Keeping a Record

I feel strongly that keeping a record is important.  I love looking back and seeing pictures and reading stories or insights that I've recorded.  Unfortunately, I often don't take the time to actually stop and write them down.  I feel like I don't have the time…Oh, there are so many things I feel I don't have time for.  I guess it's just a matter of prioritizing my time…I guess.

Here are a couple of this week's gems. (By gems I mean regular stuff that wasn't very exciting but in a couple years will probably make me well up with tears at how much time has passed and how innocent and sweet my kids are.)

For Memorial Day we decided to stay home and have a "Family Fun Day." Water guns, water balloons, and Slip n' Slide, BBQ, Marshmallow roasting...

Scout chose this outfit for Sebastian yesterday.  They were both pretty excited about how well the shirt and pants matched. 

Scout did my hair before bed one night.

Tuesday Ryan and I hung out in Monterey, went to Point Lobos, and ate at Ambrosia for his birthday.

Oh, and here's Sailor after she played in the butter this morning.  

Sailor's debut

Sailor is in a movie!

I don't know if you would call it a cameo?  It's a brief scene at the very end.

The title is "Forty Years from Yesterday"

You can find it on Netflix. 

Find out more about the talented writer/director here.

It was such an exciting experience to be a small part of.

A quick year

Last year at a glance:

Spring came and went.

Scout turned 5 and had a tea party.

Scout started kindergarten.  It was an emotional coming of age experience for me.

She loves it, except when she doesn't. But mostly she loves it.

Dash was born

Halloween

Thanksgiving happened. But I don't really remember it.

Dash was blessed

Sebastian turned 4

Sailor turned 2

Christmas. So many of my favorite traditions revolve around Christmas. I'll just mention this one. Instead of delivering cookies or various other assorted sweets that are far to plentiful at Christmas time, I decided to make mini loaves of Brioche style cinnamon raisin bread. 

Delicious!

We all got the flu, except Ryan.

Dash's turned into pneumonia. Tramatic.

This is Dash in the waiting room just before his diagnosis.

And that pretty much brings us up to date.

Each one of these moments (and all the ones I forgot to mention) deserves its own entry.  Complete with all the accompanying emotions thoughtfully recorded.
This will have to do for now.

Sometimes

Sometimes your five year old has a just out of the shower, soaking wet, lying on the floor, kicking, screaming, red faced fit. Threatening to break your phone if you don't give her what she wants, but promising not to break it if you give her what she wants.

And sometimes your 5 month old is lying on his blanket crying because he is done with his toy and wants to be held.

And sometimes your two year old doesn't notice all the screaming and crying and wants to play "catch me if you can" when you are trying to put a diaper on her so that you don't have to worry about pee on the carpet when you go pick up the crying 5 month old.

And sometimes your four year old is still naked because he got distracted on his way to put on his pajamas.

And sometimes both sides of your bra are still unlatched and your t-shirt collar is completely stretched out and misshapen from breastfeeding, and your hair is limp because you washed it but didn't style it.  And you aren't wearing any make-up.

And sometimes the kitchen still needs to be cleaned and toys picked up and your husband won't get off work until 3:00 am.

Sometimes it's not that way.

But sometimes it is.

Then sometimes at 7:45 everything is quiet and peaceful except the soft singing coming from the crib of your two year old.

And sometimes, as you peek in on each of your children on your way to bed you can't help but lose your breath just a little.  Amazed and in awe, wondering why you are so blessed.  

Yesterday

Even when I feel like I'm trudging through quicksand.

I'm nauseas all day,

and there is just so much that I can't manage to get done...

I look at a picture like this and realize,

Life is good.

I couldn't ask for better than this.

Three beautiful healthy children.

An adoring (and adored) husband, who picks up all of my slack (which is significant these days).

AND I get to do it all over again with another little one.

Thank you Annette for the super fun impromptu photo shoot.

A warm, summery March(?) day

Scout frequently wants to play in water outside.

Of course, it has been way too cold lately.

Like- I'm cold while wearing a sweatshirt and jeans- too cold.

Today was warm and sunny and beautiful.

We had a picnic lunch outside. Sure, it was taco bell, but nobodies perfect.

Then Scout and Sebastian got to run through the sprinklers. 

Sailor was taking a nap during sprinkler time.

But didn't Sebastian take such a sweet picture this morning?

Gosh, I love these kids!

And I love these relaxed, we make our own schedule, days of early childhood.

This Kid!!

I was having a rough day...

There I was feeling like three little kids is sooo many, and I'm sooo tired, wah, wah, blah, blah, blah...

Then Sebastian decided we should make some phone calls.

We went through the list of people he knows

First we called Papa (my dad),

Then Grandma Annie,

Then Grandpa (Ryan's dad)

Then Auntie Crystal...

 When Crystal answered the phone and heard Sebastian on the other end she let out a delighted, "WHAAAAAAT!!!???"

Sebastian thought it was hilarious.

"Again!" he said. Then again, again, again, again...

We were all cracking up by the end.

"Ok, good bye." Sebastian was done with that phone call.

Next, it was time to call Grandma K (my mom)

 He told Grandma K to say, "Whaaaat!!" again and again and again.

Thank you Sebastian for helping me get over myself and just laugh.

By the way, he is also a champion potty trainee!! 

Who wears diapers? Not this kid

Mama said there'd be days like these

Yesterday afternoon there was a melt down on the way home from the park.

Scout hurt her foot on one of the pedal posts on her bike (we took the pedals off so she could learn how to balance and coast.)

She began crying hysterically, and could no longer walk or ride her bike.

I let her sit in the back seat of the double stroller, while Sailor sat in the front seat.

Which, is unstable, the heavier child is supposed to sit in the front.

So, I was pushing the stroller with one hand, and pulling her bike with the other.

Did I mention it was an unseasonably hot day? Until that moment of treking up hill, pushing and pulling, I had really been enjoying it.

Then, Sebastian decided HE was struggling on HIS bike.

Sorry, buddy, there is no more room in the stroller and I have no more hands to carry another bike.

"Sebastian, Don't ride in the street. Get out of the street. Please, get out of the street!"

...he falls...in the street...more crying...

I think it took us about 10 minutes to walk struggle past the next two houses on our street.

As I was encouraging Sebastian to continue riding toward home, he ran his bike directly into my ankle.

I cried out in pain and frustration, just imagining the next hour it was gonna take us to get home.

Which, by the way, was maybe 6 houses away.

I tossed scouts bike to the side, picked up the now hysterical Sebastian.

Tossed his bike to the ground.

And slowly walked/dragged the screaming children home. *sigh*

"MY BIKE! MY BIKE! MY BIIIIIIIKE!"

"I will go back and get them after I put Sailor down for her nap."

Oh, and the stroller tipped backwards...add it to the list, kids.

Now Sailor is crying.

Here are the children retrieving their bikes. Still crying...

I put Sailor down for her nap.

Scout and Sebastian played happily with water in the back yard.

I promptly fell asleep on the couch.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I like to keep things simple.

That way I don't get overwhelmed,

                                                      and the kids can join in...

Construction paper hearts,

taped to yarn,

tied to the banister,

amen.

Pancake Breakfast

Before you are frightened by the batter, let me explain...

We made beet pancakes.

When I first saw this recipe I thought, "Gross...why would anybody want to make a pancake out of a beet?"

    

Then I was intrigued.

Then I read the pre-amble (??) for the recipe.

Then...

I wanted to try them

Sebastian and I are big fans. (So are Grannie Annie & Zoey)

Scout and Sailor are less fans.

But wouldn't they be fun in the shape of hearts for Valentine's Day?

Joy

Today I taught the young women about "the purpose of life".  The lesson was centered on how to find joy. Our Heavenly Father wants us to be joyful. We are here to experience joy! 

 As a youth and young adult, I was focused on a career.

 I didn't want to get married or have children young.

 I didn't even really picture myself as a young mother with small children. I thought it would be more impressive if I had a career. It was hard for me to understand how I could be fulfilled staying home and raising children.

  I stayed close to the Gospel, made good choices and followed The Spirit. That Spirit led me to be sealed in the Temple when I was 22. 

  I did graduate from nursing school because I felt it was important. But more important for me was having children, staying home with them. And loving and teaching them The Lord's plan for them.

 

I have never felt more happiness or purpose or responsibility than I do as I care for these precious children.

 

As I take the time to really stop, and appreciate small moments with my children, I truly feel joy.

"Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy." (2 Nephi 2:25)

Gunny bag (Gunny sack?)

 I had the pleasure of teaching Joy School last week.

We introduced "Gunny bag."

A little sack, made from a pillow case, with a face.

Gunny bag comes out and eats all the toys that are out of place, then hides in his cave.

After awhile he comes back out and coughs up all the toys.

If they are put right away, the toys are safe.

But...

If Gunny bag eats a toy twice, then it is gone forever.

If Gunny bag comes out and there are no toys to eat, he cries and cries...

The kids loved it! 

Scout loved it for Joy School, but was not too keen on Gunny bag living at our house.

I had to explain a couple times that he is just a bag.

I will always tell her before I bring him out.

He doesn't eat toys by himself, I put them inside the bag.

...Perhaps I should stop referring to it as a "him."

Poor Scout.