Sean's Assistant

Brady got a tool set for Christmas. He loves it. He slept with his wrench the other night and he is hammering everything he comes in contact with. :D

No Magic Erasers Needed Today

Last night Sadie said a very, (VERY) long, thoughtful prayer. I am pretty sure she was trying to put off bedtime.
In her prayer she prayed that no one in the whole wide world would draw on walls today.

Moms- you can rest easy and pass out the crayons for today. :D

In Loving Memory of Calvin William

We are so very grateful for Calvin in our lives. He was an amazing father and husband, fun and very loving grandpa, and served the Lord with all of his heart.
He blessed all of our lives and will continue to bless the lives of others on the other side of the veil.

The Spirit of Christmas

The spirit of Christmas was never so strong as this year. Remembering the gifts that Christ gave us that allow us to be with the ones that we love for eternity is the true spirit of Christmas.
Watching a loved one sit so very close to the veil and feeling the loved ones that have passed on before around to help is a very emotional thing. My heart is very full.

In the Last Hour

In the last hour Brady has reset our internet and cable connection TWICE while I have been working. He pulled all of the DVD's off of the shelf and threw them on the floor in a big pile. He took everything off of the two side tables next to the couches and threw it all on the floor, and finally, he ripped the cover of our phone book off and started eating eat.
I totally forgot about this part of having a toddler. How are we already to this point?

Sadie is Being Translated

This year my parents got our family tickets to the Disney On Ice show as one of our Christmas presents. The girls do not know that we are going. The show is this Thursday.
Last night I told the kids if they were *REALLY* good this week they could have an early present from Darney and Deedah.
Sadie was really excited. She said,
"I am going to be so good, I will get sent straight to heaven!"
We told her to wait until after she gets the present. :D

Funny Name

Yesterday afternoon Sean was reading us some inspiring Christmas story.
This morning Sadie looked at me and said with exasperation,
"Mom, WHO is fellowman and why should we help him?"

Can I Get That In Writing?

Sadie:
"Mom, I am still little, so I complain. I will stop complaining when I am big, like 14 or 16... Or maybe 5."

My Little Snow Monster

Warning: I am about to post a really cute picture of my baby boy. :D


Sean and I decided that we were going to buy a tree in NY and bring it back with us. Trees are so much cheaper there and they last longer.
We were so excited to go pick out a tree as a family and have that bonding moment.
Bethanie and Sadie didn't want to go. At all. They are little scrooges I guess.
Sean and I left them with their cousins and took Brady. HMPH!
Here is a pic of Sean and Brady in front of the tree that I deemed "The Hairy One".
We ended up going with more traditional, less hair.

Time for a Good Idea/ Bad Idea

Good Idea;

Making a cute keepsake ornament to cherish forever.

Bad Idea;


Trying to make a cute keepsake ornament with a ten month old.
Brilliant, Sean! Brilliant!

Rules Revised

Our family rule;
"You get what you get and you don't throw a fit!"
Sadie's revised rule;
"I get what I want and I eat it quick!"
She has declared this to be so.

Sean's Theory

Every parental action has a greater and opposite Sadie reaction.

Refining His Pallet

Brady just ate one of the Algae Thins that we have for our algae eater.
"Someone" (it could have been Sean, but I am not the kind of person who would tell you that...) left them down where he could reach them.
I stopped him before he could get a second one in his mouth.

YUCKY!!!

What She Heard

This morning Sadie was singing,
"Shake, shake, shake Senora. Shake your bottom fine!"

She then stopped and said, "Mom, those are silly words. Lets change them to
"Shake, shake, shake, Senora. Do the tooshie shaker!"

What He Eats

You moms of little boys won't be shocked by this. I still am. I am blown away - daily- by what Brady eats!

Breakfast: A bowl of oatmeal with raisins or half of a banana added. This would be the same amount of oatmeal that his father eats for breakfast. 2/3 cup. He usually wants to snack on more raisins when he is done with that.

Lunch: 3/4 cup of mashed mixed veggies, applesauce, or sweet potatoes. That is mixed with 1/4 cup of baby cereal. Also 1/2 cup of leftovers from dinner the night before. Today we had homemade macaroni and cheese. He also had more raisins and a small cup of apple juice mixed with water.
I would like to mention that when he was done with all of that he wanted more.
Has anyone ever read the children's book "Bear Wants More"? We say that a lot at our house!


Dinner: He once again eats 3/4 cup of mixed veggies, applesauce, or sweet potatoes mixed with baby cereal, but most of the time for dinner he eats TWO servings of that. He will also have 1/2 cup of whatever we are eating for dinner that he can get down with his one little chomping tooth.

He also still nurses and has random snacks throughout the day.
Brady is at 50% on the weight chart. I do worry that someday he will be one of those kids on the Dr Phil show that is 3 and weighs 200 lbs. Sheesh!

My friends with boys have always told me that their kids never stop eating. I believe you now. :) I really don't understand why. He doesn't seem to be more active at this point in his life. He is crawling around and walking around furniture as much as his sister's did. Even Sadie didn't eat this much!

Sibling Duet

Make sure your speakers aren't turned up all the way. I don't want to be responsible for your headache. :D
Then watch this video! (Click Here MOM!!)

Bilingual Sadie

I have been out of commission for a couple of days. Sean played Mr. Mom. He said that at dinner the other night Sadie was sharing some of her language skills.

"Dad, I know how to say "lunch" in Spanish!"

She shimmied.

Ole'!

Three Things

Every family handles Christmas differently. For our family, we have asked that Santa Claus only brings the kids three presents each. That is how many presents the baby Jesus received, and we think it is a good number.
Last night Sean handed the girls a store catalog and a couple of markers. We have reminded them over and over that Santa brings three things, so they need to pick the things that they want the most.
Santa now has PLENTY of ideas to choose from. They circled everything from a $130 donut maker, (It fries it up and everything!) to a 1 carat diamond ring. (I think I would be worried about it getting lost at recess.)
Here comes another FHE about being grateful for what we have. :D

Traumatic Memory

When Sean was young his older sister tricked him in to dressing up like a girl. She told him that she would dress like a boy if he would dress like a girl. He fell for it. She put him in a dress and she put on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. HA!
He is still slightly bitter about the manipulation. He is a little sensitive to Brady's sisters doing anything like that to him.
That is why he can never see these pictures. lol!

MMmmm... That Sounds Good

We have been focusing on food storage at our house. This morning I decided to break out the wheat and make my family some cracked wheat cereal. I have always enjoyed it, and I figured I should get my kids used to it if we are going to be eating it for a year. :D
Bethanie said, "Mom, What does crap wheat taste like?"

I think I would be a little concerned too, Bethanie!

Little Brothers Are a Pain

Sadie left her basket of candy out. Heh heh heh

We Made It...

Last night we had 35 people at our house to celebrate Bethanie's birthday and Halloween. There was much chaos. :D I think people had fun. There were a lot of cute costumes and cake.
That is really what matters, right?
The funny part was that by the end of the night most of the kids were begging to go to bed. Everyone was out of here by 9pm and all of the kids were exhausted.
My kids were even up half of the night, sick.
The immediate reaction would be to assume it was from too much candy. Nope. They each had one piece. Bethanie didn't even eat birthday cake!

As fun as it all was... we are going to an every other year schedule for birthday parties. :D

I've Had A Lot of Practice

This morning Sadie had to dress up for pre-school. She went as Cinderella. On the way to school she said,
"Mom, I don't have a step mother, so I need for you to be a little bit wicked."

A First

I just called poison control for the first time. Considering that I have been a mother for 6 years now, that isn't too bad of a track record.

In case your kids have ever wondered, if you bite in to a glow stick you will experience a strong burning sensation.
Scrub any skin that has come in contact with the "irritant". Medicate with a glass of milk or juice.

The operator said if the child won't stop crying, give them a popsicle. Because I was dealing with Sadie on this one, I decided to skip the popsicle. I just know she would come to me tomorrow with the same problem!

Mini Me

My sweet, thoughtful, Bethanie is turning SIX today! Bethanie is a great big sister and takes good care of our family. :) Happy Birthday, sweetheart!

Check out this video for a blast from the past.

Dress Rehearsal

All of the grand kids dressed up while we were in NY and went trick or treating to Great Grandma and Grandpa's house.
Here are pictures from the dress rehearsal!

The Little Red Hen

We spent most of last week in western NY with Sean's family. Sean's mom decided it would be fun to head over to the you-pick apple orchard by their house. We enjoy picking apples, so we headed over.
Well, it was FREEZING! The wind was blowing really hard and it was really cold outside. Bethanie, Brady, and I immediately ran back to the van and turned on the heat after only looking down one isle of trees.
Grandma and Sadie picked up their bags and went to work. The two of them picked a couple of bushels of apples.
When Sean was finally able to track them down the three of them picked out a pumpkin and loaded up the car.

The next day the grand kids got the pumpkin out to carve. The other grand kids lasted about 5 minutes when it came time to gut the pumpkin and clean it out. Sadie was there up until the very last minute! She had pumpkin in her hair, all over her clothes, all over her arms, etc. She even ate some of the raw pumpkin!
Sadie took great pride in that pumpkin. I was very proud of her for sticking with it.


Sadie was definitely the "Little Red Hen" of the bunch.

A Process of Elimination

Sadie:
"Mom! I think it is raining! I just felt a drop and I didn't even spit!"

Hot Wheels

Grandpa Calvin and Brady Calvin going for a "joy ride" together.
Get your motor runnin'! Head out on the highway...

If You've Never Changed A Diaper

Have you ever tried to kill a jumping spider with a kleenex?

That is what it is like when you try to put a diaper on an 8 month old baby.

Say What?

Do you know what it sounds like when a four year old screams,
"Ahhh! DAMAGE, DAMAGE, DAMAGE!!" ?

Lucky for that four year old, her big sister was able to interpret before the soap came out. :D

We wouldn't want anyone to go blind for no reason.

Use Your Own!

How do I convince my 8 month old that MY sleeve is not a kleenex? EEewww! I even got dressed up today for a meeting that I have.
It doesn't look as nice if you have crusty stuff on your sleeve. GAG!

Oh Mom, You Are Mistaken!

Why does having my 5 year old daughter tell me that I am wrong bring out my immature side? I realize it isn't that far from the surface anyway, but it really is a problem!

The other night she and I were disagreeing about what one of her friends was for Halloween last year. She looked at me and said,

"Mom, you are mistaken!"

Oh really, mistaken?? So I did the most mature thing I could think of. I called her friend's mom and asked her what her daughter was for Halloween last year.

Guess what? I was right. :D
I wouldn't be blogging about it if I was wrong. heh heh heh

Can't....keep... eyes... ope...n....

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.................................

Do You Have Children?

If you have children, plan on having children, or ever come in contact with children you need to read this book!

I borrowed it from a friend, but now that I have read through it once I am pretty sure that I need to own it.

It has done amazing things at my house. My kids are doing all of the work (not housework, solving problems work) and I am being pronounced the "BEST MOM EVER". How can you top that? It is lovely!

The only problem that I have come across is that I don't have as much to blog about because Sadie has been pretty great! I think I am willing to take those consequences.

Divine Assistance

Sadie has started locking doors at our house again. She locks them on the way OUT of the bathroom or room. She denies it whole-heartedly. I am not sure if she doesn't know that she is doing it or if she is just flat out lying.
Today I told her that I *KNEW* she was the one that locked the bathroom door because she was the last person in there.
Still, she refused to admit to it. I guess she felt backed in to a corner and that she needed someone to back her story up.
She said,

"Heavenly Father? (She is looking at the ceiling) Did I lock the bathroom door? No? Ok, thanks.
Mom, Heavenly Father says that I am telling the truth!"

Not Getting Along

At this time there are two little things in my life that are making my days crazy and sometimes miserable. They are even affecting some of my nights. Two little things. We just aren't getting along.

My troubles started in JUNE! JUNE!! It is now October. Still, these two little things plague me. When will the madness end?

When will those two little teeth actually break through his gums?? The kid has been teething for almost 5 months, and still there is not a single tooth in his mouth. He has been a bear for the last three days.
AHHHHHHHHH!

What Would YOU Say?

Sadie:
"Mom, if a stranger ever comes and tries to steal me and Bethanie, I am going to yell, "flee, flee, FLEEEEEE!!!!"

My Husband's Boring Life

My poor husband had to fly to Italy for a 2 hour business meeting. You just have to feel for the guy.






You lead a hard life, my dear!

Being Thoughtful

Bethanie was pondering some things that she heard while watching conference this past weekend.
Today she said to me,
"Mom, I am so grateful for missionaries. I know if I didn't have the gospel that someone would love me enough to share it with me."

I love when my kids teach me.

Autumn

Pumpkin Bread, Corn Bread, Chili, Corn Chowder, Brisk Mornings, Colorful Leaves, Cozy Light Jackets, Comfy Sweatshirts, Hot Chocolate with Breakfast, Baked Squash, Homemade Applesauce, Crisp Apples, Warm Blankets, Lovely Evening Strolls, Carving Pumpkins, Warm Bread from the Oven, and my personal favorite... General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Seriously?

It has been a while since Sadie was 7 months old. Does this seriously happen this young??



I looked up and Brady had pulled himself up and was trying to get to the girl's beads. Already?!

You Wanna Piece of Me??

Sadie got a t-shirt from some friends for her birthday. It says, "You Wanna Piece of ME?? I Don't Think So!!" She thinks it is hilarious so she has been walking around all day today saying it.

I tried to upload a video, but I keep getting an error. Try this link to see a couple of silly videos of my girls.

You Are Allergic

Bethanie just told me that her kindergarten teacher told the class that she was allergic to noise. That sounds like quite the health hazard working as a kindergarten teacher.
I thought about it and decided that I am allergic to noise too. Since I am a SAHM, I am also working in a hazardous field for my health. ;D

You Can't Please Everyone

(After taking her bear away as a consequence.)
Sadie:
Mom, I was talking to Winnie the Pooh and he told me that he doesn't really like you!

Good Thing!!!

(While we were waiting for Bethanie's school bus.)
Sadie:
Mom, when I am in kindergarten I am not going to show the boys my underwear. Bethanie and Mattelyn (neighbor) don't show the boys their underwear.

Here We Grow Again!

My kids won't stop growing! Bethanie hit a milestone in her life two days ago...
No training wheels!!
Sadie turned 4...
Her Birthday party is this Saturday.
And Brady has been crawling for a couple of weeks now!


It goes so fast!

Sadie Hannah

I don't think we have been bored since we met you! Happy Birthday, my sweet little Sadie!

Constance Contraire

I have decided that the character "Constance Contraire" is based on Sadie Hannah.
If you don't know who that is, then go read the book, "The Mysterious Benedict Society".
Danielle suggested it and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I Won't Take "No" For An Answer!

Last night our friends watched the kids while Sean and I went out on a date. Before we left for their house, Sadie had insisted that we help her get her money out of her piggy bank.
When we went to pick them up at the end of the night, our friend, Anthony, handed us a dollar bill. Apparently Sadie decided it was her duty to pay them for watching her! He said she would not take no for an answer. She insisted that they accept her money for their services.
Sean and I have decided that this a great development. Now, when we want to go out, we will just tell the kids to gather up their money to pay the sitter!

A "Me" Moment

"Success is the sum of many small efforts".
That was what the inside of my chocolate wrapper said. I had to laugh... since in general my efforts have been focused on not eating chocolate. :D
I will have to refocus those efforts as soon as I get through this bag and absorb all of the other bits of sweet wisdom. :D

I just wanted to thank my friend for the package that I found in my mailbox today. I was having a not so great morning. The timing couldn't have been better. I couldn't help but tear up a little bit as I thought about how blessed I have been in my life with friends.
There just aren't words...

Are They Both Yours?

Bethanie and Sadie are complete opposites. Old ladies in the grocery store always approach us and ask if they are both mine. When the girls confirm that they are sisters, I get a funny up and down look from the ladies as they try to figure out how many fathers there are in this equation. :P
They are opposite in their actions as well. Sean went out of town to D.C. for three days this week.
When he left, Bethanie burst out in tears and hugged him like it was the last time she would see him.
Sadie, well... She took a different approach.
"You can go now so that you can come home and bring us back a surprise."
No tears. The sooner he left, the sooner he would be home!
Sean brought the kids back some D.C. t-shirts.
Sadie was so very grateful, she wore hers to school and used it as her show and tell. Bethanie is just glad to have her daddy back home.

I Thought About it And...

Sadie:

"Mom, what is the fastest way to use the bathroom?"

"In your pants!"

This is where I spent 10 minutes trying to logically explain to this stubborn little lady exactly why that isn't the "fastest way".

The Wrist Bone's Connected to the Hand Bone

Sean had to take Sadie out of Sacrament meeting today. Once again she was just "waaay too bored" to behave.
Sean told her if she chose not to obey and sit reverently in Sacrament meeting then she would have to take a nap after church instead of eating dinner with the family.

She told Sean that she didn't care.
"I will just sit on my bed and play itsy, bitsy spider. You can't take my hands away because there are bones in them!"

Old McDonald Had a Farm

"Sadie, do you want me to put pigtails in your hair?"

"Um, no mom. Not today. I want horse tails. Oh wait, maybe I want sheep tails. Which one would you choose?"

How Many Feet Do You Have?

Me: "Sadie, you may not play outside without shoes on."
Sadie: "I can't find any of my shoes."
Me: "Sadie, you have three pairs of shoes to choose from. If you can't find shoes you can't go outside."
Sadie: "How many shoes do I need to wear? One or two?"

Caught You

One of my favorite (insert sarcasm here) things about kids is the fact that when they go to another home they will immediately ask for food, my kids included.
We have tried to stop that by telling the kids that they have to ask me before they can eat anything at someone else's home.
I realize this is a futile attempt, but I am trying, ok?
Bethanie just walked up to our backdoor, which is made up of mostly glass... which I can see through... She started examining her reflection in the window. I was sitting on the other side of that window.
She started scrubbing at her face, trying to get rid of all traces of the blue Popsicle that was left there. When she thought she got it all off she walked in and sprinted for the bathroom.
I call her in.
"Bethanie, did you just eat a blue Popsicle?"
By the look on her face, she can't recall.
"Bethanie, you have a blue tongue. Do you remember eating a blue Popsicle?
She is searching her brain, trying to remember.
"Bethanie, Yes or No? Did you eat a Popsicle."
Ummmmmmmmm.........

Maybe that is my problem with eating. I over eat because I don't remember that I just had a bowl of ice cream 3 minutes before. It's a short term memory thing, not a food addiction!

Conjugating

Bethanie: "Look mom, it roaned last night."

/roaned/ v.- past tense of rain

Are You Ready For Some Football??

My daughter, Bethanie, LOVES to watch Colts football games. She can sit through the ENTIRE game and she makes sure that we pause them when she has to leave for a minute.
Other than the Superbowl, she is uninterested in watching any other professional football. This child was destined to be a Hoosier!

There He Goes...

Brady is getting pretty fast at the army man crawl. Seriously, why does it all go by so quickly? How is he old enough to be doing this? He will be 7 months old in 3 days!

Two Peas In a Pod

Have you ever noticed the fact that you seem to have less patience for people who remind you of yourself? For instance, Bethanie is a lot like me. Sometimes I see her doing things that I did when I was her age and it annoys me. Does that make any sense? No.
For the last year Sean has had a particularly hard time dealing with Sadie's strong willed and creative personality. He just doesn't see how much Sadie is like him. The stories that his mom and dad tell about him remind me so much of her! Of course, now they tell the stories and laugh. I am sure it was different at the time.

A couple of stories that seem familiar to this household... When Sean was little he would sometimes get really mad. He would tell his family he was going to go live in the woods all by himself and be Mr. Nobody. I can just see his arms crossed tightly and the scowl on his face... Sadie has said something much like that!

Sean's dad laughs when he talks about how they used to tell Sean the consequences if he would make a certain choice. Sean used to turn his head to the side, mull it over a bit and say, "I am ok with that."
I have heard those exact words from Sadie's mouth!
Those two are peas in a pod. I can only hope Sadie grows up to be just like her dad.

I'm Hot!

This morning Sadie put on another one of her princess outfits. She was showing off how great she looked. Bethanie mentioned how cute Sadie looked in her new clothes.
Sadie said, "Yeah, and check out my bum!"

First Day

Sadie and I went out last weekend and picked out some new school clothes for her. She would only pick things that made her look like a princess.
So, there she was yesterday morning waiting to go to her first day of preschool, looking much like a princess. What a perfect opportunity to take a most adorable picture!
Unfortunately, she decided that she did not want her picture taken. I took her to school and all of the other moms were posing their new little preschoolers in front of the big sign on the front of the building. Sadie would have none of that.
I brought my camera after school, hoping that two hours of circle time, craft time, and snack time would help her obstinate mood. Still she insisted her picture should not be taken.
Here are the pictures that I was able to get;

We Labored

For Labor Day this weekend we all did hard labor! Everyone pitched in and helped paint mom and dad's bedroom.

Sean named Sadie the "foreman" of the job because she seemed to keep us all in order.
"Dad, I am going to need you over here..."
Bethanie enjoyed watching the paint go on the walls and dry as much as she liked painting. (I am being serious! She actually LIKED it!)
Even Brady was in on the action. He sat and watched over everything from his perch on my back. Dang, am I sore today!!

When everything is finished I will have to post before and after pictures, but there are still some finishing touches that need to be added.

The "Hose" Story

Have you ever gotten really mad at your kids for something that you either know you did when you were a kid, or something you are pretty sure you would have done had you been given the opportunity?
Bethanie has had a bit of an obsession with the hose lately. She loves playing with it. Sean put one of those attachments on it where you squeeze the trigger and the water comes out at 100 miles per hour.
Bethanie decided that the back side of our house needed to be power washed. Although she denies it, I am pretty sure I asked her about 15 times NOT to point the hose at the house. I could have just been reminding myself though.

So, there I was on the floor changing Brady's diaper when I heard a really awful noise coming from the other side of the couch. It sounded like gushing water. I ran over to find water gushing in around the cable wire in our wall. It was spraying all over the TV, DVR, U-Verse box, DVD player, Wii, etc. Everything was getting a good wash down.
This high pitched screech erupted from my throat. It was the kind of screech that causes damage to the vocal chords.
I ran outside and saw Bethanie with the hose pushed up against the side of the house pointed right in to a little hole that had apparently been drilled by some cable guy.

Note to self; Have Sean seal up that little hole in the side of the house.

Bethanie was grounded from water for three days. If she is good I might allow her to drink it and shower in it.
As I thought about it though, there is a good chance I would have probably done the same thing when I was her age, BUT that doesn't change the fact that our electronics had to dry out before any further use.

While I am thinking about it, I just want to take this opportunity to apologize to my dad for breaking the stucco off of the side of the house when I was about 10 years old. I now understand why that upset you.

WHY?!?!

Can anyone tell me WHY a child can start teething in June and then be up all night at the end of August because the teeth are just about to break through?? I just don't understand the purpose in this.
Brady's teeth, or lack thereof, have caused me sleepless nights. A few. This has resulted in me sleeping in. This has resulted in Sean sleeping in.
We both woke up at 7:20 (alarm went off at 6) and started RUNNING like crazy people to get Bethanie out to the bus stop and everyone ready for the day. Sean had a meeting at 8am this morning. It takes him 30 minutes to get to work in traffic. Do the math!
I am going to have to go ahead and blame this crazy morning and my crazy night on two tiny little baby teeth that are making my baby miserable, which in turn, effects the rest of us.
Grrr...

Commericals

These advertisers are doing their jobs. Usually Bethanie and Sadie watch some PBS or Noggin in the mornings. (Yes, I let my children watch t.v.)
This morning Bethanie turned on Nick Jr before she left for school. Nick Jr has commercials.
This is how it has gone for the last 15 minutes;

"Mom! We need to go to Chuck E. Cheese!!"
"Sadie, we don't have the money for that right now."
"But we can just go buy some money!"
"You would need to have money to buy money."
"Mom, I want that mermaid that squirts water."
"Maybe you should ask for it for Christmas or something."
"Mom, Brady wants that truck!"
"Did he tell you that?"
"Yes!"
"Well, you tell him to ask for it for Christmas."

I need to change the channel!

5 Random Things

Ok, I have to preface this with... I don't do tags. I really don't. Mandie wasn't aware of that fact, so I will do this tag, but let it be known henceforth that this is the first and last tag. :D

1. I am SO EXTREMELY excited that I am decorating my bedroom. I am not redecorating it, because then it would have been decorated in the first place. My friend, Amy, came over on Friday night and I dragged her up to my room and made her help me figure out what I could do with the room. I am very excited about what we came up with. Sean and I went and looked at paint samples on Saturday and we will be getting to work soon.

2. I don't really like hot dogs, but I like HOTS. White Hots. i had the best HOT I had ever had at Bill Gray's when we were visiting Rochester two weeks ago. YUM!

3. I LOVE decorating cakes, but it is a lot of work with an infant. I am just not able to spend the time I would like to on each project. Right now I am getting in to making jewelry. My sister in law introduced me to it at the family reunion. It takes a lot less time to finish and I like the results. I will get in to cakes again when Brady is a little older.

4. Chicken Mexican Casserole with Spanish Rice and Homemade Beans is one of my very most favorite things to eat.

5. I just got a new calling at church. I am a Relief Society teacher.

Are those random enough for you all? Random picture? Hmmm...
This is what Sean and the kids made me for breakfast for Mother's Day.

Am I the Only One That Doesn't Know What That Is?

Last night I had a dream that everyone was talking about their nibbles telling them things.
Sadie is getting to me.

Diet

Sadie is taking pictures of me with my cell phone while I sit here. She just showed me one of the pictures and it was NOT flattering. She was quite aware of this fact as well. She said, "Whoa, you look fat!"
The next picture.. "Still fat."
And the next, "You did an ugly one!"

She is a great boost to the self esteem.!

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire

I just walked out front to watch Bethanie get on the bus. (The bus stop is two doors down from us.)
I left Sadie in the living room with BRady in his exersaucer. When I came back in Brady was on the floor next to the exersaucer. I asked Sadie how Brady got out of his exersaucer.

"Oh mom, well... He rolled out. He rolled down and bumped his head a little bit, but he is happy now."

Can We Just Trade?

Our family is coming upon birthday season. Between our family, Sean's family, and my family we have at least 7 birthdays in 4 weeks.
Bethanie was lamenting the fact that her birthday isn't until October. She didn't think that was very fair.
Sadie said, "Mom, Bethanie can have my birthday. I will just take hers."

Ahhhhhh....

Bethanie Will Do It

Tonight we have friends coming over for dinner with their kids. I just told Sadie that we need to clean up so our friends can come over. I asked her how we were going to do that.
"Bethanie will be home soon. She can do it."

Just call her Cinderella!

This Doesn't Taste Right

Sadie wants to know why the flower she just ate doesn't taste like honey.

What's a Nibble?

Sadie: "Mom, all of the nibbles in me say that tomorrow is going to be a cold day. That means I need hot chocolate."

Boys Have Cooties

Yesterday we were driving in the car and I turned up the radio when a song that I liked came on.
Bethanie asked me what the words were about. I told her it was a love song. The song was about a man that thought the girl he loved was so beautiful, he compared her to rose.
"WHY would he sing a song about THAT??"
Me:"Because he loves this woman and thinks she is beautiful."
Bethanie: "He is singing a song about LOVE?? That is a weird thing to sing about."
Me:"Most of the songs on the radio are about love. The next song on the radio will be about love too! Listen!"

So Bethanie listened. She was quite shocked when the next song came on and I was right. This concept is fascinating and strange to her.

It's Fashionable

Sadie is the supreme authority on fashion and style.
This morning she let me know that my hair needed help and she was just the person to intervene.
"Mom, you need three ponytails in your hair. THEN you will be stylish!"

The Bus...

It's a killer...

It's a Talent

Sean: "Sadie, get off your sister."

Sean: "Sadie, get off your sister."

Sean: "Sadie, STOP BOTHERING your sister!!!"

Sadie: "I am not bothering my sister. I am bothering you!"

Look Mom!

Sadie found a new way to earn her money. Chores are a thing of the past. The little fountains with the coins in them are much easier. Getting a little wet in the process is not a deterrent.

Kindergarten

My little Bethanie started Kindergarten today. I actually did better than I thought I would when it came time to leave her with her teacher. I did struggle last night when Sean was giving her a Father's blessing. Her short 6 years flew past my eyes.
I am dreading putting her on the school bus for the first time tomorrow and watching her drive away.
WHHAAAA!!!
Bethanie is a very thoughtful little girl. She is very helpful and very smart. Sadie and Brady both missed her this morning. You can see evidence of Sadie's feelings on this new stage in life on her face!

Oscar's Cousin

Sadie definitely suffered from a lack of sleep this last week. She had so much fun playing with her cousins, but by the end of the day she would be exhausted! A tired Sadie is a grumpy Sadie. A grumpy Sadie is not someone that anyone wants to be around.
I won't even go in to the details of our car ride from Rochester to the Seneca Lake camp. Let's just say that when we got to the camp, she spent an hour and a half in an empty walk in closet. I was so mad that I happily held the door shut for the entire time.
Some of the more embarrassing moments were when Uncle Eric told Sadie it was time for the family picture. She told him he wasn't his mother, so she didn't have to do what he said.
Aunt Katie told Sadie and Matthew that they shouldn't be playing around in our van. It wasn't safe. Once again Sadie let this adult know that she was not in her aunt's jurisdiction and to mind her own business. (Ok, I am paraphrasing.)
I wish I knew how to add the recording from my cell phone of one of her tantrums that she threw in the car on the way home. Screaming that would wake up the dead.
WHY won't this child take naps???

Here are a couple of pictures for posterity in case anyone needs proof. She is not actually possessed in the second picture.

So Much to Say!

We had such a great time this last week in NY. I thoroughly enjoyed *almost* every moment. (The long car rides were my favorite... sarcasm.)
Sean has such a great family and I am very blessed to have such great in-laws. Not everyone can say that!
We were also able to see some of our good friends from Rochester. After an hour at the children's museum with Jillian, Bethanie said, "I am having the time of my life!".

I have so many Sadie stories to share and a few for the other kids too! I will have to write those out separately as I have some time.
For now I will leave you all with pictures from the trip.