Cute Quote

Last night Matt asked where we got his toddler bed. Robert told him from Babies-R-Us. Matt looked at his dad and disagreed. He said, "No, from 'Big Boys-R-Us'.

Go Green?

I've been thinking 'green' this month--'eco green' (see my last post) and 'green with envy'. It all started earlier in the month. My folks and sister were leaving for three weeks in Europe. This isn't a one-time deal. They go about every other year, so it's a constant reminder that that is not in the budget for us, nor will it be for a long time. Then I started "blurfing" (blog surfing--I call it blurfing). And I see all these fun things others are doing and clever things others blog about. And, of course, I compare it to my blog, which is full of the daily grind of taking care of children. So, by now, I'm feeling sorry for myself and thinking "it's greener on the other side". So, last night I went to an Enrichment Activity at church. Our Relief Society pres. was telling us a story about three men who were asked why they were building the coliseum in Rome. The first said to make a living, the second said to build a building, and the third said to build a beautiful coliseum. Now the RS pres. was relating this to visiting teaching, but I thought of it as to how our attitude affects whatever we're doing in life. For me--raising children. I can think of it as merely cooking, cleaning, etc... for a family, or as raising two boys, or as loving and teaching two of Heavenly Father's sons to be valiant priesthood holders and return missionaries and men who will love their families and live the Gospel faithfully. It dawned on me that I have been
COMPLAINING ABOUT MY BLESSINGS. Instead of focusing on fixing tons of (unappreciated) meals, cleaning up "potty" accidents, and wiping tears, I can focus on the enjoyable moments, like Matt "playing" the piano while singing "Jesus Wants Me For a 'Sun Beep'". I think most of us tend to think others' stations and circumstances in life are better than our own. If this is not a problem for you, please let me know how you do it. I've kind of been having a mini "mid life" crisis because I'll be 35 this year and have been wondering if we should have any more children. I should be grateful I have a choice. I know plenty of others that really don't have a choice, can't choose when, or even if, they have more children. The other issue is being 35. I don't feel 35. That sounds so much older than I feel. When I see people on TV that are in their early thirties (younger than me), I think they look older than me but it makes me wonder if I look that old. In January I started a 'gratitude' journal to help discover the blessings from Adam's OCD. I should start finding all the blessings in every aspect on my life. So, anyhow, these are my rantings. Now I'll get on with my life. Besides, the boys are telling me there's a dead worm in the study.

500+ Years...

Back in April, we started recycling all our trash. Before, we had recycled newspapers and aluminum cans (Adam's mission fund), but then we decided to recycle everything we could--plastics, paper, tin cans, plastic bags, food, etc. Our trash has been cut in half--what we actually throw away. We don't have 'curbside' recycling here so we put the stuff in tubs and then take it to the drop-off dumpsters. It's been so easy, and the boys enjoy helping with it. The other day I heard on the news that a gallon milk jug takes over 500 years to decompose. Yowzers!! So, I write this to encourage others to recycle. Go Earth!

Party Pictures

Matt, with the help of Adam, getting ready to blow out his candles, on his Diego cupcakes

Matt and his Diego pinata--Diego looked like he was being 'hung'.

Enjoying the pool and the slip-n-slide

Can you tell Adam is excited?

We're still in Kansas, Toto...

We're still here. I've been meaning to post something, especially the photos from Matthew's birthday party, however, our camera is again not downloading to our computer. So, I'll continue to work on it and we'll see when they'll get posted. So, this is what we've been up to---

1. Matt had his bday party on Saturday. It was a "Diego/Water Party". We had a Diego pinata for the kids--4 boys and 4 girls. Then we just let them play with water balloons, the slip-n-slide, and the pool. Robert's folks decided to drive down for the party so the boys were excited. We've seen them four of the last six weekends. And, Robert has to go to Topeka tomorrow and Friday for work meetings so he'll spend the weekend with them, again.

2. Adam had another checkup with his "OCD" doctor. We drove 140 miles for a 10 minute visit. He's gotten over all of his rituals, however, "Mr. Worry" still tells him to do stuff. Today Adam told me Mr. Worry is wanting him to turn light switches on and off. He told me he just tells himself to stop doing it. Adam works hard to resist the urges.

3. We've had lots of dr. visits this week. This morning I took both boys in for appts. Adam had to have a physical for kindergarten and Matt needed his "3 year" checkup. Adam is deathly afraid of needles. He gets really worked up about getting poked, etc. Today he had to have his finger poked to check his hemoglobin. So, the last few days have been a constant barrage of questions--how big will the needle be?, how far into my skin will it go?, how long will it last?, how long will it hurt?, will I be sitting or standing?, etc. And these questions are asked 20 times a day. Monday night he kept saying he wanted his dad to give him a blessing to calm him down. However, Robert wasn't available, so I told him that moms can pray and it's just as effective. He didn't buy that. He said, "No, Mom, your prayers don't work as well. You tell Daddy when he gets home to give me a blessing". At least he has faith in the priesthood.

4. Matthew is learning how to identify his feelings. This past weekend he got upset a couple of different times. Both times he ran to his room, crying. One time he said, "I'm so sad." The other time he said, "I'm going to cry on my bed."

5. We finally got a trampoline! Robert and the boys bought it while they were up in Leavenworth and I was at Girls' Camp. We put it together last night. Robert and I could not do it fast enough. My goodness---every five seconds they asked us, "Is it ready yet?". It was about 9 o'clock when we finished so we let them stay up and jump for awhile until it got dark. Then come 7 o'clock this morning they were asking again if they could jump on the trampoline. Matt went to jump on it after lunch but it was too hot on his feet, so now he's playing in the pool.

6. I went to Relief Society on Sunday for the first time in years. Everyone had been telling me that I would get to go, now that I'm not in YW anymore. So, I had been thinking about it all last week. However, it didn't hit me until Sunday night, after church, that I would be going to RS every Sunday, and not just that one time.

Happy Birthday Matthew!!

Matthew turned 3 on Wednesday, the 18th! He was so excited to be the "birthday boy". Sorry I didn't get pictures posted earlier. Our camera was acting up and I couldn't download the photos. We had a fun day. He had a bath with his goggles. Then cinnamon rolls and sausage for breakfast. We then went to the playground at the zoo for playgroup. Both boys spent the afternoon playing with Matt's new toys. We had planned on having dinner at Applebee's but there was a big thunderstorm so we ended up getting Sonic. Matt doesn't care where his corndog comes from. He had a great day. We'll be having a birthday party with his friends tomorrow. He's very excited about that.

Here's Matt wearing his goggles--for breakfast and for his bath.

We had playgroup today.

What we're doing this week. . . . .

Besides Matthew's birthday, we've been busy with other things. The boys have both been in swim lessons this week. Adam LOVES them; Matt is not so sure about them. However, Matt does love the "crab" goggles he got from his class.

I got released as YW pres. this past Sunday. This was the fifth YW presidency I've been in and this one was the hardest one to be released from. I'm glad I got to go to camp with the girls for one last "hoorah". So my only calling now is choir pianist. That probably won't last for long since most everyone in the ward has a couple of callings.

While I was at camp, Robert took the boys to his parents' house in Leavenworth, KS. Needless to say, they got spoiled. Grandma has fun taking them to all sorts of places--movies, swimming, children's museum, shopping, etc.

Girls' Camp

Here's Scott Lake. Isn't it pretty?

This is my tent.

These are some Indian ruins--from the Pueblo Indians.

Having fun--doing skits.

Playing games--building teamwork.

Is she not having the best time? She loves it!

Playing more games.

I went to YW Camp this week. We had it nearby (50 miles away) at Scott Lake Park. In western Kansas, anything less than 100 miles is nearby. I've been to camp five times and this by far, was the best one. The camp director was determined and very prayerful about uniting the YW. Our stake is really big, land wise. It takes in western Kansas, eastern Colorado and the panhandle of Oklahoma. So our youth don't get to see each other on a frequent basis which leads to them not knowing each other really well. The stake leaders have really been trying to change that. They did a fabulous job this year with camp. I went and took four of my girls (three of them were "1st years") from my ward. I also was in charge of the "2nd years" certification. Unbelievably, no one got hurt and (drumroll, please), there was no fighting. I didn't know that could ever happen at a YW camp. Usually there are a few squabbles. We hiked, repelled, played games, did all our certification, had skits, ate way too many s'mores, and we even got to take a shower this year. That is a rarity. Our Girls' Camp always does "primitive" camping--all tents, sleeping bags on the ground, cooking on the fire or dutch ovens, pot potties, etc. Oh, and we got to eat buffalo burgers--real buffalo meat. That is one perk of living out here. There are LOTS of cows and buffalo. It's a real honor to go with my YW to camp. I think all YW leaders should go to camp with their girls because we can build such stronger bonds with them. It's great. The members out here are so cool. They're so unpretentious and just real, down-to-earth people. And, they are hardy people, meaning they're self-sufficient and can do anything. Remember Sheri Dew, from the general RS presidency? She's from our stake. There are a lot of good people here.

Ode to Matt's Sunday Clothes

Here's Matthew in his Sunday clothes. He wears these clothes every Sunday. He refuses to wear anything else. I guess I shouldn't mind so much except for the fact that he's got five other Sunday shirts he could wear, and they're just hanging in his closet getting dusty. The pants are black corduroy which wouldn't be a big deal except for the fact that it's 95 degrees outside. His shirt is size 18 months. He turns 3 in 9 days. A couple of months ago I had to go to church early for a meeting, so Robert got the boys ready and brought them. However, he tried to get Matt to wear a different shirt, and they ended up being 20 minutes late because of the huge tantrum that unfolded. I guess once the buttons start popping off his shirt we'll have to face the drama of getting him to wear a different shirt.

Weekend Fun

The boys spent all of Saturday afternoon in the pool. By evening, it was full of all their toys and tons of grass.

Mike---here's the hammock you brought back from Honduras. It's been in a box for 10 years and 7 moves. We're excited to finally be able to use it.

Keeping Busy this Summer

Here are some photos of how Adam and Matthew have been spending their summer. Notice the boys never have shirts on. They love just running around in shorts. It sure makes for less laundry.

The boys have fun painting.

The boys like to "cook". I let them use a bunch of spices, water, sugar, flour, etc... and they make a "delicious" meal.

Matt fell asleep while watching a movie.

The boys decided it would be fun to get into my makeup. Do you think being drag queens is in their future?

Our New Table

Here are some pictures of our new dining table. It can change into a square, an oval, and a circle. It has six chairs.

The Meanest Mom

Have you ever gone through those periods (sometimes lasting months) when your kids are in a phase that drives you crazy? You know the ones--talking back, being sassy, saying bad words, nonstop fighting. And you just think to yourself, "Oh, no, you didn't--you didn't just say that to me". Last night I was down to my last nerve. This morning I woke up and decided my new mission in life is to be the meanest mom. It didn't take the boys long before they realized the good life was now officially over. I don't think either of them had been awake for five minutes before they were spending time in their rooms---lots of time. Afterwards they had this look in their eyes like "we're doomed". This afternoon has been remarkable better--no fighting, no mean words. I think they realize I'm just not putting up with it anymore--none of it. I have to admit it felt good, in a weird way, to see the fear in their eyes. I think they're finally getting the picture.


As for a funny sidenote: This morning Matt noticed a small brown stain on the carpet behind his bedroom door. He looked at me and asked, "Mom, did you poop on my floor?" What!!!??? I just had to laugh.