My $.02

In case you missed it... I'm not pregnant any more. YAY!! One of these days I'll get to typing up the birth story. Until then though, I just had to comment on something I've noticed, and found funny. This time around we planned a home birth with and amazing midwife. The minute people find out we're doing a homebirth you can just see it. They have visions of my midwife, who I'm sure is named Sunshine or the like, driving and old VW bus painted rainbow colors. There I'm sure she smokes her marijuana and sings kumbaya, while waiting for the birth of my child and praying to mother earth for a safe delivery. Usually I get a comment something along the lines of "Wow! You're really brave," and then they quickly change the topic.

Sorry to break the misconception folks. Couldn't be farther from the truth. Rebecca, my midwife, drives a very nice silver Toyota sedan in which she brings to my house everything we need including oxygen, pitocin and other medical tools in case we need them. She also has two masters degrees in nursing and twenty years experience in a hospital L&D. I guess on the hippie side, she does have really long hair. It's easier to pull back and keep out of the way.


Rebecca and Tiernan

Mammals

Jael learned a bit about mammals in science today. Mid-lesson she stopped to ask me a very deep question. "When men go bald are they still mammals?" Good question.

Lessons

Soren just taught Anson a very important lesson. When you lay on the floor and tell your two-year-old brother to sit on you, you should be sure to specify that he sit on your stomach and not your face. A mistake I'm sure Anson won't make twice.

Button Button Who's Got the Button?

Can we add one to the list of things I never would have said before becoming a parent? How about this one, "Getting snot blown on my cheek is better than a $200 dr. bill." Yeah, never saw that one coming.

Several months ago I was on a friends blog. She had just taken her child to the doctor to, once again, get something removed from her nose. He taught her a cool DIY trick to remove the object. It goes like this:

1. Gently hold child down.
2. Plug the nostril without the blockage.
3. Blow in their mouth like you are doing CPR. (Dr. assured me you can't hurt them.)
4. Object is expelled, snot and all.
5. Viola! No visit to the ER.

I have a nephew who has put things up his nose a time or two. So I thought this might come in handy for my sister. While emailing it to her, I thought I'd send myself a copy.

Well today Shad comes upstairs crying because there's a button in his nose. Glad I emailed that to me too! So I got him to lay down and I tried it out. Yup the button shot out, and I got slimed. (BTW, Shad thought this whole process was pretty funny.)

You might remember from this post that I recently had to take Shad to the doc to get something out of his ear. When I asked him why he put a button up his nose his response had me cracking up. "I knew I wasn't supposed to put anything in my ear!" Great. Just great.

Choosing

Just a minute ago Anson was running around being entirely too happy. Aaron looked at him and asked "Why are you so happy?" Anson's reply was pretty profound. "Because I choose to be."

Today I choose to be happy.

St. Lucia Day... in July?

This post has been a long time coming. But it was too good to just forget.

Don't know how many of you know the Scandinavian tradition of St. Lucia. Long and short of it: the oldest daughter of the house wakes up bright and early dons a white robe, red sash and a wreath of candles on her head. She then brings her parents a tray of saffron buns and coffee and says "St. Lucia invites you to breakfast." Traditionally this happens in mid December.

July tenth at about 3a Aaron and I are peacefully sleeping when all the sudden we hear. "St Lucia invites you to breakfast." Our oh so intelligent response was, "What?" "St Lucia invites you to breakfast." At about that point I wake up enough to realize that Jael is standing there in costume with a cookie sheet of "breakfast." Breakfast consisted of apples, bananas, a piece of dry bread and a glass of milk for each of us. Her costume was a gray shirt of Aaron's with a pink play silk sash. Her crown is Anson's belt with the handles from a glow stick light saber stuck into them.



Jael went on to explain that she and Anson had been planning this for two days. She's gotten up at 2a to prepare breakfast for us. I'm still amazed she was able to get the cookie sheet out quietly enough that I didn't hear her. Anson was supposed to help her, but she couldn't get him to wake up. At that point (3a) she expected us to wake all of the boys up so that they could have breakfast too. I managed to choke down the dry bread, one of the hardest things I've ever tried to eat at 3a. Finally we were able to convince her that we should put everything in the fridge until the boys woke up and then she could do it again.

First Feis

Jael competed in her first Feis (pronounced fesh) today. We aren't allowed to take any pictures or video while they're dancing so this is what I got.


Lined up waiting for her turn to dance her reel. She smiled like that the.whole.time. Just a bit excited.



We knew that she'd get a medal, even if she didn't place, because it was her first feis. We were pleasantly surprised (read:shocked. Have you ever met the poor kid's parents?) when she place third in her light jig and earned a real medal.

I think it's official: she has the Irish Dance bug. She's already talking about her next feis in the spring.

Shad Says

Shad: Mom I want a drink.
Me: Ok. Get one.
Shad: But I want you to get it for me.
Me: Why?
Shad: Because I love you, and you love me!

Can't beat that logic.

Thanks... I Think

A bit ago Shad grabbed Soren, gave him a big hug and said, "I love you even more than I thought I did." Not sure exactly what that was supposed to mean. Evidently though he meant it as a compliment.

Life's Not Fair

Wednesday the kids got their flu shots. I hadn't planned it that way, but since we were at the peds office to get the paper out of Shad's ear (yes, you read that right) we got them anyway. Shad asked me if they had to get shots and when I said yes he started to panic and scream. I saw that look in Anson's eye too, so I quickly told him that he didn't have to have the shot, he could get the mist. I don't know why but Shad latched onto that and wouldn't let go. He spent the rest of the time until he got his shot crying "I want Anson to get a shot. I want Anson to get a shot."

The Birds and the Bees According to Shad

"If I go potty, I'll get a baby in my tummy!"

So that's how it works, huh?

Flying

Our labor day weekend was fairly unremarkable except Friday night. My best friend Marie and her family flew up for her nieces baptism. Since they weren't tired, or hungry or anything, and had nothing better to do... they took us flying. Their plane seats four. So Jeremy, Marie's husband, took up Anson, Shad and Aaron first. Then about the time the batteries died in the camera he took up Jael, Soren and I. The kids had so much fun. Jeremy is their new hero and it took them hours to stop talking long enough to go to sleep.

With the pilot before flying. Please forgive the squinting. They were staring straight into the sun.



Shad with his headset on.



Anson ready to go and not even a little excited.



Off go the boys.


The, "Just finished flying and it was SOOOO cool" face.


Soren thought having his own headset pretty cool. He LOVED flying. The only thing we've found as cool as a horse is a plane.


Jael ready to fly.

Shad Quote of the Day

"Can we run through the sprinkler? We won't get wet... well... not really."

They're going to run so fast they miss all the water droplets.

HELP!

We were sitting at dinner tonight, having a very nice meal. Aaron was telling us about his day when all of the sudden Shad yells, "I CAN'T BREATHE!!" I of course freak out just a bit and look over to see....

Shad with an index finger shoved up each nostril...

No wonder you can't breath you monkey!

Oh... Ummm...Oh

While Anson was bathing he and I had the following conversation. You'll notice he finished it up by himself while I sat there a bit speechless.

Anson- (while laying back to get his hair washed) Ahh this feels good. I could stay in here forever.
Me- But then you'd turn into a raisin and we'd eat you for breakfast in our oatmeal.
A- But I wouldn't taste very good.
Me- Nope. Not really.
A- Well one part of me would.
Me- Which part is that?
A- The bottoms of my feet. I lick them all the time. I LOVE the way they taste.
Me- Oh.
A- You should try licking the bottom of your feet to see how it tastes.
Me- Oh

Oh. My.

Found in Translation

What I heard Shad say, "If I have a scoop go in my mouth I have to go half-piddle."

What Anson translated for me "If a screw goes down his mouth he has to go to the hospital."

Ahh! Thank you. That makes SO much more sense. I was concerned about how one could half-piddle. Glad we got that cleared up.

Conversations with Anson

I had two great conversations with Anson lately. He's such a sweet funny kid.

Convo 1
Anson- You're the best mom ever.
Me- Aww thanks.
Anson- Even though you're sometimes... well you know.
Me- I'm sometimes what? (I totally see where this is going.)
Anson- Well... sometimes you're well... kinda mean. You're not perfect, but you're still the best mom ever!

I only hope he can always keep such a great perspective.

Convo 2:
Me- Anson, can I live with you when I'm old and decrepit?
Anson- Umm, of course.
Me- Even once you get married?
Anson- Yes.
Me- What if your wife doesn't like me?
Anson- I'll kick her out!!!

Nice to know I'll always be taken care of. =)

The View

These are just two pictures that I took from my front window. It's been almost eleven years since I've had a good west facing window, and I'm loving it.

This one's color not black and white.

Not Quite

Yesterday I may, or may not, have lost my temper with my children. I may or may not have lost my temper to the point that I had to apologize to my kids. So I called Shad in and had him sit on my lap and apologized for losing my temper. He looks at me and says, "That's okay mom. Why did you lose your temperature?"

I hate it when I lose my temperature.

An Old One

There's a story I've been meaning to post for oh about seven months now, but I just haven't gotten it done. I've decided tonight I've gotta get it done.

A little background, Aaron works with a bunch of grandmas... literally. It's a hoot to go visit because all the grandmas come out to play. Aaron shares a cube with a great lady named Leslie. She and the kids have gotten to be good friends. About mid-August Aaron forgot to take something to work, so the kids and I ran it down to him. Jael had to take in her Dora purse to show all the ladies. Oh course she had to show Leslie. Leslie got her own purse and pulled out a package of peanut butter crackers, a breath mint, a package of kleenex and a quarter. She told Jael "Now you're ready for any emergency." To say Jael was pleased is just a bit of an understatement.

Fast forward roughly a month to Sept 5th 2010. There was a nasty wildfire near our home. Winds were blowing 50-60 miles an hour. We stood at the end of our driveway and took pictures. It came over the mountain and down the hill right to the city line. Gratefully at that point they were able to get it out, it looked like there was going to be damage much worse than there was. Many prayers were answered. At one point though we were standing outside watching the fire. Aaron and I were discussing that we may need to evacuate and that we should really be prepared. The kids were upset about their toys, so I told them they could each pick their favorite toy to take with us. I was pretty sure I knew what they'd pick. I was sure Anson would want his Millennium Falcon and Jael would want Baby Dolly, the much loved doll she got for her first birthday. Anson I pegged right on. Jael on the other hand was having a hard time choosing. Thus the following conversation.

J- "Mom, I want Baby Dolly, but I NEED my purse."
Me- "Well, you need to pick one."
J- (a little upset) "Okay then I guess I have to take my purse."
Me- (shocked) "Not Baby?"
J- "But Mom, Leslie said my purse was ready for an emergency. This is an emergency."

In light of that, I let them pick two toys.

FYI

Just an FYI. We moved... last November. So I'm a little slow. Sue me. =)

Dinner Company

Evidently we make great dinner company... or not.

Jael's Salon

Jael's Beauty Salon. Accepting new clients.

Brothers

The Many Hats of Soren

Beanie and Sunglasses



Bonnet


Tupperware



Mixing Bowls


Neck Pillow


It's hard to be such a fashion forward little man.

How Things Are Made

For St. Paddy's day I wanted to make these Irish Potato Candies. I had to go to the store to get coconut. I was standing in Smiths and I pick up a bag of coconut and throw it in the cart. I talk to the kids pretty constantly while I shop so as I threw it in the cart I said, "Here's the coconut." Anson looks at it and says "Whoa! That's coconut?! They took the coconut milk and made CHEESE!"

ps The candies tasted REALLY good. Unfortunately they don't look very appealing. I'm going to have to work on that.

Extra Storage

The other day I went to use my (cough cough) nice clean oven mitt. Here's what I found.



What? You don't keep a stroller and three firemen in your oven mitt? What a waste of good storage space.

Making Cookies

It seems crazy to me, but my kids are getting big enough to make cookies pretty well on their own. I had to get some pictures of their first independent cookie making.

Jael putting the cookie dough on the tray.


Anson taking the cookies off the tray.


And Shad... being the Cookie Monster.

Voices

Jael loves to sing. She loves Taylor Swift and Christina Perri. The other day she was singing "You Belong With Me" in her very best Taylor Swift. After having me listen and appreciate it thoroughly she looks at me and says "I have lots of voices in me." I didn't tell her that we normally call that schizophrenia.

Bums

First Haircut

The other day I decided I was going to get brave and cut all the boys hair. This included Soren's first haircut. Not to shabby if I do say so myself.


Before:


After:


After the after. Evidently it was a bit traumatic, cause he crashed.

Poetry Festival 2011 "Humorosity"

I know I usually only post silly things my kids say. However I'm going to have a bragging moment.

Each year the kids school does a poetry and art festival. We're given a theme and the kids memorize a poem to present. I knew Jael would have no problem with it. She's not exactly shy. Anson on the other hand, well I wondered if he'd even want to do it. Not only did he want to, but he did a pretty good job too.

I'm a Man!!

The other day Shad came running through the kitchen on the way to his room. As he runs past I hear "I did it! I'm a MAN!!" If I hadn't been laughing so hard I would have asked him just what it was he had done. As it was though, I just laughed.

Cue "It's a Small World"

I've lived in Utah for 5 years 2 months and 4 days now. I assumed when we moved her that I'd be able to walk to church on Sundays. After all, this is UTAH. Have you ever tried playing the steeple game here? It's so easy it's no fun. Seriously. Anyway I FINALLY got to walk to church. That was exciting in and of itself. Then to make it even better, I ran into a friend from my hometown. She was leaving the church just as we were getting there. Cue "It's a Small World."

Did I mention I finally got to walk to church with the whole family? Cool huh?

Mr. Fix-It

Earlier this morning Shad came to me with a very morose face and... a set of channel locks in each hand. "I really want to take the sink apart and Daddy won't let me." Daddy is SOOOO unreasonable.

Too Smart...

For Mom's Good.

Santa brought Shad some big boy underwear for Christmas. And so Shad was potty trained. On a side note: really, who said boys are harder to train than girls? They were nuts. Anyway back to my story. Due to sickness this is the first week Shad's gone to church in big boy underwear. Having gone straight from diapers to briefs I was a bit concerned. So before church we talked a bit about making sure to let Mom or Dad know if he needed to go potty. What we didn't discuss was him using potty as an excuse to leave anytime he got bored. That would be twice during sacrament meeting and once during primary. He knows that I'm jumpy since this is so new and he totally used that in his favor. I guess he has to press his advantage while he can.

Bad Mommy

Shad has been a bear this week. Mean and grouchy. Pushing and shoving. Yelling and screaming and crying. I threatened to put him up on Ebay a time or two. I assumed it was one of two things. Either 1) a stage (please oh please tell me he'll grow out of it) or 2) he's had a cough forever and needed to go to the doc to get an inhaler. Once we have the inhaler he'll stop coughing all night and SLEEP!

So late Friday afternoon I finally take him in to the ped's office. Sure enough asthma, big shocker.... and Strep Throat. I'm guessing since Monday since that's when he turned into a bear. Oops. Bad mommy!

You Don't Say?

Anson came running in here a minute ago way excited. "Mom! Mom! I can fly! I just flew!!
"Really. How'd you do that?"
"I jumped of my bed and I flew until I stopped!!"