Counting My Eggs Before They Hatched...

Well, what I am about to tell you is something exciting, but boy did I ever count my eggs before they hatched! I had an ultrasound today and found out we are expecting a little boy. I am excited, now my little man will have a play mate! My problem is I thought for sure I was going to have a little girl. Last week I found this adorable fabric to make matching dresses for my girls and a matching skirt for me for Easter next year. I can't even make a quilt for this tyke with the fabric. I don't want him to be mistaken for a girl...lol. So much for getting a head of myself. I am just glad I didn't buy those two cute dresses I saw on clearance the other day.

Finish to the Week

What a great finish to my weekdays this week! We went to parent teachers conference for your boy in middle school the other night. His teachers all talked about what a great kid he is! It is comforting when others recognize what a great kid you have. They talked about how they are seeing him grow and how when he gets off task, if reminded he returns well and quickly. We were able to see some of the art work he has done and he has quite the talent in that area! It is fun to see his masked excitement when he comes home during the week. He enjoys several of his teachers and I think that makes all the difference.

Yesterday was out preschoolers first field trip. They went to Apple Acres, an orchard just outside of town. It was fun to attend and see how she interacts with her peer group. Their conversations were so much different than that of the older children I have in and out of my home. It was fun to experience. Once there, the children were given a tour of the cleaning process and the machinery used to make cider and apple sauce. Later the were shown out to the orchard. Their teacher prepared them by telling them they were preschoolers, and not pickers, so please don't touch the apples. It turned out the owner was out picking in our area and helped each of the children pick their own apples. They then returned to the main building and were able and watch them go through the cleaning process, and finally enjoy the flavor of their surprise. Their teacher let them run through the orchard and see the different types of apple trees. The kids all seemed to have a great time. To prepare her class for this trip, their teacher has given them apple treats throughout the week. My preschoolers favorite treat was the home made apple cider...I need to get the recipe from her teacher...I have been being begged for it all week.

Last night some of our friends had us over for dinner. It was nice being able to just chat about life and enjoy their friendships. It was a reprieve from the day to day for me. The kids have 1 or more friends their age with these friends and it is a pleasant mix. It is a blessing to have all of the good friends I have, these included.

Today will be a little bit of this and a little bit of that when it comes to catching up around the house. Here a little and there a little. Spending some quality time with family and getting ready for the week to come. I hope you have a great weekend!

P.S. My littlest man just went potty on the big boy toilet for the first time! Yay! Now he knows it wont nibble his bum or something scary like that! Yes! Already I am seeing the light at the end of a tunnel...even if it is a long one.

Signs of Fall

I had to take a moment and share how I absolutely love this time of year! Yesterday while taking my preschooler to school I drove past where we have our farmers market. They have it each Wednesday eventing and Saturday morning From when the weather is warm enough, until it gets just a little too cool. Farmers come from surrounding areas bringing in their crops harvest and sharing it with the city folk. We see fruits, vegetables, jellies and jams, some crafts, and jerky.

Back to the point, it was fun seeing the farmers pull in with their truck loads of pumpkins and gourds yesterday, along with the late fall melons. The air is cooling and there is a crisp feeling, sometimes a nip in the air. If I were where I grew up the mountains would begin their color makeovers about this time of year and be in full array by next month. Each season has something to anticipate. My heart was lifted yesterday when I saw the first signs of fall. I hope you all have a pleasurable week!

Counting the Moments...

While wondering around one of my favorite think sights I saw this saying: "Don't count down the moments, rather make each moment count."

My mind began wondering on all of the things I have been counting down lately. There are too many things. I am ashamed to say that most of them are for my own selfish reasons. Things like Not being able to wait for this last little peanut to be born, then potty trained (I know let it come first...) I would like the diaper phase to be over. (Honestly I think I can say I won't miss this phase in particular.) I have thought to myself how nice it would be to have my own "space". Tons of things and so I won't take the time to mention them all.

Then I started thinking about the things I have been counting down. Do I want my children in my stewardship to feel like I don't want them around, or out of the way? No. I want them to feel loved, accepted and appreciated. The best way to do that is to do like the quote said and make the most of each moment. Children remember feelings. They remember some of the lessons taught, but mostly how they felt. Am I making their experience something they can look back on with fondness?

It comes back to spending time wisely. What am I doing to make the time enjoyable, not only for myself, but them also. It won't be all that far down the road that I will be wishing they were around more and feeling I have too much time and "space" to myself.

The chances of them coming around more in the future depend on how I make them feel now. If they feel welcomed, cherished and enjoyed, they will be willing to return to that more often than not. So, I need to stop counting the moments and making the moments count.

Parenting 101

I was watching an add today and touched deeply. The title is: "Parenting:the Hearts of Our Youth, found on www.youtube.com" Now I need to act on it.

The add was on being a parent and how important our roll is. It is important that we are there for our children. By being there we need to put things aside and treat our children the way we would one of our colleagues or friends our age. Turn away from the television, the computer, a book we are reading or what ever may be distracting us from our children. Take the time to listen to them. By listening to them converse with them and let them know we are hearing what they are saying.

I have a habit of listening per sei, but forgetting what they are saying or not hearing what they are saying. It is quite often to easy for me to be engrossed with what ever I am doing to tune them out. Sometimes I find myself putting them off for a lesser activity. That cold come back to me one day, then how would I like that? Most likely not.

Another point that was made in the add was how important it is for us as parents to participate in their children's lives. When taking them to school turn off the radio and listen to their concerns, their dreams, and taking moments to share our thoughts and teach them. I found this interesting for myself because Sometimes the things I listen too aren't necessarily bad, but they are distracting me from the more important moment.

My children are only going to be little once. My step-children are only going to be here for a bit and then they will grow up and do their own thing.So the best time for me to develop a relationship with them would be right now. I think of all of these great things I can do for my family, scrap-booking, sewing, photography, so many good things that will be appreciated in the future right?

But really there are other things that will be even more appreciated today. A ready ear to listen, time out to play a family game, do a family activity, or a walk were we can ponder the days events with out the distractions of life.

If I wait until tomarrow I will have a lot of empty yesterdays. Today I will make the changes I need. Here goes.

This summer has been a crazy one! Either we have been on the road, or had people dropping in for extended periods of time. It has been great! I love when family stops through! Some of them I have not seen in years, and it is great getting re-acquainted.

Grandma, an Aunt, and two Cousins stopped in. It is exciting to hear how people are growing Where life's paths have and are taking them. It is especially fun to see each generations perspective in life and how just the day to day is affecting each of us. Many things have not changed, yet we are all grwing in our own little ways. Big ways too! Each of us are having different life lessons taught to us and when we discuss these lessons it seems to help others grow a well.

My Brother had been able to stop in and it was great! He had not seen one of the cousins since he was 11, we will admit we are now in our thirties. My brother is a great guy and it is great hearing others acknowledge this. He looks a little rough on the exterior, if he wasn't my brother I might not have taken the time to know that really he is just a big caring teddy bear. What a luck sister I am.

I am looking forward to seeing more of the family from both my husbands and my side in the next couple of weeks. My Hubby is a bit older than I so his family is through with the drama mostly, I enjoy talking about philosophy with them and hearing about the lessons they are learning and yet discovering. With my own family it is always fun to reminisce about the good ole days and share the lessons we are learning.

A Glimps with Purpous

Today I was running some errands. My precious little man always wants to go. "I go wiff you mom?" or dad, or to his big brothers, whomever may be heading to the door with keys in hand. It melts our hearts. So I invited him and big sister. Among my errands was a stop at a friends home. My husband and I had a hot date lined up for this weekend with them which we were going to need to change. I was dreading stopping and having to tell them for fear it may not work out for whatever reason.

My dear friend met me on the porch with some sad news. As she shared with me, my two little ones were running circles and jumping off the porch. They were laughing and giggling. She invited us in and they continued their little circus. They showed how they have learned to turn somersaults, jump high, and jump far. My little man explained how everyone is "taw!"(tall) and showed how his vocabulary is continuing to grow.

We had a pleasant visit. I enjoyed our visit, it turns out that next weekend will be just as great! My two little ones helped lift two lowly hearts. That is the purpose of little ones. To keep us young at heart, and help us lift or lighten some of the sad moments we have to experience. They are blessings, of that I am quite sure.

I Wanna Kiw You....What?

My little man tells his father tonight:"Da, I wanna kiw you.?

"what? You want to Key me?"

"No. I wanna kiw you."

"Show me what you want"

"K, way on na fwooe"

"Like this?" Kneeling down to give a horsey ride.

"No da. na fwoo."

"Like this?" my husband asks as he lies down on his stomach?

"No da! Na fwooe!"

My husband roles over on his back, "Like this?"

"Yes! Den I do dis" he runs and jumps on his daddys belly and my hubby says "Your killing me! Your killing me!"

to which my son replies "Dat wight da, I do again!"

So if my little man asks to kill you you know understand what is expected of you. My husband and I were laughing! And still we are laughing!

For those of you who have not heard the news, I am expecting my third, the eighth in our clan. I am already (I hate to admit) looking at things and excited that they will be gone and over with the next year and on.

I have been watching the two younger one's as of late and they are already growing so fast. It blows me away! It is fun to watch each step in the discovery aspect of life, whether it be language, book knowledge, social skills, or just the day to day things life presents. I see myself growing sometimes and wonder why I have not yet learned some of the lessons I seem to be taught again and again. There seems to be degrees by which to learn some of life's lessons.

The different seasons of life and lessons that come with those seasons seem to cease to surprise me. My little man is becoming quite verbal and expressive. He has left us all giggling at one time or another these recent days. My Little lady loves to collect things. Everything to be exact. Be it rocks, leaves, or the tags from her clothes she feels a great need to keep it all. I need to help her become organized in her collecting and maybe focused on one or two things instead of everything.

So much to do and so little time. Actually I am going trough this spot in time where I am having difficulty being organized myself. It is over whelming. Where to begin? What are my priorities? What do I want accomplished. Dang. I look at things as a whole and think: "Must simplify. Must get rid of" then I begin to look at things individually and think "Must hold on. May need in the future." *Sigh* There are things that are replaceable. There are also things that seem necessary, yet it has been quite a while since I have used it...and I hate to admit I may have forgot about it and already replaced it. Is this the "American cycle" I need to leave it. I am on my way out.

Honesty

A conversation over heard just now between my 2 yr old and 12 yr old:

"Ugh! What is that smell?" asked with disgust by the 12 yr old.

"Dat me!" responds the two yr old quite too proudly after filling his diaper.

I have had a lot on my mind as of late. This year I am learning some good lessons. I have learned I can't please everyone. Some people don't want you to please them, they are looking for reasons to dis-like you for what ever reason the conjure up. I am becoming Okay with that. I am not here to please everyone, mainly my Heavenly Father, Husband, and myself. If I can help others along the way that is great, but not necessary. I am feeling more comfortable with that than I have been in the past.

Also in these lessons I have come to this conclusion: I am blessed, I am. I have a husband who loves and adores me despite my short comings. He is my very best friend. He has the most reliable advice for someone I can talk to in person. I have a Heavenly Father that not only loves me, but is patient with me as I learn these lessons and do my best in finding a happy medium when I swing from right to left. He too is a reliable source on which I can rely. He truely wants my happiness, even if gaining that happiness feels painful at times.

Through these lessons I am learning to respect myself and not let others walk all over me. I don't have time to feel sorry for myself. My children need a mother whose focus is on them, not herself. I am finding there are many "gifts" I don't have to accept. I do better with out them. I am still learning to gracefully decline these gifts, it will come with time. Some "gifts" aren't intended to be warm fuzzies. I am learning to recognize the difference.

As long as I respect myself and others I am doing Okay. It helps to remind myself that they are children of God as well, and He loves them as He does me. I do have to say in the 'moment of things' I do forget this sometimes. Again, thanks to an older brother who has made it possible to repent.

Over all, I am thankful for the gospel in my life. With out it, I think I have been given many reasons to have become a bitter, acidic person. I am not perfect, but I am happy with my life and the friends that come and go, and the ones that stay. I am blessed.

My minds eye...

Well we are well into the summer! Enjoying zucchini from the garden, a tomato at a time, and fresh green beans. My husband makes the best fried rice this time of year with products from our garden. I am one lucky lady! The boys have been keeping up the yard and enjoying each other. I am enjoying a visit from my mom. Yesterday I took the two little ones to a petting farm. For the most part they enjoyed it. The park has two Shetland ponies, a mule, pot-belly pig, a couple kids, a calf, chickens, a ferret, a hamster, and a few other miscellaneous animals. The youngest pony grabbed one of the baby goats on the hip and carried it around while it cried for help. I don't think this scared my daughter badly, but my son would have nothing to do with it after words. I am grateful to the good friends I have out here who are there for me for big and small things. I am looking forward to seeing our young man go to the temple for his first time. He is excited about the best of things this summer: going to the temple, spending time with family, having his big brother home for the fall. I look at the innocents of these kids and sometimes wish I could be there again. I don't want to relive anything, I am content with up-until-now, its just the joy found in little things. I think as an adult I get caught up in moments and forget to enjoy little things along the way. That is something I need to work on. Any way, these are a few of my thoughts as of late.

Summer Fun

Well, here are some pics I promised last week of the middle boys play. They weren't downloaded in order, I am still trying to figure some of this computer stuff out.

The play was a hit! They did an episode from Law and Order. A college student has been murdered, the suspects are his edgy girlfriend, and a class mate. The students did a great job.

He said he had a great time...until they made him sing and dance to a girl song. Honestly what boy is going to admit enjoying something like that? The boy had a fun time doing sound effects and doing this with his friends. We enjoyed watching the developing talent at work. I have to say I have never seen anyone play dead better than our boy. He didn't crack, he took his role quite seriously.

I believe I can honestly say summer is in full swing here at our home in Nebraska! The sun is out daily. The humidity is laying itself on thick. The garden is producing. Mosquitoes are biting. It is all lovely if I do say so myself. Life is good.

Our Middle boy at home is taking acting classes this week. When first told about it, well, lets just say there was a bit of wailing and gnashing of teeth going on. Upon picking him up from his first practice yesterday I nearly had to drag him out. And guess what, all the way home I heard about how great this is going to be!

Today our middle boy got the desired part in his play. YES! He plays dead. Between scenes he will be helping with sound effects, and lighting. Sweet! How cool is that! No lines to memorize!

He and his friends will be preforming this Friday, I will try to remember my camera, so you can see the action. I am actually excited about this. For you see he and his older brothers will go out in the yard for hours and act out things they are writing in their books, or just have fun role playing war scenes of sorts. I think he will do great!

So there is a pinch of what this summer holds. I can hardly wait so see the results!

I hate to complain. But today was one of those days! The kids were at each others throats pretty much all day. It was off and on, but all day the same. Is it the weather? I guess I could make that the excuse. If I am looking for one.

The weather was beautiful, 88 degrees out side, tomorrow is supposed to be even warmer. There was a nice breeze to go with the heat so it really didn't feel quite so bad.

I dropped one of the children off at a friends and was able to visit, while the children ran off to play. It was a pleasant visit, out on the porch, enjoying the beautiful weather, and the laughter of children. That was the case until I hear my daughter railing on someone more than double her age. Where does she get this? Is it being tired? Ugh.

Another friend was telling me about these parenting classes. I might need to look into them. I have two strong willed little spirits who have been placed in my care, and many times I feel like I am beating my head against a brick wall.

The group I was told about is Love and Logic. This came from a guy who had the same perspective I had when it comes to child rearing. Don't get me wrong, I don't believe in spanking and beatings, but definitely consequences, time outs, what ever it takes. This friend has done a 160 and has the respect of his children and others. Not that he didn't before, just a new height. They know when he is joking and when he is serious. And he is taken seriously.

He doesn't make empty or unrealistic threats. In fact, he doesn't use threats.Instead he gives consequences to his children and others. The consequences seem natural and realistic according to each child's age and personality. Much like the way Heavenly Father deals with us, He lets the natural consequences take place, He doesn't shield us from them. How else would we learn? Oh, this is good, I am seeing how I really should look into taking those classes.

These were my thoughts today. There you go, pretty exciting eh?

A Moments Thought.

Another day, another dollar. I have a feeling my posts are going to be a bit more spaced out. With summer here life seems too be picking up rather than slowing down. What is up with that?

This past weekend was great, the older boys here at home have both moved forward with their callings towards manhood. I am quite proud of them both. It isn't everyday two brothers of different ages are able to advance as they have. The younger of the two was quite excited when he found out he would become a Deacon the same day his older brother became an Elder! Yes! What good young men have been placed in my stewardship at this time. What examples.

So we now have one preparing for a mission (the next 7-8 months will pass quickly) and another preparing to pick up where his older brother will be leaving. It is odd to be on the watching end of life. I enjoy it thoroughly though. These boys are turning into handsome young men.

My husband and I were talking the other day. When our 12 year old leaves for his mission, his sister will be entering young womens, and the younger brother will be terrorizing his teachers, surprising us with what he has learned along the way. I realize this is 7 years away, but I have been married for 5 years which have passed rather quickly.

In the barber shop where I once worked I had several gentlemen tell me "wait till you are my age, then you will see time fly, in fact you may wonder where it has gone." I am finding not even half their age that it is already going more quickly than I would like at times. I enjoy watching the children grow and experience the seasons of their lives. Like I said, it is just odd to be on the watching end.

Summer

Brothers enjoying the summer sun and time together.Enjoying the wonders of summer

He has these slides whipped! No fear what so ever!Life is a balancing act.

Here is one of my monkeys at the park.

I love this time of year! The children are growing and enjoying the great out doors. The garden is beginning to produce, and we are enjoying its fruits per-sei. Flowers are blooming. Life is happening. More time with family. The sun is out. What a great season to enjoy. It is a time to enjoy and appreciate all of God's wonders and beauties. I love this time of year.

Yes!!!

Guess what! Our middle boy graduated from High School today! It was exciting to watch him walk proudly up and receive his diploma. Job well done!

I am enjoying watching these children take their steps one at a time and experiencing each season of their lives. There are so many blessings to this season of my life. Life is good. It is full of good family, friends and blessings. I really can't ask for more right now.

Yay!!!

The eldest of my step-children will be done with school! I think she said she only has a couple more hours to complete! Am I excited? Lets just say...YES! (Only a little....jumping up and down!) Don't tell any one, I think I am not supposed to be too happy. So I'm not. I know her mother is looking down on her as proud as can be...bursting with the pride only a mother can feel. (We won't tell any one us step-mothers can feel the pride too.) Dang, that is double the pride going in one direction, can that happen? Duh, it already has!

Shigrins

This morning my little guy came up to me crying. While comforting him I noticed a "fresh" or should I say "ripe" odor. While I still holding him, I asked "Hey little man, are you stinky?"

He quickly replied:"No, daddy bum is tinky!"

Poor kid, his head just happens to be at the height that he would probably know better than any one else. The thing is, Dad is at work, so how would he know? Bet he can't wait to grow a couple feet taller!