I hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas! Ben rebuilt a used computer to be a newer faster computer for me than my old one. It's so nice to push a button and get an immediate response!
The kids are having a great time. Buster got a T-ball set, which he loves to no end. He is having a blast hitting the balls over and over! Kandy got a nice jewelry box to corral her trinkets. Missy got a lamp to clip to her headboard so she can read better on her bottom bunk. Sunny got a new quilt for the twin bed we are going to get for her soon.
Anyway, we will get some pictures up soon. I just had to do something on my new computer!
Merry Christmas!!!
House
Friday, December 25, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Quotable Quotes XXIII
1. After church, Ben was having a hard time buckling a wiggly Buster into his car seat.
"Buster," he said, "you're a nut!"
"N-n-nut!" yelled Buster.
2. Ben substitute taught in Sunbeams today. He asked the children to name some prophets. The list was fairly typical: Moses, Joseph Smith, and so on. Then one child piped up, "Barack Obama!"
Ben replied, "Um, no. That's a president, not a prophet."
3. This isn't a quote but another silly story. The other day, we had the doors to the van open while loading up at my parents house. It was dark, and it took quite a while to get all the kids out of Bama's house and into the Kendrick Bus. We finally got everyone in, closed the doors, and started off. After driving several blocks, Ben all of a sudden said, "What in the world?" and started grabbing at his feet.
"What?" I asked.
He took a minute before responding. "I think there's a cat in the car."
"What?"
"I just felt something bump into my leg. I reached down, and it was furry!" (He really hoped it was a cat, not a giant rodent.)
We pulled over, got the flashlight, and shone it around the car. Sure enough, one of my parents' neighbors' cats had gotten in the van! We're really glad we discovered it before getting home to Salt Lake! We turned around and returned the cat. Then we laughed all the way home! I've had OUR cat do that, but a neighbor cat? Seriously?
"Buster," he said, "you're a nut!"
"N-n-nut!" yelled Buster.
2. Ben substitute taught in Sunbeams today. He asked the children to name some prophets. The list was fairly typical: Moses, Joseph Smith, and so on. Then one child piped up, "Barack Obama!"
Ben replied, "Um, no. That's a president, not a prophet."
3. This isn't a quote but another silly story. The other day, we had the doors to the van open while loading up at my parents house. It was dark, and it took quite a while to get all the kids out of Bama's house and into the Kendrick Bus. We finally got everyone in, closed the doors, and started off. After driving several blocks, Ben all of a sudden said, "What in the world?" and started grabbing at his feet.
"What?" I asked.
He took a minute before responding. "I think there's a cat in the car."
"What?"
"I just felt something bump into my leg. I reached down, and it was furry!" (He really hoped it was a cat, not a giant rodent.)
We pulled over, got the flashlight, and shone it around the car. Sure enough, one of my parents' neighbors' cats had gotten in the van! We're really glad we discovered it before getting home to Salt Lake! We turned around and returned the cat. Then we laughed all the way home! I've had OUR cat do that, but a neighbor cat? Seriously?
Friday, December 18, 2009
Quotable Quotes XXII
I was talking to Sunny about what she wants for Christmas. She started listing several large toys she would like to receive, and I responded, "What if Daddy and I tell Santa that you already have too many toys?"
"If you do that, they will stop making toys for everyone, so no parents should tell Santa that!"
"If you do that, they will stop making toys for everyone, so no parents should tell Santa that!"
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Internet
How did people live without the Internet? I know how I lived without it as a kid, but the proliferation of the Internet coincided neatly with my entry into adulthood as a college student. I love the Internet!
For one thing, it helps me feel socially connected as a SAHM through blogging (mine and others) and facebook. It is also amazing for doing research! I can research everything from cribs and high chairs to which actors were in which movies from the comfort of my office chair. When doing price and product comparisons, it's easy to pause to help kids, and I don't have to haul 3, 4, or 5 kids to a store just to look at something. I recently went shopping with my mom for clothes, and browsing was such a weird experience for me. If I get to the store (other than the grocery store), I am on a mission! I almost always walk in, get what I need and leave as quickly as possible because I either have kids with me or feel like I need to get home to them as soon as I can.
This year I am particularly grateful because getting out to do holiday errands is very tricky with a brand new baby. First of all, we want to keep him away from germs as much as possible. In fact, the nurses at the pediatrician's office recommend keeping him away from public gatherings if at all possible until he is 4 months old! Second, finding time between feedings and the other kids' schedules is tough. Today, though, I finished shopping for one family on my list. Yay! It's even going to be shipped straight to them, saving me a trip to the post office.
I am so thankful for the Internet!
For one thing, it helps me feel socially connected as a SAHM through blogging (mine and others) and facebook. It is also amazing for doing research! I can research everything from cribs and high chairs to which actors were in which movies from the comfort of my office chair. When doing price and product comparisons, it's easy to pause to help kids, and I don't have to haul 3, 4, or 5 kids to a store just to look at something. I recently went shopping with my mom for clothes, and browsing was such a weird experience for me. If I get to the store (other than the grocery store), I am on a mission! I almost always walk in, get what I need and leave as quickly as possible because I either have kids with me or feel like I need to get home to them as soon as I can.
This year I am particularly grateful because getting out to do holiday errands is very tricky with a brand new baby. First of all, we want to keep him away from germs as much as possible. In fact, the nurses at the pediatrician's office recommend keeping him away from public gatherings if at all possible until he is 4 months old! Second, finding time between feedings and the other kids' schedules is tough. Today, though, I finished shopping for one family on my list. Yay! It's even going to be shipped straight to them, saving me a trip to the post office.
I am so thankful for the Internet!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Global warming? I think not...
I received a link from my grandfather that I would love to share with everybody! The idea that global warming is human-caused is a conspiracy. I have seen tons of excellent evidence that this is just part of the natural cycle. I do think we need to be wise stewards of our planet and not harm it unnecessarily. I recycle when possible and try to use more energy efficient things when it fits in my budget. As for global warming, you don't have to take my word for it:
Hurricane Expert Rips Climate Fears
What do you think of this issue?
Hurricane Expert Rips Climate Fears
What do you think of this issue?
Friday, December 4, 2009
2 Week Doctor Visit
Abel went to the doctor today. He is 8 pounds! She is pleased with his weight gain, and so are we! He is healthy in every other way, too.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Running to Stand Still
Yes, it's long and musing. There is a point at the end, though, I promise!
"Abel" did not gain very much weight before his 2-day visit, so the doctor decreed that he should eat every 2 hours. Abel is also a lazy nurser. He generally likes to eat about 20 minutes per side. This means that out of every 2 hours, I have been spending roughly 50 minutes in the process of feeding, burping, and changing him. Luckily, with the Thanksgiving break, Ben and the older girls have been around much of the time to help. My mom has also been amazing. I have sometimes lamented the fact that she doesn't just come to stay for a whole week after the birth of a baby, but I think it's better this way. She didn't come for an entire week, but she can still come when I need her past the first week.
Anyway, I think Abel is putting on weight nicely now. I don't have a scale, but his cheeks sure seem chubbier to me! The past couple of days I have sometimes let him stretch 2 1/2 to 3 hours between feedings. This morning, he ate around 9am. Then he actually stayed awake after, which is unusual for him. (He mostly likes to be awake from 11pm to 1am and not much else.) I then tried to put him down for a nap. I laid down with him, and naturally, we both fell asleep. Buster came in when the TV came to a break, which is good because it woke me up. I realized I should make some lunch for Sunny and Buster. I was hoping Abel would continue to sleep for a while, but as I chivvied Buster and Sunny downstairs so they wouldn't be underfoot while cooking, Abel started crying.
I must confess that I often use the television to keep the kids out from underfoot. Sometimes it goes beyond use to abuse, unfortunately. Such was the case this morning. The TV had been on for most of the time from 7am until 11am, except for breakfast. Neither Sunny nor Buster was there the WHOLE time, but they had each watched about 3 hours. So here I am, trying to make lunch. Buster started opening all the cupboards and drawers in the kitchen, and Sunny was whining. After they went downstairs, Sunny was pouting (she wanted me to play with her) and Buster was amusing himself by hitting her and pulling her hair. Abel was crying in his bed. I decided that he could keep crying for a few minutes while I got lunch started.
I served lunch and fed the baby. After lunch, Sunny said she was tired and went downstairs. Buster finished, and I put him down for a nap. Abel, exhausted after his crying spell and waiting for his lunch, zonked out while eating and remained so after I put him in bed.
At about 12:15, I looked around the house. An hour before, three kids had been adamant about needing something! Crying, whining, misbehaving... Now, peace and quiet. I almost didn't know what to do with myself. Now I have had a delightful hour and a half. I put dinner in the Crock-Pot (yay!), did some dishes, and still had time for a peaceful lunch and leisure time in front of the computer. It's about time to get Abel up and feed him again, but now I'm recharged and ready.
I have learned that in parenting, it's often not so much bad days as bad hours. Sometimes it's just a very bad 10 minutes. And sometimes, yes, there are so many bad periods that the whole day seems bad. If I can take a minute to regroup and tell myself it can't last much longer, I somehow survive. Today it was a quick prayer as Abel started crying, and I knew that to cope, he would just have to wait a minute. I'm grateful for the inspiration I receive in this challenging job. And it is crazy to go from insanity to near-boredom in 10 minutes flat. Oh, and now I hear Abel.
Have a great day!
"Abel" did not gain very much weight before his 2-day visit, so the doctor decreed that he should eat every 2 hours. Abel is also a lazy nurser. He generally likes to eat about 20 minutes per side. This means that out of every 2 hours, I have been spending roughly 50 minutes in the process of feeding, burping, and changing him. Luckily, with the Thanksgiving break, Ben and the older girls have been around much of the time to help. My mom has also been amazing. I have sometimes lamented the fact that she doesn't just come to stay for a whole week after the birth of a baby, but I think it's better this way. She didn't come for an entire week, but she can still come when I need her past the first week.
Anyway, I think Abel is putting on weight nicely now. I don't have a scale, but his cheeks sure seem chubbier to me! The past couple of days I have sometimes let him stretch 2 1/2 to 3 hours between feedings. This morning, he ate around 9am. Then he actually stayed awake after, which is unusual for him. (He mostly likes to be awake from 11pm to 1am and not much else.) I then tried to put him down for a nap. I laid down with him, and naturally, we both fell asleep. Buster came in when the TV came to a break, which is good because it woke me up. I realized I should make some lunch for Sunny and Buster. I was hoping Abel would continue to sleep for a while, but as I chivvied Buster and Sunny downstairs so they wouldn't be underfoot while cooking, Abel started crying.
I must confess that I often use the television to keep the kids out from underfoot. Sometimes it goes beyond use to abuse, unfortunately. Such was the case this morning. The TV had been on for most of the time from 7am until 11am, except for breakfast. Neither Sunny nor Buster was there the WHOLE time, but they had each watched about 3 hours. So here I am, trying to make lunch. Buster started opening all the cupboards and drawers in the kitchen, and Sunny was whining. After they went downstairs, Sunny was pouting (she wanted me to play with her) and Buster was amusing himself by hitting her and pulling her hair. Abel was crying in his bed. I decided that he could keep crying for a few minutes while I got lunch started.
I served lunch and fed the baby. After lunch, Sunny said she was tired and went downstairs. Buster finished, and I put him down for a nap. Abel, exhausted after his crying spell and waiting for his lunch, zonked out while eating and remained so after I put him in bed.
At about 12:15, I looked around the house. An hour before, three kids had been adamant about needing something! Crying, whining, misbehaving... Now, peace and quiet. I almost didn't know what to do with myself. Now I have had a delightful hour and a half. I put dinner in the Crock-Pot (yay!), did some dishes, and still had time for a peaceful lunch and leisure time in front of the computer. It's about time to get Abel up and feed him again, but now I'm recharged and ready.
I have learned that in parenting, it's often not so much bad days as bad hours. Sometimes it's just a very bad 10 minutes. And sometimes, yes, there are so many bad periods that the whole day seems bad. If I can take a minute to regroup and tell myself it can't last much longer, I somehow survive. Today it was a quick prayer as Abel started crying, and I knew that to cope, he would just have to wait a minute. I'm grateful for the inspiration I receive in this challenging job. And it is crazy to go from insanity to near-boredom in 10 minutes flat. Oh, and now I hear Abel.
Have a great day!
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