Memorial Day and a Birthday!!

Ryan had a four day weekend which doesn't happen often around here. It was to make up for the fact that he was on-call for Mother's day and will be on-call for Father's day next month too. It just so happened that his birthday happened to fall within that four day weekend as well. Friday Ryan had to go and round on a patient so he took Meysa with him for a little Daddy-Daughter time. They had breakfast in the hospital cafeteria, which Meysa thought was pretty cool. They had to get up early which meant everyone else was up early. Needless to say we all took a nap later in the afternoon and it was heavenly. Saturday we decided to head to the coast for the afternoon. It was a beautiful, sunny day in town so we were hoping it would be the same in Ocean Shores. While there was no rain, we did have lots of wind and grey skies. Bummer---We had a good time though. The kids loved looking for sea shells and cool rocks. Lauryn loved playing in the sand and even little Wyatt got to experience sand for the first time. He loved it a little too much. He got really excited and then it got in his mouth then up in his eyes and then it wasn't as fun as it was only moments before!! We spent about an hour there and then decided the kids were cold enough and we headed home. Not but 4-5 miles from the beach we hit blues skies and were really bummed that we didn't have that on the beach. Sunday we enjoyed our normal Sabbath day routine of Church and quiet time. Monday was our Dear OLD Dad's birthday as well as Memorial Day. We started the day off with the multi-ward Memorial Day breakfast. It was a little chilly but good food so we were willing to endure a few goosebumps. We got home from a quick trip to the store and the kids couldn't wait for Ryan to open his gifts!! It was a nice day so we took the kids to the park and let them run off steam before coming home to have steak and shrimp on the grill, along with corn on the cob and Italian potatoes. We ran out of propane right before we put on the shrimp but thankfully the steaks were done. I hope Ryan had a good birthday. It was so nice having him home for a few days to just be with the family. I know the kids loved having him home and getting to do things with them. These times aren't plentiful so we take full advantage when we do get them!!!

At last!!

I started this project of making the girls quilts for their beds in Sept-Oct 2008. I had the tops done by Thanksgiving and then they sat, and sat. Ryan's Aunt Beth has a long arm quilter and I was hoping to have her show me how to quilt using that. I know how to hand quilt, but don't have stands nor did I want to hand quilt 2 quilts and 2 shams. The problem was timing- There was never a time when I could go and spend a whole day quilting. So I asked Ryan's aunt if she would quilt them and I would pay her. Good thing I did or these quilts wouldn't be done for years. Beth did an awesome job and I am so glad she did them for me!! The girls were so glad to have their new blankets on their beds. I finished the shams yesterday and have the curtains to do and their room is finished. This is the first time my kids have had matching stuff for their room. I love it!!!

Reflections of Christ

Our family was fortunate to be able to attend a gallery of Mark Mabry's photography yesterday. It is here on display at one of the meetinghouses close by and I am so glad that we took advantage of the opportunity. My kids loved it!! Ayden signed the guest book for our family and in the comments section he put "AMAZED". He had asked me what he should put down and I asked him how he felt and that was his answer. That pretty much sums it up...it was AMAZING. Meysa even wanted to go through again to look at all the photographs. If you ever get the chance to see the exhibt, don't pass it up!! I would love to have the book for my home as well.

OUCH!!!!

Well today Wyatt and Lauryn had their wellness checkups--9 mos. and 3 years respectively. Lauryn was super easy, growing, meeting all her milestones ect. Wyatt on the other hand decided he wanted to be a little more difficult. While he met all of his milestones he again barely gained any weight in the last two months. The Dr.'s didn't like that so they decided to do some blood work, take a urine and stool sample to see if there was some underlying issue or if he was just going to be like me...a runt!!! I also have to keep a food journal to chart how many calories he is taking in. (this was pre-doctor...and he still looks a little apprehensive!!)
Things went downhill fast. He of course didn't like people prodding or picking at him and he especially didn't like somebody poking him with a sharp needle. The bad part came when they had to stick him 5 different times in order to get enough blood. This little man has some killer platelets. His blood was clotting basically as soon as it hit air or even before that. The nurses could get a good vein, get the blood to start and just as soon as it would start it would clot. It was like milking blood from a turnip. Wyatt of course did not like being a pin cushion. They even had the ped oncology nurses come in and try to get a vein that would cooperate but no such luck!! Finally the Dr. came in a drew blood from his radial artery but as soon as they switched out collection syringes it clotted and was blown. Poor little guy. All the nurses felt so bad as did the Dr. But what can you do? So he got blood taken from both arms (three times) and both feet (twice). So far all the labs that have come back are normal so he might just be a runt like his mama. I don't think we needed the bruises to prove that!!

Sorry the pics are so wonderful. Wyatt was moving so much. He was having flashbacks of the blood draws, he didn't want me to hold on to nothing!!!

Golly Gee, Lauryn is THREE!!

It is hard to believe that just three years ago today little Lauryn was this small. Time has really flown by. Some days I wish she was this tiny again. She was a great baby, the snuggliest of all my kids. And now look how big and crazy she is!! To say that she has personality would be an understatment. She makes us laugh everyday and makes our days sunny and bright!!

Due to Ryan's current schedual he gets home too late for a party tonight so we had a party on Saturday so Ryan could be there. Grandma Margaret and Papa Greg were also coming up for Mother's day on Sunday so we thought it would be perfect. Saturday was a BEAUTIFUL day with sun and warm temps. In the morning we had Ayden's baseball game and then we went to the park to play and enjoy the day. Lauryn loved the slide, the swing and her new trick the balance beam. She was pretty proud of herself for getting to the end. She also loved picking flowers and just getting dirty!! After the park we came home and made homemade pizza, had salad and fresh strawberries. Then it was presents and cake and ice cream. Lauryn got a doll house which she loves and a new dress that she wore yesterday. She also got some birthday money that she got to spend today. I think she had a great birthday and is very happy to be 3!!! We love our Lauryn Colleen!!

Being A Mother

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there. I happen to be incredibly blessed to have THE world's greatest Mom. I know everyone says their Mom is the best but honestly mine is. I remember from a very young age wanting to be a Mother because I wanted to be just like my mom. My mom is all of the things that a righteous woman is and more. I often think of how lucky I am because of the Mom I got in this life. She makes me want to be a better Mom, wife and just overall a better woman. She is strong and faithful, fun and constant. I really hope she knows how much I love and appreciate the example that she is and continues to be to me. I love you Ma!!

What can I say about being a mother myself. It is hard and it is easy, all at the same time. It is hard because some days I just don't want to get out of bed to face a kitchen full of dishes, a mud room full of laundry and let's not mention the 2683 dirty diapers that I have thus far changed. Not to mention the fights I get to referee, the snotty noses I wipe and the lack of showers I get because there just isn't time. On the other hand it is easy because who can resist chubby fingers pointing at something new they have never seen or an infectious baby laugh, a child who just learned the ABC's, or they learn to ride their bike without training wheels? How about when they finally understand a gospel principle and gain a testimony of their Savior and their Heavenly Father? I guess we put in all the hard work for those moments of accomplishment that make us take a deep breath and think, "ok, I'm not such a bad parent and my kids might turn out ok." I love being a Mother. It is the hardest yet most rewarding job I have ever had. I wake up everyday hoping I don't screw up but know that if I do my kids love me anyway and will forgive me quickly. That is just how wonderful kids are!!

Ayden made me a Mother for the first time, and what a wonderful day that was. Ayden is such a great kid. He has an imagination in him that just never stops. It makes me wish that I could throw out all the "Mom" things I have to think about and just imagine for a day. He is athletic, which he didn't get from me. He is kind and thoughtful. He likes to draw and write stories. He loves to sing and play with friends. He is just carefree. He held Wyatt for me in church today (Ryan was on call and Lauryn wanted my attention) and almost had him asleep. He is a wonderful big brother and enjoys being the oldest....sometimes too much!! Together we enjoy building things out of Legos and really just talking about whatever his imagination comes up with.

I became a Mom for the second time when Meysa Lynn came into my world. What a joy she is. She loves to learn and explore. She isn't afraid of anything and is always willing to at least try. She is such a little mother already and is really good at helping me with Wyatt. She loves fingernail polish, chapstick, and anything girl related. She loves to play and pretend, and is a social butterfly. She loves playing dress up and princesses. From the first moments after she was born she has had what we call a Hot/Cold personality. Meaning she is either happy or not, but there is not in between. She screamed for a full thirty minutes after she was born until she was able to nurse. I am not talking crying, I am talking screaming. When Meysa is happy she is so happy, but when she is not...she really is not!! Finding what makes Meysa tick is a challenge, one that I take on happily. I love her spunk and her determination. I don't think many people will be able to get much past her. She knows what she wants and more often than not she will get it, somehow. She has a love for the gospel and for trying to do what is right. She has always been so thorough in her prayers to her Heavenly Father. I love the Mother she continues to teach me to be, I love her to pieces.

The third times the charm....Lauryn Colleen is one of a kind. She is so dainty but has a lot of spunk to her. Her personality just ooozes from her every pore. She brings much laughter to our home. She is tender hearted and loves to have fun. She loves to be read to and is learning her ABC's. She loves to pretend and sing. She is already good at having great conversations and that makes me afraid for the teenage years just a little. She is warm and affectionate, loving to give hugs and kisses. She loves to play outside for hours on end. She has hit the "I'll do it myself" stage full force, and she is really capable of doing a whole lot. She helps me slow down and enjoy the little moments. She makes me smile everyday. I love being her Mother.

Little Wyatt....what a blessing he is to me. He has such a calm spirit about him. He is a little more serious than the other kids. He doesn't give smiles away for free, you have to work for them. It takes him time to warm up to people and he likes to keep a safe distance until he feels comfortable. But oh what a smile he has and an infectious laugh too. He is so much fun. My heart is full when I look into his sweet little face. I don't think I could love him anymore without hurting myself seriously!!!

On this Mother's day I am thankful for my job as their Mother. I don't wish for even a day to be doing anything other than what I am doing in my home. Even after a looong, crazy day I wouldn't trade it for anything. I am glad I was given the opportunity to be the Mother of these four sweet spirits. I hope my effort at raising them correctly is pleasing to my Heavenly Father. I have to also thank my husband who supports me in my desire to stay at home and that he understands the importance of that. He is a good man, father and husband!!

Catcher vs. Outfield

To say that Ayden has improved in his baseball skills this year from last year would be a truthful statement. He throws the ball better, catches the ball better and is hitting the ball farther. He seems to grasp the idea of the play of the game, ie where to throw the ball once said ball is caught, ect. But there are obvious things that are hold overs from last year. Let me give you a good example of what I mean.

Ayden is really enjoying playing catcher this season. He gets to catch and throw the ball a lot and he is engaged in the game. He still closes his eyes sometimes when the ball comes at him even though he has all the gear on. He is good at controlling the ball and getting it back to the pitcher consistently after every pitch. Dare I say he looks like he even knows what he is doing?

Then they put him out in the outfield and everything he has learned goes out the window. I guess it has improved because he isn't having Star Wars battles by himself. He at least has moved onto playing imaginary baseball games while in a real baseball game.

(In the following pictures notice where everyone's attention is at vs. where Ayden's is at)

He is getting warmed up, he doesn't want to get injured while he sacrifices his body for the ball.

I have no idea, maybe getting in the "zone". Really I don't know!!

"No, No I got it, I got it" Who doesn't want to be the one to catch the game ending pop fly!!!?

And here I assume he is throwing some guy out at home plate to save the game.

There seems to be some discrepancy in his ability to pay attention in these two different positions. He must realize that if he doesn't pay attention behind the plate he will get drilled in the face by a ball. As opposed to the outfield, where balls rarely come. There is an entertaining quality about his outfield antics that I do appreciate though.

Can you see it?

Can you see our tiny blades of grass? With a few days of sunshine, the blades of grass are finally poking through. At this angle it looks pretty thick, but it is still sparse for the most part. Hopefully we can get a few more days of sunshine and not so much rain (I know a I am asking for a miracle) so it can continue to grow. Watching grass grow is kinda exhausting!!

Let's play Homeless!!

How do I start this one...I guess I'll set the scene.

A young man wearing several coats, looking really sad. He is holding onto the only thing he has left to his name, which is a purple wind pipe. He plods along until he finds his usual spot for playing his music hoping to get a few dollars in change. Along comes a young lady who just happens to have a few spare dollars in change and she listens intently to the young man's sad, sad song and feels so bad for him she gives him everything in her purse!

Now replay this scene over and over and you have my morning with the kids!! I was doing the breakfast dishes before taking Ayden to school. I see him find his purple wind pipe and start to play (I think that was what he was doing) a song. He already had on multiple coats from playing Clone Wars earlier (his armor) and then he had a wonderful idea. He solicits Meysa to play along. Imagine if he was an old guy who was poor and played his pipe for money!! Meysa thought it was a great idea. So I asked Ayden what he was playing (already knowing he was poor and sad). He said he was an old guy who was poor and needed money so he was playing music for it. I asked why he wasn't at work and he said he didn't have a job, hence him being poor. I asked what he would use the money he got from playing for. He informed me that he didn't know but maybe buy Legos!! I guess even pretend homeless people have their priorities!!

I know we live close to a large metropolis but honestly my kids haven't seen too many homeless people on the street corners. Or maybe they have and I haven't been aware of what they see from the backseat of the van. We don't have T.V. and I am pretty sure I don't recall any Disney movies we own with homeless people playing music for money. Makes me wonder where these kids come up with these things!! I have chuckled all morning thinking about those two kids playing homeless guy!! I guess at least we know that it is easy to get Meysa to sympathize with you!!!

We are on the Move!!

Wyatt has finally figured out how to get his arms and legs to work in the same direction. He is crawling now and is alot happier now that he can move. For the longest time he would get up on his hands and knees, but just rock back and forth. The last couple of days he has been reaching for things and realizing that he might just be able to move. It only took him a few days of that and he figured it out. Here are some pics we got tonight of him crawling. He also currently has three teeth that are coming in. He hasn't been the happiest camper but motrin has been our friend. We still think he is the cutest 8 1/2 month old around!!

Enjoy the video, but ignore my annoying voice please!!