My First Climber

Neither of my first two kids were climbers. Emi on the other hand is a different story. I guess Emi is a mild climber being that I don't find her on the counter or on top of the refrigerator as I have heard other mothers as relate their climber children stories. I did have to chuckle a bit as I walked into our front room the other day and found Emi crawling along the top of the back of the couch. Don't you think she looks quite please with herself? I couldn't figure out how she actually got up there, because she wasn't quite tall enough to pull herself up onto the couch by herself yet. Well, this question was answered later this same day, because I caught her climbing onto the crocheted chair to the right of the couch and then onto the top of the couch. She is a tricky one. I have known for a while now, and this just verifies it, that this little girl is going to give me a run for my money.

We've grown

We were so excited today to have a new family move into our ward. Even more exciting is that they have four children!!! Two of their girls are Primary age, and we couldn't be more thrilled. They also have two other children who are not quite in Primary yet. Due to the fact that today was our Primary program we all 11 out of the 12 expected primary children at church today. With the two new girls, we had FOURTEEN children in Primary. We actually had to make a third row for sharing time. This is very exciting for our small ward. I love the children in our ward, and am so grateful I have the opportunity to serve them.

Beautiful Stormy Day

I know that most people would not think a night and day full of dark clouds, thunder and rain would be their idea of a beautiful day, but here in West Texas it is something we don't see too much of these days. So when it happens, we think it is beautiful. Since we had a rare day of no plans, I thought we'd enjoy a lazy Saturday morning with homemade blueberry muffins. This is the 3rd time I have tried this recipe, and I believe I have perfected it. They are the most fabulous blueberry muffins I have ever had. I especially like the way they look and smell just coming out of the oven. The best part is the wonderful crumbly top. Yuummmy!!

Yumminess!!

Sweet Anticipation :)

French Toast for the Boy Who Hates Bread

This morning Takara had school, and wanting to send her off with a half way decent breakfast, I made french toast. Brigham despises bread. Won't eat a sandwich in any way, shape, or form (and I've tried them all). Won't eat rolls or even the bread for the Sacrament. But, he LOVES french toast. It's funny how if you just disguise it with a little cinnamon, sugar, and nutmeg and he thinks it's great. Maybe it's the syrup he loves best of all. Well, I finished my stack of french toast and went to gather the troops for breakfast. As I left the kitchen to get the others, Brigham was entering the kitchen. He saw the french toast, and was so excited he started jumping up and down. I came back with the other kids, and I saw Brigham carrying a towering stack of french toast. As he was walking toward the table he kept saying, "Sanks, Mom. Sanks, Mom." I just love that kid :)

I Survived...Barely

Today was the dreaded......Stake Conference. I have always enjoyed Stake Conference, especially the Saturday evening session, which is an adult only session :). Even after having children we managed to make it through in one piece and with most of our hair in tact. Today was a different story. Let's just start off by saying that there were no seats available except on the stage. I have memories as a child thinking the stage was such a cool place to sit, but as an adult, the charm has definitely worn off. Of course, the conference was right in the middle of Emi's naptime, so Dev took her out to see if he could get her to sleep, which he usually can. I was left to fend for myself with Brigham and Takara. Normally I am able to handle this in a somewhat capable manner. I don't know if my children ate bowls full of sugar for breakfast or if someone fed them "don't listen to your mother pills", but I might as well have been talking to the wall as much as they listened to me. I couldn't get Takara to stop talking or singing, and I couldn't get Brigham to stay in a chair, on my lap, or even sitting on the floor for more than 3 seconds. What has happened to my parenting skills? I realized that I probably should have had slightly more realistic expectations, and probably should have stayed in the hall after the fourth or fifth time I had to take Brigham out, but I guess I am a glutton for pumishment. I have never felt so discouraged as a mother as I did walking out of that meeting. Alas, we made it through and after the hour drive home I was feeling a little better as I got my adorable sleeping children out of the car. I believe I have learned a few valuable lessons for our next Stake Conference. I will try again in six months, and hopefully my report will be a little more uplifting. :)

The Faith of a Little Child

Takara received a kitchen from Santa this past Christmas. Although she was terrified of Santa, she would quickly tell you that, "Santa is bringing me a kitchen for Christmas." It turned out that the highlight of the kitchen and Christmas was the phone that came with it. She calls it her "march away phone". Why? I don't know, but that is what she calls it. She took this phone everywhere, and that is probably why she can no longer find it. Everytime she sees a picture of it from our Christmas pictures she tells me, "Mom, we need to find my march away phone." Well this morning I had finished my exercising, and she had come downstairs with me. She even gave step aerobics a try once I was done. So cute! We were putting everything away and she tells me, "Mom, Jesus made my arms." I told her that's right, and asked her what else he made her. She tells me he made her belly button. Then she said, "Mom, Jesus will make me a new march away phone." I love the faith of a little child.

Swing Me, Daddy!

Takara absolutely loves the swings. So much in fact, that one day when I took her to the park she was in them so long she threw up. An important lesson was reaffirmed to me that day...Yes, you can have too much of a good thing.