Whew!

I didn't realize it had been so long since my last post. I have been up to my ears this week....


Tuesday: The usual- cleaning, tantrum control, cleaning, cooking, and oh yeah, Valentine preparations.....a trip to the store. That is where it all went wrong. Why did I think taking three kids to Wal-Mart would be OK? I left the store without anything for Randy, and no Valentines for the kids to take to school. When I added up how much it would cost, it was over $30. There was no way I was going to spend that much on paper that the kids would throw away as soon as they ripped the candy off it. When I was a kid, we were ecstatic to get a couple candy hearts in the envelope. Not the case with kids now days. If there isn't candy, they don't even look. Unless, of course, it is a toy of some sort. I decided to steal an idea I saw on someone else's blog ....it only cost $10 for all the kids' valentines! And they were lots of fun to make with their help.

Little felt fortune cookies with a friendship fortunes and candies inside...

After the kids got home, we did homework, and I took Hailey to tumbling (I kept Nathan home because of his cough..)


Wednesday: Aaahhh....Early day. Gotta love it. For those of you who don't understand what this is, I'll explain. Actually, I don't understand it either...but it is when the teachers decide they need a couple extra hours every Wednesday afternoon to prepare...as if getting off at 3:30 isn't time enough. I have decided, I would rather have the kids home from school altogether than have an early day. That way, at least we could avoid the morning rush.

Another trip to the store. This time to finish up a gift for Mindy...who had her darling baby!

Wednesday was Hannah's 'Parent's Day' at ballet. So cute! She is pretty good at it.



She even got to teach her dad how to leap....

I could use this picture for some serious blackmail, don't you think?

I visited my friend Mindy and her baby Peyton and tried to convince myself I really don't want another baby. Didn't work very well...don't worry though- I couldn't convince Randy that he did want one!


Thursday: Happy Heart Day! The kids made little sacks this year and we all exchanged Valentines.

My loot. Aren't I lucky?... I made Randy a giant heart-shaped cookie and some fortune cookies with little love-notes like I made the kids.

After a Primary Presidency meeting, I made an appearance at the school and snapped a few pictures for my scrapbooks and to spy on the sixth grade dance. I have vowed for the past seven years that my kids wouldn't go to this, but when I found out they would be dancing the Hokey Pokey and the Macarena, I relented.

When he got home, we decided to leave the kids and go out to dinner for Valentine's Day. :) This was the first time we have done that. I was a little nervous, but they did really well. I only called them once (Randy finally let me.) This could open up a whole new world for us. One that I'm afraid our budget can't handle. Randy was so sweet and gave me a gift certificate to the spa. I was feeling kinda cheap with my big cookie....

Friday: Catch up day. By this point, the house and laundry needed some attention and I stayed pretty busy. Tyler went to an art class and learned some Origami.

Saturday: It was my dad's birthday. We were busy with chores, soccer game, baptism, and more chores. No matter how hard we try, we can't avoid spending hours every day doing chores. I need a house like in Smart House where the floor absorbs anything dropped onto it.

Saturday night I got a call from my brother telling me my mom was in the hospital. :( She had been having heart problems all day. And they were having trouble stabilizing her. I had little information and my dad was unreachable in the hospital in town. Needles to say, we all said our prayers and I didn't sleep well. I was very anxious this morning as there was still no update. All I could think about were the things I wish I had done, but hadn't found the time. You know, mail the valentines from the kids, and update my blog (she reads it daily) Finally, around 10:00, the phone rang. It was my mom. I have never been so glad to hear her voice. She had finally stabilized and was discharged around midnight with some medication and instructions to see the cardiologist in the city this week. Please keep her in your prayers....

When I Grow Up

The other day as I was making lunch, Hannah told me that when she grew up, she only wanted to be a mom. I was touched by her comment and remembered last year when Hailey told me the same thing. I was complimenting Hailey on her grades and I told her if she kept it up, she'd be able to go to any college she wanted. And that she could be whatever she wanted to be. I remembered a comment she made about really liking 'doctor stuff'. I told her she could be a doctor or nurse. She replied that she only wanted to be a mom and nothing else. She told me she knew it would be lots of hard work, but that is all she wants to be. I have never been more proud!

So here we are, Hannah and I, talking about being a mom- when Nathan chimes in, "When I grow up, I want to be a mom and a monkey."

I explained, "Nathan, you can't be a mom- only girls are moms. You can be a dad."

He understood, "OK, when I grow up, I want to be a monkey dad!"

"It's a 'RIGHT NOW' Game!

With four kids in school in the afternoon, things are very different around here. Emma takes a nap and that leaves Nathan with no one to play with. He has never experienced that before. So last week, he decided he would change all that. I was busy with some things that needed wrapping up, and he came to me. "Mom!" he yelled, "Hurry, It's a 'right now' game!" How could I resist that?! I immediately dropped what I was doing and joined him in playing with his train set. We played for quite a while before I told him we needed to do some chores. He was happy to help me fold laundry for a while until he decided that was enough. Then it was time for another "right now game". I guess he figured that worked so well the first time, he'd stick with it. It reminded me of some poems from some needlepoints my mom did when I was little. I have always loved these...


"Cleaning and scrubbing can wiat 'til tomorrow
For babies grow up, we've learned to our sorrow
So quiet down cobwebs, and dust go to sleep
I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep!!"

"Baby is fretting, I can't find my shoe
Ironing piled high, there are dishes to do
I stand in the middle about to cry
WHEN... we sit on the floor and play 'rock-a-bye'"

"I hope my children look back on today,
And see a mother who had time to play
There will be years for cleaning and cooking
For children grow up when we're not looking"

So now, whenever he wants me to stop what I am doing, he proclaims, "It's a 'right now' game!" He is right though. Because someday soon, I won't be playing trains with him.

What a Weekend

Saturday I went to a baby shower for a friend I haven't seen since high school. She is an ER doctor now. So is her husband. Instead of playing "silly shower games" (which I happen to really enjoy) we went around the room telling about ourselves. Four out of the six introductions before me were nurses. Another employed at the university. Then it came to me. It has never bothered me that I didn't finish college. I had my kids instead. And I wouldn't trade it for anything. But at that moment, I felt a little out of place. So this was my introduction...."I'm Christie, I do not work in the ER, but I visit there often. I have six kids." I then proceeded to ask the doctor for a punch pass...visit 10 times, get the next one free....too bad, it was a good idea. I had a great time at the shower visiting and listening to everyone give the expectant mother little tidbits of advice. As she opened the gifts of tiny outfits and baby necessities, I couldn't help but get a little sentimental.

After the shower was the Relief Society broadcast. I wasn't sure if I even wanted to go at first. The weather gave me a migraine and I almost didn't go. As always, I am sure glad I did. It was a very good session as it was filled with confirmations that what I am doing is the most important thing I can do. I especially liked Sister Thompson's talk about families. Even though she has never married or had kids, like Sheri Dew, she has a unique perspective on the subject. Thinking of all this, I am reminded of a quote by UCLA's basketball coach, John Wooden. "You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give." My friends have great jobs and do a lot of good for people. I am very grateful for good doctors, nurses, and teachers to name a few. But my role as 'mom' is the best job there is. Even though at times I may feel overwhelmed or under qualified, I know there is nothing more important I could be doing.

Sunday was our ward's primary program. It was fabulous! Every one of them sang their heart out, and they each had a speaking part. They did a great job! Hailey had a long poem to quote, and Tyler sang and recited his part in the microphone (that is HUGE for him!) Hannah knew all the songs and Casey behaved very well for being the oldest kid in the primary (at this point, he thinks it is so childish) I was so proud of each of them. Nathan can't wait to be on stage next year!