Zach woke up this morning with a terrible migraine, so I took the boys to church by myself. They are generally a handful in sacrament meeting and I was worried about managing all three of them without Zach. Things were going pretty well, although I wasn't able to listen much, until halfway through the final speaker. I can't even remember what set him off but Will started throwing a loud tantrum complete with hits, pinches, and yells. I told Joe to go out to the foyer and had to carry out Will. What about Max, you ask? The girl sitting next to me kindly accepted to keep an eye on him while I was gone.
I took Will outside to have him sit in time-out for his behavior. Of course he was upset about it and was very vocal about it. I'm sure the people in the foyer were distracted from the rest of the meeting. After the meeting we went and collected Max. Poor guy just laid on the floor after I left. He probably thought I had abandoned him. Will couldn't very well go to nursery after an outburst like that so I took him and Max home to put them both down for naps.
It took all of Gospel Doctrine, but once they were asleep I headed back to church (don't forget, Zach was home, but his migraine left him incapacitated). I made it for Relief Society where we had an excellent lesson about having a peaceful home. The Spirit taught me a lot that meeting and I was so grateful to be there. Then I started thinking of how it would have been different had Max and Will still been there. It's likely they would have run out of steam before Relief Society was over and I would have had to intervene. Even if that weren't the case, I would have been at least slightly preoccupied with thoughts of how they were doing.
Although Will's behavior was a far cry from perfect, I felt like it was a blessing in disguise. First, it was an opportunity for me to practice patience. Although I often enjoy those opportunities, I need them. Second, because I took the boys home I was able to fully participate in Relief Society.
On the surface it may not seem like it, but today was a good day.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Monday, July 1, 2013
The Birthday Boy
Joe is five! I cannot believe I will have a kid in kindergarten this fall. He will love it though. Every time we drive past a school Joe asks if it's his school.
Joe's birthday started with his favorite breakfast, crepes. He was so appreciative when I wished him "happy birthday" in the morning. I thought it was pretty cute. That evening we had over our new neighbors and some family to celebrate. Joe's big gift was a bike. We had also bought him some "Joe-Joe" cookies from Trader Joe's. I wasn't really thinking and we had him open the bike first. I thought it would be a little anti-climactic opening the cookies next, but Joe was just as excited for the cookies as the bike.
Joe is such a fun boy. He loves to make people laugh. It makes him so happy when someone thinks he's funny. Sometimes I have to remind him what appropriate humor is.
He likes to get as close to doing something against the rules as possible, without actually breaking the rule. For example, in our house "pee," and "poo," are potty words and are only allowed in appropriate conversations. So, instead he likes to say "diaper," and "toilet," as much as possible, because he knows those words are game, and they are pretty close to potty words. I used to tell him we only used potty words in the bathroom, but then anytime he would go in there to take a bath or for any other reason, that's all we would hear the entire time.
He likes to tell jokes. He learned one from Wreck It Ralph recently that he thinks is hilarious. It's a potty joke. Of course.
He is learning to read. We are using The Reading Lesson. We aren't very far into it, but it's fun to watch Joe learn, and sound things out.
Joe has a bit of a temper. Zach and I both had temper issues when we were young. Sometimes when he is having a bad day I think I am just getting what I deserve. And I apologize to my mother for ever being that way. Haha.
Joe loves to sing and listen to music. I will catch him singing "That's What Makes You Beautiful" often. He also loves Collective Soul. And he will make up his own songs. The other day he was singing one about the church being true and the first vision, that he had made up.
Although we limit screen time, Joe loves shows. He asks all the time if he can watch a show. We have always limited the amount he watches, but I'm trying even more now because I feel like he's a little obsessed.
He loves to be the big brother. This is good and bad. He is such a good helper so much of the time. Other times he bosses his Will around, or tried to enforce rules himself.
Is Will's best friend. I've overheard him tell Will several times,"remember Will, we're best friends." Will says the same to Joe now. So sweet.
Loves Max. He still clobbers him. Max is such a sport. Joe picks him up all the time. Carries him. Pulls on him. Sits on him. Usually it's to try to get Max to laugh.
Joe often cooks his own eggs and toast. The eggs with supervision, the toast without.
He wants to be a good boy, and make good choices. We had a family reunion recently and were having FHE all together. Jerry was teaching the kids about choices and consequences. Joe piped up that he was trying, but sometimes made mistakes. He was SO sincere, and it was just like Jerry and Joe were the only two in the room.
He is such a good boy, and we are so glad he is in our family.
Joe's birthday started with his favorite breakfast, crepes. He was so appreciative when I wished him "happy birthday" in the morning. I thought it was pretty cute. That evening we had over our new neighbors and some family to celebrate. Joe's big gift was a bike. We had also bought him some "Joe-Joe" cookies from Trader Joe's. I wasn't really thinking and we had him open the bike first. I thought it would be a little anti-climactic opening the cookies next, but Joe was just as excited for the cookies as the bike.
Joe is such a fun boy. He loves to make people laugh. It makes him so happy when someone thinks he's funny. Sometimes I have to remind him what appropriate humor is.
He likes to get as close to doing something against the rules as possible, without actually breaking the rule. For example, in our house "pee," and "poo," are potty words and are only allowed in appropriate conversations. So, instead he likes to say "diaper," and "toilet," as much as possible, because he knows those words are game, and they are pretty close to potty words. I used to tell him we only used potty words in the bathroom, but then anytime he would go in there to take a bath or for any other reason, that's all we would hear the entire time.
He likes to tell jokes. He learned one from Wreck It Ralph recently that he thinks is hilarious. It's a potty joke. Of course.
He is learning to read. We are using The Reading Lesson. We aren't very far into it, but it's fun to watch Joe learn, and sound things out.
Joe has a bit of a temper. Zach and I both had temper issues when we were young. Sometimes when he is having a bad day I think I am just getting what I deserve. And I apologize to my mother for ever being that way. Haha.
Joe loves to sing and listen to music. I will catch him singing "That's What Makes You Beautiful" often. He also loves Collective Soul. And he will make up his own songs. The other day he was singing one about the church being true and the first vision, that he had made up.
Although we limit screen time, Joe loves shows. He asks all the time if he can watch a show. We have always limited the amount he watches, but I'm trying even more now because I feel like he's a little obsessed.
He loves to be the big brother. This is good and bad. He is such a good helper so much of the time. Other times he bosses his Will around, or tried to enforce rules himself.
Is Will's best friend. I've overheard him tell Will several times,"remember Will, we're best friends." Will says the same to Joe now. So sweet.
Loves Max. He still clobbers him. Max is such a sport. Joe picks him up all the time. Carries him. Pulls on him. Sits on him. Usually it's to try to get Max to laugh.
Joe often cooks his own eggs and toast. The eggs with supervision, the toast without.
He wants to be a good boy, and make good choices. We had a family reunion recently and were having FHE all together. Jerry was teaching the kids about choices and consequences. Joe piped up that he was trying, but sometimes made mistakes. He was SO sincere, and it was just like Jerry and Joe were the only two in the room.
He is such a good boy, and we are so glad he is in our family.
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| On his birthday, with some of his favorite people |
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| We love our Joe Joe! |
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Max These Days
Oy, it's been a while since I've posted. So, a little about Max.
Still so happy. He gives the biggest grin, squints his eyes and tenses up his whole body sometimes when he is trying to be silly, or knows we are watching him.
Loves to be crazy with the boys. If they are being rambunctious, he tries to join in best he can. Usually he does this sort of scream thing.
Is moving like crazy. Runs all over the place. Because of this he's lost some of his baby chub. Makes me a little sad that he's not going to stay a baby!
Zach and I discovered him in the kitchen one night on a chair, trying to sip powdered sugar (from a closed bag) with a straw. Haha, so he's learned to climb on chairs, and the couch, and the ottoman...
Loves to be outside. He freaks out when I bring him in.
He loves Dallas (my parent's dog). The other day I looked out on the deck where I thought he was playing and I didn't see him! I went out and he had climbed in the doghouse and was cuddling up to Dallas.
Loves Grandma Jean. We goes upstairs and he goes right to her to be picked up and usually cuddles up on her shoulder, even when he isn't tired. So sweet.
Says a few words! "ba" for ball. "ba" for balloon. "ba" for bird. "ba" for pretty much anything that catches his interest. Haha. So maybe one word? He's trying, and that's good.
Likes to play chase and hide-and-seek.
This kids loves books. He could look at books almost all day. If he is grumpy usually all we have to do is sit down and read with him for a bit and he is all smiles again.
Has never had a haircut. I can't bear the thought of cutting off his darling curls.
When he's tired he likes to bite down on something soft, like his blankie, or my bathrobe.
Still so happy. He gives the biggest grin, squints his eyes and tenses up his whole body sometimes when he is trying to be silly, or knows we are watching him.
Loves to be crazy with the boys. If they are being rambunctious, he tries to join in best he can. Usually he does this sort of scream thing.
Is moving like crazy. Runs all over the place. Because of this he's lost some of his baby chub. Makes me a little sad that he's not going to stay a baby!
Zach and I discovered him in the kitchen one night on a chair, trying to sip powdered sugar (from a closed bag) with a straw. Haha, so he's learned to climb on chairs, and the couch, and the ottoman...
Loves to be outside. He freaks out when I bring him in.
He loves Dallas (my parent's dog). The other day I looked out on the deck where I thought he was playing and I didn't see him! I went out and he had climbed in the doghouse and was cuddling up to Dallas.
Loves Grandma Jean. We goes upstairs and he goes right to her to be picked up and usually cuddles up on her shoulder, even when he isn't tired. So sweet.
Says a few words! "ba" for ball. "ba" for balloon. "ba" for bird. "ba" for pretty much anything that catches his interest. Haha. So maybe one word? He's trying, and that's good.
Likes to play chase and hide-and-seek.
This kids loves books. He could look at books almost all day. If he is grumpy usually all we have to do is sit down and read with him for a bit and he is all smiles again.
Has never had a haircut. I can't bear the thought of cutting off his darling curls.
When he's tired he likes to bite down on something soft, like his blankie, or my bathrobe.
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| Max, biting on his blankie |
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Louie Edwin Edwards
A week ago, on April 3, my Grandpa Ed passed away. We have been fortunate to live with him and my Grandma for almost a year. About ten years ago my grandpa suffered from a stroke. After a stay in the hospital he went home. Since then, we always wondered how much longer Grandpa would hold out. I'm so grateful that he hung on all that time.
My boys have loved getting to know Grandpa. Joe and Grandpa played a game with this big feather. They would take turns hiding it from each other, and then play "keep away" with it. The boys would race next to Grandpa's seat at the bar and he would try and reach out and touch them. In the last year those were some of the times I saw Grandpa the happiest. He would remind me when the boys and I came upstairs, "He's a fine boy." He said that about all of my boys. It was a good reminder on those days when the boys were acting a little crazy.
One of the things Joe said when he found out Grandpa died was, "who's going to play with the feather with me now?" Joe's at a very curious age, so naturally he had a lot of questions. He wanted to see Grandpa's body, so we took him upstairs. He asked if he could walk, and we explained his body didn't work anymore and that his spirit was with Jesus. We were able to get a lot of teaching moments in with all of his questions.
The burial was especially neat because my Grandpa served in the military. First there was a three-volley salute. A rifle party shot three rounds into the air. Then one of the servicemen played Taps on the bugle. After the servicemen folded the flag they presented it to my Grandma and said "this flag is presented on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for your loved one's honorable and faithful service."
My boys have loved getting to know Grandpa. Joe and Grandpa played a game with this big feather. They would take turns hiding it from each other, and then play "keep away" with it. The boys would race next to Grandpa's seat at the bar and he would try and reach out and touch them. In the last year those were some of the times I saw Grandpa the happiest. He would remind me when the boys and I came upstairs, "He's a fine boy." He said that about all of my boys. It was a good reminder on those days when the boys were acting a little crazy.
One of the things Joe said when he found out Grandpa died was, "who's going to play with the feather with me now?" Joe's at a very curious age, so naturally he had a lot of questions. He wanted to see Grandpa's body, so we took him upstairs. He asked if he could walk, and we explained his body didn't work anymore and that his spirit was with Jesus. We were able to get a lot of teaching moments in with all of his questions.
The burial was especially neat because my Grandpa served in the military. First there was a three-volley salute. A rifle party shot three rounds into the air. Then one of the servicemen played Taps on the bugle. After the servicemen folded the flag they presented it to my Grandma and said "this flag is presented on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for your loved one's honorable and faithful service."
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| The rifle party |
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| Folding the flag |
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| The pallbearers |
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| My Grandma |
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
California!
We were so happy in freezing cold January to take a trip to California to see our good friends, Nikki and Spencer. The drive was long, but we made it. Thankfully, kids were all asleep when we got there. Will, woke up when we moved him a did his standard freak out. He insisted that he wanted to go home. I was getting a little worried but first thing in the morning he was thrilled to be there. The boys literally ran around in circles making a racket. They had so much fun with their buddies the whole time we were there.
We went to church Sunday and didn't even make it through sacrament meeting (which is first) before we had to head back to the house. Will loved playing outside. I was watching him from the couch while feeding Max when I noticed him pull his pants down and pee in the yard. He didn't bother pulling his pants back up before getting back to playtime.
We couldn't meet up without staying up way too late playing games. The boys had a movie night while we played round one. Joe and Will had never seen Despicable Me and they loved it.
After hanging out at with Nikki and Spencer at their house for a couple of days, we head to Southern California. We headed straight for Newport Beach and went to the pier. Afterward we were crazy enough to take the boys out to eat some seafood. I'm pretty sure some of the people there thought we were crazy.
We had so much fun! The boys are still talking about it.
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| Traveling is exhausting |
Nikki and Spencer showed us a few places in San Francisco. Not pictured are the two nude men we saw strolling down the street (legally). Be happy that wasn't documented.
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| Golden Gate Bridge |
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| Naked Bum Boy |
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| All cozy for the show |
After hanging out at with Nikki and Spencer at their house for a couple of days, we head to Southern California. We headed straight for Newport Beach and went to the pier. Afterward we were crazy enough to take the boys out to eat some seafood. I'm pretty sure some of the people there thought we were crazy.
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| Joe entertaining himself in the restaurant |
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| Max loves chillin with something hanging out of his mouth |
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| At the pier in Newport Beach |
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