Temporarily out of Mind

I don't know what I was thinking. Actually I don't believe I was. I have decided that I would help our financial situation by babysitting. I watch a little baby boy on Tuesdays(Jonathan), but that was all. Well, I recieved a call from a substitute teacher a couple of weeks ago asking if I could watch her son(Vaughn). I gladly said yes. It wouldn't be everyday and even the days that she would need me aren't gauranteed. So, I thought that it would be great. Then, a sister in my ward called and said that her next door neighboor needed someone just this week to watch her grandson(Cole). They were in a bind so I said yes. Then I got to thinking about what I had gotten myself into and began to get worried. Tuesday was going to be an issue.
So, lets count. Cailyn and Jessica + Jonathan + Vaughn + Cole.

OH MY GOODNESS THAT IS 5 CHILDREN.

If any of the kids were Cailyn's age it would be great. Someone to occupy Cailyn and possibly help if needed. However, the oldest child next to Cailyn was 8 months old. I had 4 babies and a toddler. One of them is a very good crawler, one kind of army crawling, Jessica is still just sitting, and then Jonathan is only about 4 1/2 months old and still needs to be held for everything.

Luckily Cailyn is a really good helper, and if she needs to be persuaded I always have chocolate on hand(she is a girl after all--AND Jason's child) She had to, on many occasions, hold a bottle in a baby's mouth, or find a toy, or just sit and talk. I don't think that she will ever realize how much help she was to me that day.

Last night I recieved a call that Cole wouldn't be coming the rest of the week. I literally beamed with relief. You see, Cole is a breastfed baby and is being weened. He is a cuddler and wanted me close at all times. I just simply couldn't be there all the time. He had to do a lot of fussing. I think that he would be fun to watch if he was the only one I was watching, but that wasn't the case.

Today I didn't have any extra babies. I actually got to take a nap. I am thinking now that maybe this happened to help give me some perspective on my life. I realize that my kids seem easy mostly because they are mine and I can read them and know their schedule and how they like things, but I have come to realize even more how sweet my girls are. They are happy little children of God and I am truly blessed to have them in my home. I love them! I hope that I will remember this week(especially Tuesday) when I am asked to watch someone's child again.

I want to be a LOSER

I have decided that I can no longer use Jessica as an excuse to be overweight. She is 7 1/2 months old now and that means that I no longer have 'just had a baby'. So, in order for me to have some kind of accountability I am making a public announcement that I am actively trying to lose weight. Maybe this will help me be motivated to watch what, how much, and when I eat.

My plan so far is to make sure I drink 8 glasses of water a day. I will only have one helping at each meal and I will stop eating by at least 7 pm each night. I will also do a 30 minute work out at least 3 times a week.

If anyone has some suggestions of something that works really well for them, please share. I can always use your encouragement. Thank you for your help and motivation!

My, How times have changed!

Sorry this is so fuzzy. Here is what it says:

_____________________________________________

Housekeeping Monthly 13 May 1955

The Good wife's guide

*Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favourite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.

*Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.

* Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.

* Clear away the clutter. Make on last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.

* Gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper etc. and then run a dust cloth over the tables.

* Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.

*Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair and, if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. Minimise all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.

*Be happy to see him.

*Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.

*Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first-remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

* Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.

*Your goal: Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order and tranquillity where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

*Don't greet him with complaints and problems

*Don't complain of he's home late for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.

*Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.

*Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.

* Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgement or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.

*A good wife always knows her place.

__________________________________________

I am sure that all of you wives out there are doing that. After all, he is more important than you are!

Boys vs Girls

I have often wondered how different my life would be if I had boys instead of girls. Well, then I read my sisters'-in-law blog and the question is gone.

If I had boys I would probably be more active. I might have a naked child jumping off of the couch. I might be sweeping the kitchen 3-4 times a day. I might be playing baseball with dinosaurs and play dough. I might be using fisher price tools to fix odds and ends around the house. I might be using a light saber to fight Darth Vader. I might be a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle coming to save the city. I might even be He-Man. Who knows?

Instead, I find myself as Barbie dancing through the night in a pavilion. I am Cinderella sweeping up after my ugly stepsisters. I am Jasmine flying on a magic carpet with Aladdin. I am making jewelry for a princess while she puts beautiful clips in my hair. I am constantly giving a princess a manicure and pedicure. I can often find Tinker Bell flying around my house, usually singing. I sometimes even find myself as the Prince Charming to awaken my Sleeping Beauty, or save Genevieve from Rowena, or find the princess that fits the glass slipper she left behind on the steps.

Either way, I am sure that I would be just as happy with a young ninja/mechanic/baseball player/Luke Skywalker as I am with my Cinderella/Genevieve/Jasmine/Aurora. Children are so creative. They can use anything to invent a new story or game. Many times as I listen to Cailyn playing she is trying to give the villain a hug or talk to them to make them happier or not as mean. The love of a child is amazing to me. I know that my little princesses were sent to me to teach me compassion and charity. That is evidence that my Father in Heaven loves me.

Bear Lake

Last week we drove to Bear Lake in northern Utah for Vacation. Jason's parents and a few siblings met us there. We had a great time.

We got in the van Friday night and pulled out of town about 7:30 pm. We traveled to Cortez, Colorado to spend the night at Kyle and Julie's house(my brother and his great family). Cailyn and Jason got into some winter clothes and played in the snow there. Jason and our nephews, Kaleb and Cole, made a snowman, while the little ones just played. I thought they did a pretty good job. Thank you Kyle and Julie for the fabulous hospitality! We wish we could spend more time with you guys!

We went to Church with Julie and the boys Sunday morning and got back in the van to travel to Jim and Candice's(my brother and his beautiful wife) house in Salt Lake City. We spent the night there before traveling to Garden City. Jim and Candice have a cat named Alvin. It took Cailyn a while to get used to the cat. I am not sure she was ever really comfortable with him, but she tolerated him. We found out that Jason was allergic to cats while staying there. It was nice to spend time with them. They were so cute playing with the girls and they sure now how to cook. Thanks for the yummy food and comfortable beds. We love y'all!

As we were driving through the Logan pass we were reminded how beautiful this world is. THEN, we came out of the pass and saw the lake and the reflection of the mountains in the water and had to stop and take some pictures. It was breathtaking. Pictures can't even begin to do it justice, but this is what we saw. Gorgeous!

Needless to say, after driving across the country we were excited to settle somewhere for several days. After unloading the van, we decided to take a look around.

This is Jason and the girls right in front of our condo!

Our little Texan Jessica isn't sure what to think of all the snow and the layers necessary to

keep warm.

After a couple of days, Lita and Papa(Jason's parents) arrived and life got considerably better, especially for Cailyn and Jessica(they now had someone to spoil them silly).

Jessica still trying to decide if she likes the snow. We were going to sledding and Papa got the job of carrying Jess. She got to go down the hill, but was sprayed with snow on the way down(poor little darling), so she decided to go in after that. Lita warmed her up inside, next to the fire. Thanks Lita!!

Cailyn went down several times. She probably would have stayed out the whole time if she hadn't gotten sprayed also. She had fun up 'til then though.

On your mark, get set, GO!

WEEEEEEEE!

Papa, Jason, and Tyler were like little boys out trying to get the most air and the 'coolest' stop. They were so fun to watch.

Yeah, beat that!!!

OK, watch this!

Hah, beat THAT!

Papa put them all to shame!

Luckily I am putting the pictures on the computer so I deleted the only picture of me out there. I did go down the hill twice, but when my leg got stuck in the snow all the way up to my hip, this 'Texan' went inside also. I know I know, I am a pansy. But, what are you going to do?

The resort had an indoor pool and Jason and Tyler thought that it would be cool to take pictures in the snow while wearing only their swimsuits. Completely insane!

Friday morning, Jason's family watched the girls while Jason and I drove to Logan to attend the temple. Neither of us had been there, and it was beautiful, of course. Thanks y'all.

On Friday night, Travis and Jenny came to spend time with us. The girls and I had never met Jenny and we have to say that we absolutely love her! What a wonderful addition to the family, great choice Trav!

Jenny was a natural with Jessica.

Aren't they cute!!

We were originally going to do some more sledding on Saturday, but we stayed up ridilulously late on Friday night and didn't have the energy to do much. Luckily Travis and Jenny brought their guitars and Jason and Travis were able to play together. It is so great to see how close Jason is to his siblings. I love that!

Cailyn and Lita were inseparable. Cailyn wanted Lita to read her a book through almost every activity. Lita was so patient with her, thank you. She let Cailyn help her make some rice crispy treats. They did a great job. Cailyn also got to help Papa makes some pizza. Cailyn loved her time with Lita and Papa, Tyler and Tia, and Travis and Jenny. We love you guys and already miss you.

Cailyn also got to help Papa make some pizza. That was yummy yummy for my tummy!

This was the sunset we saw on the way home on Monday night. I think we were in New Mexico somewhere. It almost doesn't look real.

It is always hard to leave vacations, but it makes it even harder to leave when they include visiting family that we don't get to see very often. We loved every minute we were able to spend with everyone that we got to see and laugh with. Thank you for all the good times.

We love Y'all!

Drama Queen!

This morning we were playing in the girls' room and Cailyn started to act like she was dying. She wanted me to hold her(dead) in my arms. I thought 'ok, I can do my own acting here too.' But, to my dismay I was trying to think how I would react to her death, and actually began to cry. She looked up and saw the tears and instantly it became a game that she wants to play all the time(why my child wants to see me cry is beyond me). As I was thinking about this new 'game' I realized that I am truly thankful that we are an Eternal Family. I know I would be completely devastated if she were to die, but I also know that we are bound together for eternity, and that gives me comfort and peace.

I am sure that this obsession with dying comes from all the 'princess' movies she is watching and I should be giving her the 'true love kiss' to wake her. Maybe we should have a lesson on the real 'true love' in life. Either way, Cailyn is definitely my little actress.

Stinky the Sequel

Just an update on Cailyn's "stinky" issue.

We decided to give her a "Stinky book". When she goes stinky or takes her medicine(mineral oil), she gets a sticker to put in her book(1 for medicine-2 for stinky in the potty). She loved, I repeat, LOVED the book. We would look at it when she sat down to go and remind her that she could do it, as evident by all the stickers in her book.

She has not had to take her "medicine" for weeks. In fact, she goes several times a day now; and throws a little party for herself each time. I am so proud of her for overcoming that trial and we are all much happier now that she has.

Thank you for all of the advice we received. We appreciate the support.

Cartoon Cailyn

Jason got some sneaker slippers from Santa for Christmas and Cailyn decided to put them on today. I thought she was so cute, she looked like a Cartoon character with abnormally large feet. Made me giggle!

I think she gets her sense of style from her Dad! ;)

Peppermint Bark

Every year we have too many candy canes and we never use them. I think they are absolutely beautiful, but I don't really like to eat them. They are alright, but not my sweet of choice during the Holidays. Well, this year I decided to make some peppermint bark. I have a heart shaped cake pan(thanks Mom I love it!) and thought that it would be gorgeous in that. I love how it turned out and think that I will make it a tradition(the pictures don't really do it justice).

Jessica Mommy time!

One of my favorite times of my day is right after nap time. Jessica goes down first usually, so naturally she gets up first too. I love this time. She is always so happy to play and get one-on-one time with Mommy. I just love it. We sing and giggle, and today we took some pictures. One of her favorite things to do is sit on Cailyn's bed and play with toys. A
bonus of course is that when Cailyn is not around, she gets to play with
some of her toys. I know that I

am biased, but I think that she is the most beautiful baby girl

around.