Today is our anniversary, eight long, messy, crazy, beautiful years. And what do we have to show for it? Well, for starters we are still married. Not bad in a world where most people call it quits the first time the going gets hard. We have a great home in a neighborhood we love, two cars, three great kids, and no pets. Yeah... I'd say we are living the dream.
Our church block changed from 1 pm to 9 am, this photo was taken at 9:20 am this morning as we were once again running late. We are still trying to figure out how to get out the door, looking presentable, on time. (Whoever said Sunday was a day of rest was obviously not a mother of young children...)
We were too late to get a seat in the chapel so we sat through sacrament meeting in the foyer. Jacob was quietly reading the February issue of the Friend when he leaned over and whispered to Brian, "Dad, you need to get some adversity. It will make you stronger." Brian said, "I've already got some, bud. My legs not working is an adversity." He went on to explain that the kind of strength adversity gives you is spiritual, not physical. (If adversity gave us physical strength Brian would be running Iron Man triathlons and pulling school buses and moving mountains.) My boys are pretty sweet together though, I love watching Brian having a "daddy moment" and teaching his son. I am also glad that my children don't see their dad as disabled, they just know that he is their dad who loves them and takes care of them. So in spite of the adversity we have in our life, we also have a lot of blessings to count.
Evie loves to hold Lila, so far she always asks us first and doesn't try to just pick her up...
Saturday was a big day for us, Evie got her first haircut! I know it isn't anything drastic (thank goodness) but they actually took off about two and a half inches. I was pretty nervous, but since she still has enough hair to play with, it all turned out ok. I was really surprised at how much older it made her look, just trimming off the fine baby hair ends and making it all even.
I don't know if anyone else has dealt with this with their children, but for the last little while we have been trying really hard to teach Evie how to graciously accept a compliment. She gets compliments everywhere we go, on her hair, her outfits, or just told that she is so pretty. (As her parents we completely agree with these people's astute observations, but we also don't want her to get a swelled head or think that outer beauty is more important than inner beauty...) Her standard answer was usually to tilt her chin to her shoulder, bat her eyelashes and say in a sweet little voice, "Yeah." So for the past week or two we have been trying very hard to instill the concept that when someone gives you a compliment you say "thank you, not yeah..." Well, today in the grocery store the lady in line behind me began to talk to my kids, and told them they were very cute and smart, and she was very impressed with Evie's hair-do. They in return were more than happy to visit with her and share all their combined knowledge of the world the way only a 2 and 5 year old can. In response to something Jacob told her she said politely, "Oh, yeah?" And Evie piped right up and told her, "We DON'T say yeah, we say thank you!" (Ok, so she may not totally get the point yet, but at least she'll sound more polite, right?)
She cracks me up. Her little personality is just coming out stronger and stronger every day. A little while ago she was watching her dad struggling to walk across the room and she said out of the blue, "Daddy, just get over it and walk." We looked at each other in shock then burst out laughing. She is just outrageous sometimes. One day I was doing the dishes and Evie was coloring at the counter. When I yelled down to Jake to ask him to do a dish-run through the house she looked at me and said, "Sheesh Mom, will you we-lax?" It is so hard to not laugh and tell her that she can't talk to adults like that. She also loves to say the blessing on the food, but she will NOT shut her eyes while we pray. We are constantly reminding her to do that, and the last time she didn't I asked her why she wouldn't close her eyes during the prayer. She looked at me like I was slow and said, "Mommy, I can't see in the dark." Love that two-year old logic.
*side note: This is my 100th post! It only took me two years. "...and there was much rejoicing... yea!"
I know that I have been very fortunate in that my children have all been very good eaters and willing to try new foods, but lately Jake has started to be more picky... sort of. He isn't really big on starches, usually doesn't like potatoes or bread too much. Yesterday we ate dinner at my parents house, roasted chicken, green beans and rolls. This was the conversation while dishing him up...
Me: "Do you want some green beans?" (and on a side note: why do we as parents ask these questions when the reality is, it is healthy and we are going to make them have a little bit whether they want it or not? hmmm...)
Jake: "I'll take the beans, but hold the green."
M: "Ummm, I can't really do that buddy. The beans are green, I can't take off the color."
J: "Well, just peel the outside off."
M: "That won't work. Here take a bite, see? The color goes all the way through."
J: "Ok, fine. I'll eat the green."
M: "Would you like a roll?"
J: "No, I don't really care for rolls."
M: "How come?"
J: (shaking his head) "It's a conspiracy."
M: "What is a conspiracy?"
J: "The rolls, they have a conspiracy to get me to eat them."
M: "Oh? To what end?"
J: "I don't know what their end goal is, they just really want me to eat them."
M: "Ok."
J: (sighs deeply and sounds resigned) "And I guess they have achieved their goal, because I will eat one tonight."
And he did. However today when I offered him a bagel I was informed that all bread products are part of the conspiracy. So, now you know. That is why carbs taste so darn good, it is a massive conspiracy of baked goods.
Santa Claus brought Evie this cute new kitchen for Christmas and I decided she needed a cute apron to go with it. I found a free apron pattern online, if you are interested click here. While I was looking through all the patterns, I found one that I am going to make for myself, and I found a great story about how an apron is the homemaker's uniform. This is a concept that really spoke to me as a stay-at-home mom. You know, a symbol that is immediately recognized with respect as someone with a serious job to do. A doctor in scrubs and white coat, a judge in a black robe, a policeman or fireman in their uniforms. And a wife and mother in an apron, that says "I am busy raising these children to be civilized, productive members of society and providing the services of maid, nanny, cook, housekeeper, taxi-driver, gardener, and shrink to my family". As she says in her story, "The Keeper of the House, with a capital K!" I think having a uniform will help me be better at my job too, not letting the dishes and laundry pile up on me, get better at delegating and teaching my children about their responsibilities in this family. I suppose part of the reason this has been on my mind, is as my mom gets sicker and her time gets closer I feel like I have to grow up more and be prepared to be "the Mom". I won't be able to call her for advice or just to vent when my sweet little angels turn into hellions, and have her laugh at me for complaining that my children are doing to me what I did to her. Well, if anyone else wants to join my apron-as-a-uniform movement let me know, we'll have an apron sewing party.
