Happy Birthday Mom!

I don't have my Mother's gift with words so I had to have some help. I love you Mom!

Each year I’m extra happy on your birthday;
Your day reminds me of God’s gift to me--
A mom who gave her all to raise me right,
A mother like the one I want to be.
-Joanna Fuchs

Mother, I wish you the best on your birthday;
No one has earned it like you.
You provide the love that makes our dream
Of a happy home come true.Your family loves and reveres its Mom;
You enrich everything you come near;
You’re our rock, our beacon and our pleasure,
And everything we all hold so dear.-Karl Fuchs

"Being a mother has never been an easy role. Some of the oldest writings in the world admonish us not to forsake the law of our mother, instruct us that a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother, and warn us not to ignore our mother when she is old (see Proverbs 1:8; 10:1; 23:22). "The scriptures also remind us that what we learn from our mothers comprises our very core values."

-Thomas S. Monson, "If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear," Ensign, Nov. 2004, 116

slow & steady progress

Josephine climbed out of the crib the other week and fell, so that meant it was time for a toddler bed. For the first time in 5 years we don't have a crib set-up in the house! Their room feels bigger somehow. Josie has done so-so about staying in bed. We've taken away the paci when she gets out of bed, but that doesn't seem to bother her, so we're going ahead and taking it away for good. =]

Wesley has kind of, sorta, decided he wants to potty train. I'm not really pushing it, because I get frustrated too easily. So he does better some hours/days than others, but he is making progress, so I think he'll be done in a month or two.

Carlise is no longer taking naps. Not because she doesn't want to, but because even though she gets in bed at 8, she doesn't fall asleep until 9:45. On the plus side she gets to do some activities by herself that she couldn't do if the younger two were up. We're still trying to decide about her going to school next year.

And I actually updated my private blog.

so far this year

After feeling gypped of our 2 weeks of Ben at home (recuperating from the 1 inch hole the Dr. cut into the back of his neck for an infection), we had record lows in our area at the same time our heater stopped working. We were able to get the home warranty people to call someone out here to check it out, but since it was the weekend they couldn't get the part until Wednesday. Pam lent us 2 space heaters and after tripping a couple breakers, realized we have a screwy wiring set-up in our house. Unplugging the washer outside & running an extension cord through the old doggy door, we were finally able to get them both working and keep the house warm & toasty.

The day after the heater was fixed the water heater stopped working. Are you laughing yet? Called the gas company and for only $100 they could give us a new 50 gallon water heater, install it, and fix the piping/venting necessary(we had a 30 gallon tank) and they were able to come over that day. So awesome!

As they left, the water heater guys informed me that my main water line was now leaking, but they couldn't get my water turned off, so I'd need to fix that soon. I wrote down what they said I needed to buy and what to replace. Ben got Pa-pa Joe to come over and the two of them got it all taken care of - after the water company came out to turn off the water (the shutoff valve was seriously stuck).

So after that trying week, we have a much better outlook over here. We are very grateful for the modern conveniences we are blessed with and now know we can make it through imperfect times as a family.

Thank You Uncle Denny!