Fast as a Monkey

Kaden was being a grump so I said to him, "Buddy, how come you are having such a hard time being happy today?" To which he replied "Mom... have you met my sister?"


For homework Kaden was suppose to draw our family tallest to shortest. He wanted to be outside playing with friends so he was drawing at super speed, and with little attention to detail or quality.  He was talking to himself as he drew and although I didn't hear everything I did hear these excerpts
"Hmm he looks like a monkey...that's ok"
"Oh.. I forgot her eye"
"Oh, I better fix her head... she looks like a pig"
"Should I give Phoebe four legs just on this side?... or four legs on both sides....then she would be a spider"

Less than 2 minutes from the time I handed him a blank paper he handed me back this....

I guess art won't be his forte.

I asked Taycee to grab me a couple things from upstairs, she retuned pretty quickly so I said "wow you are fast" She walked away and said to herself "I just did that fast as a monkey."

We were talking about a teacher at Taycee's preschool named Ms. Vickie. Kaden was listening in and said "Her name is Ms. Vickie?" I said "yes" and continued on with the conversation. Kaden then said under his breath "wow, she must be really big!" I stopped and asked him why he thought that and he said "well her name IS Ms. Biggie" ... apparently he misheard the name. 

This is an old one but I want to document it here for safe keeping.

For homework yesterday Kaden had to write down a story problem that used subtraction. This is what he wrote,"There were four babies crying. A bad guy came and taped two babies mouths shut. How many babies are still crying?" I am sure that will be a new one for his teacher.

Time To Grow

Growth is a fickle thing. I want to grow, I think everyone does. I want to become more than I am; a better person more capable of empathy and compassion. I want to be refined and polished. Yet when those times come and growth is upon me I resist. I fight and I struggle and I wish it away because growth, however needed and wanted it may be, is hard.

There have been several times in my life when I have felt the nudging of my Heavenly Father, the prodding and almost whispers saying "It's time to grow" Each time I have resisted, dragged my feet and shed a few tears. Each time I have come out the other side stronger and more capable to handle life's challenges. Each time it has been clear to me that Heavenly Father knows me better than I comprehend. He sends me what I need even when it is not what I want.

Last year growth came in accepting a pregnancy that was  unplanned and untimely. I worried and I stressed about the months that would follow. Graduation, moving, finding a job, moving again. I knew we were in for a tough year. I knew that we would be leaving home and family. I knew that my limits would be pushed. What I did not know is that the little spirit that was coming to join our home would be the thing that saved me. I imagined handling all of these changes with a newborn and could feel the exhaustion that was sure to come. What I couldn't imagine is the peace that she would bring, the solace that she would be to my worried heart. I thought about life with 4 kids and felt inadequate to meet the demands it would carry. I didn't know then that this 4th child I carried would bring SO. MUCH. JOY.

Growth came again a few short months later as Chris had to leave and I was left with 4 kids on my own. Those were long hard months. Many nights ended with tears on my pillow. My patience wore thin all too often and my kids missed their daddy and cried for him at night. But during those months of growth I gained a firm testimony of the importance of marriage. I  have always loved and admired my husband and appreciated all that he did as father. But during those months the truth of the divine design of marriage was engraven on my heart. Men and Women complete each other. They are two unique parts to one greater whole. One without the other will always be lacking no matter how hard they try. I also gained empathy and appreciation for those women who do it alone. Who, for one reason or another, are both mother and father to their sweet babies. They are hero's in their own right.

And now I find growth is upon me yet again. I have been prodded and nudged and the whispers have come "It's time to grow." I find myself living in a place I'd rather not be fiercely missing those I love. I have always been a firm believer that happiness is a choice. Yet lately that choice has eluded me. I came to Virginia with certain expectation and ideas and have found most of them to be unmet and untrue. My days require a lot, and there seems to be no reprise from the demands. I am surrounded by little people all of the time yet I feel lonely. Chris just accepted a new call to be the Young Men's president at church which requires more of his time and places new demands on our family. I am trying to start up a new little business which is requiring time and money that I am struggling to find. And so last week as I was in the car headed to my boutique that was failing epically and I received a text from a family member saying they had to cancel their visit this summer I couldn't hold back the tears. A flood of disappointments and stress ran down my cheeks as the last 6 months in Virginia came to a head. Growth is hard. Then I received a tender mercy, I had the Mormon Tabernacle Choir cd playing and they began to sing "I'll go where you want me to go." In that moment I was reminded that I am here because it is where he wanted me to go.  And He knows, He knows about the demands, and the callings, and the loneliness, and the stress. He knows that my heart is aching to sit in my mom's kitchen and watch my kids play with their cousins. He knows that my pillow is more often wet than dry. He's helping me to grow, growth is hard but it has purpose. Then as all of those thoughts were affirmed to my heart the choir began to sing "How Firm a Foundation" a song that has always spoke peace to me in trials.
  In ev’ry condition – in sickness, in health, in poverty’s vale or abounding wealth, at home or abroad, on the land or the sea  as thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be.  Fear not, I am with thee – be not dismayed.  For I am thy God and will give thee aid.  I will strengthen thee, help thee and cause thee to stand.Upheld by my righteous omnipotent hand. 

Growth is hard. I feel far from home, and my days demand much. But He gives succor, He is with me and He gives aid to strengthen and uphold until one day I will feel able to stand. I am growing, I am being refined. I am being taught lessons that I will draw on at future times when the prodding comes and I hear that whisper "It it is time to grow again." 

Good For a Laugh

While in downtown Richmond walking Carry Street Kaden stood right by a man who was smoking and said "I always wanted to try blowing smoke out of my mouth"

Later he walked up to a man holding out a cup asking for money and said "so are you poor?"

While in the car Chris said "grandpa is an old fart" and Taycee replied "the stinkiest fart I ever did smell!"

Kaden was being particularly flatulent one night and after a chorus of noises from his rear end I said "Kaden! My word!" and he said "What mom? I am just digesting!" He then went on to tell me how food is digested and can create stinky gas.

Yesterday Taycee asked me if she could sell all her toys to fly back and live with grandma. -- okay that wasn't so funny.

Addison never gets or gives a kiss without following it up with a "YUUUCK!"

For the past few months Kaden has insisted he wants to be a chef when he grows up. Yesterday he told me he changed his mind and wants to be a meteorologist. When I asked why he said "because when you are a chef you never get to eat until everyone else is done. I am hungry a lot and I don't think I could do that." Sound reasoning my son.

The kids both filled out a sheet at school about me. It made me laugh.

 Apparently I over stress the importance of vegetables. 

This sweet note also came home with Kaden

 Dear Mom, I love what you cook. You are special because you take care of me. When you hug me I get filled with joy. Love -Kaden

A bee landed on my head while I was doing Taycee's hair. I called Chris in to get rid of it. This is what the bathroom looked like when he was done. 

I should have let the bee live. 

Nine and Ten

Oh my sweet sweet Brie,

       Words will never to justice to the peace you bring into our home. Four kids is hard yet you somehow calm my nerves in a way that nothing else can. I live for the moments I can scoop you up out of your crib and nuzzle my nose into your neck.  

At nine months you were scooting everywhere. You have little blisters on your right toe and ball of your foot because that is your "pushing" foot. You can get everywhere you want to go and I usually end up dragging you away from the puppy food. 

 You like to say "uh oh" and you say it quite often. You jabber a lot especially while we are driving in the car.

You are happy 95% of the time. When I took you in for your last checkup the doctor informed me that you are cutting all four top teeth at the same time. Never would have known. 

 You love your sisters so much. Taycee you light up when you see them coming and watch their every move. That love is mutual.

 At 10 months you are getting up on your hands and knees and rocking back and forth but you have yet to actually crawl. You LOVE to eat. You eat everything and always want more. Cheerios aren't your favorite but they will appease  you if there is nothing else to munch on. 

 You seriously dislike standing. You won't put your feet down and hold your legs straight out so that your bum is the first thing to touch the ground. If there is something you really really want, you stand just long enough to grab it and then sit back down. 

 You think the phone is a funny thing and when I put it up to your ear while someone is talking you giggle. You love to bang on the ipad and make the pictures move around. You really dislike being left in a room alone and always want to be right where the action is. You love to be on my hip, it is probably your favorite place to be and I think my posture has permanently changed so that my right hip is always slightly jutted out.

But above all, you make me happy. 

At 10 months you are

22 lbs  - 75%

31.5 inches 99%

Head 18 in.  75%

No surprise really... actually with all the food you consume I am surprised you weren't off the charts.

~10 never forgets~

1. When you drink your bottle your legs are always up in the air. When you use to nurse you usually propped them up on my chin.

2. You love your toes and examine them quite often.

3. If I am eating and not sharing with you you get quite offended and let me know it.

4. You think sneezing is hilarious and laugh each time someone does.

5. When I am changing your diaper you always turn your head back as far as you can to grab the powder or lotion on your changing table and then you happily babble and play with the bottle while I finish changing you.

6. Your shirt is always a little grey on the front from the constant dragging across the floor.

7. The way everyone stops whatever it is they are doing to tell me how beautiful you are.

8. The sweet way your little voice says "uh oh" over and over

9. The peace that fills my soul when I scoop you up in my arms. 

10. They way your blanket must be nuzzled right up against your nose before you will close your eyes and sleep. 

Love you more and most baby girl. 

Don't Get Mad, Get Angry

Every Easter Chris chooses a project for his Easter Eggs. In the past he has created such things as a pineapple and Abraham Lincoln. This year, with the encouragement from Ben he took on a whole flock. And so the Angry Bird project commenced.

It wasn't easy. Between Ben, Kelsey Chris and I we managed to complete the ensemble in about an hour and a half. The black one was especially tricky, and after trying die, pen and marker we finally resorted to fingernail polish. But before the night ended we had a flock of angry birds plus one pig on our table .

The next day the kids and I made these Easter tombs

 Chris and Cass hid the eggs outside for the hunt. Unfortunately Phoebe also snuck outside with them and had a little egg hunt of her own. She found Red before we found her.

so so sorry Mr. Red

Alas all the eggs eventually met their demise and we had a yummy plate of Avocado Lime Deviled Eggs

You can find the recipe here http://farmflavor.com/avocado-lime-deviled-eggs/

Tickle Bumps

We purchased Busch Garden season passes for the family this year. The second Saturday it was open we loaded up the car with excited kids a cooler full of food and a double stroller. We hit a few setbacks on the way and arrived at the park about 2 hours behind schedule, and then waited an extra hour in line to validate our passes. By the time we made it into the park Chris and I were already reaching our theme park limit. But the kids were excited beyond measure, and ready to have some fun. Kaden is my roller coaster boy. He loves them....after they are over. While he is on them he isn't so sure. The first ride I went on with him he was so excited in line then we got in the car and headed up the first hill and he grabbed my hand and said "Can I just close my eye's and think happy thoughts?" When the ride is over however he always says how cool it was and really not scary at all.

Taycee on the other hand is not afraid to admit that it is all terrifying. She is quite content riding the kiddie rides with Addison. Kaden didn't mind the kiddie rides either and even kept his eyes open. 

Brielle was an ANGEL the entire time and just chilled in the stroller the whole day.

After we had been on quite a few rides Taycee decided she wanted to try a roller coaster with Dad and Kaden. We had never been to Busch Gardens so we had no idea what each ride was like. We found the closest coaster that met her height requirement and they got in line. It was a LONG line and they waited for over a half hour. I wandered with the girls and Chris called when they were close so I could get a picture after the big hill. I waited with camera in hand and caught this shot as they came to the base of the big drop....

Let's zoom in on that shall we?....

They HATED it! Apparently it went into a pitch black tunnel where it stopped for a few seconds and then the floor dropped out under them and they fell before shooting out and around a few loops. Probably not the best choice for the first roller coaster ride. Oops. 

We hit a few rides after that and then called it a day. Taycee and Kaden both swore off roller coaster rides for the rest of their life. Kaden has since changes his tune and is begging to go back so he can ride the big purple coaster. Taycee is firm in her oath. 

We did go back another day (Just the older two and I) but we did do any coasters we just hit a few non threatening rides. Kaden made instant best friends with the kid standing behind us in line. His name was Jack and he paled around with Kaden for the next few rides. He was quite an articulate child and I was laughing at all he had to say. Kaden loves everyone and thought he was just the greatest. He introduced him as "his best friend" to someone else in line and Jack said "Um, well, I believe it requires a bit more than this to be best friends" Kaden shrugged it off. Everyone is that child' best friend. 

I'm counting on a fun summer filled with lots of loops, swings and tickle bumps! 

EASTER

He lives, He lives who once was dead. He lives my ever-living Head. 

Oh how grateful I am that He lives. 

Our Easter was a beautiful sunny day, and though it was sprinkled with eggs, chocolate and a hunt it was focused on Him. The One who died so that we might live and The One who lives to help us return.

I am grateful for second chances, new beginnings and everlasting life.

Happy Easter.