Peas and bikes

RANDOM THINGS:

• I had a strange dream that I served my kids green peas and had them eat them with toothpicks. I remember waking up and thinking, "peas? My kids HATE peas! They used to like peas, but now they don't!" When I made lunch, I remembered the dream again, and decided to try it. Why not? So I told them to eat their peas with toothpicks and you know what? That dream was REVELATION, people, REVELATION!!! Okay, well, whatever it was, my kids were thrilled. They ate their peas all down. ALL THREE OF THEM. I couldn't believe it! Such a simple trick and they re-discovered their fondness for peas.
• #1 taught herself to ride a bike. I am not kidding you --she is 5 years old and never had a bike with training wheels. We got a great old bike from a neighbor, but there were no training wheels on it. That did not stop her --she's been trying to ride it for a couple of weeks now, and just the other day (Friday, was it?) she was excited to show us that she could ride a 2-wheeler. And she can RIDE it. Really ride it! No tricks! I was floored. Today she rode it to a friend's house down the street --how did she do it? She's freakin' brilliant, that's why!
• #1 lost her second tooth this morning...yay!
• Tomorrow for Halloween, I'm having a party for my preschool. Fun! I'm still debating on wearing my scary wig with clown make-up or going for the scary....hmmm....probably go for the clown. A nice clown. My kids might freak out if I'm scary....
• We carved pumpkins tonight --I had forgotten how messy it could be. But it's so fun with the kids! They make everything so fun and exciting. Nothing is mediocre in their life --it's all amazing and everything is so BIG.
• DH is really sick. We're hoping it doesn't turn into Bronchitis, but you never know. I can tell it's bad because he's been sleeping so much. I worry about him...

P.S. Brenbot --I'll take pictures of my hair tomorrow, I promise!!!

Primary Program is over!

So the Primary Program is done!

I was pretty nervous. It was my first Sacrament Meeting Program as the Primary Pres. in our ward, I wrote the whole thing, directed it, and felt lots of pressure. There are so many details to work out with this thing! I'm just glad that we only had 68 children in the Program, versus the 121 my parent's ward has...

Anyway, it actually went really well. We did a good job practicing over the last few weeks --the pizza party we had Saturday was a good incentive and a lot of kids showed up. But the kids were great --they knew their parts (helped that they were one-liners), they knew their songs (thanks to GREAT choristers), and most of all --they were reverent. I have to say that the reverence surprised and delighted me all at the same time. Man, they are great kids.

I was asked to speak after the Program, and to be honest, I think that was the worst part. Luckily, I wrote every word down, so I practically read it --but it went over well. You can always tell --when audience members are crying the same time you are, well, they must like it, eh?

Anyways, so it's done. Now all I have to worry about is Halloween, our cruise, piano lessons, preschool, Thanksgiving, Christmas, possible moving, whatever new job DH gets, the 10 year reunion, getting ready for the new baby, etc. etc. etc. But somehow, with the Program out of the way, it all seems easy from this point on!

Ha. Ha. :)

Back to normal

I finally dyed my hair back to it's natural color today. My good neighbor is a freakin' genius when it comes to hair, and I swear I will go to her forever. A friend of mine had dyed my hair a lighter color last Spring, but I decided to go back to the dark color. But because my hair was so light, my neighbor had to make sure the color stayed in for a while, and so it's almost a shade darker than usual. DH was shocked and thought I had dyed it black at first --then he saw a picture from 2 years ago and realized my hair has always been that way, a.k.a. DARK. And even though it is a tad darker than usual, it still matches my eyebrows. :)

Anyways, I'll be going back for some dark and natural looking highlights next week.

Ahh, I love getting my hair done. Somehow it just feels refreshing, you know?

College Days

Almost 6 years ago, DH and I graduated from BYU. #1 was born 6 days earlier. And yes, I still walked! In my very own ceremony. I didn't want to be like those other wives that jump on the tailfeathers of their husband's graduation ceremony. Nothing wrong with it, I guess, but he didn't earn my degree! I did! I wanted my own ceremony, thank you very much!

Anyways, I really miss college. Not necessarily the demanding time --but the learning I did. The friends I made --the activities. Mostly the learning, though. I had some incredible experiences that have stayed with me --and frankly, anything I can remember at this point (after being pregnant 5 times) is quite the miracle. Most of it was from my major.

I used to feel bad that I didn't cut it as a music major. That somehow, I was less of a person. But as I've gone through my life, I realize that the most important things I've taken away from college come directly from those MFHD (Marriage, Family and Human Development) classes. I don't regret majoring in it anymore. I'm not ashamed of it. I'm glad that my college education prepared me for my roles as wife and mother. Of course, I always still tack on the fact that I minored in music. ;)

Anyways, I miss college enough that I'm thinking about going back for my Master's Degree. Not yet, mind you, but perhaps within the next 10 years or so, I might be your local Marriage and Family Therapist. Hmmm...that would be really cool....

Lots o' stuff

My Crazy Day post (see below somewhere) has been posted on Feminist Mormon Housewives. Go read it! (as if you need to read it again...)

The Primary Program is this Sunday. Yay! I'll be relieved when it's over, to tell you the truth. It's going well, but man, I'm nervous!

BIG NEWS: DH is changing jobs. We're kind of in the middle of job offers, interviews, etc. and he'll finish at his company the end of November. Wish us luck with the job choice!

#1 and #2 are cleaning up the playroom as I write this, and I heard #1 walk by the office and sigh, "I'm so TIRED!" Oh, the hard life of a 5 year old...

10 year planning...

I am in charge of my 10 year reunion this next summer. At first, it was exciting and incredibly overwhelming. But luckily, another alumni was just as interested in planning it as I was, and so together, we have embarked upon our new adventures: Planning a huge event for people that are practically now strangers.
It's actually going pretty well. We have some fabulous ideas, and we're making some headway reservation-wise. We have also gotten a hold of a lot of people, although not as many as we would like! What's exciting is that things are coming together very well, and even though there's still a lot of stuff to do, I can tell that it's gonna be worth it.
Thanks to all of you that gave me ideas --it helped a lot!

Can I do it again?

Pregnant women forget things. Okay, okay, ALL Mothers forget things. Many things. And it's not just labor. I mean, seriously, as I get closer to the due date (still 17 weeks away!), I admit that labor just doesn't sound as exciting as it was over 2 years ago. But it's more than that. I have forgotten so many things now that my baby is 2 years old. And I'm thinking it has a heck of a lot more to do with the fact that I'm focused completely on his developmental needs RIGHT now, as opposed to remembering what they WERE. You know what I mean?

Take #1 for example. I barely remember what it was like with her as an infant. I have snippets and snatches in my memory, but it's not as clear. Well, not clear now. See, when I had a baby before she turned 2, those memories transferred to #2 very easily. Then #3 came along when #2 was 18 months old. Again, transferrence and an easy time remembering how to mother an infant.

Now I'm terrified. I feel like a brand new mother all over again! People tell me to chill out --I'll figure it out, I'll remember when the time is right. And I'm sure they are right --in fact, deep down, I do believe that I'll be able to recall some awesome mothering strength of character during early morning feedings and/or umbilical cord care. But at the same time, I'm so scared that I've forgotten important things, you know? And it being my fourth child, I'm much to proud to go to a prenatal course or buy books on raising infants --I mean, come on! I'm a pro, right? I'm good at this by now, right?

~sigh~ Guess we'll just have to wait and see....

Another Crazy Day

• Woke up after having a nightmare: #2 fell in a river and I couldn't get to her....woke up crying. Took a shower ---calmed me down.
• Did morning routine: Feed, dress, and get kids ready. Get myself ready.
• No newspaper in the driveway. Suck.
• Take #1 to school
• Come back --DH already gone to an early meeting --and work on Primary Stuff
• Take #2 and #3 to Library time for our preschool field trip--fun time
• Immediately after go to Costco for milk, wet wipes, and asthma meds (and end up getting a ton more stuff we need/want/like/hadn't thought of/etc.)
• After Costco, go through drive-in at Wendy's and get lunch
• Pick up #1 from school
• Put freezer/fridge stuff from Costco in freezer/fridge
• Drive kids and lunch to "Lunch Bunch with kids" Enrichment activity.
• Eat lunch, kids play, moms talk
• Grateful for UEA and no dance class for #2
• Lose #3
• Entire group searching for #3
• Find #3 --Quick enough that panic had not set in, but long enough that I was starting to really worry
• Clean up, kids in the car, drop off some Primary stuff
• Take kids with me to midwife appt.
• Kids are good at first, but midwife is later than usual because of new patient
• Great appt. --kids are patient (during appt --not before!) and excited to hear the baby's heartbeat
• Get kids in car and head over to DH's office to say howdy
• Make DH come out to the car to say hello so I don't have to get them in and out and in again
• Go home. #3 down for a nap
• #1 and #2 watch some TV while I clean out and vaccuum the Tahoe --and start the laundry
• Three Stooges come over (Three YM--Priests--from our ward that have made our home their second home due to my great advice, free food, and --the biggest reason--our X-box)
• Finish cleaning up stuff from Tahoe in the house when first piano student arrives
• Good lesson
• 2nd student comes
• Bad lesson (AGAIN!!!--I'm getting frustrated with this student)
• Glad for Wednesdays and only 2 lessons (rather than the normal 5)
• DH comes home --plays with kids/has to work some more from home
• Three stooges leave
• Make dinner/eat dinner/clean up dinner
• DH goes to Mutual
• Kids to bed (pajamas, books, scriptures, prayers, drinks, personal prayers, love you, goodnight)
• Fold laundry/watch TV
• DH comes home/we watch TV and finish folding laundry
• BED. Blissful bed! Praying and hoping that there will be no more nightmares about children --specifically mine --dying. Remind myself I'm pregnant. Hormones. Hormones.

Guest Writer...me? :)

I was recently asked to be a guest writer on A Prayer of Faith. Go and check it out!

Prayer

#2's personal prayer tonight was as follows:

"Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for this day, please bless mom and dad and me (mom whispering "and #1 and #3") and bless #1 and #3 and bless us that we won't die and help us to know the Book of Mormon stories that our teachers tell to me, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen"

(Obviously, #1 and #3 have names, but I'm not posting them here. I had to supress laughing, especially afterwards when #1 said "We're not going to die, #2". I love the innocence!)

I figured it out!

I figured it out!

The Family: A Proclamation to the World states that a mother's responsibility is to nurture her children. I've often thought a lot about what that means. There have been several RS and SS lessons about parents (mothers) taking care of their kids --raising them in righteousness, being an example, caring for their physical and spiritual needs, etc. --and I've heard much about it in General Conference, Sacrament Meeting, and Stake Conferences, too. But try as I may to apply it to my life as a mother, I've always felt so inadequate and awkward. Discipline is important, yes, but what about letting them know you love them, too? Clean house, yes, but what about spending time with them? Scripture study, yes, but what if they don't pay attention?

Finally, this morning, as I forced myself off the couch (where I had been for a couple hours after #3's early morning risings) and started to get ready for church. Up until that point, everything had been kind of crazy, and the house showed it. Once I was dressed for Church, I got the kids involved in picking up the living room and kitchen, and within 20 minutes, the entire place was organized and presentable again. The kids got dressed and cleaned up, Hubby came home from his meeting in surprise (the house was clean?! On a Sunday?!), and I turned on "Music and the Spoken Word" to keep a calm mood.

As I was cleaning up the kitchen, feeling somewhat resentful that I didn't have more time to sleep, nor more time to lounge about in my pregnant state, nor children that were old enough to just get themselves cleaned up and ready, I stopped short with a lightening bolt of realization.

I heard in my mind all of these thoughts; they were in and around each other, and one led to another, but I'll write them the best that I can:

"Cheryl, you are a mother. You cannot rely on other adults anymore --you are the parent. These children, and yes, even your husband, need to be able to rely on you. There is no room for selfishness anymore. Do not mourn for the loss of your "you" time, because what you are doing as a responsible adult and as a mother is far more important. Be grateful that they need you. Be happy that they love you. Take care of them and do what you need to do to make sure that you can fulfill your responsibility. It's the most important thing you can do, you know."

That's it. Interpret as you will, but man, I've been given a great insight (and I have no doubt the Spirit was speaking to me) into who I am as a mother. In hopes that I will remember it forever, I am writing this down.

So, how about any of you? Have you ever had one of these eye-awakening moments when your role in your life was so well-defined? (whether it be mother, wife, sister, friend...)