HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PAISLEY!

Our sweet baby Paisley turned one-year-old on April 24th. We had a little family celebration on Saturday, the 25th, complete with yummy food and chocolate cake. Our guests were Papa Powers, Uncle Terry, Uncle Mike and Aunt Lora, Uncle Trevor and Aunt Alyssa, and Cousin Brian. It was a beautiful day and fairly windy so we went across to the park to fly a kite. Even Papa Powers came! It was so fun and we felt so child-like and carefree. Paisley was in heaven getting to explore the whole park without anyone bothering her. It also was Grandma Powers birthday, whom Paisley didn't get to meet here on earth. We asked everyone, in lieu of a gift, to write a special note, thought, or memory about her and Aunt Lora put them in a beautiful scrapbook. We felt it was a great way to honor her and for Paisley to have something to know her Grandmother by. What better gifts could we all have given her? I did wrap a box of Kleenex for her to unwrap.

What I remember most about Grandma Powers is how happy and positive she was all the time. Through all of her medical problems and battle with cancer, I never once heard her complain. She would always downplay everything and do her best to convince us that it would be alright. She was always so complimentary and never criticized anyone except for President and Hillary Clinton. She wanted desperately to be here long enough to meet her precious new granddaughter, Paisley. She couldn't wait to kiss her soft skin and hold her close. Sadly, she didn't make it that long, but we like to think that she smothered Paisley with hugs and kisses in heaven before her birth. She adored her grandchildren and made each one of them feel special. She supported her children in their choices, always allowing them to find their own way.

My precious Paisley,

When I was pregnant with you the doctor called to let me know they found something alarming on the ultrasound and wanted me to get a more detailed and thorough ultrasound. He said that there was only one artery in the umbilical cord giving you the essentials for life, instead of two. He advised me to try not to worry and that we would take it one step at a time. My first thought was that I would rather die than have something happen to you. But after the initial fear subsided, I was overcome with a peaceful feeling that all would be alright, no matter what happened. Sure enough, you arrived without incident (to you anyway) and you were so peaceful and calm right from the start. Your brother couldn't wait to meet you and your sister was happy to have a new doll to play with. Your daddy cried tears of joy when he saw you and his protection over you began immediately. A happier baby there never was. You never cried, partly because of your nature and partly because I did my best to tend to your needs before you needed to cry. You were a good sleeper right from the start and as time went on, so did the amount of hours you slept each night. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't keep you from growing, learning and trying new things. I knew how important this was for you to do, but I just wanted you to stay that sweet newborn who cuddles and nuzzles into me. Your first smile was so thrilling! Those people who say it's just gas have no idea what they're talking about. Your smile was genuine, I could tell. And it was just as exciting to us as Gage's and Bella's first smile. Somehow I felt that we wouldn't get as silly about your first milestones, being such experienced parents (Ha!), but oh, how I was wrong. You weren't in a huge hurry to crawl and you certainly don't seem to mind not walking, despite the strawberries and raspberries on your knees and tops of your feet. You must sense that I'm not ready to relinquish your baby-hood. Your brother, Gage, can make you laugh just by looking at you. Your sister, Bella, talks to you each morning and night from her crib across from you and the two of you laugh and entertain each other in your own secret sister language. You frequently crawl to them and put your head on their shoulders for hugs. You love to give kissess, albeit open-mouth and extra slobber. You point to things and people in a frenzy, thirsting for knowledge. "Moo (your version of it)" was your first word, when asked what a cow says. This was followed by Dadadadadada. Daddy has you performing all his tricks, like his other two little monkeys did. You love to clap your hands and you get so excited at "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "Pat-A-Cake". Especially, the part where I draw the letter on your stomach, which incites such giggles. When we ask you to say "Mama" you take the back of your hand to your mouth while making noise, simulating your best Mamamamama. You just barely this week started to say "Mama" without that. You are so chubby and roly-poly - all the more to smooch and eat up, I say. As I dreaded, you are gaining your independence little by little each day. You want to feed yourself, you want to get from Point A to Point B without being touched, and you want EVERYTHING that anyone else has in their hands. We are so blessed to have you in our family and are already learning from you. May you always remain peaceful, happy, calm and loving. Especially through the toddler and teenage years! May you feel our love for you and our desire for you to make good choices. May you know our Father in Heaven and His shared desire with us for your eternal happiness. May your siblings be your best friends and help to guide and protect you. And may your second year of life go more slowly than the first. We love you and want you to feel the joy that you bring to us each day.

THIS AND THAT

We went to the Easter Pageant at the temple for the first time ever. I can't believe I've never gone before. It's possible my parents took us when we were little, but I have no memory of it. We took Bella to our friend Karla's house and took her two nephews along with Gage and Paisley. It was so well-done and Gage was mesmerized. We were lucky to have Paisley be happy.

All of the little cousins got together for an Easter Egg Hunt and then devoured all of their candy. They were so wired, but had so much fun and got along really well. So well that we grown-ups were able to visit some for once! Gage was singing Primary songs as he was hunting for eggs. Uncle Trevor got a kick out of that. Bella was so happy to have Maya and Callie here. She loves the girls.

Gage went to play at the Narducci's and they did some Easter crafts. He made me this cute little bird's nest with little eggs and a bird on top. He told me to put it in a special place and to think about him when I saw it. I put it on the window sill right above the kitchen sink, which he approved of. He'll sometimes ask me if I'm thinking about him when I'm standing at the sink.

Aaron and his girls came up the next weekend to play! We went to a birthday party on Saturday at this fun park in Chandler. They have a great playground area and a splash zone. They also had water balloons for a fight that brought lots of screams and some tears too. One of the uncles of the birthday boy brought along this self-made train (out of a golf cart and some wagons tied together) and gave all the kids rides. And, of course, cake!! They had a ball! On the way home, Rob spotted a sign on the street corner that read, "Baby Turtles". He did a fast U-turn and needless to say, we now have two baby turtles. The turtle lady said they like companionship. They are named Myrtle and Crush. Myrtle belongs to my niece, Lily, who wasn't allowed to take hers home. Hmmm....a parent who tells their child no. That's an interesting concept. Actually, Gage didn't even get a chance to ask if he could get a turtle. Before he even knew what was happening, Rob was at the turtle table holding them. Thankfully, Bella was passed out in the car, otherwise we may have come home with 10 turtles!! I must say, they are pretty cute. As it turns out, Myrtle and Crush do NOT like each other and have resisted our forced attempts at companionship.

The kids love to help me in the kitchen with all sorts of things. They like to help stir, get their hands messy, and spill things. They ask me to turn on the music and dance while we make things. It definitely brightens the task of making dinner!

The binky fairy is about to pay a visit to Bella, but she can't decide if she should take Paisley's binkies too. After all, her goal is to take binkies from big girls to provide them for babies. Well, Paisley is a baby and really likes her binky. And we really rely on her binky, especially in church! I know I've said a hundred times that the binkies are going, going gone. Could you take them away from this girl??? Seriously, she walks around like this A LOT!

I took Gage to his eye doctor for his routine checkup. Or should I say routine lecture?? Here's the problem. The doctor wants Gage to wear this eye patch (it HAS to be adhesive and can't be a play Pirate patch) every day for 3-4 hours, emphasis on the 4. I know that this is necessary to make his eye stronger, but it is pure torture for both of us. I resolve every night at bed to be sure to make him wear his patch the next day, but for various reasons (excuses), it doesn't happen very often. After this visit, however, I've decided that the torture of being humiliated or given a scathing lecture by this doctor is much worse. Gage agreed and he's worn it every day since. Yaayyy! By the way, this is what he looks like when he doesn't consistently wear his patch. Sorry, Gage, this is just too funny.

We talked to Grandma and Papa LaDuke on Skype recently with the kids. Grandma asked Gage what he's been doing and he said, "Oh, this and that." Too funny.

Today, as we were driving in the car, Gage was teasing Bella and making her upset. Then out of nowhere he said that he missed Grandma Powers. He asked me if I remembered when she was in the hospital and everyone was crying (that was over a year ago and he was 3). He said that she died for no reason. I asked him what he meant and he said that Jesus died for all of us to take all of our sins away, but Grandma died for no reason. I'm simply not equipped to respond to this, so I didn't. And then he went back to teasing.

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.