Mother of the Year follow-up.

Mia and I were talking on the way to school today about how she only has 5 days left but on the last day she will be having a class beach party. She asked me if I was going to come. I said both Jack and I were going to come. She said, "I think you will forget again." I promised her I wouldn't forget and that we would be there. She then suggested that I talk to her teacher and get a note from her to put in my purse so I won't forget. She's a funny one and I think I am almost over the guilty feelings. I am so glad to hear that I am not the only one who has done such a thing. I am sure it won't be the last.

Jack,...

If you run over to the swingset we will have to go into the house. Jack, if you go over there we will have to go in the house. Jack, if you go behind the garage we will have to go in the house!! My little Jack, who isn't little anymore loves, more than me almost, to be outside even if it is 50 degrees out and raining. I think he prefers it if it is raining. One day I helped him discover puddles. He is obsessed now. Anyways, he is also obsessed with Nacho Libre and asks to watch it on a daily basis. He is two and terrible at least 1/2 the day, off and on here and there, if he doesn't get his own way. He doesn't stay in time out. I even tried a gate and tonight he climed over it, it fell and he got hurt. He was throwing food. Before that he was taking drinks of milk from his sippy and then letting it run out of his mouth, down his shirt and into his booster seat. Unfortunatly the little girl I take care of was amused and started doing it too. Thankfully she had a bib on. I was very unamused!! I think between Colin and me we have told Jack to NOT DRINK THE TUB WATER at least 50 times per bath or he would have to get out. This morning was no exception and I got him out. He threw a 15 minute fit about it. After about 5 minutes I just put him in his bed, left the light on and walked out. I had to difuse just as much as he did. Later this morning I showered and he came up and starting throwing a fit about wanting a shower. I had to put him in his crib again. I am so glad he can't crawl out and doesn't even attempt too! I am so grateful he took a nap and I got to take a nap too. We were both happier after that. The great thing about being consistent is that it works occastionally. When we were outside this afternoon there were two opportunities for Jack to listen or go in the house and he chose to listen. I gushed over him for his willingness to listen and be such a good boy. I feel like I have put so much energy into him lately. I have to get him sorted out before baby Cole gets here. Thankfully I have about 12 weeks to do that. Oh, Jackson, Mommy loves you!!

And Mother of the Year Goes To...

...someone other than me!! I completely blew it today. Mia has this great music teacher at school who teaches her great songs and fun things to go with it. You may remember my post from October or November of her in music class skipping around and singing, having a great time. She had music observation again today and couldn't have been more excited about it. Colin was able to have the day off and that made it even more special for her. She was even excited that we were bringing the napkins and plates. I arranged for a friend to watch Jack, we dropped him off a little late but Colin still got us there at 2:30. Mia was sitting on the floor in a line with her class in the foyer of the school. I was so relieved that we weren't late. She said, "We already did it." I said, "isn't it now?" to her teacher and she shook her head NO. I said I thought it was at 2:30 and another mom looked at me sympathetically and told me it was at 2:00. WE HAD COMPLETELY MISSED THE PERFORMANCE!!! I couldn't believe it. My heart sank to my feet and tears came to my eyes remembering how much Mia talked about it and her excitement that both Colin and I would be there. I looked at her and she was hiding under the table she was sitting by. I went over and looked down at her and she was crying! I feel so bad that I am crying about still. It was so important to her and I blew it. I know, it happens and my brain is completely gone these days but I even wrote it on the calendar as 2:00. I picked her up, hugged her and walked over to a bench where not everyone could see us crying together. I just sobbed with her in my arms. She pulled back after a few minutes and went to Colin. I couldn't stop crying so I walked into the bathroom to finish sobbing. When I came out of the bathroom another mom told me she would burn a copy of it for me. It still makes me sad just to think about it. I have told her so many times how sorry I am. I was watching Mia during the class party that followed and she was just running around, eating, wanting me to read to her. I know she is still sad about us not being there, she told me tonight when I put her to bed, but she was so forgiving and sweet to me. I love that girl, my girl, for her great example of Christlike love and forgiveness. I hope to be more like her in this way.
Mia, I am so sorry!

Mother, I love you!

Mother, I love you! Mother, I do! Father in Heaven has sent me to YOU! When I am near you (or living far away) I love to hear you whisper so softly that you love me too! Mother, I love you, I love you, I DO!

Dear Mom, I can't seem to get ahold of you to talk to you this Mother's Day and since I kept putting it off I didn't get anything in the mail either. Are you surprised? I didn't think so. Luckly I still am your kid regardless.

I have been thinking all day about you and all the wonderful things you have taught me and done for me. For example, you taught me to sew, a skill that has been handy all my life. I can remember times when you were helping/teaching me and I would get so frustrated, tell you I needed help even though I wasn't trying very hard to understand and so you would just do it for me. Mia does that now. I am not as nice as you are though. I make her do it still.

One specific time I said something to you when I didn't think you could hear and come to find out you were standing right behind me. I still feel bad about that. I don't think I got punished. The other day Mia was mad at me and she quietly said "stupid Mommy." She got her mouth washed out with dish soap.

You can cook anything wonderful out of just about nothing at all. I wish I would have paid attention more often. I can remember slipping the skin off tomatoes, 10 gallon buckets full of tomatoes and canning them with you. I don't really remember how to can tomatoes though. I never throw away canning lids or give away jars because someday I will be reminded of how to can tomatoes.

I know it is important to support my church leaders because you always taught me that. I can remember alway questioning you about putting the flat sheet on right side down, it drove me crazy but that is how I always make my bed. I never fold the blankets back however so you can see the right side of the sheet.

I could sit here all night and think of all the things I remember but mostly I know that you are a great mother! You love me unconditionally and are always there for me when I just need you to listen. Your testimony has always been strong, even in times of trial. I love you for all that you are and all that you have given to me. Your the greatest Mom I ever had. I LOVE YOU!

Where do we go from here?

Lately, well for months now, I have been wondering what direction we are supposed to go. Colin has wondered that too. As we have searched for some answers we have been blessed to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives. It has really been a true test of our faith and continues to be. Without searching we have found encouragement from the Lord at times when I thought I wasn't being heard. I pray a lot to find comfort in the unknown and have such a great desire to know what direction to go, which ones will be fruitful and which ones won't. I hate the thought of "spinning our wheels." I like to know what is going to happen and the sooner I can get it on the calendar the better. I know that the Lord works on his own timetable, not mine and I should be prepared for what will come or what may not. I was reading the Ensign, a magazine our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, prints monthly, and read an artical by our prophet, Thomas S. Monson. It was pieces of a "treasure map" that will help us "guide you to your eternal happiness."
1. Learn from the past.
2. Prepare for the future.
3. Live in the present.

Here is the full article if you are interested
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=f3677e6832ce8110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1

Just the other night we were reading from the Book of Mormon in the book of Alma. Colin was reading, I think, and as he read this I thought of how this scripture applied to us.

Alma 58:11 "Yea, and it came to pass that the Lord our God did visit us with assurances that he would deliver us; yea, insomuch that he did speak peace to our soul, and did grant unto us great faith, and did cause us that we should hope for our deliverance in him."

I didn't mention it to Colin but at the end of the verse he stopped reading and said, "Does that sound familiar?" I didn't make the connection at first and he explained it to me and of course, he said just what I thought. I didn't feel like it was ironic but felt strongly that it was the Holy Ghost speaking to both of us together

Even though we struggle every day, waiting for an answer or direction to go we know that God is listening. We receive this "peace to our souls" and have "great faith" that we will be "delivered" from this unknowing time in our life.

Colin has been more than diligent about searching for a residency checking out the websites often more than once a day, when time allows. We do realize that it is possible that we won't get a residency this year and have to reapply for next year so, in preparation for that Colin has begun the process of applying for his medical license. The unfortunate side to this is that it can/will take up to 12 weeks to get it. Therefore, finding a job as a doctor will be pretty difficult and internship is over the end of June which will leave us jobless and insurance-less with a baby due in August.

Despite this and some amazement from friends, we have been able, through the Spirit of the Lord, to have peace in our lives, with some anxiousness or moments of waivering faith. We are certainly not perfect. I have such hope and know that we are being watched over with our best interests in mind. The Lord has blessed us in life so far. I hope there is no reason for the blessings to cease. Thankfully He's not like that.

Oh, how we love to paint!

It was a very boring day in April. The kids were super bored and if they didn't have something to do I was going to go crazy. Colin first supervised them, they made a mess and then they started again and I led them to this mess. They had quite the time! Colin was so sweet and cleaned up this mess too. However I did find paint on the chairs a few days later. Thank goodness for washable paint and really, Crayola, by far, has the best washable paint, markers and other things. Ya get what ya pay for!

Before you watch...

a little warning about this video of my silly kids. Mia uses the actual word for the male anatomy. If you think you might be offended please don't watch but we think it is pretty dang funny! Mia made this song up by herself and sang it the whole time she was in the tub. I think it is time for them to start bathing separately which only means more work for Colin and me.

Poctello trip.

Mia just adored holding her new cousin.

Going to Pocatello was just what we needed. I love going to our parents homes and being "taken care of". I don't know how much they appreciate it but for me it is such a great time to not feel like I have to do everything because I don't. It was such a great time. We stayed in Pocatello for the whole vacation, saw some friends and are amazed at the growth and how things have changed in just 5 years. It was great to be with family. Abby, who lives in DC was there to have her tonsills out and recover and Dana and Jason with their 3 kids, currently live there too. We seemed to pass around a cold bug while there. Debby was sick in bed for a day and her cough lingered for days after that. I started getting sick Saturday night and by Monday I was miserable! I just wanted to take Nyquil and die in bed until I was over it. Since I couldn't do that I took Tylenol and Sudafed. I had so much junk in my chest in the morning I would have to get in the shower right away just so it would loosen and I could stop coughing. I would also have to take a bath at night to relax my chest enough to go to sleep. If I never eat a cherry menthol cough drop again in my life I will be so happy! Finally on Wednesday I began to feel a bit better but I still called my doctor to see if I could take some Mucinex. That helped so much as well as the antibiotics. I was much better Thursday for the flight home. The priesthood blessing was of course the most helpful. I was so grateful that I was sick when Colin, Abby, David and Debby were able to help out and do all of the work for me. It really was so much fun and very relaxing.

Easter

Easter came so quickly this year. We had Jack's 2nd birthday one Sunday and celebrated Easter the next. Of course, it snowed and was cold. This is our 2nd Easter in Cleveland. Last year we were here in April looking for a place to live. I think it snowed at least 2 feet. Saturday we went and decorated eggs with friends. Acutally, the kids decorated them and the Dad's supervised. It was so nice!! We had a little egg hunt here at home in the morning, went to church then had dinner and more egg hunting with friends. The kids all loved it! It was pretty darn fun to watch them. We are going on a candy hiatis for a long time, at least the kids. They don't ask for it unless they see it.

Mia and Molly love to play together! They were in heaven with their creations.

Jackson, as usual, went for a ball theme. The kid just likes all things sports. His Dad has a bit of influence regarding that passion.

100% BOY

We will be welcoming a boy into our family in August. We are very excited. I am glad that Jack will have a brother to hang out with and play with in about 2 years. I am happy that we won't have another drama queen just yet. Two is about all I can take and often I can't handle myself let alone Mia. I know Mia will be a big helper. She is very excited to have a baby to help take care of. I am excited to shop for some baby clothes. I will have to dig out Jack's stuff and see what we will need. I get an itch to reorganize and Colin comments on my nesting instinct. I rather enjoy it though.