Loving My New Hobbies

I am looking forward to each week and my sewing class. I listened to a Power of Mom's podcast and it mentioned finding your joy as a mother. Not what you think should give you joy or what you think you should do (if you don't love baking, decorating, volunteering for everything at school, sewing, scrapbook, etc, don't do it! You don't have to do and "love" things just because other moms do). When I listened to it and thought about what I love to do, I realized I love quilting. It's become such a fun thing for me and while I don't view myself as someone who is crafty, I enjoy this. I also enjoy blogging. I love documenting our family's events and things the kids say and do. I love knowing that I will be able to pass this on to our kids and they can have a great history or their lives. So it brings me joy to write. I am grateful to be able to have some hobbies of things that I truly love and enjoy that give me an outlet outside of motherhood. And it's neat because Lily can help me with sewing at times and they like seeing the pictures I post on the blog, so they can be part of it too. That was another point, is there a way to make your kids part of your passions so you can share them. I also like to cook, or rather I like the end result of the cooking, and that is something the kids do with me all the time. I am grateful they enjoy helping me and it's now an activity we can do together.

Lily helping me sew and she wanted her picture taken. 

Lily caputured me unpicking, something I often do. 

Honestly I can't really even remember what we did last week of note. Oh, in our music class there was only one other girl and Ryan was just a crack up. After we sang the ABC song, Miss Kim said they did a great job. Ryan piped up, "I did do a great job!" He loves dancing around to the music and is not shy at all. It has been a fun thing for us to do and he likes that it's his special activity with me.

Max seemed to like the swing. 

What a fun dad!

Lily went to a birthday party for our neighbor Taryn at the gymnastics center in Fort Collins. Lily had a wonderful time and took special care of Taryn. She made sure she was at the front of the line and sometimes would be guiding her, I thought it was kind of funny how much she was trying to take care of her. She was very thoughtful and loving.

Max has a great time bathing with Lily and Ryan. 

Ryan loves dumping water on anything...and sometimes it makes it out of the tub too!

We sure love these cute kids. 

Nap time art project, making a doll bedroom out of a shoebox. 

Lily loves putting this scarf around anything it fits on. Today it's Max's car seat. 

Always building towers. 

Lily reading on her boat. 

Ryan discovered his reflection on the dishwasher. 

Lily was thrilled to learn how to fold a blanket and she did a great job!

Cute Ryan wanted his picture taken too. 

Max loves his cheese sticks. 

Ryan loves getting bundled up after baths. His teeth chatter, he shakes his body, and says, "I'm cold!"

Art time with Daddy and he cut out some pants the kids enjoyed trying on. 

Ryan playing "Seize the Day" to accompany some fine dancing. 

Michael's HOME!!!!

I felt so blessed on Monday! I was able to wake up with the kids and have energy and go exercise with all three, while Jeff slept in a bit more. Then we all got ready and headed to Kelly's house for sewing. Max took a nap again and slept the whole time and the kids played well. I had so much fun visiting with Cara, Kelly, and Emily while I cut little strips and made my very first 9-patch! I'm so excited! I keep telling Kelly over and over how thrilled I am to be quilting. I think it's so fun to have a hobby where you can see the end product and it doesn't get undone, like many of the chores I have to do each day. I have such a feeling of accomplishment and it's so fun to learn a new skill. I truly feel blessed for my friends and for Kelly's willingness to teach.

Sewing my long strips together before I cut them. 

Now I get to piece them together for a patch. 

A 9-patch, hooray!

After sewing we went home for lunch and naps. I read scriptures, studied my lesson for Mia Maids, then worked on sewing four more patches (I have to sew 31 total so I'm trying for five a day), then Lily and I did an art project, then the boys woke up. Actually Max woke up early, but I changed his diaper, gave him some more bottle and he went back to sleep. We then got gas, washed the car, went grocery shopping, mailed a package at Mail n' Copy, returned books to the library, ate dinner, took baths, cleaned up, read scriptures, had the kids help me fold and put their clothes away, said prayers, the bedtime! I felt so good all day and had such  positive attitude that I know Heavenly Father was helping me. The sun was shining and it was just a wonderful day!

Tuesday was a day we had been so excited about for so long! We have been talking about it for so long that the kids just shouted with excitement every time I brought up our trip to the airport. I put the kids down for naps early so I wouldn't have to wake them up to go and we got their just in time. I was so worried we'd miss seeing him come out and it would ruin this image we had been talking about, but we got there and the kids weren't shy and Michael looked great. He was glowing and seemed to happy and there was just a wonderful spirit about him. We talked with him for a bit then headed back home. The drive is an hour each way and the kids did awesome. Jeff stayed at his parents so I was grateful that they did as well as they did so I wasn't completely exhausted putting them to bed.

Lily didn't have school and we kept ourselves busy. On Friday we had 3 play dates (one here, one at the park, and Lily went to Taryn's house) and then dinner at the Chadwick's. Jan was so nice to invite us over for dinner when she found out Jeff was gone and they were having the missionaries over too. They don't have any young kids, but Lily and Ryan could have stayed there all day, they didn't want to leave! Jan's teenage boys were great with them and enjoyed holding Max so it was a very pleasant night. Sometimes eating at other's homes with kids can be stressful, but it was very pleasant.

It was one of the elder's birthdays. The kids liked the party hats. 

Ryan was crying one day and I couldn't understand what he was crying about. I finally begged him to speak clearly so I would know what was wrong. He said there was something on his face. I looked back at him and all I could see were tears. I told him as much and he said, "oh." I told him you have to stop crying so the tears will stop falling. That seemed to satisfy him and he was able to stop.

Lily's wart is off her face, but she still has some on her hand and ankle. She has a new little wart and said to me, "look at my little bitty wart, it's so cute." I'm glad she has taken a liking to them.

Saturday we went to Westminster where I had breakfast with my friend Glenda, whom I met working in  D.C., and then went to see the new movie Cinderella with Lily, Sarah, Diana, and Michael. The movie was good and we enjoyed it, I just couldn't believe there were so many previews and with the Frozen short I think it was 30 minutes before the movie started!

These kids love their Michael, uncles are the best!

Jeff and I headed back home and then came back on Sunday for Michael's talk. It was absolutely wonderful, really such a great talk. He shared some great scriptures, insights, mission experiences, and how he grew. He had three friends who also attended and I was so impressed they came and happy for them to see how changed Michael was. It was a very nice day.

Lots of doctor appointments and the GMAT is over!

This past week was a bit of a doozy for me. We went to the doctor four times (three for the kids and once for me) due to another bout of sickness. Last weekend the kids stayed in Westminster so Jeff and I had a very nice break. He studied for his GMAT and I ran errands with Max. I cancelled my gym membership and Jeff counseled me to be firm and mean to get my refund since they charged me without knowing after I had frozen it. But I prayed before going there that whoever I talked to would understand my situation and that I could be kind. After I talked the man told me he would give me my refund because I was so nice and looked honest, so I felt much better not being difficult to work with. Since I am exercising at home now it doesn't make sense to go the gym, plus with so much sickness with the kids I wouldn't have been able to go the last two months anyway. I also went fabric shopping for my new quilt I'm making with Emily Thomas. It was a lot of fun to have some chat time and I have no idea how people choose fabrics with so many options! Emily helped me pick some out and now that I'm home with them I'm happy with what I chose. It's for a crib quit so I decided to make one for Max.

We picked the kids up on Sunday after celebrating Sandy's birthday and they were exhausted.  They didn't get to bed until late and then I had to stay up and iron my fabric for my sewing class the next day. Then Max was up and Lily was up for a few hours with an ear infection. So I did what I could with essential oils and then she finally went back to sleep but I was pretty exhausted. She was better in the morning and we went to Kelly Huff's house where she is teaching Cara Munson and Emily Thomas and I to quilt.  I really didn't want to miss out and I had a great time, and Lily seemed better so I felt fine about it. I even got the idea to bring Max's crib and he ended up sleeping the whole time, which was awesome! I was wondering how it would work since it was in the middle of his nap time, so this was a great thing to discover!

We went to a doctor appointment later in the day and Lily's ears looked fine, but the doctor did tie a string around Lily's wart on her face and it came off after a few days! So that was pretty exciting. That night though Ryan got a fever and was very lethargic. He was sick the next day and night and we went to the doctor early Wed morning. Nothing was done for him as we were told to wait a few days. After that appt I dropped Lily and Max at Tara Smith's house and took Ryan with me to my doctor appt (just a physical).  And I brought the crib to Tara's and Max slept again, hooray! Ryan was an absolute angel and the easiest child to have around. It was fun having a little alone time with him and he kept saying he was a good patient (I had told him he was being so patient). We picked Lily and Max up, ate lunch, then went to school. I picked Lily up from school then took Lily to music class. I was worried how everything would work out with timing of appointments, but I prayed it would and Heavenly Father orchestrated everything just perfectly! I was so grateful for Him and how even though I was so tired with all the running around, sickness, and just lack of sleep, He helped me make it through. Plus I had just forgotten to eat breakfast, but it turned out to be great so I could get some bloodwork done since I needed to be fasting. And I NEVER forget breakfast but I was so rushed and I felt it was another thing that made it easier for me to get the blood work done. And then I ended up fasting for Jeff again so I was happy to do that as well.

Jeff took his GMAT on Thursday and I prayed and prayed the whole morning. His goal was to get a 670 and he got a 660, so we were very happy with his score! He worked so hard to study and prepare and we fasted and prayed and fasted some more and felt he was very blessed with this and said he could feel prayers aiding him. So now it's on to school applications, letters, essays, and all that is involved with that. He is late in applying so we'll just see if there are any bites, but we have faith that things will work out in the very best way for us right now.

On Thursday we went to a play date at the park with several of Lily's preschool friends. It was fun to get together, though Ryan was coughing a lot and just having a hard time. He still wasn't really getting better so I made another appt on Friday and he was prescribed some medicine for a sinus infection since he has been coughing and having a runny nose for so long. The doctor also looked at Max's ears and they have fluid so he got medicine too. I was pretty tired of going to the doctor by this point, but the kids were so well behaved each time we went. I used to dread going because it was so crazy, but I was very proud of them.

Since Jeff is done with his test, he's done studying for now, hooray! Though he has a lot to do with applications, he spent so much time with the kids on Saturday and they loved it! He took them on a bike ride, the park, and when the kids seemed interested in watching a track and field event, they stopped to watch and cheered on the runners. Best day ever for them. I went to a lularoe party, which has modest clothing for LDS women, at Emily's house and took Max. He had a hard time (he just got his bottom two teeth and his top two teeth are coming in so he has not been happy lately), but I bought a new skirt that I wore to church today so that made me happy. I have been wearing the same black maternity skirt for months and months and months that it felt nice to have something new.

I took Lily to see Peter Pan, which Tara's two kids were in. It was very well done for a kids production and Lily had a great time. It was over two hours but she didn't want to leave. She even got to go on stage at one point with other kids and that was a highlight for her. It was so fun to have our special alone time. I have so much fun with my kids one on one because no one is competing for attention that Jeff and I really need to do it more often.

Jeff has been great in helping get kids to bed the last few nights when I have just gone to lay down until all the craziness was past. And he never complains, but today he told me that work is tiring, but being home all day with kids is exhausting. So it's nice to feel validated.

The kids love making piles. I think this pile was a boat. 

Lily enjoyed dressing up in Ryan's church clothes. 

Both kids helped with laundry. Lily wanted her pile to be stacked taller and taller. 

A Trip to the Dentist and a Nigerian Birthday Party

Ryan had his first dentist appointment this week; it was Lily's third. They both did a great job and when Lily went to go get X-rays, she just waved to me and said, 'bye, mom" without a care in the world. The movie "The Incredibles" was on and that did frighten Ryan a lot, so he stayed close to me and enjoyed looking at the fish instead. The only thing that made Lily really sad was when the dentist told us I had to brush after her until she is in first grade. She sobbed as she told Jeff this news because she wants to brush all by herself.

After that we went to Chik-Fil-A with some of Lily's preschool friends. The kids had a great time and loved the play place. When it was time to leave Ryan did not want to budge. I really didn't know what to do because nothing I said could convince him to leave, even when I said I was going to leave without him. There was one boy, however, that was very concerned with my threats. He came in the play room sobbing, absolutely sobbing, saying, "NO! You can't leave him! Please don't leave him!" I went out and talked to his mom and she said she had been trying to console him since he said "that boy's mother said she'd leave without him." I wished Ryan had cared half as much as that boy.

Lily loves reading in the New Testament picture book. She knows so many stories, I'm truly impressed. She also told me about how Joseph Smith saw a light, how Satan tried to stop him and how the light was above him then he saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I just love that at four years old, she knows and believes in these stories and that it's so wonderful to be able to teach these to our children and have that foundation of Christ's teachings in our home. I'm so grateful for the gospel and how our children will get to have it as a strength to them at such an early age.

While Lily was reading in the New Testament book, Ryan was looking at the Jerusalem book Jeff made from our trip there. He loved when I told him about the empty tomb and just looked at that page a long time. The kids are so interested in Jesus and his crucifixion and resurrection.

The other day when Ryan was sad I asked if we should pray for him to be happy. Right after our prayer he said, 'I think I'm happy now!" What a fast answer! Speaking of prayers being answered, I have looked for so many things lately and prayer has been the only way I have been able to find them. Social Security cards, jury summons, and other notes and things. I love how you can look for something somewhere for 15 minutes and not find it anywhere, then pray and find it in 1 minute. It's so cool!

The other day during nap time Lily came into my room (where I was trying to sleep). I named several things she could do and she finally said, "no, I want to do something with a grown up." Well, since I was the only grown up in the house, I guess that meant me. So I figured my nap time was over too.

Lily loves drawing pictures for Ryan, but he often doesn't like them. Typically it's because it's a picture of Lily and me or some other person, but not Ryan. She finally drew a picture of batman and superman and a bat cave....and Ryan liked it! He put it on the fridge even. Lily is learning that you have to know your audience when you do commissioned art.

On my way to mutual last week I drove by and saw a man in a wheel chair bending over. He looked like he needed help, but I just went past. After 30 seconds I decided to turn around. I have often seen people I thought might need help and whenever I don't help them I spend my time feeling guilty and like I was not being an instrument for the Lord. And I didn't want to feel that way when I could be an answer to prayer so I stopped. I met Tony, who is disabled and had been shopping at Walgreen's for his daughter's birthday. He was carrying too much stuff and got stuck and it was so cold out. I offered to take the things to his apartment and he hesitantly agreed. I met him there, put the things in his house, and gave him a pass along card. He loves Easter so I want to bring him a video soon. He said he has met with missionaries before, but loves the church he goes to. I felt so nice doing a good deed and not ignoring what looked like a sign of someone needing help. I hope if anything Tony felt the love of God for him that someone noticed him, which meant that God notices him and loves him.

Here's some pictures from the week:

Lily's driving the cart and Ryan's enjoying his cookie

Do you see Ryan? 

We went to a reception at the church and Lily took my phone and took pictures everywhere. I like how she captured the basketball, she knows from her daddy that this is very important. 

Lily's friend from school, Amari, and her sister. Her sister turned 1. I brought home a lot of leftovers, native Nigerian food, and Jeff was very happy with all the delicious food. 

Just Dance. Lily loved dancing to the song, "Happy." 

The mother of my friend Kemi (Kemi is Amari's mom). She's so sweet, I love her!

Bowling! Lily got a few strikes!

One of the many towers we often find in our house. This was decorated with a mixing bowl and a skirt, I thought it was nice. 

Max is crawling and all over the place. 

Ryan is holding up his boot to make sure Max doesn't get it. Ryan spends a lot of time and energy hiding or holding items so Max doesn't eat them. 

Cute photos of Max captured by Lily. She's a great photographer! 

Lily and Jeff's work of art.  

Ryan threw a toy down the stairs, right at Max's eye. But he's still smiling. 

I love this boy so much, he is the sweetest thing. 

Lily and Ryan love looking through books, "reading." 

Ryan is doing Pilates with me and was really into the pilates breathing: "hee, hee, hee."

Max has fallen asleep like this a few times, it must be more comfortable than it looks. 

Lily asked to curl her hair this day and with the crown, skirt, and silk scarf around her neck, several people asked if this was normal attire for her. I said it often is. She looked very cute and was being very protective of her baby brother, she wanted to sit by him. You'll notice Ryan crawling out of the car in the backdground. This trip solidified me having a ban on ever getting a cart with a car again. 

The kids were busy

A favorite spot for Lily and Ryan....until Ryan gets hurt. 

Favorite pasttime: making messes and building structures out of anything available. 

Cute Ryan. 

I turned my back for a couple minutes and Max had a great time with the tissues. 

Family Home Evening involved food coloring, vinegar, and baking soda. We needed an activty  so Jeff put those ingredients together and eventually there was a chemical reaction. Needless to say the kids enjoyed it.