I Will Not Complain

I will not complain.  I will not complain.  I will not complain.

Arrrrrgh!  I can't help myself-- Okay,  just a little. 

Holy sick kids, Batman!

We've got fevers, coughs, runny noses, crying, whining.  It seems to be passing from one person to the next.  And that full round takes just long enough that the first person catches it again. 

Kids are missing activities left and right.  I know we're not the only ones because a few of my piano students canceled their lesson this week due to sickness.  Primary was about half the normal size on Sunday with kids home sick.

When we're sick--the worst comes out for each of us:

Clark becomes "The Teaser" to everyone in the house.
Bethany becomes "The Shirker" to get out of any work.
Elinor becomes "The TV Queen"  Electronic mediaaaaa-- said in a Frankenstein Voice
Faith becomes "The Sneaky One" to get what she wants.
Cannon becomes "The Crier" crying for anything and everything.
George holds me hostage all day by demanding to be held.

And I?  I become "The Meanest Mother on the Planet".  Oh wait... that's my normal title.  I guess I become "The Meanest Person on the Planet.  Period".

Sigh. 

Spring is going to come right?  We will all be healthy again, right?  It will be safe to stir out of doors again, someday?

Here's the funny thing-- we've been relatively healthy for the last couple of winters.  I chalked it up to homeschooling and a limited exposure to lots of germs. 
 That, and we just eat SOOO healthy. 
Well, maybe not so much the healthy eating, but nonetheless, we've been quite healthy.  I don't know what we're doing differently this year, but yick!  Stay away. 

And that's the other thing.  With this many people, and obligations and commitments, it's just not feasible to cancel everything and hunker down. If each person takes a week to cycle through the sickness, then that is EIGHT weeks of family confinement!  We'd die from cabin fever alone-- right after we'd drive each other to insanity first. 

There it is.  I have made my complaint.   I shall now slumber. 

I Have a Secret Friend

As many you know, I do not like the month of February.  That is quite the blanket statement, and I suppose it isn't entirely true.  My Elinor was born in February and my sister's birthday is in February.  I like both of those events.  But on the whole, if I could choose to be put into a medically induced coma for the month of February, I'd probably agree to it. 
Okay, okay, that is still an overstatement, but it is the month my mom passed away and the month of Tessa's still birth.  So, it's not actually that far off. 

Someone out there knows how I feel about February and has sent me TWO very anonymous packages in the mail.  Today it was a package of Rocky Mountain Chocolate and a gift card for MORE Rocky Mountain Chocolate.  OH, YUM! 

I was thinking about cutting back on my chocolate intake, but I've reconsidered, at least until this box of chocolates is gone:)

Who is this mystery friend?  I don't know.  But this person probably knows how secrets drive me cuckoo-- and they are probably getting quite a kick out of my confusion.  That's okay-- enjoy it!  I'm certainly enjoying my chocolate. 

Thank you, secret friend!

Here is another reason to cheer up this February.  Abe is taking me to a Regency Romance Ball for Valentines.  Oooh, how romantic!  We have our costumes ready and everything.  We have some super amazing friends and she is a costume designer for period films.  She fixed us up!  Abe will definitely be in the running for the "Mr. Darcy look-a-like Contest" (if there is such a thing). 

I will more closely resemble Elizabeth Bennett in mourning.   My dress is black (not so romantic), but very authentic.  I do have a fetching hat to wear.  I was practically giddy trying on my outfit.  "This is my dream come true to dress this way!"  Many pictures will be coming.

I am very much looking forward to it.  But I am very much stressing over one aspect of it.

George. 

George LOVES his mommy.  He has started eating some baby food (sort of), but he still nurses A LOT!  No bottles for this chubby-tubby.  I have a very good friend, who is gentle and kind, and very patient, who is going to tend Georgie.  He might be very sad.  I know he won't die.  He won't starve.  But I don't like sad babies. 

Oh, and my friend might not want to be my friend anymore by evening's end either. 

But I cannot help myself.  This is as close as I'll get to living in one of Jane Austen's novels and it is Valentine's and Abe and I do need a date.  So I'll just have to try not to think of Georgie for about 4 hours.  Seems simple enough. 
Or not.

Georgie-Porgie

George has started eating a bit of baby food.  This makes me happy because it gives me a bit of a nursing break and he is sleeping better.  But it makes me sad because it means Georgie is getting bigger and is halfway through his first year.  I think the baby year should last at least twice as long as the pregnancy! 
Gross.  Cannon helped himself to the cheese.  Grrr.

Thank you so for all the kind words last week about my mom.   I loved hearing other memories of her.  My brother, Matt always sends my sister and I flowers on her anniversary.  She loved yellow roses and these are about the fattest, most gorgeous ones I've ever seen!  My little ladies and I spent the afternoon working on "sticky buns".  They didn't turn out as good as my mom's, but for my first effort I was pretty pleased.  Well, I did burn the last batch, but oh well.

Multiple Personalities

I remember when I was a kid and I first heard about people with split personalities.  Nowadays it is called "multiple personalities".  This was so intriguing to me.  I am fairly certain I do not actually have this mental illness,  but I had a fun time pretending with my girls this week.

I'll explain, but even as I think about writing this, it is probably coming off as sick and wrong.
Anyway.

Every couple of minutes I would "feel a change coming on" and I'd turn into someone else.  The girls got quite a kick out of it.  I'm a southern belle... no wait....now I'm gangsta mamma... no wait... now I'm dumb hick from the sticks... now I'm a baby... now I'm a valley girl... now I'm a loving grandmother... now I'm a dumb/mute...

And at every moment I was completely stereotypically, politically incorrect.  It got a little out of hand.  But the girls were egging me on...as if that makes it okay.

Hey, I wasn't the only one around here with multiple personalities.  Perhaps I inspired them (not in a good way), but I've had several different girls living at my house this week.

There were the Indian princesses.  Their ears aren't really pierced (not till they're 12), but they are improvising with binder rings.

This was their princess camp in the wilderness.  They are religious Indian Princesses as they read their holy writ.

Now they are pioneer girls making homemade apple sauce and grape juice.

Now they are evil sorceresses.  Well, I guess they are religious evil sorceresses.

Now they are orphans at their boarding school, complete with library, sleeping quarters, and cafeteria.  I am, of course, the headmistress.  Sometimes I have to be harsh.

Pioneer pinafores make ideal school uniforms.

This school requires its students to get adequate rest.

GADZOOKS!  I love these girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm sure I was never even half as clever as they are!  This must be from Abe's side of the family.

With so much playing you may be asking, "Don't they do home school?  Aren't they suppose to be doing school work?"

Why yes, we are suppose to be doing school work.  How good of you to ask!  Here is the answer:  It is taking ALL STINKING DAY to get our school work/ practicing done, because they just want to play.  I am a broken record, "Bethany, go do your math.  Elinor, let's do your reading.  Bethany, go do your practicing.  Elinor, go do your spelling.  So help me, girls!"  You get the idea. 

I say, "Girls, why don't you hurry and get your work done so you can have friends over to play?"
"Mom, we can't have any more people in this game," they respond.

As their mom, I rejoice in their creativity and friendship. I couldn't be happier.

As their headmistress, THIS IS KILLING ME!!  Get your work done!!!!!

February 2nd

Tomorrow is the 10th anniversary of my mom's passing.

Has it really been ten years?  It is hard to believe, but Bethany turns ten next month and my mom passed away 5 weeks before she was born.  I am planning on crying a lot tomorrow-- that is, if I don't spend all my tears tonight in anticipation of tomorrow.

I feel the loss for me and my family, but I feel the loss acutely for my brother Matt and his wife Misty as they have just welcomed their first baby into the world.  I'm sure they are wishing she was here to share in their joy.  It's those wonderful life-changing moments that I wish she were here for.

I wish I could call her and tell her about Clark's Lego Team winning.
I wish she could know Faith here on earth.  She'd probably wonder how I could possibly have a child as sweet as Faith.
I wish she could be here to do arts/crafty stuff with my Bethany and Elinor.  I'm useless in that area.
I wish I could see her laugh at the funny things Cannon says.
She LOVED Abe.  She always took his side in early marriage squabbles.
I wish I could have known her as an adult.  I was only 23 (barely out of adolescence) when she died, so I feel like I knew her as a mom to a child, but not really as an adult.  Fortunately she made many wonderful friends throughout her life who have helped me to understand more of who she really was.
I love her and I miss her.  If you had the opportunity to know my mom, you will appreciate this video that Allison Sherman put together last Christmas.

I'll get you, Diaper-Man!

You may have won this time, Diaper-Man. . . .  but I'll get you next time!!!! 


Potty training isn't going so well, so we're back to diapers.  Stayed tuned for more episodes of,  "Adventures in Potty Training!"

We. . . (I Mean They). . . Are the Champions!!!

Clark has been a part of a Lego League Team for a couple of years.  Last year they competed in the Idaho regional and state tournaments because Utah didn't host a competition.  They did quite well.  Utah did do an unofficial trial run last year with about 7 teams competing.  Clark's team, Pi Pod, did win that, but it didn't really matter because it wasn't official.

But this year the University of Utah did host an official FIRST Lego League Championship with 56 teams competing, and Pi Pod won the Grand Champion award!  This means they are headed to the Worlds Championship in St. Louis at the end of April!!!!!!!

It was a long day up at the University of Utah.  The boys had to be there before 7 a.m.  Fortunately, Clark caught a ride with a few other boys at that hour, but Abe and I and the rest of the gang arrived shortly after 8 a.m.  The closing ceremony wasn't until 4:00, and we didn't actually get to watch them do several of their "events".

However, we had an enjoyable day hanging out in the student building with the families of the other boys.  Over the past few years of these boys being involved in several clubs together, we have gotten to be quite good friends.  The younger siblings had a blast running around together.  Keeping track of Cannon was a bit of a trick, but no matter.

Throughout the day the boys were a bit disappointed with how their programmed robot had performed the tasks.  They hoped their project portion had scored well, but I don't think they expected too much by way of awards.

As the awards ceremony progressed, they got more and more discouraged.  Nothing.  Nothing for robot design.  Nothing for research project.  Nothing for teamwork.  It wasn't looking good.  As parents, we were happy for the other teams, but sad that the boys were so disappointed.

It came time for the final two awards-- 1st and 2nd place for Overall Grand Champion.

The 2nd place team was announced.  Abe put the video camera away.  Oh well, it was a good experience anyway.

Then, "First place goes to. . . Pi POD!!!!!!"



Needless to say, boys and parents were EXTREMELY surprised!

The families all went out to celebrate afterward.  The coaches of the team are remarkable.  They have put in countless hours, making this possible for the boys.  Yet, they have truly let the boys come up with the ideas and program and research.  Thank you!!!!!

Abe Had a Birthday

 

Abe celebrated his 36th birthday this week.  Here are 20 things (in no particular order) that I love about Abe.  This is not an exhaustive list.

1.  He loves babies.  He loves to hold them.

2.  He is an organizer of people and events.

3.  He is very punctual.

4.  He tells fabulous, made-up stories to his children.

5.  He thinks I am a gourmet cook, no matter what I cook.

6.  He is very detail oriented.

7.  He likes to watch old movies.

8.  He is very quick to forgive.

9.  He is very handsome!

10.  He doesn't complain about how I keep the house.

11.  He works hard, everyday for our family.

12.  He is very positive and optimistic.

13.  He is not sarcastic.

14.  He loves to be with his family.

15.  He doesn't make fun of other people.

16.  He gives the most amazing foot rubs-- but only to me:)

17.  He always understands what's going on in movies--sometimes I get confused.

18.  He regularly shares his testimony with our family.

19.  He loves to be in Primary.

20.  He is enthusiastic about life.

I love you, Abe!  Thank you for everything you do for us.  Happy Birthday!