Grandmum and Pop Pop

Grandmum and Pop Pop came into town to visit.  We were all a little thrilled. 

 

There was lots of horse riding on the porch.  Ella had her first turn with Lily.  That was an instant hit.

 

I think Ben's mum put it best.  "The blog just doesn't do her hair justice."  Agreed.

We had to have another outing to Pullen Park so we could play.

Cutest picture ever?  Yes. (Please keep in mind that there are several pictures labeled "Cutest picture ever")

I give you Brenda I and Brenda II.  I'm not lying when I tell people that I gave birth to my in-laws.  (So make sure you have good lookin' in-laws, people, in case it happens to you)

Daddy's Girl

 

I may be makeup-less and have crazy hair, but I still think this is a good one of me and the Little Handsome.

Everyone who has been to Pullen Park knows about the carousel.  I had one friend refer to it as a "death ride."  Pretty accurate, I think.  Except without the actual death part.  But it's fast.

Enjoying her curls blowing in the wind.

 

It wouldn't be a legitimate visit if smile cookies were not made with Grandmum.

 

There were lots of old pictures and movie clips to look at.  And sadly also thumbs to be sucked.

 

And this one cuddled with Grandmum like this for over an hour.  Ella's a cuddler, but for over an hour?  No way.  About an hour after this picture was taken poor Ella threw up and we knew the reason for all the cuddling.  I mean, look at that face.

 

And just for the record, I have to say how thankful I am for my kids health.  That was the third time we've ever had a kid throw up.  I'm pretty sure that's not possible.

We planned a fun picnic the last night to say goodbye.  And by referring to it as a "fun picnic" I should clarify that it actually ended up with Ella throwing up in her stroller and Skyler needing to poop 3 times when there wasn't a bathroom in sight.  Excellent.  But there was Bojangles, so I'm pretty sure that makes up for all the times Skyler had to do the potty dance.

 

We ended up the trip with some priesthood blessings and a long night of talking amongst the adults.  It was fun.  But even with all these fun pictures, I'm pretty sure that these were the only 100% fun moments during the visit.  Mum and Dad were here for a week and most of that time was spent doing some serious work around our house.  We got some painting done that was long overdue.  Y'all may or may not remember the time when the kiddos became graffiti pros and used a blue marker to liven up the entire wall over our bed.  And on our bed.  And scriptures.  And clothes.  And closet.

 

*Ahem*

 

That was over a year ago, and that lovely abstract mural is now gone thanks to Ben and his dad and my parents' awesome paint that just happened to match our bedding.

 

Power washing, deep cleaning, de-cluttering, re-arranging, garage cleaning, and de-vaseline-ing also happened. 

Yes.  De-vaseline-ing is now a word.

(For future reference, acetone gets vaseline off of flat paint.  1 million points to Ben's dad for teaching us this.)

 

We're so grateful for all their selfless help.  Our house looks about a hundred million times better than before.  Also, the kiddos are about a hundred million times happier now that they've had their Grandmum and Pop Pop fix.

 

Loves!

Kiddo-isms

Lots of things have been happening lately. Lots of change. Lots of emotion. Lots of bittersweet things. I'm not really emotionally ready to talk about it to anyone yet because I somehow believe that I can avoid talking about this and that everything can always stay the same. Just know that this is actually a fantastic thing, nothing bad. I don't want people thinking something horrible is going on.  Sometimes getting a fantastic blessing means saying goodbye to another fantastic blessing.  Things should be pretty public in about a week.

In the meantime I am going to attempt to lift my spirits by sharing some fun kiddo-isms.

We were driving past a huge pasture that was full of cows. When we drove past the farm the first time Lily and Skyler were chattering about random animals and I really didn't think anything of it. But then we drove past it a second time and they were talking about the same animals so I started paying attention.
Skyler: "I love hippos."
Lily: "Those are pigs."
Skyler: "Hippos and pigs are the same thing."
Me: "Are you talking about those? Uh, those are cows."
Skyler: "I love hippos."

When did they all of a sudden forget which animals are which?


Ella is completely obsessed with food. She's starting to anticipate her bottles with feelings of "meh" lately and would much rather be chowing down on just about anything else in her high chair. When she sees the food coming her way she drops her jaw with this mesmerized gaze where nothing comes between her and the food. Her bink automatically drops out of her mouth at this point. Well on Sunday in Relief Society (yes I was released from Primary and get to experience Relief Society now. Crazy! ) they were passing around a basket of mini candy bars. When the basket came within reaching distance from me, I saw Ella turn on her mesmerized look and out came the bink. She just about exploded from my arms trying to steal some chocolate for herself. I love that baby.


We often talk about where food comes from since the kids love helping us with the garden. But when we eat meat, things get sort of confusing for them. They just don't get it. The other day at my parents' house,  this conversation happened:
Me: "Where does chicken come from?"
Lily: "Um, bears?"


I was doing yard work in the front yard with Lily and Skyler when the tiniest bee in history started hovering around one of our flowers. Skyler keeping his cool does not exist. I told him to calmly walk away which ended up in him running away and flailing his arms (sometimes I think he should be a cartoon character) screaming in his most terrorized scream, "Go away bee! You won't get any honey from me! Go find a friend!"

Pierced

Lily and I decided that for our date this month that she would get her ears pierced.  We thought it was a big enough of an event that we should invite my mom to come along, too.  As Lily would say, "NOT Daddy.  And NOT Skyler."  It was definitely a girl date.

Lily hopped through the mall as we were finding our way to Claire's and I said, "You get to choose whichever earrings you want."  That's when she walked straight into Zales to point at some diamonds.  Have I ever mentioned that we always have to steer her away from the diamond jewelry display at Costco?  No?  I see an expensive future ahead of us.

When we met Nanni at Claire's, Lily chose some purple earrings (coincidentally her birthstone) and we braced ourselves for impact.  And boy did that girl cry from pain.  But soon enough it was all over with and she looked gorgeous!  We were able to distract her by getting some Chik-fil-a for lunch.  That's when she started getting excited about her earrings.  Mom and I told her that "Daddy is going to melt when he sees you."  And the whole drive home Lily kept saying, "Daddy's going to melt.  Daddy's going to melt."  

(And he did melt, FYI)

And how could you not after seeing this pretty girl?

The Women in My Life

There are four women in my life that mean more to me than anything else in the world.  My wife, My Mother, and my two adorable daughters (I won't write about these two because they are basically the focus of this blog).  All four of these women have made a huge impact in my life and I don't think I can thank them enough.

My Mother.  How can someone express in words what their mother means to them.  I honestly don't think that it is possible.  Well, I am going to try anyway.  My mother has been one of the greatest influences in my life.  I remember when I was little and basically thinking that she was perfect (I still think she pretty close) and think what an awesome mum I had.  She would play catch with me, listen to my crazy songs, laugh through pranks that were played on her, love me when I was scared, comfort me when I was hurt, share endless spiritual experiences, and was always there for me no matter what I had done. 

Then came the teenage years when mum was mildly annoying and slightly embarrassing, but I knew she was always there.  I remember long talks in the kitchen about the church, friends, my future, and anything else I could think up.  I remember looking for her at concerts and plays and how she never missed them.  I remember many times being told no and not understand why or not wanting too.  I also remember a friend who always looked out for me even when I didn't treat her as kindly as I should have.

Now I am an adult with kids of my own.  I now have the privilege of looking back on my childhood and adolescence and seeing all of the things that were taught to me through small actions, long talks, and much patience.  I have come to realize that my mum is always there for me no mater how old I get, she loves me still when life gets scary and comforts me like only a mother can, I also know that I can always trust her spiritual instincts and use her for spiritual strength when I feel weak, and I still think what an awesome mum I have.

My Mother may not be perfect, but she is perfect for me! 

My Wife.  I could be extremely sappy, but I won't be this time.  Heather, you have also been a hue-mun-go influence in my life.  I know that I tell you I love you all the time and that I am grateful you chose me, but it is true.  I am so grateful that I have you as an eternal partner and that I was able to get such an amazing woman to marry me.  The past 6 years haven't been easy, but during those 6 years you have become such an important part of me that I can't imagine anything with out you as a part of it. 

Thank you for all of the little things that you do that tell me how much you love me and the kids every day.  Thank you for being willing to listen about my job even though you don't understand a word I say (I am working on this one).  Thank you for understanding what my heart has needed and being willing to nurture our love.  Thank you for holding my hand when I have fallen and needed comfort and help getting back on my feet.  Thank you for being a pillar of faith for our family and being willing to be at home to strengthen our children.  Thank you for being weird with me instead of just rolling your eyes.  Thank you for being who you are.

I love you!

Backyard Camping

A couple of months ago, Ben told me he wanted to take Skyler on the ward Father/Son campout (next weekend).  Our kids can sometimes surprise us with what they enjoy and what they hate so we thought it would be best to do a campout in the backyard first as a trial run.  That way Lily could tag along, too.  But every weekend we either had something up or the weather was horrible.  2 months later (last night) we finally got to do it - 85 and sunny, anyone?  And to say these kiddos were jittery with excitement is an understatement.  

We started with an awesome dinner of hot dogs, coleslaw, and chips.  Skyler only made it through a few bites when he said, "I'm not feeling so well... I need to go lie down."

Translation: "I don't want to eat this.  I'm going to go do something else."

(Bud, you really shouldn't try pulling that one every single day.  I'm pretty sure we've figured out you're not sick by now.)

So he went and plopped himself in the tent where he was just so excited about the whole sleeping outside thing that he just wanted to get the ball rolling.  Lily made it through a couple more bites before she got too excited and joined Skyler in the tent, too.

But Ella knew the only place she'd be camping out that night was in her crib so she enjoyed her dinner.

As usual.

Them not eating their dinner.

Sisterly love.  I can't wait for all the awkward faced pictures in their future.

Mmmmm.  I love my girls.

We read scriptures and had prayers before tucking Ella in for the night.  Then we came out to enjoy S'Mores!  Yum!

Skyler loved them and stuffed his face full of them.  Lily ate one and was underwhelmed. "I just want the chocolate."  Oh dear.  I think I'm rubbing off on her.

I spent a whopping 10 minutes in there to say goodnight to them.  What?  You thought I'd sleep on the ground with a 21 week tummy?  Uh... negative.  

They enjoyed an evening of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on Ben's laptop and then fun with flashlights when it was dark.  From Ben's report this morning, it turns out that Skyler snores and Lily sucks her thumb really loudly.  And then on top of that Ben would have to gently put the kids back in their sleeping bags when they started drifting all over the tent in their sleep.  *And if you conclude anything from this paragraph, it is probably that we have never once slept with our kids before unless we were traveling.  Not a single night.  As soon as they're born, they're in a crib in their own room.  And Ben and I sort of love having our room to ourselves, so I don't even feel bad that I'm the one parent I know who doesn't wake up with kids in my bed in the morning.*

The kids had a blast.  We had a blast (you know, my whole part of sleeping inside with Ella was so tough) and we know that this is something the kids will be begging for in the future.  So here's to hoping that the boys' campout in a week is awesome!

Quirkiness

Last night Ben had a strange moment.  And when I say "strange" I actually just mean "strange for other people but I'm used to it."  Since day one, Ben and I haven't been able to agree on what's hot and what's cold.  I prefer to stay on the warmish side of comfortable.  Ben feels that since our outside can't feel like Idaho in the winter, our inside should instead.  So we've made a deal.  I get my way in the summer and he gets his way in the winter.  That way we also save on our bills.  But let's be clear here, I have to sleep with a sheet, electric blanket, and thick duvet on all winter long while Ben usually sleeps with nothing, or on a freezing cold night, a sheet.  And when I say "winter" I mean every month except June, July, and August.  Okay.  Maybe I'm the one with a problem.

So now you get that Ben and I have different personal thermostats.  Last night Ben was working on his laptop for a couple of hours and when he put it away he started fanning his hands at his face.  "It's so hot."  I hear this probably 3984 times a day so I didn't really think about it.  But then he said, "I've been typing so much my hands are dying from the heat."  And that's when I realized that he was fanning his hands only, not his face.  Even his hands get warm as if they've been working out from typing.  WHAT?!  And that's when I realized something even bigger.  On the blog, I feel like Ben has this whole "Good Father/Good Husband" image and not much else.  Ben is definitely those things, but his quirkiness is such a huge part of him that I can't believe I've neglected to make that come across.

So I thought I'd list a few little things that make Ben different.

• Ben is an incredible cook.  On fast Sundays when he's dying from hunger, he usually prepares this huge feast which includes some sort of delicious dinner and some sort of yeast bread (typically rolls or cinnamon rolls).  It's usually slightly better than the typical incredible feast he makes all the other Sundays.  
• Ben is as obsessed with cute baby clothes as I am.  This week we've been packing up the kids' old clothes to put into storage and Ben and I sort of went through a mini mourning period when we packed up Ella's cute baby clothes since she's the last baby girl we'll have.  We had to stop and look at each of the cutest dresses and outfits.  Maybe I was a little worse than Ben, but he definitely goes googly eyed when it comes to these things.  All I have to say is that, Becca, you had better take some awesome pictures when you someday have a girl and she's wearing these clothes.  Oh man.  
• Ben is just as obsessed with flowers as I am.  We have planted tons of flowers at our house only to have over half of them fail on us because of our poor soil.  But some of them have stuck around and they make our home look so much better.  I'm grateful to have a husband who's as flower-obsessed as me.  
• When Ben is with kids, he acts their age.  This is a fantastic thing as a dad, but sometimes it's a little weird to have 4 kids.  I mean, trying to get a 29 year-old man to share his Lego's can sometimes be difficult.  ;)  And let's not even talk about how much Ben loves watching the Transformers cartoon on TV every Saturday morning with the kids...
• Ben finding out that he's going to be getting a new tool usually ignites the same reaction as telling kids they're allowed to eat ice cream for dinner every night for the rest of their lives.  
• Ben has the body of an old man.  Or at least that's what I always jokingly say.  He has a really bad back, bad hips, and bad knees and often has to hobble around when he's been doing too much physical labor.  I guess if you combined that with my completely messed up heart, we make a charming old couple.  I can just see the wrinkles now...

And by posting this, I nervously squirm away as I wait for Ben to create a similar post about me in revenge.  Ummm... love you, Hubs?

Perks of Sickness

I could write a massive post about how sick I am of our whole family battling sickness for the last month.  I mean, coughing so hard you think you're going to throw up is hardly fun.

But kids get different when they're sick.  They usually get sweeter and calmer.  So I guess sickness isn't all bad.

I mean, how often do we get to enjoy snuggles like this?

Letters and Stickers

I've mentioned it a couple of times, that Lily likes to write her letters.  And by writing letters, I mean writing letters.  Like, on steroids.  When Lily reads me 12 stories (and fills up a line on her sticker chart) she earns a trip to the Dollar Tree or the dollar section of Target.  Most of the time she asks for a mini notebook.  She also gets notebooks as Christmas and birthday presents.  She's obsessed.  She'll completely fill them with pages that look just like this.  I can't wait until the day comes when she's writing real words and sentences.  She can only write a few real words, but I'm pretty impressed with her interest.  Below is her reading chart.  I have never been so proud of a bunch of stickers in my life.

Teaching Lily to read has been quite the process.  It reminded me a lot of potty training, actually.  It's hard to teach in the very beginning and Lily would easily get frustrated.  But then things started catching on like how she could sound out each letter.  And just like potty training, there were lots of "oops" moments and times when I wanted to pull my hair out because she wouldn't even look at the words.  But I think she's starting to get it.  And both of us are amazed by her skills now.  Some stories she can even read all the way through.  I'm so proud of her, and, if I'm being completely honest here, I'm proud of me too.  I made a mental goal that I would sit down and practice reading with her any time she asked.  Any time.  Dinners have been taken off the burner, kitchens have been half swept, Mommy/Daddy conversations have been put on hold, etc.  Even though I had that thought of, Now's not a good time, most of the time, I kept to my goal almost every single time and I'm so grateful I did.  It's been quite the journey for both of us but it has been very rewarding.

Lily's Quote of the Week

"Mom, did you know that an email written on paper is called a letter?"

My only thought was: This is so backwards.