What Happened Today

Everyone,

We all had one DRY night. Last night, I told Butterfly that she could get a book at the used book store today if she was dry last night. This morning, she was so put out and grumpy that she declared she did not want to get a new book. EVER. Never ever ever!

Okay then. No book today.

How much do you want to bet that she will remember it in a few days at the most inconvenient time and demand that we go get the promised book that second. And then there will be another fit because I won't be able to.

Good times in my house let me tell you!

On a totally unrelated note, I do feel rather accomplished today. I cleaned my living room and vacuumed with my new vacuum! (Yay for early Christmas presents) I did two loads of dishes. I went to a doctor's appointment with just my book for company. (Thanks Juice! That's an awkward appointment to take kids to.) I even went out and saw a movie with my friend Lolli! I haven't seen a movie in about 6 months, and then we only go to the kid movies. Although this movie may as well have been a kid's movie. It was okay, but not great.

And now, I'm exhausted. Time for an early bed!

Safire

Title Goes Here

Everyone,

I am at a loss of what to say today. It was our normal crazy run around day. My van has been in the shop for minor things and so I spent the morning helping Juice move the car seats from his car back to my van. It's exciting to move those things, let me tell you!

We had a great time at the PRC with friends. The kids did paper hand turkeys (so so cute!) and Butterfly was great in circle time. The teacher even told me it was nice to have her during circle time because she felt like she was reaching one kid and that made her feel good. Butterfly is such a cute girl.

They all had super long naps today (3 hours for the boys and a hour for Butterfly). I also took a nap. I hate being sick.

Butterfly helped me make dinner tonight. We made creps. They were okay. I ran out of regular flour so we had to use my whole wheat flour and they were very dense. But good. She ate a ton.

Tonight, we will see if Butterfly will keep her bed dry in just panties! Wish us luck!

Safire

Christmas is Coming!

Everyone,

I've had a rash of bad luck with the boys lately. Monday, while I was taking my shower, they decided that all of my clothes in my drawers needed to be pulled out. Six big drawers were emptied of everything. When I opened my bathroom door to see what they were doing (after the shower, I am blissfully unaware in the shower) they were rolling in the clothes and laughing. It took me an hour to resort, fold and put away all those clothes.

Tuesday they decided that they were going to turn on all the electronics in my room. My tiny TV that I use to do my exercise videos on, my cd player, etc. They actually got a cd out of the player and have lost it. I've looked everywhere for it in all the normal places; drawers, boxes, bathtub. This prompted me to put the electronics on a power strip out of their sight so if I want to use those things, I just have to flip the switch. Plus, it might also save us a tiny bit on our electricity bill.

This morning they found Butterfly's markers and drew all along the bottom of my bed. My bed is in a big wooden box so they just drew on the wood. I was able to wipe it all off (thank goodness for magic erasers) but still!

To make it even worse, I did try to lock them in our extra room while I was in the shower but they somehow managed to get that door open before I even got into the tub. And then they wouldn't go near it after that. It's like they remember or something.

All of this daily destruction has really got me thinking. Christmas is coming. Christmas = tree. Tree = disaster! My house is tiny. I can't put it in the main room and block it off. There's not enough room TO block it off. And with what would I block it off with?! The couches they climb over, the chairs they get on, they are even starting to scale the toy cube thing I have.

I have ornaments from when I was a baby. We add to our ornament collection every year. You can't replace some of these! I would be heartbroken if my old ones broke. Juice and I and my Mom (who was on the phone at the time for our weekly call) had a good time brainstorming some ideas.

- different rooms to put the gated tree in...not very practical
- not putting up the tree at all this year...sad!
- putting up the tree but putting no ornaments on it...feasible.
- hanging the ornaments/lights from the ceiling
- making a cardboard tree
- putting the tree in another room
- renting a house and putting the tree there so we could visit it daily
- cutting down a tree limb and putting it in a bucket in our living room like poor sad Charlie Brown's tree
- doing an outside tree this year and not hanging up our yearly ornaments...still kind of sad.
- having a table top tree to hang this year's ornaments on and putting it up out of the boys' reach, hmm...best one yet!

I think what we finally decided on was to get a tiny tree to hang this year's ornaments on, and set up our big tree with lights and tinsel and nothing else. Also, I intend to tie it down somewhere. Bolt it to the wall or something. I love our tree. I can't imagine not having it out since it's older than I am. This will be it's 30th year.

I think it might be nice NOT to have to retire the tree this year because of certain someones in our house.

The ornaments will not have changed since last year. They will be the same next year. They are just going to get a year off. I think I'll either get a tiny wire tree or a potted tree for this year's ornaments. I'll probably have to put it on top of the refrigerator to keep it away from curious fingers. At least, hopefully, this will let me keep my sanity!

Safire

Haze is Coming

Everyone,

Today started off as a good day. We had school with AJ and Lolli, I made gingerbread cookies (it's G week around here) and we read a bunch of stories. We had lunch and naps for everyone and then...it hit. A cold. For me. Ugh. I hate being sick. I also hate knowing that soon everyone will be sporting this cold and I will have to deal with it.

I hate runny noses.

I hate how bad my kids feel.

I hate knowing that only time will make them feel better.

I hate the lack of sleep for them and me.

I hate not being able to breathe.

I hate colds. Period.

And since I have one, I'm going to go up to bed early in hopes that I might get some sleep tonight. I'm not feeling that hopeful.

Safire

Today's Conversation

Everyone,

In the car on the way to dance class:

"Mama, I don't like it when you call me that name."

"Uhhh....what name honey?!" I could not figure out what she was talking about. This declaration came after about 2 minutes of silence in the car while she was eating a snack.

"I know I am one but I don't want you or Daddy to call me that anymore."

"What honey? What are we calling you that you don't like."

"I don't like to say it but I will," big dramatic sigh, "a person." She said it in that toddler whisper that's not a whisper but more of a breathy way of saying something.

"You don't want me to call you a person?"

"Yeah, I don't like it. I know I am one, but I don't like it. I don't, I don't! I just don't!"

"Okay okay honey. Don't get so worked up about it. I won't call you that if you don't want me too. What can I call you?"

"Um...honey. Butterfly. Bolt." I thought of Flower and how she had to deal with watching Bolt the movie over and over and over the month she was here. (Miss you Flower! Come back and watch Mulan over and over with us!)

"What about a young lady. Can I call you that?"

"Nope."

"What about a little girl. Can I call you that?"

"Yeah, that's okay. And when I'm me, you can call me a human. But when I'm Bolt you can't call me a human because Bolt is a dog."

"How about Young Sister Maryland (insertlastnamehere)? They called you that at church on Sunday."

"Nah, that's just my Sunday name. But today is not Sunday! It's dance day!"

"What about my sweetheart, can I call you that?"

She got a very pleased smile on her face. "Yeah, that's the best name."

She really is the sweetest girl.

Safire

Super Star!

Everyone,

Today was Butterfly's talk in church.  She did so good!  She got nervous right before and started crying.  A few minutes out in the hall, a promise of an ice cream sandwich at home, and she walked right up there like a champ.  I think she was expecting to say her talk right away.  When she didn't, she kind of broke down again on stage.  Poor thing.  Stage fright is real!  But she calmed down, was able to sing with all the other kids and then did her talk.  Because I've had several people ask me, I'll write it down here.

My Daddy fixes things that break.  Sometimes he uses glue to stick two things together.  After he uses the glue, things stay together.  Going to the temple is like glue for familes.  This temple glue helps keep our families together forever.  The Bible says, "Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven (Matthew 16:19).  Being bound means sticking together like glue.  When my parents were married in the temple, they were stuck together by being sealed.  That special sealing means that my brothers and I are sealed to them too.  I am so glad I am sealed to my family.

While the take itself is very basic and easy (she's 4, it had to be!) her inflection was so good.  The primary president told me that she was the crowning jewel in their program and she seriously was.  She had it all memorized and only needed help with the bible verse.  She was clear, easy to understand, and had cute little ups and downs in her voice that really caught everyone's attention.  Seriously, everyone was quiet through her talk.  (Except for the boys...they could care less!  They were only mad that Juice left to go help her and wanted to go up there too!)

Everyone told her she did such a good job and talked about it in the other classes.  We had a visiting leader of our church there and she mentioned how wonderful her talk was and how special the little children are.  And they are.  Of course, it's hard to remember that when she's throwing a tantrum on the way home because she didn't want to go to church in the first place, but still.  She is wonderful.

Since she turned 4 and a half the other day, I thought I'd do a small update on her.  Like last year, it's in letter form.

Dear Butterfly,

You are changing so fast!  I love it and hate it at the same time.  I love that you are becoming a great little kid.  I love that you can climb all over the playground equipment at the park and I never worry about you.  I love that you recognize our street, Vinny's house, and a few other places by sight.  I love that you tell me that I have to go the speed limit in the car "Because it's good for you!"  But I hate leaving that baby behind.  Oh you still ask to be rocked in the rocking chair sometimes and you still are a great crier for every little tiny bump.  I just remember the first time you really smiled and I was so thrilled to see your deep dimples.  I'm so glad they have stayed since they will remind me of that moment every day.

You are so interested in friends these days.  Today at church, you sat in the hall with a friend from church who had an old cell phone to play with.  You sat next to him on the couch as close as you could, and laid your head on his shoulder to get a better look.  The two of you were giggling up a storm.  You turned and looked at me and told me he was your friend.  I'm so glad you have friends and that you want to have friends!

Your imagination has not slowed down.  In fact, I think it's picked up speed.  A few weeks ago, I showed you how I used to make a horse out of my hand to play with.  I remember riding in the car with the window down and my hand out pretending I had a pegasus on my hand.  I see you playing with the hand horse now whenever you are bored.  You play by yourself great but still can't stand to play with your brothers sometimes.  I think it's because they want to be independent right now.

I can't wait for you to start school.  I think you are going to have a ball being with friends all day and learning all sorts of cool stuff.  I'm sad that it is all day kindergarten here and that you will be away from me for 6 whole hours every day.  But I'm excited for you to do it!  You've loved being able to do your "homework" for our little preschool and are starting to get the concept of math.  You are doing great in your dance class and your teacher tells me you are always good to have around.

You love your daddy so so much that sometimes I feel a little left out of your secret circle.  But when I was gone for a few nights last month, you were very happy to see me.  You told me, "I had no one to talk to but Daddy, and he doesn't talk that much."  At least I know that you do love me for somethings!  You like your brothers sometimes but ask me several times a day if it's time for their naps.  It's hard to share all the time with them, I know.  They don't play how you want them to and tend to knock things over that you have made.  But be patient with them and you guys will be great friends in the future I hope.

Today in church, you gave your first talk in scarament meeting, in front of everyone!  I am so proud of you for doing that.  What a brave girl you are.  You even had your talk memorized and wowed everyone.  You looked so sure of yourself up on that stage.  I hope you always remember who you are.  You are a child of God, loved and adored by your family, and have a bright future ahead of you.  You can do anything you want and you will do great at it.

Thanks for being such a great daughter.  I love you tons.

Your Mommy 

Juice's Contributions to the Blog

Everyone,

With writing every day, I've been asking Juice what I should write about. Here are his suggestions:

Rain. This was yesterday's suggestion. It had been raining off and on for 3 days here. It rains a lot here. The grass is still very green and the leaves are soaked. No crunching leaves for us lately! It also means that the leaves will be wet for days. Butterfly slipped and fell in the mud because of all the rain. The rain also brings free scoops of ice cream at our favorite place. We didn't get any this time around but I'm not worried. I'm sure it will rain again. Soon.

Shaun the Sheep. Has anyone seen this? It's hysterical. I won it off of a blog and we've been enjoying it at least once a week. I really like the little lamb with the pacifier. It reminds me of Professor. Too cute. I also get the theme song stuck in my head.

He refrains from saying anything else at the moment. I think I scared him off!

Safire