Independence

I love it when my children start developing some independence and can solve their own problems.  The weather has been so nice and sunny lately that we've actually been getting out of the house.  Romney loves to ride his bike while I'll push Rebekah in the stroller.  Whenever he has an incline that is difficult to get up or some other obstacle to get over he just hops off his bike and pushes it up or over.  I've been to surprised by this.  In the past he has started throwing a fit or jumps off and throws his bike.  :)

Rebekah refuses to sit in her high chair anymore.  She insists on sitting at the table with the rest of us.  So, this morning I put her breakfast at the table.  She came over and tried to climb into the chair but couldn't quite get up.  Then she went running off.  I thought she was upset.  But, no.  She just ran into another room and came back with a stool.  She set it by her chair and climbed right on up.

It has been so nice having fewer fits and freaking out in our home.

Primary

I taught sharing time this last Sunday.  The theme for the week was "Through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved."  We started by memorizing the third article of faith.  We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.  We talked about what some of the bigger words meant.  I wish I could remember more of their answers.  Some of their answers were cute and I thought I would share.  Mankind:  one person.  Obedience:  something you're supposed to do.  Ordinances:  those parties at church, like the trunk-or-treat.    Don't worry I redirected them.  :)  It's nice to feel like you are actually teaching something new or helping them better understand a concept.  Primary is a lot a fun.  Although most of the time I feel like I am running around like a crazy lady!  It makes life very busy and leaves no time for boredom.  If it weren't for this calling I would probably be doing my usual anti-social thing of sitting in the back row, trying to be invisible.  Now I just need to memorize 145 children's names.

Nothing New

Okay so I haven't added any new post for a very long time.  I know.  But I did change my background and blinkie!  Happy Valentine's Day!

Stressed?

I found this picture on the web months ago and felt like sharing it today.  :)  My sister has a magnet similar to this with the "perfect" retro homemaker and says "Medicated and Motivated".  It always makes me laugh.

Future Missionary

Jacob wanted to cook dinner tonight.  He was looking through the recipes trying to decide what to make.  I need to go grocery shopping. We didn't have the ingredients for most things.  He was "starving" and decided to just put in a pizza.  Then he turned to me and said, "Mom, you need to teach me to cook more things so I'll know how to cook when I'm a missionary!"  Then pretending to be talking to his companion, he switched to his missionary voice, "Hey do you know how to cook?"  "No"  "Crap, I guess we'll have to have pizza again"  "Do you have any money?"  "No, do you?"  Just thought I would share his funny dialog.  I'm glad he is always thinking ahead to his mission and preparing now!

Taking Time...

It was about 3:00 and I could tell Romney was getting tired.  I contemplated just putting a movie on for him and letting him fall asleep in front of the TV.  After all I was busy and had so much to do.  I am so glad I decided to sit down for a moment instead.  He came and snuggled up to me.  His eyes were very droopy.  I began to lightly rub his back and caress his sweet little head and he quickly fell asleep.  I just sat there holding him and enjoying every minute of it.  It isn't often that I can get my three year old to hold still long enough to just enjoy holding him.  It was like having a newborn again.  I didn't want to put him down.  I examined his little hands and fingers (not so clean like a newborn's).  I caressed his sweet little nose and ears and those soft little cheeks.  I don't know how long I sat there but it was quite awhile before the cleaning and such began to nag at me.  At last I laid him on the couch, so glad I took the time to enjoy my toddler.

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to me.  Oh, and Romney, too.  My little buddy is 3 years old now.  I can't believe it has gone by so quickly.  (Time to start potty training.) 

Saturday night Joe took me out to dinner at the yummiest place ever.  Famous Daves.  The food there is so good that everytime you take a bite you involuntarily say, mmm!  We shared a combo with a half rack of baby back ribs and beef brisket.  It came with a corn muffin, corn on the cob, baked beans, and homestyle french fries.  Delicious.  Funny story about it though.  We were seated and soon a waitress came out and asked if we wanted something to drink.  So, she came back with our drinks and left.  She came back a little later and asked if we wanted any appetizers.  No and then she left.  We wondered if she thought she already took our order.  We were getting very hungry and noticed another waitress talking to someone around the corner.  We assumed it was our waitress.  So, finally I got up and told her we were ready to order.  She thought we were waiting for someone else because there were three menus and three sets of silverware on our table.  She was very apolegetic.  It was fine.   I just wonder how long she would have waited before asking if we wanted to go ahead and order.  She made up for it though.  Our food was ready amazingly fast!  I think she told the people cooking to do ours first.    After dinner we went shopping for a pairs of jeans for me.  Lots of fun!

Joe and the kids surprised Romney and I with breakfast in bed.  Romney wasn't sure what was going on.  It was so yummy with all my favorites.  French toast, bacon, hash browns, orange-pineapple-strawberry juice and peppermint hot chocolate.

We had some of my family over for lunch after our special conference with Elder Holland.  The conference was very good.  I was actually able to listen to most of it.  My kids played quietly.  We had a delicious lunch of ham, yummy potatoes and a delicious salad full of yummy things.  We ate at my other birthday present.  My new dining room table.  I can't believe we didn't get a picture of it with a huge red bow on it.  It's lovely.  I said that I wanted that to be my present because we were already getting it and I was trying to get Joe to not spend more money. 

Here are the Elmo cupcakes I made for Romney.  They turned out great.  Romney really likes Elmo and Nemo.  I'm not sure which one he likes more because they sound the same when he says them.

Here's the yummy ice-cream cake Joseph got for me.  It had a chocolate ice cream layer, then a caramel fudge layer, a cookie crumb layer and then vanilla ice cream layer.  So good!

Joe and the kids put up all these fun decorations.

Karyn and Jason McGary. 

My papa.

Opening presents.  Romney was so excited about everything!

Cute new shirts from my parents.

Romney loves these bead these things everywhere we go so Joe got a little one for him.  It is perfect for car rides.

My new jeans and Romney tearing off paper.

What did Grandma and Grandpa Hull give you?

Elefun!

We got batteries today and the kids started playing it.  The elephant has this long trunk that these little butterflies come blowing up out of.  Then you catch them with your little butterfly net.  Rebekah was just laughing her head off at the kids trying to catch them.  It was so cute.