Ada has been going through a phase lately. I can't identify or name this phase, but let's just say that a group of us moms decided that the terrible twos are wrongly accused- we think the terrible threes is the real problem in childhood. Something about being three . . . .
Anyway, they have had a couple funny moments regardless (btw- Odessa has been an Angel lately, and I know she is trying extra hard because it tickles her pink that Ada has been so naughty and she is not the one getting into trouble anymore).
Mandy, Cohen and 7 week old Greyson were over, Mandy was holding him and rocking in the chair, he was awake- so of course Ada was fawning nearby.
Ada: When is HE going to grow up to be a SHE?
Mandy: (laughing) Never! He will always be a he.
Ada: (dissapointed) Oh
~then she leaned really close to his face with her eyes bugging out of her head and shouted "GOO GOO GAA GAA"
We busted up and asked her if that's how babies talked? "Yeah" she said
Stephen has a lot of nights where he comes home, grabs a bite to eat and heads out the door for meetings. Last night he left the 3 of us sitting at the table.
Ada: Where are you going?
Dad: To a meeting.
Ada: Where? At the church?
Dad: Yes.
Odessa: I'm DUBIOUS about that.
Me: (laughing) Oh you are? Where do YOU think he's going?
We almost died. I don't even think I have ever used the word dubious in a conversation. That's what you get when you let them watch Electric Company I think. She's got the memory of an elephant.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Just a journal entry
We've had some busy and exciting days lately. Stephen's calling as ward mission leader throws a lot of unexpected things in our path. I am starting to feel a little like a den mother or something, I am not used to entertaining his friends/co-workers so much. I've had some fun adventures too.
The girls and I finished 2 weeks of swim lessons every morning in Magnolia. Leaving an hour early to get there "just in case" was tough- the girls often had to be woken up. Most days we got there in 20 minutes, but with so much water and hills and city, Seattle has so many bottlenecks and there just aren't many other ways to get places if there's an accident or some other aberration.
The girls did great, I saw huge improvements in the every day schedule and I will always do everyday lessons from now on. I will also not schedule them in the 2 week period when the teachers are all leaving for college. Although this wasn't hugely disrupting for my kids, by the end they both had different teachers than they had started with.
I saw all my first ward friends a lot last week. Wed I stayed in Magnolia for their mom's group, then Thursday I had a super fun shower for my friend Mandy.
Stephen got some guys night out time Friday and Saturday! I had to prepare a talk on Working in the Home for Sunday, so it worked out for me that he was out and about.
Sunday we had a going away party to attend for our previous ward's bishop. They are moving to NYC and we are excited for their new adventure. This was the 3rd time in one week I got to see all our old friends, and I really appreciated how important many of them are to us. We had combined family night and BBQ with some friends last night and I've got two events this week and then I think things will start to S-L-O-W down a little.
My talk about working in the home was a little tricky to prepare. Our ward is small and has a very diverse group of singles, widows, husbands who stay at home with kids and both parents working scenarios. I tried to look at the work we do at home as breaking down to really being the work we do to further our own personal and spiritual growth. So if you're working on that growth as an individual, a couple or as a whole family, a lot of the principles apply across the spectrum. And as we are instructed to become as little children, can't we apply the scriptures under Family, Children, Responsibilities toward: to each of us in some way? We can realize we have responsibilities to ourselves as well as a spouse and children if that applies. There are 40 wonderful scriptures under that heading in the topical guide for those of you with a King James LDS issued Bible. Scriptures that cover everything from teaching the commandments to not chastising too much to "bringing up in light". I really grew a testimony of the importance of working in the home, and not just from a child caregivng standpoint. There are lot of things we do at home and I'll admit a lot of it is wasted time, but there's a lot of important things that happen too and the potential for great and wonderful growth.
The girls and I finished 2 weeks of swim lessons every morning in Magnolia. Leaving an hour early to get there "just in case" was tough- the girls often had to be woken up. Most days we got there in 20 minutes, but with so much water and hills and city, Seattle has so many bottlenecks and there just aren't many other ways to get places if there's an accident or some other aberration.
The girls did great, I saw huge improvements in the every day schedule and I will always do everyday lessons from now on. I will also not schedule them in the 2 week period when the teachers are all leaving for college. Although this wasn't hugely disrupting for my kids, by the end they both had different teachers than they had started with.
I saw all my first ward friends a lot last week. Wed I stayed in Magnolia for their mom's group, then Thursday I had a super fun shower for my friend Mandy.
Stephen got some guys night out time Friday and Saturday! I had to prepare a talk on Working in the Home for Sunday, so it worked out for me that he was out and about.
Sunday we had a going away party to attend for our previous ward's bishop. They are moving to NYC and we are excited for their new adventure. This was the 3rd time in one week I got to see all our old friends, and I really appreciated how important many of them are to us. We had combined family night and BBQ with some friends last night and I've got two events this week and then I think things will start to S-L-O-W down a little.
My talk about working in the home was a little tricky to prepare. Our ward is small and has a very diverse group of singles, widows, husbands who stay at home with kids and both parents working scenarios. I tried to look at the work we do at home as breaking down to really being the work we do to further our own personal and spiritual growth. So if you're working on that growth as an individual, a couple or as a whole family, a lot of the principles apply across the spectrum. And as we are instructed to become as little children, can't we apply the scriptures under Family, Children, Responsibilities toward: to each of us in some way? We can realize we have responsibilities to ourselves as well as a spouse and children if that applies. There are 40 wonderful scriptures under that heading in the topical guide for those of you with a King James LDS issued Bible. Scriptures that cover everything from teaching the commandments to not chastising too much to "bringing up in light". I really grew a testimony of the importance of working in the home, and not just from a child caregivng standpoint. There are lot of things we do at home and I'll admit a lot of it is wasted time, but there's a lot of important things that happen too and the potential for great and wonderful growth.
Monday, August 16, 2010
The terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day
Sunday was not my day. But it ended well for a couple reasons and compared to many, I have little to complain about. But let me try anyway . . . .
I could not find the apartment of an investigator that needed a ride to Church. Stephen has early meetings so he was already at the church. I called her twice before leaving, but no one ever picked up. When I finally found the woman, she proceeded to chew me out for many things, only one of them being late. I was astounded and confused. She made claims that were not true and accused me of all kinds of craziness. I felt a lot like Elizabeth Bennett in Pride and Prejudice when she tells Darcy's aunt that she can't have anything more to say to her because she has insulted everything about her (to sum up). Even though I had started out for church over a half hour early, we were incredibly late and the chorister really can't be late. She was convinced I didn't know where I was going because I could not tell her the actual address of our church building. When I got there, the missionaries came out to meet her, Stephen came out to park the car for me and all 3 of them knew in no uncertain terms that the drive had gone beyond horrible.
I took over for my pinch hitter chorister for the sacrament hymn. As I sat in church I thought about how this woman had made me feel. I realized her opinion was one opinion and she didn't have the power to make me feel so bad about myself unless I let her. Not surprisingly, she left mid-way through church to find one who would help her hire a lawyer for some legal issues she was having. Not to make this a cultural thing, but later I realized we had somewhat similar experiences with a woman in Chicago we used to pick up for church. She liked us and never insulted us directly, but there was often this undercurrent of "boy, you don't know nuthin' bout nuthin'" Which to a 70+ yr old black lady who's seen a lot in her hard life, we probably seemed like we didn't. This woman's main theme yesterday seemed to be more of "you don't know nuthin' and you ain't gonna ever know anything" and she was MALICIOUS about it.
My day perked up with a successful potluck after church. I like our ward, it grows on me more each week.
After church we were relaxing in our yard, talking over the chicken coop when Ada needed something and I got up to go inside. I stepped on a REALLY sharp pine needle and when I tried to brush it off from between my toes found it was a bee instead! Ouch that hurt. That's when I decided it was NOT my day.
But fortunately Stephen pampered my foot and the girls fought over whose pillow I should put my foot on. We had a friend over for dinner, had chocolate cake and ice cream and another friend brought over his fresh caught rainbow trout to cheer me up! How nice to have friends and family to listen and care. So really, it turned out to be a pretty good day after all.
I could not find the apartment of an investigator that needed a ride to Church. Stephen has early meetings so he was already at the church. I called her twice before leaving, but no one ever picked up. When I finally found the woman, she proceeded to chew me out for many things, only one of them being late. I was astounded and confused. She made claims that were not true and accused me of all kinds of craziness. I felt a lot like Elizabeth Bennett in Pride and Prejudice when she tells Darcy's aunt that she can't have anything more to say to her because she has insulted everything about her (to sum up). Even though I had started out for church over a half hour early, we were incredibly late and the chorister really can't be late. She was convinced I didn't know where I was going because I could not tell her the actual address of our church building. When I got there, the missionaries came out to meet her, Stephen came out to park the car for me and all 3 of them knew in no uncertain terms that the drive had gone beyond horrible.
I took over for my pinch hitter chorister for the sacrament hymn. As I sat in church I thought about how this woman had made me feel. I realized her opinion was one opinion and she didn't have the power to make me feel so bad about myself unless I let her. Not surprisingly, she left mid-way through church to find one who would help her hire a lawyer for some legal issues she was having. Not to make this a cultural thing, but later I realized we had somewhat similar experiences with a woman in Chicago we used to pick up for church. She liked us and never insulted us directly, but there was often this undercurrent of "boy, you don't know nuthin' bout nuthin'" Which to a 70+ yr old black lady who's seen a lot in her hard life, we probably seemed like we didn't. This woman's main theme yesterday seemed to be more of "you don't know nuthin' and you ain't gonna ever know anything" and she was MALICIOUS about it.
My day perked up with a successful potluck after church. I like our ward, it grows on me more each week.
After church we were relaxing in our yard, talking over the chicken coop when Ada needed something and I got up to go inside. I stepped on a REALLY sharp pine needle and when I tried to brush it off from between my toes found it was a bee instead! Ouch that hurt. That's when I decided it was NOT my day.
But fortunately Stephen pampered my foot and the girls fought over whose pillow I should put my foot on. We had a friend over for dinner, had chocolate cake and ice cream and another friend brought over his fresh caught rainbow trout to cheer me up! How nice to have friends and family to listen and care. So really, it turned out to be a pretty good day after all.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Other events at the reunion
We did a lot at our reunions in Boise and one thing both families did was pretty important. We got to go to the temple as families and do some temple work for our ancestors. It was particularly special because we were able to do the temple work for my grandmother and seal her for eternity to my grandpa. We also sealed my father to his parents, which was so special! There is nothing like thinking of people you knew and loved having the opportunity to spend forever together. It's still up to them of course, I believe we have free agency to make choices before and after we appear here on earth for our short test in life. It was a sweet, sweet day my friends.
Kids
No caption needed here
After standing in line so patiently (one mom said there should be face painting at the grocery store checkouts) the girls got their faces painted
Odessa got a giraffe, Ada a fairy peeking out from behind a mushroom
My little snow leopards
Odessa's "headset" she made with a pipe cleaner
Odessa's best work of art to date: After camping in the back yard (long story) she drew herself in her sleeping bag, camping, in the grass, at night, with 2 angels to keep the bad dreams awayAnecdotes as of late:
We were walking back to our car from Lincoln Park beach (a long walk) and I was trying to inspire the girls.
Me: Hey, when we get home we can have some Capri Suns!
Odessa: No! I want to wear shorts!
They both beg to ride their bikes, but they are TERRIBLE at it (I know, they need more practice! But their dad is supposed to handle that . . . . )
Anyway, we only got halfway past to the neighbor's driveway when Odessa tipped hers over and skinned her knee and started WAILING.
I told Ada to turn around and she got the drift her ride was ending before it began and she started WAILING - near the middle of the road. That's when I started laughing hysterically at the craziness (just then a nice neighbor driving by slowed to watch our train wreck -and to not kill Ada). Me, laughing hysterically flanked by my two WAILING children. That's a typical day in the life . . .
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