From a child's eyes

I am in love with my boys and the cards I got for Mother's Day. Just so you know, according to Ammon: I am smart because (scribble, scribble) strong because I can lift him up! The favorite thing I have given him is Batman, and he likes it when we have fun together.

Ivan says I'm smart because I clean up, I'm strong because (blank). The favorite thing I have given him is chocolate cookies and he likes it when we play together.

Orlando says I'm smart because I know all about God. I'm strong because I'm 33. The favorite thing I have given him is story time and he likes it when we bake pancakes.

And now why I love my mom and mother-in-law.

Mother-in-law Kathryn. She is smart because she has all kinds of trivia in her head, and is a faithful reader of Readers Digest! She is strong because she raised 9 children. The favorite thing she has given me is her son, Joshua. And I like it when we quilt together.

My mom-Janis. She is smart because she is in her sixties, ready to retire, has a masters degree and is still taking college classes!! She is strong because she has been widowed twice and lives with life long injuries and chronic pain. The favorite thing she has given me is her time and experiences. I like it when we cook, play, talk, and dream together. (Current dream involves Costa Rica next year!)

A mom describes her feelings when son looses a tooth..

Orlando has lost his first TOP front tooth.

And I am feeling very sentimental.

And I'm not going to apologize for it. I just am going to add it to my list of things I didn't know would happen when I took on motherhood.

No one warned me that when your six year old looses a top tooth, that the mom feels like she looses her baby- and gains a BOY!

He is my oldest, but he was my first baby. Come on! I can't believe how he looks so much like a BOY--a real, true, BOY! My baby days are gone forever with him. And I miss my Landino-Bambino.

and I am in mourning.

Orlando was a colicky, difficult baby. But he was the most beautiful one I had ever seen. And I was determined to protect him and love him. When I gave up teaching it was hard. No one warned me how hard it would be to become a mother. I thought often on how I just wasn't good at it. I had no natural talent it seemed.

But I've grown.

I'm still not good at it always, but I understand more. I understand that the joys I find in motherhood ARE sweeter than any other. That time spent with my children IS precious.

And I am also learning this week, with the help of a tooth, that YES they really do grow up fast.

So I sound like the old ladies in the supermarket.

And I sound like my mother-in-law.

And I sound like (gasp) my mother.

And these women are right.

And so am I! So to all of you who have a baby tonight, I say:

Love your babies, they grow up so fast!!

Pretty Sweet

Ivan called me over to him while I was volunteering with his class.

"Mom, come here. I want to tell you something."

"What do you want to tell me, Ivan?"

"You are pretty."


This sweet boy made my otherwise stressful week-so much better! Thanks for your kind words, Ivan.

With Thankful Heart

I'm happy to report that Ivan's MRI today looked "normal". Normal, by the way, is a beautiful word. I always get nervous when he has these six month pictures done--wondering maybe, just maybe, that ugly tumor is starting up again--just one little cell got away...

So, it is always a great relief to hear that he's okay. We'll do this again in April. And October. Then maybe just in Octobers. I hope. I worry and worry and buy him special treats, and get movies, and wash his blanky, and pray. Oh, and worry (did I mention that?)

In addition to that, I took Orlando to his field trip. I made him a wonderful sack lunch, got him all excited, made sure he was dressed for the pumpkin patch and then took him to school at 8 when he usually goes in the afternoon....only to find out it is next week.

How embarrassing.

I blame it on stress. Somehow I got the MRI and the field trip on the same date in my head....

Sheesh, I thought Lando might make it to 4th or 5th grade before I started embarrassing him, I guess not!

Well, I'm thankful for my boys even if they may struggle with giving thanks for this scatter brained-worry-wart of a mom.

List

I'm making a list. I only do this when it is getting too long for my small brain. This is one of those times and I thought I might as well share with my friends and family

costumes to make or at least find

Halloween Ward Party to plan and have

2 kids school Fall Parties (one I'm home room mom for)

actual Halloween

I'll be an aunt again!

Ammon turns 3

Orlando turns 6

(both want parties)

Josh and I celebrate 8 years of marriage

Great-great Grandma turns 100 ( quick trip to AR later this week)

I'm taking 6 hours of online credits with a deadline of December

I have 40 more "seat" hours of professional development to bust out also by December

Thanksgiving (gobble, gobble.)

oh ya, and Christmas (which Josh and I may celebrate a different day due to his ridiculous schedule and a trip to TX)

ward Christmas Party to plan and carry out by the 5th (any ideas?)

Josh's birthday (also the 5th)

volunteering in classes for my boys regularly

Going to Dallas for a wedding by Jan. 2nd. -get tuxes for Josh and Lando

(and what the heck will I wear?!)

And then the "regular stuff"

ya know

homework assignments

Karate classes

laundry

meals

house to clean

etc....

I wasn't going to

I wasn't going to go. And I certainly wasn't going to get into it. Pre-school graduation. Come on people! We over do everything these days!! I got the invitation and thought: gee, one more thing.

But, I went. (Duty-mom called). I didn't have a sittter so I took the other two. Luckily it was low key and in their classroom. They had a cake and some fruit and the kids sang for us. We watched a DVD slide show of the kids and all they've learned. Lando got his cap and teddy bear diploma.

And then it happened.

A sudden rush of emotion.

He came over, sat down, obeyed everything his teacher said. He had friends, he was a good student, he's tested out of speech this year, he has learned and grown much.

Rushing over me filling me from head to toe. Mother's Love.

Look at this boy, with his "I did it" smile!

Yes, I went. Yes, I got into it. Yes, my son is a graduate. And YES! I am so happy to be his mom!

Muddy Sunday

I was really enjoying a general conference talk and my boys were  playing fabulously well together.  When I went to check on them I found them...

Painting

the fence

with

MUD.

We spent lots of time cleaning...obviously.   But if you look above you will notice that my sponge mop was used to paint, so a little tricky to mop the kitchen where they tracked mud. I will need to borrow a power sprayer to get the mud off the fence.  It's been raining all week, but the fence still looks brown.

And above you can see my blue cleaning gloves were used to mix the mud....

 

Here is Ivan doing some cleaning on the kitchen floor.

Finally, here is Lando cleaning mud off his shoes.

I.will.surrvive.motherhood.

Orlando's Wisdom

Here is some insight to my 5 year old pre-schooler:

****

Lando: Mom, am I going to be a bus student or a car student next year?

Me:  I don't know.  I have to find out where and when Ivan needs dropped off.  We will see.

Lando:  (Exasperated Sigh)  Just go to www. school.com, then find Kindergarten.  Next, see bus and car.  Find my name!  

***

Dad:  Lando, what did you learn at school today?

Lando:  We learned about maps.

Dad:  Maps are cool!

Lando:  Ya, my teacher has a map that goes in her car.  She puts her house and then where she wants to go and it tells her.

Me:  A GPS?

Lando:  Ya, a GPS.  Those are cool maps!

***

Lando:  Mom, huge and humongous rhyme!

Me:  They mean the same thing, but they don't rhyme.  They both mean big.

Lando: Ya.

Me:  Lots of words mean big.  Huge, humongous, large, great, big, enormous.  When words mean the same thing, they are called synonyms.

Lando:  (long pause, wheels turning).   Mom, Synonyms and M&M's rhyme!!!

***

Hi, my name is lion.

For those of you who haven't met me my name is Lion.  I am more loved than anyone can imagine because I belong to Orlando.  Lando takes me everywhere.  Here we are at the arch in St. Louis.

Lando also thinks I am beautiful.  He took mom's camera and took this next shot himself.  I've been with Lando since birth, so we are close.  Hey, I'm a great comfort item.  Although, I once was left at a gym for two weeks, like a good cat, I found my way miraculously home!  

I've been with Lando through his ups and downs.  I always went to preschool with him, until he got comfortable there.  I sometimes ride in his backpack for old times sake.   And when Ivan was in the hospital, I was essential to his comfort.  Lando is a sensitive boy who worried about his brother.  He still gets upset about Ivan's scar and Ivan being gone.  I'm still the one he holds.  Gee, I'm good! 

I've ended up in many family photos.  My tail has been chewed nearly off.  And I actually lost my nose on the last road trip.  Luckily Lando's dad knows how to operate, and he put it back on!!  Too bad no one took pictures of that one!  Oh, and Lando was crying when he saw dad put a needle in me--he didn't want me to hurt.  But, he WAS glad that I would get my nose back.

Lando can, like all children, get angry.  This is when I really shine.  No one helps him calm down quicker than me!  It is my specialty.  I know Lando loves me very much.  He has tried to feed me ice cream and cereal.  At one time I even had a place at the table.  He also has taught me to say my own prayers.  He dances with me, turns me in flips, and today I was part of a parachute project.  He cuddles with me every night, and I have my own voice and can answer questions!!  

So what could I want more than Orlando?  Not a thing.  You see, I love him too!

He continues to teach me. . .

Today I took Ivan in for his Neuro check up.  He had an MRI Monday.  I'm so happy to report no signs of cancer at this time and things look good.  Of course, I am always nervous -no matter that statistics for his type of cancer are on our side.  I've also thought a lot about my little Ivan this week.  He teaches me so much.  

Ivan was born with a love of sports.  He played more basketball in our living room by age 2 then most people do in their lives!  So, when his coordination slowed down I knew something was wrong.  Eventually--we got the diagnosis.  A golf ball tumor.  For a few days we didn't know what kind.  We didn't know if he'd be with us or if for how long.  With Josh in medical school, friends tapped into records and did some "searching".  They tried to tell me it should be okay.  I don't think I heard them clearly.  It was too hard to believe anything when something so unbelievable was happening.

Surgery was rough.  And they had to go back in later.  It wasn't surgery itself that caused us so much grief though---it was the effects of surgery.  My little guy couldn't sit up, walk, run, or shoot hoop!

He really worked hard while on the rehab unit for two weeks and progress was made.  Still, I took him home unable to walk without lots of support.  He continued full time therapy for several months.

Ivan wore a helmet to help keep the bumps and bruises to a minimum. (He also sported my sandals occasionally!)

Here is Ivan at age four.  I love this shot because you can clearly see the scrapes and bumps that continue to be part of his life.  In fact, today our doctor said to continue to expect that.   But, what did you see first?  It was the smile wasn't it?  Yes, Ivan continues to teach me.  He has the gift of resiliency.  He will go and go and go.  He will try and try and try.  He will fall.  He will hurt, and he will try again.  Now, of course he's not perfect and I'm not trying to give him sainthood or anything.  He also tries my patience and tries and tries to get out of bedtime!  But, my little Ivan is an example to me.  He helps me go when I don't want to.  He also often says, "it's okay mom-sometimes it doesn't work out"  and then "maybe next time".  I think that is pretty good thinking for such a young kid.  I am thankful to have my Ivan in my life.

St. Patrick's Day Fun

We really enjoyed St. Patty's day this year!  We made a cool fruit rainbow for our family home evening treat yesterday--complete with the pot 'o gold!
We had red and green apples, oranges, bananas, blueberries, and grapes!  The gold was vanilla pudding for a simple but yummy fruit dip!


The boys got to lay out the fruit and they were just so excited.  Holidays are so fun with kids!  Their milk was green this morning.  Yep, the leprechauns came and turned the milk green...

The boys then wondered if the leprechauns were still in the house and if they were nice.  Ammon loved the green milk (just food color, no flavor)  Lando wouldn't touch it!!  Ivan (as usual) played the middle child and wasn't sure... he drank some with Ammon and refused some with Lando! 

Ammon

My Dearest Ammon, 

 

I may not have made it through my church meeting today, but is there a better reason in the whole wide world?  I don't think so.  You have always been so beautiful, cute and chubby!  I just love you to pieces and I can't believe how BIG you are getting...

Why is it. . .

That after planning a family night to swim and getting to the gym, we didn't have the swim bag-EVERYONE had wanted to carry? (no swim night after all).

That after making casserole, Lando draws a picture (we have a chalkboard in the kitchen) of a rectangle with a large red X over it and states, "Mom this is your food and the X means, NO! NO! NO!?"

That Ivan threw a plush toy basketball hard enough to break one of my favorite picture frames into 100 pieces?

That for the first time in months I went to paint my nails with my new OPI polish and Ammon spilled it on white clothes? (He was two stories away when I started.)

That when we were driving home the van started smoking on us?

That the newly vacuumed floor was the best place to throw Ritz crackers around?

That Ammon poops in the middle of spinning class?
That my friends kid who I have for a short time poops while here with no diaper on?

That my zipper in my skirt was stuck so badly I barely had time to get my clothes changed for the Temple session?!

That I looked in several mirrors while getting my eyebrows waxed but not until I got home did I notice the spinach between my teeth? (seriously!)

That the two pounds I thought I lost are both back stronger and possibly weighing more than they did just last week? (Yes, the very same two pounds!)

That after being snowy for weeks, the snow melts the day before I actually had plans to go sledding?

That when sending out an invitation (to the entire ward) I forgot to put the date on it!?

That after working to make a beautiful bread wreath for a baby shower Josh is so late getting home that it is cold and not nearly as good? I was almost an hour late. Ugh!

That Ivan is not as well potty-trained this week as last month?

Does anyone know? WHY? Why-why-why? Just thought I'd ask.
We are fine, but these little things are driving me up a wall! Oh and yes, these all happened this last week.

What a Mess!

I may have made the biggest mess of my life today. The irony was I was trying to clean my house!! I put old food down the disposal and well, the pipes clogged up with spaghetti (no, I will not do this again!) Anyway, when I felt water on my foot, I knew it was bad. I had to take everything out from under the sink and there were small chunks of old food thrown all over everything!!! So gross!! It was basically cleaning up a bunch of vomit.(Chinese and Italian). Sorry for the visual, but just so you know what I was going through. I did take the pipes apart myself. That was kind of interesting as I've never done any plumbing before...ah the things you learn to do while your hubby works....
No, I didn't take pictures, it was just too yucky and my hands were wet. But, I do have pictures of another mess from a few weeks ago. This time it had been an especially trying day, so I went with a frozen pizza. I should have paid closer attention, because here is what I saw when I went to take out the pizza:




So what are you going to do???
Weight Watchers or Not, this was the only answer: