Summer Fun

Well summer has officially started, maybe not calendar wise but the boys are now home for the next two months. I'm excited to have them home, they grow so fast that I'm looking forward to our time together. This is their second week home and it's been pretty wild, but what else does one expect with three very active boys? It's nice not to rush and make sure Buttercup has been fed and is content, while trying to get everyone dressed, fed, and ready to get to school on time. Believe it or not, even though school is only two minutes away, once Buttercup was born, we ran late often.

I've got things planned for them, we do some sort of art everyday and review the alphabet. Thing 1 and Thing 2 will actually be going to a summer camp for two days a week, just so they get out of the house. I'm not too thrilled about it, because once again, I will be rushing and this time school will be 20 minutes away, but I know that the boys need to get out of the house. Poor Thing 2 asks me every morning where we are going that day, but it is impossible to take all four kids somewhere everyday. I can be daring every once in a while and take all four of them on a quick trip to Target, or Vons,(especially if we are in desperate need of diapers and formula) or to get a treat at the cupcake shop, but anything more exciting than that i.e. the mall play place or park, is not happening without the help of daddy or a friend.

Gummy Bear is on the waitlist for his age group for summer camp, but I don't mind having him home with me for a little longer, this will be good, then I can attempt to work on potty training with him. He's afraid of the big toilet, he says he'll fall in (I highly doubt that) but there is a Lightning McQueen potty that he seems pretty interested in, so I may just have to pick it up for him :0) Today I actually picked up those cute denim looking diapers by Huggies, and he like them. He looks pretty studly in them, I may have to take him for a walk in those and see the reaction he gets from all the little girls in the neighborhood. Hopefully you know what I'm talking about if you've seen the commercial.

I've taken up a new hobby, bow making. I've been making bow hair clips for Lilly, and it's been so fun. I'm not that good at it yet, but this is the first time in my life that I've ever been able to envision something in my head and create it. I've got paintings in my mind, that'll never be, the same goes for movies, music videos, and novels. Who knows, maybe the book thing will happen someday, but not anytime soon.

The kids have been doing so good, here's a quick update:

Thing 1
Thing 1 has been growing so fast, he's about 2/3's my height. I think he may end up being super tall. He's always been very curious about things and is known for setting off alarms when we go out and for taking things apart to figure out how they work. The alarm thing hasn't happened in two years but, we've stopped him from pulling the fire alarm at church a few times. It's always been one of those slow motion, flying through the air moments and reaching his hand just in time, right as it was about to pull down on the lever. He's had a rough 24 hours and I'm not making this up; he's gotten his hand snipped by a mouse trap, almost touched the fire while I was warming a tortilla, getting into daddy's screws, and also getting into our art supplies, (I noticed teeth marks in one of the glue sticks LOL) But Thing 1 is so very sweet and he's a smart boy. His speech is improving and he is telling such funny stories and is always reminding us about the choices we make by telling us, "Jesus doesn't like that.", or if one of his brothers is making a bad choice, he'll say, "He's listening to the devil." Yeah, he got that one from me. My car got egged one day and he and Thing 2 kept asking why someone would do that and I said something like this, "People make bad choices because they aren't doing what Jesus has asked them to do, so they are listening to the devil whispering in their ears to make bad choices." So ever since then, that's what we hear when we make a bad choice.


Thing 2Thing 2 has the memory of an elephant. He remembers everything you say or do, so be careful not to tell him you will get him something or take him somewhere because he'll nag you until you follow through. He'll remember things from years ago, like trips to Disneyland or things that happened in a store. He's also very funny and a jokester. He'll hide things from people and play tricks on them. He likes to trick my cousin Patty when she is babysitting them. He is just a funny kid who wants to make people laugh. He is also crazy about Buttercup, he is always there to make her laugh and smile when I am making her a bottle. He is very gentle, I know I can trust him when he's near her. The other boys love her and are good to her, but I need to keep an eye on them.

Gummy BearGummy Bear is hilarious. He loves to laugh and be silly, he's still learning how to be reverent during family prayer and scripture reading, but he loves to say the prayer and will volunteer to do it everytime, but obviously doesn't always get chosen with two other boys. He is learning his shapes, colors and counting very quickly, thanks to his big brothers. He speaking very clearly and will return with Thing 1 and Thing 2 to preschool in August, this will be his first preschool experience.

Buttercup
Buttercup has aquired quite an array of nicknames already.  Charming thinks I'm crazy with giving her all these nicknames, but she's just a sweet cutie pie. She is growing so fast and loves to be around all of us, she is always smiling and happy. The only time she really cries is when she's hungry and fighting sleep, this little girl will kick and wiggle and cry as she fights sleep. When this happens, I'll sing to her "Don't want to miss a thing" by Aerosmith. I love this little girl, having Buttercup has taught me so much about myself and how I need to be a better person. I've always been humbled by my boys and have always sought to show them the proper example of a woman, a mother. But now that is increased by a million just by being a woman and having a little girl that will look to me as an example.

I love my kids and am so grateful to be there mama. I love Charming, he's a great daddy and he's my best friend. Our life is crazy and hectic at the moment with the kids and all the changes in Charming's business, but life is good and we are all healthy and happy and that's all I could ask for.

I'm going to deactivate my FB at the end of this week, I'm just waiting for a couple of orders to come in from a few of the WAHM's on FB and then I'll deactivate it for the summer while the boys are home, I just need less distractions and want to be more focused on my kiddos.

Changes

I remember telling Charming in the beginning of this year that 2011 was going to be a difficult year, he asked why I would say that. I said that because this would be a year full of changes; we anticipated the birth of Lilly and we were moving out of our home office into a new commercial building, and we were both going to be super busy with the elements of our roles, me as the mother and homemaker and he as the bread winner, business owner, and father.

It's only mid May, but so far, I have been correct about 2011 be a difficult year. We've already lost two friends, each loss being unforeseen and heartbreaking, but with both losses there seems to be arising miracles and blessings.

Buttercup is now almost three months old, and I have been busier than ever. Don't get me wrong, I love my calling as a stay at home mother, but I can be stretched thin at times and I wonder if each child is getting a fair amount of my attention. I don't think people truly understand how busy I can be. I am a mother of four kids all born within four years of each other. I love it, but like I said, I am super busy.

Having Buttercup makes me miss my mother even more. She passed away before any of the kids were born, but I think that having a girl and me now having that mother daughter relationship, really emphasizes what's missing in my life. I really miss my mother, and this past Mother's Day was one of the hardest I had in a long time.

Charming has been very busy too. Charming has been making changes to the business and the business is growing. We've hired some new people and each person is taking on a different role and responsibility, he is also making changes to how things are done. He's basically changing how things are done. Our business has outgrown our little in home office in our garage so we are moving that into a commercial building. It's a bittersweet thing for me. I'm going to miss having the comfort of knowing that I had friends and help in the next room, especially during emergencies like when Thing 2 needed his stitches (that story is in a few post below). Hopefully no one else will get that hurt again, but with three wild boys, who am I kidding.

Buttercup has added change to the home, of course I can't say that there is anything about that. She adds a new dynamic, a sense of meekness and sweetness. The boys just adore her and love her, they love to shower her with hugs and kisses and almost fight over who can make her smile or laugh first.

So when I said "difficult" I didn't mean in a horrible way, I just meant that this year would be difficult for us with all the new changes taking place, making Charming and I more busier in our own roles. I wonder what the rest of the year will bring, I hope it's good for all of us.

I've also changed the URL and title of this blog, so for those who have been following, now you know. I also promise to be more up to date with this blog, I know I say that with every post, but I mean it this time.

Lights, Camera, ...um wait a minute, how do I work this thing?

So Michael bought me an amazing camer for mommy's day. I love it but I have no idea what to do with it. I should take a class at the local college, but for now I'll have to read the users manual and ask all my super cool photography friends for their help.

I'm excited to pick up this new hobby and capture priceless moments of our family.

I love my husband, he's the best. How did I get so lucky?

To Blog, or not to blog? That is the question

I'm still trying to figure out what I want to use my blog for. Obviously, it's to keep family and friends updated on our lives and what new endeavors the kids are up to, but then there is the reflective side of me, the side that likes to share what I've learned about situations or other peoples experiences. Now here's the tough one, I'm a very personal person so I don't want to share too much, I mean isn't that what my journal is for? But if I'm keeping a journal, what's the purpose of a blog? I hardly have time for either one and if I've already written in my journal, do I want to write it again in the blog?

I LOVE to read other peoples blogs. But then I think how monotonous and boring my life is and if anyone would care to read my adventures, but then again, I can't really say that my life is boring, but I will remind you that it is definitely adventurous.

Like I said, I love reading other peoples blogs and what creative things they do with them, like designate a certain day of the week for a special update. I suppose I could do that, but as you can tell, I'm not very reliable on keeping this thing updated.

I guess I could just commit to be a better blogger and write whatever comes to mind, so here I go...

I'm still reflecting on our trip back east to see a lot of the church historical sites. Luckily, I already wrote about every spot we saw and every emotion felt in my journal (see what I mean about neglecting the blog), but the spirit of the trip is still alive. My testimony of the church is still burning, but the fire was rekindled and I feel a new commitment to be a better person; a better woman, wife, mother, and a better daughter of God.

The thing that strikes me is how Joseph and Emma Smith and the early saints just did what they knew to be right, it wasn't easy, but they knew it was right and it was God's will. The constant moving around and giving up of their possesions, the constant persecution. The loss of friends and family who didn't want anything to do with the church. The loss of loved ones. I am so grateful for all that they did, all that they sacrificed. If it wasn't for their testimonies and for their decision to follow the will of God, would we still have the church today?

Am I as strong? I often asked myself that question while visiting these sacred sites. Is my faith strong enough? Could I make those same decisions and sacrifices? It scares me to think that my answer maybe, "no", I'm that strong.

Which leads me to my next thought; the choices we make today, however small and insignificant they may seem, will have an effect on generations to come. When I think about it in that way, and see that what I do now will affect my posterity and others in the future, I know that I am strong, that I do have faith to be strong and endure persecution or whatever hardship awaits...at least I'm hoping I'm that strong.

In the moment, it doesn't seem like the difficult choice we are facing is really that big of a deal if we just give in or give up, and that it won't matter to anyone else, or affect anyone else. But it does. I know that choosing to do what's right, and choosing to follow God's will is the best choice. It may not make sense to anyone else and others may even think I'm crazy, heck they may never understand the reasoning behind my decision; but if I know in my heart that it is the right choice and that I'm following the Lord's will, as difficult as it may be, it's still the right choice. Choosing the right, wasn't meant to be easy. Making the right choice shouldn't be about pleasing others or worrying about what others may think of you, it's about peace of mind.

Since returning from the trip, I've had this itching desire to learn more about Emma Smith. What an amazing woman. I've purchased a few books on her and have begun reading one that is impossible to put down, but of course I put it down because I have my strippling warriors to tend to.

Speaking of my boys, oh how I love them. Tommy and Trenton have been in big boy undies all week, with few accidents. I don't even want to write about it, because once it's out there in the open, I just know that someone will start having accidents all the time, but this week has been pleasant. They went to preschool on Tuesday and Thursday and had no accidents at all, it was awesome. A friend of mine suggested that the boys get one M&M for peeing in the potty and two for pooping in the potty, it seems to be a great gesture so far.

It amazes me how fast they grow. I realize more everyday, how much time I have left to teach them to "choose the right" (ha-there is that phrase again) and to love Jesus and to be like him. To show them that Jesus is the ultimate role model, as well as other scriptural heroes. I'm so grateful for my calling in Primary, I love the kids I teach. First of all, they are so cute and so smart. I hope my boys will pick up on what we teach here at home and be just as smart. But I love re-learning the simpler things of the Gospel, the things that are so important, yet so basic, i.e. prayer, obedience, following the prophet, helping others, caring for others, reading the scriptures, going to church, etc.

Joseph is now in Nursery with his big brothers and he's done well so far. Having his brothers in there has been a huge help. Oh my babies are growing so fast.

I love Celine Dion. I've always been a fan but knowing her struggle with infertility has made me a bigger fan. I love the album, "A New Day", she reflects on the struggle and the joy of motherhood. Oh and her album--oh geez, I forget the title but the one with all the lullabies and songs about motherhood...I love that one as well. That was a random thought for ya.

Okay, so other things I've been up to is getting rid of junk, yup, I guess I'm a bit of a pack rat, but I've gotten better at trashing junk I just don't need and that's a huge plus.

I'm reading the Emma Smith book, but I'm also reading Nicholas Sparks' "Dear John". I love his books, he is my favorite romance author.

I keep thinking about "LOST" and how will it end, I can't believe that it's just about over.

Can you believe that ABC has canceled "FlashForward", what the flip? I'm not happy about that. I also heard "Heroes" is being canceled, not too bummed about that though, once I got confused I lost interest.

I've also been doing word finds. My mother did those a lot. I'm becoming more like her in that way. I miss her so much.

I really want to to the observatory, I looked it up online and it seems so interesting. I've taken a liking to the sky lately. I think it's because it's the one thing that we can all agree on, you know astronomy, there is no right or wrong like in politics. I love politics, but it's getting ugly lately. I just want to learn about something that isn't so disagreeable and can cause others to become unpleasant.

It seems as though a lot of people around me have a loved one who is sick or dying or has died, I've been seeing it all week long on FB status updates. I hope everyone is well. How we take our health for granted, well I know I do. I know I take having three healthy beautiful boys for granted as well. I love my hubby and sons, so much. They are the best blessing ever!!

I had to get a crown at the dentist last night, I was very out of it from the drugs. Apparently, I said some weird things on the way home. But I pretty much knocked out once home and was zonked. Michael gave the boys a bath in our room and they were jumping on me and falling on me and I didn't wake up. So here's the funny part, Tommy pooped in the tub and Trenton started freaking out (Trenton is our neat freak). Of course this had to happen to Michael who doesn't change poopy diapers, and it had to happen to him while I was out. I had to share this because it was too funny not to.

Okay, well I think this is it for now. Maybe it's been boring for you, but it's been quite the experience for me.

I am a Mother

I just finished reading a wonderful book titled, "I am a Mother" written by Jane Clayson Johnson.

I absolutely love this book and enjoyed reading it. It was one of those books I couldn't put down, and when I had to, I couldn't wait to pick it up again. Jane has a lot of positive reminders about how wonderful motherhood is and how women should be proud of our roles as mothers and not feel as what we are doing is not that important.

She goes through all the ups and downs of motherhood but how it's all worth the energy, time, and dedication we put into it.

Many have the misconception that stay at home mothers are lazy, uneducated, or not career driven. If any of you are stay at home mothers, you obviously know how far from the truth this is. I've learned that the only way any one can truly understand how busy and all encompassing being a stay at home mother is, is to actually be one...or watch someone's children so that mommy and daddy can get away for a weekend.

I've often responded to the question, "What do you do?" with the simple answer, "I'm just a stay at home mom." Because while I know what I am doing is THE most important job that can ever be done, I also know that the majority of people don't see it the same way. I'm sure my response gives the wrong impression to the person asking the question, that even I am either not proud of what I do, or that even I myself feel as though what I'm doing is unimportant, or maybe that I am in fact lazy and uneducated.

Mothers need to be proud of who we are and what we do, with the understanding that most people will disagree or clearly won't understand why being a mother is so important to us. We need to show that being a mother is important to us, and that we feel it is important not only to our children, but to our society.

I was also reminded while reading this book about my divine nature, the inner part of me that just come naturally, everything being a woman is; meek, gentle, loving, virtuous, kind, giving, strong, and of course beautiful.

I will definitely read this book again.