Thanksgiving and time with Daddy!

We are so happy to be getting over our sickness! Nothing makes you feel better about life than being well.

Today I had parent/teacher conferences with Lily and Ryan's teachers. They are very loved by their teachers and they were all so impressed with them. Miss Debby and Miss Anissa said Lily has so much depth to her, is kind and thoughtful. They love that she's the only one who knows nursery rhymes in the class (and she helps recite them) and can tell she's very intelligent. Ryan's teachers say he is such a joy to have in the class and they love when he just starts laughing. They were amazed he knows all his letters, upper and lower case, and can count to 14 and identifies most numbers to 10. I left feeling grateful for these sweet children in my home and happy that the good things we are trying to do at home are apparent when they are at school.

We have been working on Samaritan's Purse shoebox Christmas gifts to children around the world. They kids picked out toys, we sent a picture of our family, the kids drew pictures, and we wrote some notes. Lily wanted to include in the note, "do you know about Jesus? I want you to know about Him. I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and I want you to know about it too." What a wonderful little missionary and I pray that whoever reads that note will be inspired to learn more about the church.

The kids have been so interested in Star Wars lately. After seeing some pictures in the Star Wars music book they began asking so many questions. We got some books from the library and the kids like to study the pictures, listen to the stories over and over, and talk about it. Ryan said, "Darin and Devin will be so impressed that we are learning all about Star Wars." It was actually nice for me to read these books too so I could understand the full story. It's kind of fun how and Darin and Devin are pretty excited and think we are doing a great job parenting.

Playing with the Star Wars cookie cutters. 

Lily traced the cookie cutters then drew the rest by looking at the cutters. I thought these looked pretty good!

Jeff found out that he was nominated to be Duke MBA class president by the 150 people in his class! He is so excited and feels very honored since the other candidates were great people too and hard to compete with. He knew he'd be okay with whatever happened, but he did really want to be president. I'm thrilled for him and this will be a neat opportunity to get to know his class and the faculty even better. Heavenly Father is sure blessing us in small, and yet big for us, ways.

Tuesday I decided to try and spend time individually with the Young Women I teach. I took Sydney to get donuts and later met at the park with Megan and we talked while the kids played. It was so wonderful to have some alone time and hear how they are and the kids did great. At Dunkin' Donuts there was a woman decorating the tree and she let the kids help. Then she even wrapped up a couple ornaments for them to get home. At the park Megan pushed the kids on the swing or helped them on other things and we still got a chance to talk. At the grocery store the Salvation Army bell ringer let all 3 kids ring the bell and there was one penny left on the horsey ride for them. The kids had fun seeing all the new Star Wars toys and hot wheels cars. Once home they played Star Wars with the cookie cutters, traced them and made pictures, and then got ready for bed. We read scriptures, books, played a little more,  I sang to Lily and then Ryan told me goodnight and shut his door. I then texted some other girls and set up more times this week to see them.

I felt totally supported by Heavenly Father for trying to serve and do His will. I know He wants me to spend time with His youth and when I tried to do that He opened up doors for me and blessed me in pretty remarkable ways. We had such a great day and it went by so fast. The kids did wonderful and I felt so good and happy to be doing good things. Jeff had a wonderful day at work with admissions coming out of nowhere and some more tomorrow. At the end of a day like today, all I have to say is, "God is good."

I was able to see Katie on Wednesday for ice cream. We had a nice visit and the kids played and did a great job. Before that the kids played at Blake's house while I went to a doctor appointment. I'm so grateful for wonderful friends who watch my kids (all 3) and allow me some time to have a break or go to appointments. Jeff came home Wednesday night and it was so fun to have him there and spend time with us. The kids just love being around him and he brings such a fun energy to our house.

Thursday--Thanksgiving! Jeff worked on rolls and the kids helped. I kept listening to what they were doing but Jeff reminded me that he had it under control and to trust him. I had to stop listening because I always have my ideas of how it should be done and when I stepped in to help Jeff while he took work calls I felt like I didn't know how to cook because I hadn't been doing it my way from the start. I learned I am a bit of a controlling cook. But the rolls turned out delicious and I was reminded there is more than one way of cooking and it doesn't always need to be exactly like the recipe says or exact measurements. Jeff is the yin to my yang, I'm very glad for his relaxed and much more calm attitude.

I made sweet potatoes and Sarah and Ron made the rest and it was a great meal. The kids had fun with their aunts and uncles and even Michael came home from BYU. Jeff's other wish besides eating delicious food and pies all day was to play games, which he got to do. And I got a nap so we all won. It was a snowy and cold day, but the roads were clear and we made it there and back safely. Lily had drawn pictures for everyone and then she and Ryan gave them their school pictures, which they all enjoyed. It's always so nice being with family and the kids have such a great time interacting and joking and being held and just having nice moments with so many family members who love them.

Friday I had the neighbors over to play and Lily, Taryn, and Leah played so great together. They colored and then played with some princess/my little pony/dancer magnets and that kept them occupied for a long time. I was sorry they had to go because they were doing so well. But at the last minute I got an appointment for the doctor and Kenna was able to come babysit. My rib has been hurting so much from coughing a few weeks ago. It turns out it's not broken, but will take about 2 months to heal. It hurst to breathe deep, pick up kids, raise my arms, sneeze, and it's feeling kind of debilitating. I will say it was nice to know I can't do anything to damage it more though and it will just take time. I was in and out of there with an x-ray in 1 hour, I was very impressed! Lily had fun with Kenna and they did a treasure hunt with baked cookies at the end. She was a fun babysitter and when Lily had the choice to play somewhere else or stay home with Kenna, she wanted to stay home.

Jeff came home a little early while the boys still slept and I took Sierra for hot chocolate. As great as the kids did with my visits, it was nice to have one on one time and not be watching kids from the corner of my eye. Before I left, Lily and I brought up the Christmas decorations and when I got home from being out Jeff was busy decorating with the kids. Christmas really is a magical time of year and seeing the lights and ornaments, tree, and nativity instantly put me in a happy and nostalgic mind frame. It was nice to just sit on the couch with the only the lights of the tree.

I like our Star Wars/Christmas themed windows.

"Ball!" Max was thrilled with the circle shaped ornaments. He often sleeps with them in his crib. 

I think Lily caught Jeff dancing in the kitchen. 

When your kids ask you to kiss for the camera, you can't say no. 

Saturday Jeff was able to spend quite a bit of time with us, which was wonderful, it felt like a real Saturday! He had class but then he played out in the snow with the kids (they made sleds out of little swimming pools). After naps we went to the toy store and then Cafe Rio. We bought sleds for Lily and Ryan and they were so excited...that was the main thing they wanted for Christmas and they got it  early!

We don't want any snow on that grass, so I guess we better shovel it off. 

Still shoveling. 

Now we're sweeping and using the dustpan. 

And now there's sledding in a swimming pool, down a really tiny slope.

Max braved a few runs down.  

Everywhere you go there's Star Wars stuff. No wonder the kids are so enthralled with it. 

Max was attacking the storm trooper. 

Having fun shopping. 

Ryan was a big helper to Jeff. Jeff had been sick so  he's stocking up on goods. 

Whenever we go to Toys R Us the kids always have to spend a long time driving their cars. 

Jeff made some makeshift carnival games. 

The kids were happy to help wash dishes. 

Sunday Jeff taught two lessons. His Sunday School class only had two girls in it, but it was a nice lesson he said, but then he got to teach Lily's class. He taught on tithing and due to his past experience has learned that you have lots of activities on the back burner. He said it was a really fun lesson and the kids had a great time and another dad sat in on the class and made some nice contributions. The favorite activity was the coin drop into a jar. And now Ryan and Max are obsessed with it too so we have coins all over our floor.

We stayed after church for choir because they desperately need voices. I enjoyed singing, but it was pretty tricky with the kids. Ryan was running laps and laughing really loud. We'll have to see if I keep coming since they definitely need more men than women.

After naps at home we had dinner (I was so proud of myself for making lasagna Saturday night so I just had to pop it in the oven on Sunday, and then I even made homemade breadsticks, it was a yummy meal) and then family home evening. We actually haven't had family home evening for awhile so it was good to get back in the habit again. Lily taught us about tithing and did a great job.

Busy, Fun Days

Tonight Lily, Taryn, and Leah had some apples. Max went to the garbage after they threw them away and picked them up to eat. I think he liked that it was just the white flesh showing and the skin was all gone. He was pretty excited about his findings.

Lily and Leah both saw Cinderella at the high school and were talking about it tonight. Leah asked Lily if she thought the prince was so handsome and Lily agreed. Then Leah said, "I just can't stop thinking about him." Lily started to look all dreamy eyed too and said, "I just can't think of anything else." I guess once this starts, girls never grow out of gushing about dreamy princes with their friends.

My friend Cara is due Monday, but hadn't delivered yet, so Tara Smith suggested we throw a little surprise shower together for her with our quilting group. I brought donuts and Tami Thurgood had a quilt mostly done so she finished the binding up (she said she had this boy quilt sitting around for awhile not knowing who to give it to), Tara brought a fleece blanket, and Emily Thomas also came (she had given Cara a gift months ago...she's always on the ball). We had a wonderful visit and Cara felt loved so it was a great morning.

Ryan has been having a really hard time going to school lately. He choked on a piece of candy and since then he has cried a lot when I drop him off (which he had never done before). So we said lots of prayers and we talked about how he was scared, but his teachers were able to help him and he can always choose not to eat candy, and how he can pray when he's scared. Today he went like a champ and was happy to be there and didn't cry a tear. Interestingly enough his best friend Reed cried today, so maybe they're just taking turns.

Jeff was worried about this week with so much due for school and his census at work was low. But we prayed lots during the day and he said the prayers were working because he was getting referrals. I'm so grateful for prayers and how God really can move mountains for us and make miracles happen. Life doesn't need to be as hard as we make it out to be. One note about school, Jeff got a 94% on his econ midterm! I was so proud of him and all his hard work! He accidentally texted one of the other students in his class when he meant to text me, so we laughed about that and how it appeared he was bragging.

On Saturday we had a couples game night with some friends in the ward: Thurgood's, Knight's, and the Kelly's. We had so much fun and Jeff of course was the life of the party. Tami said she didn't realize how fun and funny he was. He was great at reverse charades and we also played Snarf (so much fun!), 5 second rule (we found it's very hard to think of 3 things to say in 5 seconds, but it was also a lot of fun), Mad Gab, and Catch Phrase. We were so happy to have gone and been invited. Jeff lives for game nights.

We had Kalissa and Blake over today. We did a treasure hunt (thanks for the idea Ja!), monsters, and coloring. Kalissa left and was sad. It's so funny, 3 1/2 hours wasn't long enough. Kalissa and Lily had a great time together coloring, playing princesses, and doing the treasure hunt. Ryan had a harder time and wanted to be a bit physical and Blake wasn't having that...he didn't want to be pushed around. So at one point Ryan was in the crib because he could not calm down. Another time he was in the bin with stuffed animals downstairs playing happily while I was playing catch with Blake. But I remember Lily having stages where I thought I could never have a play date because it was so much work. I think Ryan gets lots of energy from having another boy around and it is too big for me to know how to harness...still trying to figure that out.

Sneaking down the stairs to avoid the arrows during the treasure hunt. 

Our second treasure hunt of the day required better attire.

Then Taryn came over and played for an hour. Ryan had set up all his cars for a "boy party" and just sat looking at them. Then the girls stood up and messed them up. Ryan was beside himself. I got upset at Lily and Taryn and told them to apologize and ask what they could do to help. Ryan said they could give him a kiss so they did and then they all put the cars back in their party and played together.

Then we went to Walmart and Max did not want to be in the cart so he happily walked around the store. I was just walking with a gaggle of 4 kids following me or hiding from me, or running to catch up to me. We were shopping for gifts for a service Christmas program and the kids had fun picking things out.

On the way home I told Taryn she would be going home soon. She was sad she couldn't play more so I talked about being grateful for the things we do have or the things we get to do. At the end, Lily said, "sometimes I have a hard time being grateful too. My mommy has to tell me, we got you shoes, and a shirt, and you need to be grateful for what you have. But it's hard. From now on, I'm going to be grateful all the time mommy!" I think sometimes things resonate with kids more when they are helping to teach a principle to someone else.

At home we ate and I bathed the kids while Jeff had a school phone call. We had pizza for dinner and when I prayed I asked that it would "nourish and strengthen our bodies." After that Lily said, "but it can't nourish and strengthen our bodies because it's pizza!" I guess you can only pray for so much nourishment if you choose to put not so healthy foods in your body. Good point Lily. Anyway, Jeff helped get them ready for bed and read to them. He got a bit frustrated with the final stages of bedtime, but in the end he went in to Ryan and talked with him in bed. Ryan talked about funny movies he has watched, when he was sad today, when he was silly, and Jeff had a nice moment with him. Lily heard what was going on so she of course had to be next, but it was neat for the kids to have their alone with with Jeff.

I definitely feel exhausted today with all our playdates, but I felt pretty involved and engaged in good causes. Max wears me out because he is so high energy. He is constantly climbing on the table and chairs and wandering around looking for food to eat.

Jeff typically comes home Wednesday nights, but this week he had to come home Tuesday. I'm so grateful he did, because we got a surprise that night. Max threw up ALL over himself, the crib, and his blankets close to midnight. Jeff and I cleaned Max and everything up. Lucky for me that I now know the best way to clean throw up from Lily's episode last month, so I got the carpet stain out like a champ (baking soda, then blot with a mixture of water,vinegar, and dish soap) since Max threw up two more times on the carpet and then once in the sink. He was a very pleasant sick person though, He was happy to have time with Jeff and was all smiles. Ryan then woke up to see what was going on and all of sudden Jeff is reading books in the middle of the night. I guess that's what a kid has to do to get some one on one time around here.

I diffused some peppermint oil and we prayed and Max did great the rest of the night. He woke up and had a really bad poopy diaper so I had to do more laundry and Max got yet another bath. Later he was on the table (which he does frequently, but when he gets down he goes backwards to get on the chair), and I stepped away for 30 seconds to get him a straw and he tried to get off front ways and fell off the table. I was three steps away from getting him. Then when I was getting his coat to go out he hung on the oven door and it fell and he fell on the kitchen floor. He was okay after it all, but it was not his best day. I told Jeff I felt like I had arrived as a parent when I could clean up multiple throw up stains, wash several loads of laundry, give several baths, clean up major poop, all without batting an eye or losing my cool. Lily and Ryan were very sweet to him. Max just wanted to cuddle on me for awhile and it was nice just to be able to hold him. Every once in awhile he'd look up and give me a big, toothy grin, then go back to his position.

Lily was very attentive trying to give him a drink or a pillow. Ryan came to give him a hug and kiss and said he was sorry. And then Lily made him a sign:

I'm trying new things from Ja's book every day so today we did hair salon. Lily and Ryan did my hair and had a great time. Ryan pretended to use the straightener and was very gentle and Lily brushed and styled my hair. It's great having a book of fun ideas that require no supplies! I checked in for my appointment and Lily looked to see if I was on the schedule. She named the salon, "Where You Get Your Hair Done Salon."

And here are some photos that capture a bit of the fun and craziness:

Max loves vacuuming, I can't get it away from him, so if I want to do a thorough job I have to do it when he's asleep. But he's a good and happy little helper. 

Max LOVES berries. He can't get enough raspberries or blueberries. Any time that fridge opens up he runs over and opens the fruit drawer or brings his bowl over. He wanted some more and saw them on the counter so he problem solved and got himself a stool. 

Lily and Ryan love the music globe Sarah gave Lily that she had when she was a girl. 

Painting brothers. Jeff was watching the kids and it looks like he was pretty ambitious to let them paint. 

The kids love making towers with their Dad.  

I guess there's something more exciting about having a tea party on a mattress on the floor, than a mattress on a bed. Just look at Jeff, what a fun dad. 

Not sure what was going on here, but I do enjoy the banana smile. 

Lily has been into drawing on herself lately. We talked about not drawing facial hair on anymore. 

Lily made us all bookmarks, she's so thoughtful. 

Just playing in the front room, emptying out the ottoman and tying the boats together.  It's always fun and games until it's time to clean up and put every little toy back in it's place. 

The kids loves playing with their magnet people together, it's really cute. 

Max discovered he loves grapes. 

Ryan found a fun way to get out of the laundry basket. 

I was sitting at the table when all of a sudden a grape flew in the air. I wondered what was happening then I got up and saw this. I must say I handled it very well and remembered to take a picture.

Just staring at his cars, like he often does.