poop

Yesterday was the pits.  and I cried in front of a police man.

We are moving.

Not to the mountains.

But to a beautiful home (at least in my dreams it will be beautiful one day after a whole lot of work) that is close by with a whole bunch of land and animal rights.  But the whole process of getting this house has been really stressful and I haven't been sleeping very good because my mind is so full.  Sunday night I didn't sleep very much.  Then I got up and went to Latin Jam which is really the funnest class ever but because I was so tired I left class kinda feeling like I wanted to puke.  I took Grady to kindergarten crying.  I handed him to Ms. Moore kicking and screaming for me not to leave him - but I did anyway. (he's never ever done that before by the way.)  I got in the car and went to my visiting teaching appointments at 12:40 which were kind of rough because I usually put Graham and Leah down for naps at about that time.  They were grumpy and tired and I was stressed thinking about Grady and how if his teacher called me (like she told me she would if things didn't get better) I didn't have my cell phone with me.  Leah lost my keys at one house.  When we finally got done with our visits I put my crying/tired babies in the car but drove to the school instead of home cause I just needed to peek in Grays classroom window and see with my own eyes that he really was ok.  But as soon as I hopped out of my car I realized that I had been followed in the parking lot by a cop who quickly told me I was speeding and asked me to get back in my car.  He gave me this big lecture about why it's so important to drive slow in school zones (duh) and I was so upset that I was so upset that I didn't realize I was speeding (make sense?) that I just started crying because I don't want crazy upset moms driving fast where my kids walk either.  And I felt so dumb.  But He didn't give me a ticket.  And Grady was at PE and I had a good talk with his teacher and she told me that after about an hour of him giving her the evil eye her perked up and was acting like his usual happy self.  Then i came home to find an entire container of granola spread out over most of my house.  And I hadn't had a drink or food since the gym.  And..........just cause I feel like complaining, I've changed two peed in cribs, cleaned up one peed in teepee and one peed in tub and was peed on once directly - all in the last 48 hours.  And about ten minutes ago I was lucky enough to have a hand full of poop.

DONE - all done, just needed to get all that off my chest!

WHEW does that feel better!  Brandon knew I was a little hammered last night and picked up pizza for a dinner - we watched funny videos on you tube and had a great little discussion about prayer for FHE and then we put the kids to sleep and watched an episode of "parenthood" in our bed.  So it was all ok.  And in like a year from now I'll be in a clean new house with a yard all put in, our house now will have been long sold and everything will be ok then too.  

and hopefully graham will still be leading us in "BINGO" for our closing song in FHE then too.  Cause thats the best thing ever.

two prayers

Last night I was in by Gray as he said his prayers.  He gave such a sweet pray that I wanted to remember it - but it needs a little clarification;

what = that
thank you for = thank you for AND please bless

here's what he said, "thank you for what I am myself.  thank you what Jesus will be able to do all these things he always has to do.  thank you what people won't fight against each other just cause of their skin."

I think that last part had to do with our explaining to him what Martin Luther King day was about.  It was pretty sweet.

This morning I came downstairs and found Graham writing all over his feet with a blue pen.  For the like the 40th time I put him in time out and told him why it wasn't good to draw on your body.  I told him again how Heavenly Father gave us our bodies and we need to take good care of them.  Last night as we were saying prayers it was Grahams turn and he said his very first prayer all by himself.  Usually he picks someone to help him.  But he didn't ask anyone last night, he just started praying.  So this morning I didn't whisper in his ear either - I just waited to see if he would talk.  And this is what he said, "Dear Heavenly Father...................................." (waited  a looong time and then is a little whispery voice said,  "sorry Jesus............... name a Jesus amen."

and maybe I better make this a three prayer story and write what he wrote last night too;
"Dear Heavenly Father thank you for grampa grampa..............................thank you for grampa grampa...............................thank you for grampa grampa, name a Jesus AMEN!"

good job Grahmy!

Lately when i read books to Graham he says "Amen" in a nice loud voice when I get to the end.  He also says "Oh Man" all the time.  Like when I scratch my leg, when I blow my nose, when he bumps his head and my favorite, when he smells his stinky feet.

My tiny little 10 mo. old Leah graduated to a size 2 diaper today, and they are a little big.  She started giving kisses this week.  I could eat her.

We went to Zions on the way home from St. George yesterday and maybe one day I'll put up some pictures but it was sooooooo beautiful and warm and sunny and perfect.  Before we left me and Clara were in the bathroom and I decided I wanted to take off the t-shirt I had under my sweatshirt before we got back in the car.  We were the only two in there, so I just did out by the sink real quick.  I'm not sure how to describe it but Clara seemed so big to me right then.  She was really worried someone was going to come in so she said something to me about helping me, but her tone and the way she took my other shirt from me and walked around my back and helped my pull my sweatshirt back down quickly just felt so motherly.  Then as we ran out the door I tripped a little in a bump in the side walk and she just instinctually reached for my hand and asked if I was okay and I know she's just 6 years old, but.....but I don't know what.  She just feels so old sometimes - like she is this little mother walking around in a child's body and this might seem silly to write about but that little experience was so sweet to me and I've thought about it so many times since yesterday.

And really that's all I have to write about right now.  - the end.  Amen.

I made this goal to read the Book of Mormon between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  And I didn't do it.  But I tried really hard, at first.  And I got more than halfway through, which for me is pretty darn good, so I'm not going to be too hard on myself.  But I'm making a new goal for myself to have it done by my birthday at the end of February, and I just read the most beautiful verse that I think should be my theme for the whole year;

Alma 33:23 ...May God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of His Son.  And even all this can ye do if ye will.

Not that my life is especially burdensome - I've got it pretty lucky, but I get so easily overwhelmed sometimes and instead of just thinking about today I think about everything I have to do in like the next ten years!  And that feels kinda burdensome.  So I'm going to try really hard to just think about today, and remember that even when I do feel overworked and stressed that He really can make my burdens seem light if I will allow Him to.  I know it because He's done it before.  

Graham turns twoooooooo

Graham turned two.  So of course we went to the zoo to see Dumbo.  He loved it. 

 (B making the elephant noise)

The day included making a whole bunch of signs to decorate his room, the zoo and spudnuts.  He is seriously the most delightful little thing in the world.  I could listen to him talk all day.  I love you Graham sooooooo much.

harvest

I'm amazed sometimes at how messy my kitchen can be when I'm trying to process all the bounty from our yard.  Holy smokes.  We got a bunch of grapes this year from the kaysville house, so we made grape juice too.  I made it once several years ago from the grapes at our house in smithfield and it was gross - this year turned out much better.  We also got a ton of apples and pears and made 12 quarts of apple sauce and some pear juice and fruit leather and freezer full of tomato sauce and veggie marinara and pesto and pizza sauce and grated about a billion zucchini to freeze.  I've realized you can put a cup or two of grated zucchini in about everything we eat and nobody seems to notice it's there.   My kids were good little helpers and worked right by my side the whole time.....or maybe they helped a little and watched too much tv - either way, it got all done!