Wee, do they love it! A conversation that I had with Isaac while getting ready for church last Sunday went like this:

Isaac: I hate church!

Me: no, you don’t

Isaac: Why do we even have to go to church?!

Me: because Jesus wants us to and it makes Him happy

Isaac: I don’t think Jesus even likes church!

Me: What? Of course he does.

Isaac: Well, I’ve never seen Him there!

That’s pretty typical. I should mention that when we are at church and after Sacrament Meeting, they actually like church quite a lot. That sitting quiet for a full hour is painful for them.

Lately, people have been wondering how far along I am. The answer to this is, far enough along to not feel sick anymore. I actually feel great. Not far enough along to really be showing, but definitely far enough along to look fat. And, I’m far enough along to be wishing by the end of the day that my pants were not of the button variety, but rather the elastic. Or in other words….16 weeks.

Lately, Josie is getting the hang of being a great night time baby again. The winter and teething season have been long. It seems like if she doesn’t have a stuffy nose, she is working on a tooth. Both of which make sleeping tough. For about a week now, she has decided that she would also like a night without interruptions, and has just been a sleepy angel. Today I didn’t hear from her until 8:45.

Lately, I’ve been wishing that spring would get here quick. I’m anxious to get out. I want to be able to say that I got out of the house today and have it not be to the grocery store of the boy’s school. We are a walking, park going people, and it’s making us a little crazy to be stuck in the house.

Lately, I’ve become an XBOX goddess to my kids. We got all versions of Sonic the Hedgehog that were ever made for the Xbox, and my boys find it pretty surprising that I rock it! This is fun, since I am pretty much the lady that cooks for them and cleans, and puts them in time out. It’s nice to be idolized…now I know how Josh feels all the time.

Lately, we are doing the same things we always do, and feel so blessed to be doing so.

Love You Forever

 

Valentine’s Night.  Will’s got that crazy look in his eyes!

My boy’s were very excited to realize that Valentine’s fell on a Monday this year.  They knew that would mean a pretty sweet family home evening.  A holiday and family night are two perfect reasons for decorations and a little party.

Homemade pizza is one of our favorite nights, and what makes a pizza taste even better? Make it in the shape of something! Just ask the boys.  The same holds true for pancakes, although, when I was making the heart shaped pancakes that morning and decided to add pink food coloring that might have been too much.  Food that is the wrong color has a much different effect on the brain than food in a different shape.  You expect every bite to taste like strawberry pancake, and then by golly! Nope.  Regular pancake.

Our Valentine service bags.  Instead of giving traditional Valentine’s, we wrote a service we would do for everyone and then put it in their sack-- that way we showed our family we loved them and we showed Jesus we love Him too.

Everyone Should Know

Family knows. The whole Muskego Lakes Ward knows—thanks to daddy announcing it over the pulpit. It is high time that the blog knows.

But…

She doesn’t know yet, and when she finds out it won’t be pretty. So, shhh!

Do not be fooled by her sweet exterior, I am sure that a jealous monster lies inside, planning to make it’s debut around the beginning of August give or take a few. Until then, we’ll go on letting her bask in her sweet baby glory…before she watches her childhood slip away with my arrival.

Skiing

It’s too bad Josh isn’t writing this post, because he would certainly know more details than me, but I’ll do my best to document something I was not there for. As a disclaimer, if anything is untrue, exaggerated, or completely made up, I find myself exempt from any consequences, since I was not there to verify the day’s happenings.

Let’s start with the facts.

1) On Saturday, Josh did pack Will in the car to make the one mile journey to Crystal Ridge Ski Hill. Josh just returned from a ski vacation to Utah where he skied at some world renowned resorts. I am not sure how this man made hill compares to such places, but I suppose a hill is a hill when you are just learning.

2) Will loved Skiing. Apparently, he took to it quickly, and his official ranking of the activity is that he gives it “one thousand thumbs up”.

3) At lunch time I took Isaac up to the hill. It was his turn to give it a shot. I suspected he might be less eager than Will, but left him in the capable care of his daddy. After only two runs Isaac asked to take a break. My suspicion was it had something to do with the pizza, nachos and chicken fingers that he could smell wafting from the Lodge. Upon our arrival, he said, “Ooh! There is something that sure smells good to my tummy.” As if I needed further proof that I really do know these kids, while resting after their two grueling runs, Isaac cleverly hinted to Josh that a great break might be taken inside with all that food.

After only a short time, Isaac was done.

Will was not.

Josh, who is an incredible dad to spend his whole Saturday doing this, took Will back up for some night skiing. Will was devastated at the idea of returning the rental skis and boots. He is a boy in love--In love with skiing. Josh is also in love with skiing. I better become in love with starving, because now that they both love skiing, we may find our grocery budget shrinking and our skiing budget expanding.

Thanks for a great day on the slopes, daddy! ah hem, excuse me…slope. It is just one hill.

Blizzard…Get Away

 

 

Last Tuesday night into Wednesday morning we had a “blizzard”.  That’s a lot different than getting snow.  We got 18 inches of snow, or at least that’s what the news said, but I don’t know how they possibly know that based on the wind and the drifting.  It was pretty wild.  Luckily, we didn’t have to dig out of this (one of perk of our ridiculous association fee), so instead of a headache, we just got a really awesome chance to make a sweet tunnel system through the 5 foot drifts at the front of the house.  Ok, ok,  “we” is not exactly accurate.  Josh and the boys are completely responsible for this fun.  Josie and I were tucked warmly inside watching through the window.  Josh is such a good dad to do this stuff.  The boys are sure lucky.  Josh is pretty lucky too, because I know that these things are just as fun for him as they are for the boys.  That is a gift—one I was not given.

What do you do when you get buried in snow?

Escape to a huge indoor water park of course!

Thank you Chula Vista for another wonderful stay!  So fun.  When we ask the boys where they want to serve their missions one day, Will says California (he wants to be by the ocean) and Isaac says, “The Wisconsin Dells!”  It’s just that fun.  We met Tyler and AnnaMarie there.   It was great to see them.  We miss hanging out with you guys.  The best part is the boys were big enough that we could just let them loose.  They were so well behaved and Josie did great.  If we were made of money we’d do this a lot more.

Part of the package that we signed up for included 4 games of bowling.  On our way out of town we stopped and bowled.  Icing on the cake after a great two days.

9 Month Check up

 

Our Josie is a little over 9 months.  I took her to that doctor’s appointment that I can’t figure out why we have it.  No shots given.  Just a check to see they are still growing—I guess.  I mentioned at her 6 month check up that she was taller than usual for our genetic make up, but I knew she would soon feel pressure from the rest of us average to short people to get in line, and she has.  She is still 27 inches long, but now weighs 17 lbs 9 oz.  2lbs heavier, but no taller… that’s more like it.  She is wonderful.  Her personality is emerging.  A lot.  Is personality the nice way of saying she doesn’t mind letting her crazy show every now and then?  Maybe.  Usually, she is absolutely a dream.  We love our sweet Jo.

Isaac

 

Yesterday morning, Isaac, Josie and I headed to the craft store to pick up a couple of things.  The craft story is always risky business with busy boys who are gigantic and can’t be contained in a cart.  There is too much to touch and too much to break.  I asked Isaac to please stay right with me, and to be a good listener.  He was great at first, but things deteriorated, and by the time I was checking out he was long gone.  When we got back home, we had this conversation:

Me:  Isaac, I was really proud of you when we first got to the craft store.  You were doing such a good job, but the longer we were there the naughtier you got.  I’m disappointed in you.

Isaac:  Well, you know what, mom?  When we first got to the craft store I really liked you, but the longer we were there, I liked you less and less.  Now I only like you a little bit.

Me:  Maybe we need a break from each other.

Isaac:  Maybe we do. (at which point he calmly walked to the basement door, opened it and headed down)

 

It doesn’t get more real than that.  Crazy kid.