Dive into the Holiday season

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Lots of food, family and fun. It is always nice to spend time with people you enjoy being around. We spent most of our time in Mattawa with Matt's family.

While there Aubrie learned, from a cousin, that Santa is not real. Oh boy. She cried herself to sleep that night and then when she asked me about it I was accused of being a liar and a cheat, the whole 'I hate you' bit. She was most hurt to know that I had been the one to write the letters back from Santa. Shocked is too inadequate of a word to describe her feelings. She took it all rather hard. Matt took her for a drive and they discussed the pros of knowing. She had 7000 questions all day. But she was mad that she could not stay up to place the elf for the next day with me. Hmmm.

The kids are so tired. It seems that a whole week of getting to bed late had caught up with them. Jesse has been taking 3-4 hour naps and still going to bed at 8pm.

Thank you to all of you who've kept us in your prayers. This Sunday was much better. They were still kids and wiggly, but I handled it much better. I'm grateful that Heavely Father hears our prayers, and answers them.

I am gearing up for the new year in Primary, so if anyone has any great ideas, let me know.

Sundays

Yesterday was a hard one. Matt is on the High Council and yesterday was a speaking day for him. He had to speak in the Spanish Branch in Mattawa. Hence, I had all of the kids for Sacrament meeting by myself again. I'm waiting to learn what it is I need to learn. When Matt is with us we sit toward the front of the chapel, but when he's gone we occupy a bench near the back. I usually sit behind a couple in our ward whose children are all grown. They are help when I have to go out to nurse Andee, but I didn't need to do that yesterday. The kids were just being themselves, but I could feel myself getting really worked up. What's wrong with me? I kept thinking this over and over. I know that how I feel about my children permeates the surface and they can tell if I'm worked up. Chill out. A sweet sister behind me took Andee and so then I had a lap for Jesse to sit on and free arms to help feet dislodge from the bench in front and tickle arms and necks to distract them. Hmmm. It can only get better as they get older. Right?

What was I thinking?

Talk about being mortified!



The other night we had a guy here to measure the kitchen to give us an estimate for some updates. While we were talking Jesse and Keeley couldn't stay away. They were so interested in everything were talking about.



Sweet Jesse, my boy of too many words came up with a great topic of conversation. Pointing to the front of my pants he declares in a too loud voice, "MOMMY IS THAT YOUR PENIS."



ohmyheck!



After three unsuccessful attempts to shush the poor child, and I'm sure thirteen shades of redface later, I had to address the subject.



Thankfully, the man just kept right on talking to Matt and pretended he didn't hear a thing. I'm sure it was a topic of conversation at his dinner table and the source of many chuckles.



At times like this, I often wonder 'what was I thinking teaching this child the correct term for his most favorite body part?' At least if we taught him it was his 'front' or even just his 'private' it might not have been such an embarrasing moment.

Oh well, my kids know their parts and have curiosity about the parts of others. What can I say.

What's In A Name

It just struck me as funny today, how much time and effort we spend choosing the perfect name for our children. But, if you're like me, you seldom use their given name. I have so many nick-names for my kids here are a few: (terms in bold are the most frequently used)

• Aubrie - Toots (you say it like you say tootsie roll), sister, girly


• Keeley - Squealy, sister, girly, Niblet, bliblet


• Henry - Bud, buddy, buddy buddy, Otis, Buck-o-boy


• Jesse - Buster, buddy, bud, Wubby, lubby, nubby, wub, djwub-(no it's not misspelled)


• Andee - Pretty, girly, baby, sweetums, snort

What do you call your kids?

Am I being vain if...

AM I BEING VAIN IF...

• I can't go visiting teaching without makeup?
• I don't like to have people come to my house if it is messy?
• I got bangs cut to hide the balding patches at the top of my widows peak?
• I hate wearing the same old ratty t-shirts year after year?
• I want my kids to look nice when we go somewhere?
• I don't want my friends to know that I actually do get mad enough to yell at my kids?
• I don't feel pretty on the days I don't take time to put make-up on?
• I don't want to walk around with buggers on my pants?
• I'm embarrassed when my friends see the buggers wiped on my walls, but I frequently walk by them without cleaning them off?
• I'm afraid that Aubrie will tell everyone that when I was pregnant with Henry she made me pee my pants by scaring me when we were playing hide and seek during FHE?
• I'd be mortified if anyone knew how much I actually weigh?

HMMMM?

I love you mommy...

Aren't these the most precious words you child can speak to you?

I had a very tender experience with Jesse on Saturday.

We had gone to Marv's (Matt's dad) birthday dinner and we were in Mattawa talking with all of the inlaws and having a great time. The kids were all playing nicely together. Cousin time, what could be better. I was talking to the sisters in law that were there when sweet little Jesse, forever my shadow, came back to see me. I had just recently taken him to the bathroom and he had run off to play for a few minutes. I was holding Andee and burping her when Jesse came to sit by us. Getting my attention by putting his pudgy little hands on my face he looked at me and said "mommy I have to tell you something." He threw his arms around my neck and said very quietly "mommy, I love you so much. I just put a bugger in your hair." Sweet, sweet Jesse. My boy. Took me a moment to find it.

Funny now! Don't you just love those moments...