Camera's and Toilets

So funny man Grant thinks that there is a camera watching him while he goes pee pee in the automatic flusher toilets!  Last week as he finished his business at Winco, he bends his knees and intensely focuses on the little red sensor, while saying "come on little camera, come on little camera" and whaaala it flushed!!  So cute what little ones think is a reality:)  He'll probably never want to pee in one again!  His new obsession is a "Mar-eee-ow" kart, remote control car, that he saw in the Target toy ads for Christmas, he talks about it all the time, and i guess thinks it will be great fun!  Preschool has been fun for him (and me) this year, as he is in the 4 day 4's class with Miss Debi.  His listening ears seem to accompany him to school about 63% of the days, so that's pretty good.  The other days, he kinda fly's around the room, and has a hard time sitting still and eating his snack.  I knew it was bad, when Miss Deb says, "so is Grant kind of a ........grazer"?  I'm like kind of?  He is part cow in that department, he was born to graze. He have never liked sitting down to a meal as there is always too much fun to be had, and heaven forbid he sit and miss out on anything!   Mr. sense of humor, is he.  He is going to be the class clown, and the goof off for sure.  He is working on his potty (pee pee, poo, diarrhea, stupid) mouth.  He has amazingly made a rapid improvement since we brought out the hot sauce as a consequence.  Let's just say, he wasn't a fan.  I personally love it, so when I get it out for a salad he is like, "i'm sorry, i'm so sorry" even when he hasn't said a potty!  At his 4 year check up, he was getting his eyes checked, on the chart from afar there was a tiny cup on a little saucer...the nurse asked "what do you see"?  Most children would say "a cup".  Not Grant, he proudly and loudly says, " A HOT CUP OF COFFE".  The nurse was very charmed by his wits.  Oh, and don't forget his favorite saying,  "don't cheese off this mouse".

Forget me nots

There seem to be so many things that we so easily forget in the daily lives of our children.  I am trying to get these thoughts on paper before they escape my aging mind.  A few months back, Grant made up some crazy song that went, "if you call my son a poop, I will come and fire you".   It's pretty darn funny when he sings it and we had forgotten about it, until we found it recorded on the MP3 toy player.  Speaking of songs, Ellie from about the age of 2 to 5 would recite the same exact request when we tucked her in at night, it went something like this....."I love you with all my heart, say goodnight to all my friend, wish them a happy birthday, I love you, Conga, good night"  I must have heard this saying 300 times and it just became a tradition after sometime.  Then at some point you think, Oh when did she stop saying that?  I remember that little phrase.  Lucy is so nastalgic about her goose.  She actually got the goose from Ellie who was given goose by her birthmother.  Lucy and her goosie have been best friends since birth.  She carried that goose around, rubbed it til it was brown, loved goose so much his feathers came off, oh and goose is a "he" according to Lucy.  She just told me today at age 9 that when she's upset she will run up to her room and find goose on her bed, and snuggle him and it makes her feel better.  She has a new friend too, Mr. Penguins, he is a small cuddle pillow pet, and it was love at first sight when she unwrapped him for her birthday!  And Amelia Jane, well she has a soft, pink blanket she calls "nigh night".  She carried this blankey around all the time.  Every morning when she crawls into my bed for our morning cuddle, she has her nigh night, and it aways in her polk a dot bathrobe!  I tell her she is our little old lady as she walks around in her robe, it's so cute.  She has to have her blankey to sleep and it has to be folded just right on her pillow.  When she was about 3, I tried to replace it for an identical new one, and she would have nothing to do with it.  She liked the oldness, the smell, and the pilled up fabric of the one and only nigh night she so dearly loves!

Back to School

Tonight we did our back to school kick-off!  The kids had been anticipation it all day long........the day did not go how we had planned it.  It seems when you want a day to go just so, and be uplifting, and it's really important that it goes right---IT FOR SURE DOESN'T.  Anyhow, we managed to recover and get the evil ways out of our home and onto our festivities.  I had written each of the girls a "map" or letter of love and direction if you will, to start their school year out.  We had Amelia start as the youngest and come up and sit on a bar stool in the family room.  We first talked about maps and how they show you which direction to go, get you to your destination, keep you safe, bring happiness, and keep you from harm.  Then we read Amelia her letter, then Lucy, and then Ellie!  After that we let the girls open their token to help them "remember who you are" throughout the year.  They loved them, and it will be a great reminder of the nights events, and message of love from Mom and Dad.  Then we finished up with a Father's Blessing from Dad, for each one of them, which just brought the spirit into our home, and it felt like, "now we are ready for a great year".  Tomorrow we are planning to do jamberry nails, and put the final touches on the first day of school "outfits".  Ps: it's suppose to be 100 degrees all week:) So I"m trying to talk them out of the new knee high boots.  Here are the letters we wrote this year: 

Millie

What will I do with you at school all day long?  I have never had to share you that long, and we will really miss you!  But we know you will have a lot of fun with your friends at school.  We know you can’t wait to be able to have 3 recesses, and to be able to eat lunch with your new lunch bag in the cafeteria with your friendsJ  Millie, we want you to know how much we love you.  You are a real sassy cat, and you have a lot of personality!  You can use that strong sense of who you are for good.  You can be an example to your friends, by being nice, sharing, and always including everyone who wants to play.  We know you love your Heavenly Father, and He love you too Millie, very very much.  We know you love to say your prayers, and you love singing your little heart out.  You have a great laugh, and a cute wrinkle in your nose when you smileJ  You love animals, and you love Turkey Sandwiches!  A lot! You love to ride your bike, and you are a great helper around the house—especially with the laundry.  Millie, we hope as you wear this token you will remember who you are.  That you will try to be like Jesus, being honest, kind, loving, and a good friend.  You are a child of God Millie, and we love you so much!  Have a great year sweetheartJ

Lucy

It is hard to believe you are starting the 4^th grade.  It seems like yesterday that I was walking you into kindergarten!  Lucy, we want you to know how much we love you, and how special you are to our family.  We know that your Heavenly Father sent you here to earth to be with our little family forever.  He has great plans for you and wants you to be happy.  You have been blessed with gifts, or special things that are unique just for you.  Like, you love to read your scriptures!  You love to read the friend and plan lessons.  You are a great teacher, and have a special sweetness around little babies and children.  You are sensitive, and very observant of other people’s feelings and emotions.  Sometimes we watch you and you are looking at the faces around you to see what others are feeling.  You like to give hugs, and get hugs.  You are a lover of gifts, and you also love to make and create gifts for your friends and family.  I love to get your love notes that you surprise me with.  You love music, and learning.  We are proud of you for being a nice friend even when some others at school are not being nice.  Lucy, it’s really important to try and be like your Savior, Jesus Christ.  As you try to be like Him, by loving others, and being a good example, you will have great happiness in your heart.  It will just make you feel good.  You can always (even at school) or anywhere you are; say a prayer, and receive peace, comfort and help from your Heavenly Father…so talk to Him a lot, because He like to hear from youJ  We pray this year as you wear this token, you will remember who Lucy Mae Morse is, what she wants to be, what she wants others to think of when they think of her.  You can stand for goodness, kindness, honesty, and love.  You can be an example to others by just being yourself!  We love you bunches, and wish you a great year!!

Ellie

As you start Middle School, we want you to know how much we love you!  We want you to know that you are a daughter of God.  You have come to this earth for a purpose and a plan.  Your Heavenly Father has given you special talents and gifts that you can use to brighten and cheer others.  One of those gifts is your sense of humor.  You are funny, and have the biggest smileJ  Your laugh is contagious, and being around you makes people happy!  You are so good at getting Grant to laugh, as you tickle him and play silly games together.  You have been blessed with the gift of music.  We have watched you in choir for 3 years, and listened to that beautiful voice you have….don’t be afraid to share it with others—it is beautiful Ellie!  You catch on quickly to your piano music, and Ms. Elaine is always quick to tell us how polite and thoughtful you are, and that she loves having you as her student.  You are a hard worker.  You give 110% to those things you put your mind to.  You are sensitive.  Being able to be sensitive and being able to well up with tears, as you feel emotion is a gift, which also makes you sensitive to others feelings, and being able to see when they need help!  Your memory is amazing!  I could ask you anything about a movie or character name, and you would remember the name and what I was wondering.  You remind me of things that happened when you were little all the time—and I think, “oh yeah, that did happen”.  You are my extra “memory card” Ellie Grace! It is important Ellie, that you “Remember who you are”.  The world can be tough, and sometimes it’s easy to loose focus of our purpose that we were created by our Heavenly Father, and that we are loved by Him, and our family so much.  As you wear this token, we pray that it will remind you who you are, and who you are not, where you came from, where you are going, and who loves you the most!  As you follow The Savior, Jesus Christ we promise it will bring peace and happiness into your life………have a 

a funny......

ok, I know I have not blogged in like forever....... so it was tempting not to enter this post, because it's late and I don't want to catch up on the last 4 months right now!  So Ellie has been going through some emotional hills and valley's (we'll say) and they can change from one moment to the next--she is 11.  So tonight on Grant's bed her and I are talking and Grant is quietly minding his own business playing with his matchbox cars.  I say, "Ellie why do you have to be so?"  As I paused looking for a word, Grant stops what he's doing. Looks up at us.  And says, in a quiet drawn out whisper......."Crabbbbby"?  It was just what we needed to break the silence and to get Ellie and I laughing hysterically:)  Then he says while lowering his chin and his eyebrows simultaneously in the lowest voice her can muster, "ok, Mr. Grumpy Gills".  Just had to journal this one, I know I may not remember this next week:)

LIttle Girls...........

Ellie, Lucy and I just returned yesterday from our overnight at Camp Tadmor.  Ellie went last year, but this was Lucy's first time going.  She loved it, and had a great time staying up until midnight!  It was cute to watch the girls together, singing, playing games, planning skits, sleeping in their bunks, and meeting new friends!  It was just after everyone had crawled into their bunks,and it was quiet in the cabin, when Lucy says, "Mom, we forgot to say our prayers".  I was so proud of her for speaking up and reminding me.  She was not embarrassed or hesitant, but knew this was our routine and she wanted to have that peace and comfort before going to sleep in a new place of saying her prayers:)  She also was at her friends last week, playing the wii when a song came on that she didn't think I'd like.  She told her friends mom, and they switched it, but again so proud of her for speaking up and having the confidence to stand up for what is right and speaking up when she is uncomfortable with something!  I pray that she will always have that in her:)  Ellie called from school to get my approval on a movie they were showing, it was a Christmas movie, I think Shrek or something?  I was so blessed that Ellie again, wanted to make sure she should be watching it, and I was so proud of her.  We have really worked hard to keep our kids sensitive to the media, and all it portrays and throws at us.  We have to be so careful what we watch and what we take into our minds as it slowly shapes what we think and who we become.  It is getting harder and harder, and feels like a battle.  I am saddened daily as to what I hear kids are exposed to, what they are doing, and how fast they are being forced to grow up.  I am reading a book by Dr. James Dobson, called, "Bringing up Girls" and it is a wonderful book.  Great practical advice on teaching our children, and knowing what they need, ways to connect with them, and the dangers they face.  Surprisingly many parents are pushing their girls to grow up too fast and to be sexualized, younger and younger as they prance around in bikini's and wear make-up earlier and earlier, watch shows about relationships, cell phones, text messaging, facebook, internet......it's right under our nose, yet a lot of parents don't see it.  I am grateful for the reminder and awareness of what our daughters need from us, and from me, particularly as their mother................working to teach them, modesty, integrity, morality, manners, respect, perseverance, and virtue.  It seems with our world and culture, it gets harder every year, but I know we can make our homes safe and a place of teaching and a feeling of comfort.  It is my prayer that as a mother of 3 beautiful daughters, I will be guided to be the mom they need, to speak the right words, and live by example of following God, so they too, can follow Him and find happiness in their lives, not the happiness the world has to offer, but true lasting happiness:)

Amelia Rides Again!

It's spring now, and Amelia is starting soccer back up after a break from fall.  She is really loving playing in jersey #2 on the Rasberries team!  The best part is her daddy is the coach!  They are an aggressive team, winning most all of their games.  Amelia made 3 goals last week, and 1 yesterday.  I didn't get to stay and watch because Grant and I fell into a ravine of mud and were in need of emergency showers:)  We have about 6 more games, and we're done.  Amelia wants to play in the fall again, so we'll look forward to that.  It's hard to believe that this school year is almost over, and my little Millie will be in first grade!  I am not ready for her to be gone all day long :(  I will miss her greatly!  She is growing up so fast, this morning she had put on her new earnings and some aquaphor on her chapped lips and she looked so grown up.......but a beautiful and bright, caring, young lady she is!!  We just love her to pieces.  She loves to say her prayers, and is really sensitive to others.  Every night at dinner she prays, "to bless and nurith" our food. It's so cute to hear kids pronounce words the way they have heard them, and listen to what comes out.  She is also cruising along in karate.  She earned her first black tip on her white belt two weeks ago, and is so very proud of herself.  She works really hard and loves to practice!

Flying with Neverbird!

It seems lately we are always flying with Neverbird.  You see...........Grant is just head over heals in love with "Jake and the Neverland Pirapes"  no, it's not a typo.......he loves "pirapes".  So everytime (which is almost always) that he is angry, he says I hate Neverbird, No Neverbird, I want Neverbird, I am Neverbird and so on......at first we weren't sure what he was talking about, but then Ellie explained to us that Neverbird is a character on the new show.......Grant thinks he is a pirate, he growls like one, yells, like one, burps at the table like one, and sneers like one too!  We went to the beach over spring break, and every boat in the ocean was a "pirape ship"....he is now in a big boy booster seat, which he thinks is so cool.  He has a seat like his sister Millie and no more baby seat.  We were able to sell the two Britax car seats we had, and make a whoppin $150 ..not bad for used seats:)  Where much mischeif is given, so is much love.  Grant loves to hug, kiss, snuggle, and smell his mama.  He loves perfume, and the smell of my hair.  He crawls into bed every morning with me, and says, "hello, I awake".  Talk about the best alarm clock ever.  He climbs up with me, and gets the pillow just right, and the blankets just right, and says, "give me the remote" and attempts to put cartoons on:)  I tell ya, what a life................