What The Crap Is With This Weather.....

I thought we were all done with the snow this year, until I woke up this morning, looked out the winter to snow on the ground. What The CRAP!!! (Yes, those who know me well, know that is my favorite word)
I loved living in Washington because of the green winters. I love the green grass year round, tree's with leafs on them in late November, the years that are a little warmer, which allows me to plant flowers in January.
I have become accustomed rainy winters and only having a few days each year with a small dusting of snow, which would always melt by the afternoon, as I grew up with snow all winter long, that never seemed to go away.
This winter is not normal. It started out normal with a few days of dusting snow, which was all gone by early afternoon, then we got hit with record snow for this area. Yes it was not as much as when I grew up, but it was a lot for this area.
I am grateful that as soon as it gets above freezing that the snow melts very fast.
Instead of being a total grump about the icky weather, plus having a three year old who LOVES the snow, we got dressed up and played outside for many hours over the icky snow days.

She is such a little Parrot

Last week I was teasing My Man, and he turned and called me a "turd". From down the hall we heard Miss P call out "Bucket".

Yup, my three year old is copying her daddy and now says "turd bucket".

My Little Angel...
Yesterday, we were driving to church, and talking about boys who wear white socks with their dress shoes. (Scott forgot his Sunday socks, and we were out of town.) I mentioned that I hope we teach our little boys to wear matching socks. (no I am not prego)
From the back seat, I hear Miss P, telling us that she has a little brother.

Miss P: Jesus is my little brother mommy.
Mommy: Yes Jesus is your brother.( Thinking...sure, she can think he is her little brother.)
Miss P: Mommy, is baby Jesus a real baby?
Mommy: Yes P, Jesus was a real baby.
Miss P: Where is he mommy?
Mommy: He is with Heavenly Father.
Miss P: Did he come from your tummy mommy or Heavenly Fathers?
Mommy: No P, he came from Marys tummy, his mommy.

She is always so inquisitive, and comes up with the cutest things.

Crazy, Crazy Week

This past week was one of those weeks where Miss P and I should have locked ourselves in a padded room.
Early last week, Miss P was upstairs playing with the girl I babysit. All of a sudden I hear Miss P totally crying. This was not the cry that "someone took her toy", or "I don't want to go to bed" cry, this was "I am really hurt cry". I ran upstairs to see what was going on, only to see her covering her mouth and blood all over her hand.
After cleaning her up, checking out her wounds of cut and bruised gums, I found out that she was jumping on her bed, even though she knows she is not suppose to, fell and hit her mouth on rail of her bed.
Of course she has not learned from it, as she was jumping again on it tonight when we were getting ready for bed.

Wednesday of last week, Miss P and I were out doing some Christmas shopping for Daddy S, since he was at work. We were heading to Target, and were just around the corner from it, when I stopped for a pedestrian. All of a sudden, I realize we had just been rear ended. I was so ticked off, Hello People can you NOT see the brake lights and stopped truck??
I hop out to see the back of my truck, and notice it was a teenager in the car that hit us. We were blocking a lot of traffic, so I told him to follow me around the corner, into a parking lot.
This kid, his friend and I all get out of our vehicles to check out our vehicles.
The punk kid went back to his car, it looked as if he was looking for his insurance info. I went to my truck to get a pen and my phone to call My Man.
When I got out, I look up to see the little jerk driving away. If you thought I was mad that he hit me, oh no that was nothing when I saw him drive away. Of course I was in total shock, I didn't get his plate number, it was totally dark so I didn't get the type of car he was driving, so there was no hope on turning him in.
HELLO JERK!!!! Did you not see my three year old daughter in the vehicle, as you were driving away. Does it ever cross your mind, how she was, if she was hurt, if I was hurt. Yeah, so my vehicle was fine, just a scrap, as you hit my hitch receiver, which I hope put a nice BIG hole in your front end. GGGRRRRR
Miss P was fine, just really scared, thank heavens. I have been blessed with daily headaches and back pain which comes and goes, and a knowledge that if it EVER happens again, to not move my vehicle until I get at least a license plate number.

We should have gone home. Miss P was fine and wanted to go to Target. After we talked with the police and had some time with My Man to calm down, Miss P and I headed over to, one of our fave store which is going out of business, before we went to Target. We were trying on some clothes, Miss P was taking some pants off, slipped and hit her head on the bench. Yup there was that "I am hurt" cry again.
I have told her, she is going to have to start wearing a helmet if she continues to hit her head.

Yes, this past week, was one of those weeks, we should have just locked us in a padded room. Hopefully, this week will be better, and the headaches go away.

More Spiritual Insight

I have not always been very good at Visiting Teaching, as you could ask some of my companions from the past. I am trying to be better.
This past week my companion and I went out, and I had the opportunity to do the lesson. I am so grateful that I did, as it gave me the opportunity to review the talks from General Conference, which of course I used for VT, but I was also able to use it this week with my Sunday School class.

I told the ladies who we visit, I am not sure if it is that I am getting older and appreciate conference more, or if it was just so dang good this time, I truly enjoyed listening and learned so much.
I thought I would share some thought from what I learned and taught, from the different talks, yes more then one talk, I was unable to just choose one.

For me, conference was a lot about being prepared as hard times are to come. I started off with Elaine Daltons (link) talk and her quote "In the strength of the Lord, I can do all things." She goes on about temples and virtue.
What a great reminder that, it is only through the Lord that we can do all things. As I read her talk, it made me think about Temples and how we can go to the temple and find peace, but also we need to make our homes like the temple, were we can retreat to our homes when times are hard, and have that peace.

Elder Godoy, (link) his talk on Testimonies was excellent. I loved how he said "Great events are not a guarantee that our testimony will be strong." We are NOT guaranteed a strong testimony. A testimony is something that has to be worked on, on a daily basis.

“But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe [and I think that was my case as an investigator], let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words” (Alma 32:27).

If we just start with a particle of faith or desire to know, the Lord will bless us with a true knowledge and a strong testimony of the his gospel.

Elder Aidukaitis (link)talked about the Book of Mormon. Here is a quote from him that I loved.

“. . . Without reservation I promise you that if you will prayerfully read the Book of Mormon, regardless of how many times you previously have read it, there will come into your hearts . . . the Spirit of the Lord. There will come a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to his commandments, and there will come a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God”

I love that he reminds each of us, if we prayerfully read the BOM, not just read it, we will have a stronger desire to be obedient and have a stronger testimony of the Savior.

Elder Cook (link) was the last talk that I quoted from.

...he gained comfort and then reassurance. Our prayers are that way when we go to our Father in Heaven. We know He cares for us in our time of need.

What a great reminder that our Heavenly Father loves and cares for us, and also is there to comfort us in our time of need, IF only we will seek him in prayer.

there will be lean years and plentiful years.²⁰ The Lord expects us to be prepared for many of the challenges that come. He proclaims, “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.”

How true is this today. How many times have we been told to get prepared. From talking with one of my dear friends a while ago, I was reminded that when we are told to be prepared, how much more that means then just our food storage. We must also be spiritually prepared. We never know when our testimonies are going to be challenged. It might be that we become ill and are unable to attend our church meetings, it might be through people we come in contact with who fight against the church and our beliefs. If we are not prepared spiritually, how will our testimonies withstand the trials.

“Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you.”

The Lord knows each of us personally, he knows what we are feeling and going through. We have been promised with the blessing, that if we are prepared, and are obedient to the comandments, we do not need to fear, as the Lord will helps us with whatever we may face.

Spiritual Insight

These past few weeks have been full of spiritual insight, which I am so grateful for.
Last weekend we had Stake Conference. In the adult session, Saturday evening, one of the talks was on Tolerance for others. This hit home, as the thought came that our children watch, listen and learn from our actions. I have noticed with with Miss P a lot lately.
Earlier that day, we had been out in the vehicle dropping some stuff off for donation. There was a line, and we had to wait a few minutes.
From the her car seat in the back, we hear Miss P chirp up to the car in front of us
" Get out of our way" and "Honk at it Mommy." (I am not the honker in the family.)
Oh yes, our three year old has slight road rage from watching mommy and daddies example. Needless to say, when I have the desire to express my thoughts on others peoples driving abilities, I remember the little ears in the back.

My Old Man

My Man turned the big 30 on November 19th. For the past year and a half he has pretended to be 30 so he could play on a soccer team for 30 and over, so we joked last year that he was going to turn 30 twice. He no longer needs to pretend.

Poor guy,I am sure when he woke up on the 19th, I had forgotten his birthday. Since he woke up to a half done cake, I told him it was going to be a carrot shaped cake, as it looked like an orange tear drop. I was having difficulties at 10:30pm coming up with the top, as I was exhausted. I am also sure he must have thought, why did we spend all this money on cake classes.
(Ha ha, he didn't know his surprise)

A few days ago, while he was outside, I had one of his friends at work send me pictures of his truck. Monday night, I baked the cake, then had to hide it outside (yes, it was completely covered so animals didn't get into it) so he wouldn't find it. Tuesday, I had to wait till he left for work, put the girls down for a nap, then I started to decorate the cake. When I finished it later that night, I had to hide it so he wouldn't see it, and ruin the surprise.

The afternoon of his birthday, just after he left for work, Miss P and I headed out and bought him some balloons, then headed to his work to drop off the cake. He had no clue what we were up to, so it was a great surprise when he walked out of the shop and we were standing there with balloons and his "real" cake.

Happy Birthday My Love!!

How do you not laugh...

This afternoon, Miss P and I had just gotten back from the store. She had opened the passengers side door, and then decided to climb out the drivers side. I went around the truck to shut the door, and she headed to the house door. All of a sudden I see her out of the corner of my eye, run around the front of the truck to meet me. She didn't make the turn and ran straight into our neighbors car and fell flat on her back.
While I was holding in laughter, making sure she was okay, I was totally thinking it was the funniest thing I have seen in a while.

Tooth Fairy

And We Get Upset When They Lie to Us...

When Uncle R and Aunt J were away, Cousin E had a loose tooth. There was some extra drama, as it was her first tooth to loose, and her parents had left her with her crazy aunt who tried really hard to talk her into to just letting us pull it out.

She was almost ready to let Daddy S pull it out one night. He was being so kind and patient. She was complaining that it hurt, so he got her the anbesol and put it on so it wouldn't hurt. He was about to pull, when she chickened out. The next morning, G-ma W being the genus that she is, gave each kid a chewing vitamin C, and that tooth came out within two bites.

I decided that it needed to be a little special as this seemed to be a traumatic time for her. So I made her a card with a picture of the Tooth Fairy and a personal note. I put the note in a zip lock with 4 quarters (even though we all joked around about putting $50, since Uncle R and Aunt J were gone, just to mess with future visits from the tooth fairy in their house.)

It was fun to watch her excitement. She was talking about how she got a picture of the tooth fairy, and that the tooth fairy left her a note.
Bad thing is, Miss P was watching all of this, and has talked about it since, "When the tooth fairy comes and leaves her a note." I am going to have to remember I did this for when Miss P looses her first one, as she has a really good memory.

Hanging Out with the Kids.....

Aunt J left melting chocolate, one afternoon we decided to let the kids each have a bowl of chocolate and let them dip away. Poor W, he missed out since he was napping.


One morning I woke up to find, W had taken off his PJ's and was playing dress up. He had the dress on upside down. That is the leg hole over his shoulder. Such a pretty boy.

One afternoon while the girls were napping, G-ma took the boys out back to play. Yes W put my mixing bowl on his head for a hat, and the purple bow goes to one of Miss P Mr. Potato head ride on toys.

It was such a blessing to have nice weather, so the kids could go out back and play. Thank you to My Man for letting me keep the sandbox and slide/swing and for not getting rid of it. And thank you so much G-ma and G-pa for the fence and making more room out back for the kids to play. It has been such a blessing to have.

Pumpkin Patch

J Feeding the goat. Then J licking the fence. YUCK!!!!

Miss P(yellow vest), W (Blue coat) and E(in pink) climbing the hey pyramid.


Me and Miss P on the hey ride to the pumpkin fields. Daddy S and Miss P with her pumpkin.
I guess the rule was the kids must be able to carry the pumpkin, they are not that strict as my child had to get the biggest one.

When my bro decided he needed to take his wife to Hawaii......

Uncle R and Aunt J planned a trip to Hawaii without kids in October. Uncle R, talked my mom into watching the kids, who then talked me into helping.
I was scared to death for them to leave their kids, as this was the first time that they had been away for this long, and the boys are really attached to their mommy and daddy, and usually end up in mommy and daddy's bed.

I am totally shocked how well the week went, and know that Heavenly Father was there answering prayers. We decided that instead of going to their place to watch the kids, we would just stay at our house.
I thought I would be all smart with sleeping arrangements. We put G-ma in the spare room on the futon, which is downstairs. Then we put R and J's three kids in Miss P's room, and Miss P with us on our floor. We had it all planned out that R and J would sleep downstairs the night before they left, as they had to leave early, and hopefully the kids would stay asleep, so there would be no freaking out that mommy and daddy were leaving them. That back fired, as their two year old woke up in the middle of the night, then their 5 year old went down, which woke up the the one year old. I didn't know this was all going on, so I went in and grabbed Cousin J who was crying, brought him into my room, trying to calm him down. Aunt J came up to get ready, and told me the rest of the kids were downstairs awake. Well that ended sleeping in, and of course then Miss P was awake, so they all went downstairs to hang out. I think Miss P had more of a melt down that I left with Grandpa to take Uncle R and Aunt J, then their kids were.

I changed the sleeping arrangements the first day, and put J (one year old) in our room, easier for naps, so the kids could still play in Miss P's room, plus if he woke up, he wouldn't wake up the rest of the kids.
After about four nights of being woken up in the middle of the night, one night sleeping on the couch because he wanted to play and not sleep and I didn't want to wake up My Man and Miss P. His pack in play very quickly ended up downstairs in the living room. Why I didn't think of that at the beginning.

We had some fun times. We tried to do activities to keep them from getting bored and killing each other. We visited the pumpkin patch, library for story time, McDonalds play land, shopping, we even had the tooth fairy come for a visit for E who lost her first tooth.

Over all it was a really fun week, with lots of memories made. We all survived, grateful for the beautiful weather, and were really excited to see Uncle R and Aunt J
We were all very impressed with My Man, he was very calm all week long with the kids, even when E (5 year old) started choking Miss P over a toy.

Uncle R and Aunt J, look out for when I get knocked up and have my septuplets.

Teenager

I think I am raising a teenager stuck in a three year old body.
Today has been full of interesting moments with Miss P, which have ended her up in time out, to give her time to think of these moments.

Daddy S: P, come help clean up your toys.
Miss P: No, You have to do it, I don't want to help.

*******
Mommy A: P, no you can not watch tv, we are cleaning, and you need to take this stuff to your room.
Miss P: Your so mean

*******
Mommy A: P, sit up to the table and eat your dinner please.
Miss P: I want to watch my movie. (She has a little DVD player we let her use to watch movies on.)
Mommy A: No P, leave the DVD player and come to the table.
Miss P: Your so mean. (Repeated a few times, yes it seems to be her favorite phrase today)

******
Mommy A: P, it is time for scriptures and bed, pick up your toys.
(Five minutes later, as she is playing with the toys, that she is suppose to be picking up, with me continually telling her to pick up)
Mommy A: P, just stop talking and put your toys away.
Miss P: You hurt my heart.
Mommy A: What? I hurt your heart.
Miss P: You hurt my heart, telling me that I can't talk.
Mommy A: If you don't talk you will focus on picking up and not playing.
Miss P: You hurt my feeling, you hurt my heart, you hurt my belt, you hurt my doll. (Yes, she starting telling me that I hurt every toy that was around her.)

Poor kid, she is getting over being sick and I am starting to get sick, so she really had no chance for sympathy or patience today with her attitude.

Cutest Little Equestrian

This year, I was having a hard time coming up with a costume idea until we saw a horse costume at Target, which Miss P loved, as she loves horses.

After some thought, I came up with an idea, asked our good friend K, and decided that Miss P would be "Aunt K" for Halloween. Thanks K for making it happen, the helmet cover made it extra cute and authentic.

It has been really fun, getting the costume together this year. Miss P was the cutest, telling everyone that she was going to be "K" for Halloween. She was so excited, when I showed her a picture of K, when she was in competition, that even though Miss P's horse was black and not brown, she was going to look just like K.

My Man had to work, so I dressed her up, and went out with our neighbor, her son and another boy in our complex.
We made it to about three houses before I decided that the poor horse was a little much for her to wear around, as she was not able to keep up.
Then about 45 minutes into it, as the other kids were shedding parts of their costumes, she didn't want to wear the helmet any more. So in the end, she ended up just wearing the coat, and getting a lot of candy.

My thoughts.....

DISCLAIMER......So no one gets offended, first off, These are MY THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS!!! I am not writing this to make anyone feel bad or to offend anyone. I have just been thinking about this for a bit and now I am going to blog about it. Ok, there is my for warning.

About a month ago, I read a blog about a book, that I have been told that I need to read. I don't have a lot of desire to read this certain book, but was interested in reading the blog to see someones thoughts about it.
They said how this book made them feel like something just was not right. In the end, this person decided to not finish it, as she finally decided the contented was something that she did not want to put/ store in her mind.

This has made me do a lot of thinking. What are things in my life that I am putting into my body, either by watching, reading, eating, that is harming me or my spirit.

Some of you know, I love Greys Anatomy. My brother lived with us, just after Miss P was born, and he introduced me to the show, which has caused a love addicted to the show. Of course, I had to pass this addiction onto others.

I have been a faithful watcher. If I missed the show for some reason, I could be found watching it on the laptop, as soon as they posted it on the internet. I just had to see who was with who, who was fighting with who, and when they actually did surgeries, what twists they had.

At the end of last season, I was probably just like all the other fans, dying to find out what happened, to all the characters, especially since it had been a short season due to the writers strike.
The season started again, of course I have been watching, waiting to see what happens with Derrick and Meredith, are they actually going to make it this time? Is George going to get to take the test and is he going to pass? What twists are they going to throw at us this year? You get the point.
I am a total fan and loving my addiction until Thursday. This seriously opened my eyes, and reminded me back to the book thing, and what are we putting in our minds.

For those who don't watch, this is what is disturbing me. There are two female actresses on the show, who the writers have decided to have them try a lesbian relationship. At first you think it is not going to go anywhere, based on what the one is saying. In the end of the episode, they make it very clear, that this relationship is not over where it got to the point of almost showing two girls having sex. Hello, this is not some cheap adult movie. It was for me very disturbing and very disappointing, that this is what the show is coming to.

Now, I know this is a common thing in the world today. No I do not agree with it, and strongly believe that relationships are to be between a man and a women, not a man and man or women and women. LINK
Do I hate or shun people that are in these kinds of relationships, No. I do not agree with the choice though.

Ok, back to Greys. I am so disappointed in the show. Come on, there are some things that just do not need to be shown or implied.
It was very interesting to see the next day, how many other people shared the same feelings as I did, regarding this episode. We are all very disappointed with the show and the writers. I am to the point, that my next letter is going to be to the network and show. If we want to see a change, we must stand up for what we believe in.

I have been trying hard to improve my life, make it better, live the kind of life that I am trying to teach my daughter to live and also the kids in my sunday school class. I am really trying to declutter my life and mind of things that don't live up to these standards. Am I perfect no, not close, but I am trying to be better.

As I am trying to make a better me, to have the spirit with me more and in my home, I am sad to say, this love addiction with Greys must come to an end. This episode, has crossed my line with content which I do not wish to put into my mind. I am sure it will be hard, as I am sure it is with all addictions,( maybe one day i will be rid of my sugar addiction) but in the end I know it will be worth it. On the brighter side, I will get to bed earlier on Thursdays.

Miss P's Cute Moments

The other day, I wanted to tell My Man something but did not want Miss P to hear it, so I thought I would try the "plug her ears" thing. As soon as I said plug your ears, I look over and she has plugged her nose. Were going to have to work on that.

Tonight, I had put Miss P to bed, and I was folding laundry. I opened her door, she looked like she was sleeping so I went and put her basket of laundry on her floor. On the way out, of course I had to stop and take a look. She is extra cute while she is sleeping. I kissed her on her forehead on the way out, only to see her little lips make the kissing motion back.
Hmmm, I thought she was a sleep, is she making this motion in her sleep?
Of course, I have to try it again, same response, with an added little smile from her, as she rolled over.

Miss P is a little singer. If we let her, she will sing at the top of her lungs in church. On key-sometimes, right lyrics- nope, happy and loving it- always.
Sunday was our wards Primary program. Miss P was loving it. She was standing on the bench, singing away. We had to stop her when she continued to sing while the kids were doing their speaking parts.
We were reminded that it is going to be our little girl up there next year, as she will be a sunbeam. I decided to come home and make her a CD of the songs that they should be singing next year. I love LDS.org.
She is having a blast. When we are driving she asks for her "church music", and then as a song starts she wants to know the name, and what the song is about. Then she trys to sing along, mostly just humming the music, throwing in "Holy Ghost" or " Jesus was baptized".
Can you tell what she is learning about in nursery and our FHE.
I am so glad that she loves to listen and tries to sing along. I love that I have this opportunity to sing with her, and also talk and teach her about the gospel, while we drive around.

KIM.....I NEED YOU!!!

I have this wonderful, amazing friend, who offered to help me loose some baby weight after I had Miss P, and went walking with me. When she first offered, I thought I was going to die, as I was totally out of shape, but she was so kind and patient, and soon I realized that three miles was not that much, we were able to have some wonderful conversations, and made some good memories. It was going well, until I started to take some school classes, and things got busy, and I stopped working out, then Colorado stole her from me.
I have tried to start walking again many times since then, I even at one point talked My Man into a treadmill, which later had to find a new home.
Yesterday, I braved the scale, always a scary thing to do, and have come to realize that, it is time to try again.
Kim, I need you here to go walking with, and make me get into shape.
My Man was not going for my plan to walk 5-6 miles. I was proud of us though, to get out and walk 3 miles today, and maybe over time I can work us up to the 6 miles. Miss P even got into it and ran about a 1/4 of a mile with Daddy S, without stopping. Oh to have her energy.
So even though, Colorado has stolen you away from us, I thank you Kim for your patience, your friendship and for getting me started on walking, I hope this time I can keep up with it, and one of these days we can all do Mt. Saint Helen's.

Update on Dance Class

Miss P's teacher called this afternoon. She said that she had been thinking, and that she doesn't think that this dance class is right for Miss P. According to her, Miss P is just not "getting it", doesn't follow her, and has a hard time staying on the tape line, and since they were doing some hard dances this session, this probably is not the class for her.
We had made plans at the end of the last class, that I would sit in on the next class to see what Miss P was doing, plus I wanted to see how the other three year old's were doing. The teacher doesn't feel that it will help, and that it would be more of a distraction for Miss P.
Then of course she wanted to know what I thought. People really should know not to ask a parent that, after they have just put their child down. I didn't think it was to appropriate to tell her off, as she is Miss P's nursery teacher, and we have to see her at church. Even though, I wanted to yell at her and tell her how dare she make me feel that my child was not good enough for her class, because she didn't constantly stay on a tape line. Like I said before, HELLO SHE IS THREE!!!
The teacher actually sounded shocked, when I told her that Miss P was doing some of the dance moves at home. So yes, my child does pay attention in her own way, and does know how to do some dance moves, even though she may not stay on some tape line.
My Man plans to talk to the teacher, and probably tell her what I refrained from and maybe more. I will have to try and calm him down about the issue before Sunday.
The teacher wants Miss P to finish off the month, as they will be doing tumbling and just have a fun class this next week. My Man wants her to go as we have paid for it. I feel there is no point, as the teacher doesn't want her in the class. It's not going to help my child's self esteem to go to a class that she knows she is not wanted at.
So the search is on, to find something else to put her in, maybe swimming, gymnastics.... We will update when we find something else.

Imaginary Friends

As of tonight, Miss P has a house guest, named Miranda.
At dinner she was trying to tell me to look at Miranda, and I was a little confused what she was talking about, looking to see if she had a doll on one of the chairs, that she had finally given a real name to, instead of "big baby" or "little baby".
Nope, it turned out that she has an imaginary friend named Miranda. Who according to Miss P has red hair and pink clothes.
When I told My Man about her new friend, he actually was very unimpressed. I just had to laugh, as he plans on teaching her that we don't have imaginary friends, and they are not real.
We shall see what tomorrow brings, if Miranda is forgotten over night, or My Man makes her go away.