SWEET HUSBAND

I was feeling a bit down this week and haven't done too good a job of keeping up the house. Toys were strewn about, trash piling up, dishes in the sink AND on the counters, laundry mounds growing and the worse the house looked, the worse I felt. For some reason, I just couldn't bring myself to doing anything about it until last night. I made a small attempt by picking up a few toys and putting away some laundry. This morning I got the kids dressed, fed and out the door for my daily torture at bootcamp. In the car, I was dreading the cleaning I knew I'd finally have to face when we got home.



We walked in the door and I could tell immediately that a magic fairy had visited and cleaned the WHOLE house. The washer and dryer were running, counters sparkling, carpet with vacuum lines, and beds made. That magic fairy was my sweet husband who could see I needed a little hop in my step.

To my hubby: Thank you, thank you, thank you. You have no idea what a gift that was.

BABY COWS

Near our house there is a neighborhood of farms and often I will take the kids through there to see all the animals: cows, horses, chickens, roosters, goats, sheep, ostriches, donkeys, etc. They absolutely love it and never want to leave. Today at our favorite spot, there was a whole group of cows with three new babies that were soooo cute (if you can call a cow cute). I pointed to it and excitedly told the kids, "Look at that baby cow!!" And Gage said, "Mama, you don't have to say baby cow, you can say calf!" Pardon me.

On that same outing I had the radio on (I am addicted to talk radio right now, although I don't know why because it just stresses me out). Anyway, there was a commercial for some kind of parenting manual and it mentioned that it could solve all your problems with backtalking, disrespect, whining, etc. I didn't pay much attention to it because I was looking at the CALF, but Gage said, "Mama, you should get that! You should get that book they were talking about on the radio to teach us to be good!" Funny that the one I'm trying to teach the most right now is the one who wants to be taught to be good. Why can't he just be that sweet and good ALL THE TIME?? But then, I guess, who is?

We had Gage's friends, Reese and Wade, over this morning and we all went with Karla and Natalie and Karla's two nephews to the library for storytime. Before entering the library, Karla and I were going over proper library etiquette. That's a laugh! Two seconds after walking through the doors, those boys took off running. We had a total of 5 boys and 3 girls between us. The girls were sweet. The boys were boys. Storytime was on break because of Spring Break so we walked over to the Riparian to see the turtles and ducks and let the kids play. The boys spotted some ducklings that were still yellow and precious. It was already way too hot for me and my kids (that's one thing they inherited from me - sweating. Poor things.) Bella wanted nothing to do with me and cried everytime I tried to pick her up to show her something. She wanted only Karla and Natalie. That's how she was at the zoo the other day with Mary Kay and her kids. Why is that, I wonder? Oh, well. We left and got all the kids ice cream cones from McD's which hit the spot. Wonder Woman Karla now has all the kids, minus Paisley, Reese, and Wade over at her house from some swimming. So while I sit in a cool house reflecting on the day thus far and about to start reading a parenting book that will teach my children to be good, Paisley sleeping soundly in the next room, Karla is managing five kiddos out in the heat alone. Sorry, Karla and thank you. You rock.

I went to workout tonight, so Rob put the kids to bed while I was away. When I got home I checked on each of them, giving them a kiss on their foreheads. When I kissed Gage, he woke a little and I sang him a lullaby. He said, "Thank you, Mama. Thank you for teaching me to listen." I'm not sure where that came from but it was sweet.

I caught Rob singing, "Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree" to Paisley as he changed her diaper. I didn't let him know I caught him, though, because he might never do it again and it was too priceless to hear only once.

Gage was asked to give the scripture in Primary on Sunday. It is D&C 88:119 and it is quite long. But he decided he wanted to memorize it, which actually didn't take him too long. We practiced it everyday and he had it down pat. Rob and I sat in the back as they called his name. He was beaming and so excited to stand at the podium to show how he knew it. The primary counselor must have assumed that at his age he would need help so she stood there and before he could even begin, she whispered it into his ear. We were so disappointed, but didn't let on to Gage. He still did great. We really wanted him to show off how well he had memorized it, and our pride got shoved down our throat! That's what we get, I suppose!

Bella and I Spy. These two are best friends lately. We played I Spy on our road trip to Disneyland and Bella is hooked. Her version is somewhat different, however.

It goes like this:

Bella: Let's play I Spy. I spy something......red!!
The rest of us: Is it the car? Is it the sign?
Bella: No (to everything we guess), Your turn Mama!
Mama: I spy something blue.
Bella: Blue? Oh......(laughs). Your turn Daddy!
Daddy: I spy something yellow.
Bella: Yellow? Oh....(laughs) My turn!! I spy something......red.

She spies something red EVERY time and when we guess she says no and moves on. She doesn't even bother to guess on our turns, she just says, "Oh" and laughs. It's so cute.

SPOILED

We couldn't resist the invitation to go to Disneyland with Aaron and his girls. They were off from school on Thursday and Friday, so we decided to take a short trip over there. AGAIN!! We just went in December, so I must say we were feeling pretty guilty about going again so soon. But we justified it by saying it would be a good bonding experience for our kids and their cousins.

It was fantastic having the girls there. We had a blast going on all the rides together, while Rob and I took turns staying with the little girls on the rides they couldn't go on. Our little kids LOVED all the characters and we spent a lot of time just taking pictures of them.

We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel which houses Goofy's Kitchen (a restaurant). It was buffet style food, which is typically not my favorite, but the food was scrumptious. It also cost a pretty penny, so when we ate dinner there with the girls our last night we told them to get our money's worth. We all pigged out!!

LOTS TO CATCH UP ON

We have been so busy these last couple of months, as is everyone, but I want to be sure to document some of the events.

We had a vist from Billy, Alicia and family in early February. They made a short stop here and then up to Snowflake for a week and then back down here. The kids played out back pretty much non-stop, which was great. The weather couldn't have been nicer. Most of the LaDukes got together for a fishing outing, which pleased Rob. Actually, we took two or three fishing outings while they were here. Rob is so into fishing right now. I suppose I understand the desire for peace, quiet, and relaxation. (Or as Gage would say, "a piece of quiet"). All the little cousins had a blast playing, fishing, running around, and mostly playing with the worms. Alicia, aka Martha Stewart, also helped me to break in my manual wheat grinder, after which I decided to retire it and save for an electric wheat grinder. We made some delicious bread, cinnamon biscuits and fry bread. My first venture into this kind of thing, I'm embarrassed to admit at the age of 34. Delicious!!!

We have had lots of fun days at the park. We are so lucky to live here in this beautiful weather and I love to take full advantage of it before it gets so HOT!! Gage has really taken to his bike (FINALLY!!) and loves to go on rides with me. Sometimes I'll take the girls in the bike trailer too. Gage and Bella are having more and more fun together. I can't wait to see Paisley get to join in someday. Bella ADORES her big brother and wants to be just like him. She copies everything he does and says. Gage loves to dress up in his Batman costume and not to be outdone, Bella dresses up in his Power Ranger costume and they battle it out, despite my insistence that they are both GOOD superheroes. Oh, well.

We have been really struggling with Gage and his overall attitude. He is such a good boy, but has a temper and a knack for mimicking his dad. I think I've said before, it is really funny when Rob does it, but NOT so funny from a 4-year-old. I cringe to even imagine what other people must think of some of the things Gage says and does, not knowing Rob. Rob was such a little ham growing up and his mom used to tell me how alike their personalities are. Rob got into all kinds of trouble as a child, adolescent, and teenager. Interesting how all of these stories are so funny to all of us now. One particularly sassy, smart-alec-y day, I asked Gage how he thought he could do better and he thought he should pray to ask for help in being more respectful and obedient. When he finished, he asked how he knew if his prayer was heard and answered. I told him he would get a nice, warm feeling. But then he wanted to know why Heavenly Father and Jesus didn't come to see him with a bright light. He said, "When Joseph Smith was praying for help about the true church, they came to see him with a big bright light!! How come they don't come to see me???" At the end of it all, he said he felt like his prayer was going to work. My prayer is: Please, can my 4-year-old just be a 4-year-old???

We had another nice visit with Papa Powers. It has been a year since Rob's mom passed away. It has gone by so quickly in some ways, and so slowly in others. Papa Powers said it has been a rough year, but he's glad to be around to see his grandchildren. He sure gets a kick out of them, even though he can't remember Paisley's name most of the time. But I don't mind. He just calls her "my beautiful girl". She sure is. Gage keeps him on his toes and Bella just loves on him the whole time. Well, when she's not rummaging through the goody cabinets. He loves to hold Paisley, but can only do so in small doses as her gi-normous body is too much for his back to handle. They are so lucky to have this time with him, time we all cherish.