Made to Trade

So Today I went to a totally awesome trade/swap. I've never done a swap thing before, but I heard about it and thought it would be fun. Maybe get SOME Christmas shopping done.

Nothing was done as "this is what it's worth on the open Market," it was more or less sold for cost, and it was trade. In my case, there was no money exchanged, anywhere.

<- those are bens cars that he made. The one blue/yellow/red together is a train. He's pretty talented!! (Yes Emily, that is the picture from your blog of the animal cars, it's even laminated to make it look all pretty.).

Then I had some Jam and applesauce that I made. And honestly, we did great! The barter thing was nice, and everybody played nice. Ben owes about 9 cars to people. (He's talented!).

Then check this out!!

A list would bore you, but I have problems finding highlights, therefore, I get to bore anybody who finds the time to read this! I ended up with (some pictured, some not because I have to pick it up later - I made a nice excel document for organizing what I owe and what I need to get still).

- 4 flats of nine mini cheesecakes (heaven!!) (I have two, the other two I will pick up later)

- 2 jars of homemade pickles. One spicy, one regular garlic.

- one lemon sugar scrub

- 1 scripture case (with john Deere tractors!!)

- 3 fabric roll out crayon holders, perfect for church!!

- 1 leather thingy that goes around a cowboy hat

- 4 leather keychains

- 2 books (the body battles a cavity, and the body battles a skinned knee) - VERY informative and awesome. Cute illustrations too.

- 4 hair bows for Megan (really darling!)

- 3 containers of fudge - half pound each

- 2 pink crocheted hats for Megan

- 1 blue warm rice pack for the kids

- 1 even cuter large rice pack for ME

- 2 kitchen scrubbers

- a belt for my nephew with his name on it (getting later)

- a stuffed dog for Brandon - a cute Yorkie

- a cape with Incredibles on one side and superman on the other

- homemade laundry soap (3 gallons!!)

- a set of mittens for me

- 2 pant clips and 2 mitten clips (http://www.chrystalblu.com) <- check this gals website, they are darling.

All in all, it was one awesome swap. I can't wait until next Year!! the best part, CHEAP. There was no money involved for most people, it was just trading things that they make for things we make. (Or Ben makes ... one of us is talented anyway, although I did trade some of my jam).

Terrible, horrible, no good very bad day

Dang roller coaster. Up and down, bad days, good days.

Yesterday, bad day. Today? Better.

Ben found my depression meds, and realized how many days I've missed in the last three Months (it was a 3 month subscription). I got some jam made, and visited dad in the hospital, (rotator cuff surgery, he's out of commission for a while.) Long while.

today I picked up my depression meds, so I'm back on them, (temporarily? - I even got a 7 day pill minder, so I can remember whether or not I've taken them)!

My best friend down the road (who keeps me sane) is out of town ... we'll have to plan a girls night when she gets back so we can collect sanity!

Speechless in motherhood

[at grocery store]

Jacob: mom … she only has one arm!!! …..

Mom … and you have two arms.

Jacob: But mom, that looks weird!!!

[speechless]

[to primary teacher the week after we stayed home cause I was sick]

We didn’t go to church last week cause mom was too busy killing zombies on the computer ….

…

[to Megan while she’s coloring]

Me: what do you do with legs?

Megan: walk

Me: what do you do with noses?

Megan: color them!!

Me: what else do you do with noses?

Megan: bite them!!!

Me: Ben; you're a dork.

Megan: You're a dork.

Ben: Laura, look what you're teaching her.

Me: I'm sorry daddy.

Megan: [looking at me] you're not sorry.

Ben: [laughing]

[kids playing, suddenly they start an insult war]

Brandon: you’re a bubblenose!!

Jacob: Mommy, he called me a bubblenose!!!!

Jacob: mommy, I’m sweeping the roof for you!!

Me: Is it dirty?

Jacob: Someday walked on it with muddy feet!

Me: … OK?

Jacob: Mommy … can we watch “Casper the holy ghost?”

Me: who lost their underwear in the box of pears?

Ben: It fell out of the clean laundry as I was taking it out of the dryer.

Making decisions;

me- what do you think?

ben- it's up to you. me- no, it's up to you.

jacob in backseat- no guys. it's up to BOTH of you.

raining today.

jacob said "mother, can you find something to clean the windshield so i can see?"

i turned on the wipers "good thinking mother!"

Ah, the life of a mother. :-)

Salt Flats, salt lake, and a few wrong directions

This weekend we went to Provo for family pictures. Somehow after filling up with gas in Salt lake,we took a wrong turn ...

A - Salt lake, the freeway, where we meant to get back on I-15.

B, Delle, where we turned around ...

C: the border of Utah/Nevada, just in case you wonder how lost we really were!!!

D: the key .... we were WAY out of our way.

E: the great salt lake. I have never seen such a beautiful view. I never realized the lake was so BIG. How is it I've never been there? We will definitely have to go there sometime soon!

F: part of the salt flats, I've never seen those either. Wow!!!! Salt in every direction! It was gorgeous!

So yes, we went an hour each direction out of our way. Yes, it was not good. But I saw more scenery than I knew Utah possessed!! It was amazing!!!!

The crash of 2010: the aftermath

In late December, my computer crashed. The week I was due to do my yearly "picture backup." .. during a defragment, I got the blue screen and total frying of the hard drive/motherboard. .. a friend was somehow able to retrieve some info off of it.

Due to ... whatever ... there was an insane amount of picture files on that computer. My two Theories:

1 - because the computer was in a defragment cycle, the pictures were randomly lumped.

2 - google chrome saves images of everything. ... everything. Everything.

I was handed a beautiful file of 70,000 pictures. (No, I'm not kidding.). Of such, intermingled randomly are the pictures of my children taken the past year or so .... very randomly. Its' like a trip down memory lane!! It has pictures of everything. Pictures from every blog I've looked at,

facebook photos I've seen, ads that I didn't notice.

Here's a very random sampling.

I remember seeing this one on Cake wrecks. (Cakewrecks.com <- AWESOME site.)
must have been a news article ... some natural disaster I bet.
looking up pillow pets when Jacob was begging for one.
uh ... listened to this one?
a game!
absolutely no idea.
good times ... this involved a weird husband and Mcdonalds.

and here and there I find pictures like this one, and the one at the top ... the pictures I was looking for in the first place. This is Megan and Ben at Dad's fiftieth birthday party. So I will keep looking for pictures ... Started with 70,000 items. .. 47,385 items to go!!! and I have found 2,061 pictures I actually wanted. (Although I'm sure some of those are duplicates ..)

The Checkup.

it's a needle, how dangerous can it be?

So my boys went in Friday for their well child checks. I cheat and schedule them both for the same time and day (because their birthdays are so close).

Before we even got there, Jacob started crying, "I don't want a shot! I don't want a shot!" .... who told him he'd be getting a shot? We told Brandon he'd probably be getting some .. (kindergarten shots)....

He calmed down, and we went in. The first thing they do, instead of weighing them, is give us a cup and point to Jacob, "he needs to pee in the cup" .. the child in question claimed he didn't need to pee. But ben took him anyway and convinced him he could try.

While we were waiting for the boys (Brandon decided he had to go too), Megan and I sat in the lab and they gave her a cute little Tinkerbell sticker.

They came out (the cup nearly overflowing - I thought he didn't need to pee!!! Thank heavens for lids), and Brandon realizes Megan has a Tinkerbell sticker, and he doesn't. I tell him he'll get a sticker if he's good, and we go to the exam room.

Both boys have to take their shoes off and get weighed. Somehow between leaving home and getting there, they had both lost their socks .... so it looks like I didn't put socks on them. *sigh* When they took off their shoes, I gave them a look, "where's your socks?" Neither claimed knowledge of socks ....

Weighing the boys was easy enough ... until Megan fixed her beady eyes on the nurse and gave her a puppy dog look. "Me next?" So she very patiently weighed Megan, just so she wasn't left out.

Weighing is naturally the easy part ... the Dr came in, with a student, so Jacob had to question her and figure out why she was there. he examined Brandon, had him jump, walk, and asked him questions to determine if he was talking better. Then he pointed at a slight indent, like a scar, and asked if we'd discussed that before ...

He explained calmly it's just a third nipple, not a scar, and it won't get any breast tissue, .... my 4 year old has a third nipple and I didn't know it? Cool!

Thankfully, other than that the physicals went calmly. But he said he'd send somebody in to test the hearing on both boys, and the vision for Jacob. But first, the flu shots! He offered the "flu mist," because it's easier and the boys haven't needed the nebulizer for a couple years. Crisis averted! Then the nurse came in and explained, .... "we don't have any more flu mist .... they'll have to have the shots . . ." Crap. Meltdown mode .... Brandon didn't end up getting the kindergarten shots, because they've updated what is needed so he needed two catchup shots. (That were added ....). The nurse came in and said, "oldest first!" Naturally, the oldest is the least likely to be a problem.

We put Brandon first instead, who was great (because he'd get ice cream after), then the first needle went in and he went hysterical. Jacob wasn't better. Megan cried for about fifteen seconds, then she was fine. (Girls are stronger!!!).

While the boys howled, the nurse came in to test their hearing, they had to raise their hand when they heard the noise .... yeah right. I was able to get Brandon settled down enough to listen, and he did fine. Then Jacob was still sniffing, and missed a few.

The eye test? She tried to use the shapes, but I told her he could handle the letters. Even upset, he's more likely to get letters right than "dinosaur, triangle ..." But he said them so quiet that I had to repeat what he said. I think she thought I was cheating ... but she didn't say anything.

Then the boys started crying because there were no more Tinkerbell stickers ... and by the time we walked out, (Jacob limping because his leg hurt SO bad ..) I'm sure they were glad to see us go. Funny, I was glad to be out too.

The pillow Pet: Version 2

A few short weeks after Jacob earned his, (and their mother has been AWOL from blogging) ... Brandon earned his pillow pet!!!!! We gave him the last two dollars in change for his birthday to earn "his half" of the money.

He was so proud! This time we were prepared, and ben called ahead to find a store that actually CARRIED the pillow pet he wanted. The bumblebee. ironically, this one had recently gotten a shipment and had the ladybugs that we had spent so long finding for Jacob.

he was so happy when he saw it! He grabbed it, and his piggy bank slipped out of his hand. Oops. Well, ... that was one way to get the money out of it.
we picked up the money, summoned a worker and apologized profusely for our mess! Then picked up the big pieces and guarded the mess until somebody was able to sweep it up. (Ceramic hurts ... Jacob has an old scar on his leg proving that).
One more Pillow pet in the family. His name is "peekaboo" ... and I have never seen Brandon so happy! He earned it himself. although we did take the smaller coins and combine them to replace with all quarters. Just to be nicer to the check out lady who doesn't deserve to have to count lots of small coins.

Coming soon; episode 3! Megan is getting really close to her 7.50 (we decided she didn't need half, ... we gave her a little break on account of her being younger.)

Peekaboo joined "Michael the ladybug" and the boys are content.

On a side note; the ladybug now has a hat ... Jacob had an old hat he asked Ben to cut holes in the head so it would fit the ladybug.

The Pillow Pet

A few weeks ago Jacob decided he wanted a pillow pet. Not just a "Pillow pet", but the "ladybug pillow pet." These are an unnatural hybrid between pillows and stuffed animals. And apparently they're popular.

He saw a commercial and decided this is what he wanted more than anything. As a mom, my original opinion was "NO." But I thought about it, as he asked again and again, and finally came to a decision. I gave him a piggy bank, and said when he had earned, by himself, enough for half the pillow pet, he could buy it with his own money.

He worked, and worked, and worked and worked. (and lost his first tooth, which netted him two dollars, mostly because it's the first. The going rate for second and beyond is not nearly that high).

On Saturday he did his last job, (picking up the living room), ... and his piggy bank net reached 10.13. He was so proud! So we went to the store ... and apparently ladybug pillow pets are the most popular. It took 3 stores (and a few phone calls), to net one. They put it aside, and we walked in and he paid with his change. (Thanks to a very patient cashier).

This is Jacob walking out of the store, very proud .... and I think his new Pillow Pet means so much more to him because begging didn't get it for him. Good hard work did. He even held dad move boxes when we moved! He named the ladybug Michael, I'm not sure why. I asked and his beautiful answer was, "because it's a ladybug pillow pet." ... can't argue with that logic!

The Pillow Pet is the newest member of the family, and Brandon is now saving up for HIS. But he wants a bumblebee . . . at least they didn't choose really expensive things for their first "save up for" item!

Why Farm Vehicles have Names

Have you noticed that most farm vehicles have a name? Now always normal names either … lets explain what I mean.

This morning I ended up driving Deathtrap, because Aaron had to take Courtney. Courtney got her name because she’s supposed to be a “courtin vehicle.” Deathtrap – or rattletrap as some people call him – is pretty much explanatory. He’s got no rearview mirror, no handle on the inside of the driver door (shutting the door is a pain). The windows don’t roll down, and the only seatbelts that work are the drivers belt, and one of them in the back. Add to that, the windshield reflects really badly when the sun hits it just right. Therefore; she earned her name.

A farmer doesn’t do what a lot of other people do. Although using “mom’s car”, and “dad’s car”, works to a point … it doesn’t work so well all the way down. There’s trucks, cars, tractors, and so on. So they get names, or “designations” … depending on the imagination of the user.

A new pickup is bought, and it’s called, at first, “the red truck.” After a while, it becomes “The Red Truck”, even if other red trucks are bought, it remains, “The Red Truck”, and all the others will have other names.

Aaron found a pickup he wants, and it comes with a name, that’s half the charm. The pickup is named “Chuck Norris.” It’ll probably keep its name for the life of the vehicle. when I was in college, I drove “Charlie” … who was an old car that used to belong to my great grandparents – but they named her Charlie, so she kept the name.

If somebody gets a new truck … the names have to evolve. For example, “grandpa’s truck” is replaced by “grandpas new truck” … for at least two years these will be the designations. Eventually “Grandpas New Truck” will become “Grandpa’s Truck”, and the old Grandpas truck will get a new name, dependent on personality, color, or some physical aspect.

Sometimes names are a little more boring than the colors; …. “The Chevy”, “The Malibu”, “The Pinto” …. Yeah, but it works, and everybody knows which car/truck/ whatever is meant.

As such, there’s “The Green Truck” (don’t forget, “The” is part of the name … it can’t be left out.). There’s “Little Red” (a cute little red tractor). “The 10 wheeler” … yeah … imaginative. Even if the farm gets other ten wheelers, that will always be “The 10 Wheeler.” Then there’s “The White Truck”, I remember a vehicle called “Rollover” (need I say more?) and a myriad of other names that are entertaining. (we used to have an old station wagon dubbed, “The Green Thing”.

All in all, I’ve decided I like it when cars have names, it gives them personality!

Remembering Eternity

Along with my new work schedule came a Friday class - preparing for eternal marriage. It's full of singles and engaged couples. A whole lot of people with eternity to look forward to.

The teacher said he wants each of his engaged students to reflect on the moment they knew that he/she was "the one."

I had to start thinking. Its' been so long, but it feels like it was not so long ago. I knew my husband for many years, since we were little 14 year olds, young and immature. He claims he knew from the first that I was perfect for him. I wasn't so fast.

The years flew by, and in high school I'd avoid the corner he and his friends hung out during lunch, because for some reason, I felt embarrassed when he saw me with another boys arm around my waist. He was just a friend!

We graduated high school, and went to a 3 day stake youth conference. Looking back, I think that's where things started to change. We spent hours talking, we went together for the Y hike (hiking to the Y near BYU campus), and I grew very fond of him.

That Christmas he gave me a pair of moccasins. He'd convinced my sister to get my foot size, and he made me leather moccasins, which I wore a lot.

He left on his mission in July, 2001, and I put the moccasins, and a few remnants from that youth conference, and the program from his farewell, in a box and sealed it. Along with it I tried to seal his memory.

But it didn't work. We wrote back and forth. He wrote me a short one page letter every week. I think he missed 3 weeks his entire mission. He told me how things were going there, and sent pictures. And I wrote ... not as faithfully. Sometimes a month would go between letters, but when I felt like writing, I'd write. And I'd write whatever was on my mind. I soon learned to keep the letters to 5 pages, (or 3 pages and one picture), because any more than that took another stamp. But there were days I'd send a five page letter, only to put another in the mail the next day. Rumor has it that he got teased for that on his mission. But what missionary doesn't appreciate long letters from home.

About a year after he left, I missed those moccasins so badly I pulled them out of storage and started wearing them again. They reminded me of him, but they were so comfortable.

The next spring, near valentines his sister got engaged. They hadn't told him yet, so I didn't mention anything in my letters. Conference weekend I met the fiance, and I happened to mention it in a letter to him. After all, she'd been engaged for two months!

Oops ... they hadn't told him. They wanted to wait for mothers day. Just a month before the wedding. So I accidentally broke the news ... the letter I got back was something like, "are you sure she's getting married?"

June came, and he came home. He was still "just a friend," I never thought of him as more than that. He was just a friend, and always had been. we hung out a little bit, and talked a lot. 2 weeks after he came home was his "not a homecoming" talk in church. I was listening to him talk, and I realized something ... I loved this man. Not sort of, I really loved this man. And I couldn't imagine forever with anybody else.

As tears leaked from my eyes, I realized I'd loved him for a long time, and I just hadn't admitted it to myself.

A week later we were engaged, July 2nd, I was driving him home, as we'd gone on a walk that morning. We sat in the front seat of the car talking for the longest time and he asked about my plans to go on a mission. Then asked what I'd think if he asked me to marry him.

Six months to the day later, we got married in the Idaho falls temple. We have our disagreements on occasion. But I love him, and always will.

and after we got engaged, I did ask him to patch the holes I'd worn in my moccasins. He's replaced the soles 3 times since then. Even now, occasionally when I look at him, my heart skips a beat, and I remember how lucky I am to be married to this man.

Lazy UPS man. . . .

So the other day my son ran inside telling us that there was a man outside. Jen goes outside to see a very lost looking UPS man ....

"Is this where {my grandfather} lives?"

"No .. that direction, second house on the left." About a half mile ... literally!

"Can I leave the package here for him? I'm in a hurry." Umm ... it's two houses ... just down the road ... how hard can that be?

So he walks to his car and brings the box to us. Leaving it for us to deliver to grandpa, two houses away, because he couldn't take the time to do his job and deliver it two houses away.

Umm .... I think I prefer FedEx... they deliver things where they belong!

This bothered me Because:

A: He didn't "have time" to do his job?

B: He dropped off a package for somebody else, knowing it was the wrong house.

C: He expected us to do the delivering.

I wasn't sure if it was UPS or FedEx at first, but I know they both have distinctive trucks. So I googled "Fedex Image" and "UPS image" and found pictures of both their trucks. The brown truck wins! (Or loses, as the case may be), because I know what the idiot was driving.

Next time, hire somebody that can do their job!

Pancake Deprivation

Above is a totally irrelevant image. Just cause it's pretty.

So today I was babysitting 3 of my nephews. All 6 kids were playing happily downstairs before breakfast. I called them up, and only 3 came up (2 of mine and 1 of the nephews). I asked if they wanted pancakes or cereal.

Ten minutes later I called that breakfast was ready and six kids came running. Those that came before got breakfast, and I sweetly told the others I didn't know they were hungry, and I didn't make enough. So after the first 3, and me, were finished, I would make them more pancakes.

This caused 3 unhappy children, one of whom I'm sure is going to tattle to his mommy and grandma on me, but I feel it was fair.

I did feed the others, about twenty minutes after the first three got food. But one claimed he was so hungry by then he couldn't even carry his plate!

Next time; I have a sneaking suspicion they will come the first time I call. Not the last!

"I'm a big kid now"

I really don't like potty training. Last night I slept through my 3 a.m. alarm .... so did Ben ... and the results are disastrous. Jacob is not a child who is annoyed when he wets his bed. He gets downright hysterical.

He cries, he can't stand being wet ... and it's really not good. So when he wet his bed at 4 ... his crying woke me up. I feel like a bad mom for missing his wake up call.

When Brandon started waking up dry, after a week we agreed to let him move to no pullups at night. His older brother wanted to follow suit, so we agreed, if he's ok with 3 a.m. potty trips until he can wake himself up to use the bathroom.

Then I sleep through his potty trip, and accidents happen. I think about moving him back to pullups at night, ... but he's so good if we take him, and something about being a "big boy" just means so much to him. He wants to be a big boy. Not a baby.

Anyway; this wraps up the semester, we're heading for my 7 week break; and no more days of this.

This is me on the way to school. My adapter plugged in, with the surge protector, and both computers, and usually my phone too. :-) Thankfully I don't do this often, but it makes my car look like the borg are taking over.

Eyes on the prize, or the children.

Ever wonder what happens when somebody is watching kids outside and you blink? Thankfully, the joy of living in the middle of nowhere means that the road isn't quite as dangerous ... but don't let that fool you. Kids will be kids!

My two youngest, and two of their cohorts in crime (other ways known as cousins), discovered the four wheeler unattended and .... put rocks in the gas tank.

[disclaimer: I wasn't the one outside who let four children 4 and under out of eyesight]

so two hours of fathers day was spent with grandpa and uncle taking off the gas tank, emptying it, and cleaning it. With four kids watching part of it apologetically (realizing they did bad), following which they all got time out and lost outside privileges for somewhere between the day and the week, depending on how they behave.

Speaking of 4-wheelers, the men are going up to round up cows today. May I present the modern rednecks horse trailer!

Mommy, where did you get me?

We were driving home the other day, just like any other, when a series of questions headed a direction that I was not quite ready to go.

"Mommy, where did you get me?"

Um ..... I explained that just like his cousin Ily was in her mommy's tummy once, and Paul was in his mommy's tummy, a long time ago he was in my tummy. We discussed that a long time ago his brother and his sister were also in my tummy. (Not at the same time, of course). Thankfully he didn't go on to ask how he got there in the first place.

Brandon insisted he didn't come out of mommy's tummy. According to the sweet logic of a three year old; he came from daddy's tummy. His brother and sister came from mommy's tummy.

If I were lucky, the conversation would be over right there. But I'm not. And it wasn't.

"So when I grow up I can get married like you and daddy and I can have babies? And then you'll be their grandma! " He went through this process for about five minutes, how he would marry a girl, and they could have babies so I could be their grandma and his grandma would be their great grandma.

"So you really want four kids?" I explained no. I have decided I'm perfectly happy with my three children. I want my three kids and I love my family just the way it is. He insisted I wanted four kids and I tried to understand why he decided I wanted four kids. The truth finally came out "because you have four car seats mom. You can't have more car seats than you have kids!

Ah, the simplicity of life when you are five.

Now I know that he wants to make me old by having children and making me a grandma, and he will never have a spare booster seat just in case. Someday the conversation will have to continue, but I'm satisfied with a simple "from mommy's tummy", at least for now.

Unrolled toilet paper terrorizing the house

This is where you start to wonder what in the world toilet paper has to do with anything halfway interesting ... if you have kids, you probably aren't wondering. :-)

So; ... lately we have had an influx of unrolled toilet paper in the bathroom. The logical culprit is the 2 year old female; ... that's' about the right age. But upon investigation, it appears there was never any unrolled paper when she was around. If anything, she likes it on the roll better.

The 3 year old? Nope. That implies he wants to use the potty, and he'll use it, but he's still pretending he can't figure out the roll.

The adults are out ... so that leaves the 5 year old. Yes, Jacob has been randomly terrorizing the house by unrolling toilet paper in the bathroom. Daily.

It turns out he has issues with toilet paper. If it's crooked, wrinkled (or torn wrong), he can't use it. So he unrolls it until he finds somewhere that he can find four perfect squares together. Because if it's not perfect, it can't be used for it's purpose.

It turns out that when somebody has OCD, it releases something in the brain that makes them seriously anxious. So for whatever reason, he "can't" use messed up TP ... and I have no idea what to do with it.

Mystery solved! However, now we have to figure out how to explain that it's ok to use MORE than 4 squares of toilet paper. You don't have to call an adult to help when your 4 squares are used! (I didn't teach him the four square rule!!! It's an even number that folds to an even number ... )

{sigh} ... how fun.

Babywearing conference

Yes, that really is Jacob. The first time I put on a baby wrap, WAY back when.

This week I’ve been able to get to the IBC conference in Rigby. IBC stands for International babywearing conference. (Although, IBC conference means it’s conference conference, which is way redundant). I have no idea how it ended up in Rigby, the last one was in Chicago.

In essence, that’s hundreds of moms who are pro-babywearing, in a tiny place, from all over the world. To make this Easy: Baby-wearing is the act of using a wrap, sling, carrier, pouch, or other method to attach baby to mama and wear them around. Ironically, I have rarely seen 2 of the same method this week, and where I have, it’s usually a wrap or a sling, and they use it slightly differently. The point is simple; it’s to do what is best for baby.

You do get the eccentrics, (always), but for the most part, it’s really cool and informative! Yesterday I hit a class on babywearing safety, and if I’m lucky, today we’ll make it over to the museum in Rigby. They have this awesome exhibit that is babywearing through the ages. Which means 200 years of whatever the popular carrying technique was through the years. Really awesome! (If I’m lucky I’ll get over there). I heard somebody mention that near the exhibit is an old Idaho exhibit that includes some native Americans, one with a baby in a backboard!

I also went on the baby walk yesterday morning, which was awesome too. Because me and Megan got to chat with other moms. I know my baby is not baby enough to spend much, if any time in a wrap anymore (unless I’m on a walk because I KNOW she wants to be carried five minutes in and my back can’t carry her. So for walks, I can still get away with it). But even without a wearing-size baby, the conference is still interesting. (And it only happens every two years, and never again so close to home, so how could I skip ALL of it?).

The babywearing safety, awesome! I have learned about different types of wraps and carriers, met lots of moms, and it’s just been fun. I feel like I’m in my element with other moms who understand how helpful it is to keep baby attached. I saw a cartoon the other day of a mom with a baby in a wrap, a stranger came up to her, “you know, your child will never learn to walk if you use that thing.” She looks over with a smile and points to her other child, a few years older, “oh, have you met my daughter? Exhibit A?” (I’ll try to find the link to that).

I’m not totally nuts saying you have to put your child in a carrier, I’m just totally for it, because honestly, it made my life easier with Jacob. He was colicky, he screamed for 9 months! Then a friend introduced baby wearing to me. I had tried a front baby carrier before, but it didn’t work for him, because he was big, so it was hard to get him in, and harder to get him out. I didn’t realize there were things that were adjustable!

As soon as that child was in a wrap, he turned … human! He slept, he was easier to deal with. And he spent a couple hours a day there. (I even learned to nurse in it, and make jam with him attached to my back). Then life got better, and I will never give up the wrap. When my kids get older, I’ll still suggest a carrier for their babies. I don’t care what type, (well, I do if it’s unsafe and will smother baby, but other than that … anything works).

My wrap may never get used again, (except as a hammock, it works awesome for that), but it’s still been probably the best baby purchase I ever made!

Expecting!!!!

First things first; no it's not me!!!!!!

This weekend we had an awesome family get together with cousins and everything, and it was a whole lot of fun!

My cousin's wife looked slightly expecting, but it was hard to tell, until I saw her daughter, with a very proud "big sister" shirt on! She's due in November.

The party went on normally until the last relative arrived ... and my sisters brought out these M&M's .... :-). Half of them say my sisters family, the other half? "Welcomes the third"!!!!

... it took a minute ..... they have two kids .... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, so I have a new niece/nephew, due late this year, and I am so excited!!!!!! Just had to share.

By the way; the M&M thing .... the all time cutest method I've EVER seen.

A few years ago my brother announced his wife's pregnancy with an awesome poem.

Followed by the sister with a "big sister T-shirt"

Followed by the same sister with the cool M&M's ....

Look out .... I sense a battle coming!

Thankfully, the battle can't last too long, you can only announce so many pregnancies ...

But it'll be fun!

The Little Mother

Sometimes my 5 year old makes me smile ... and I realize he'll be an excellent teacher someday. (Albeit a slightly bossy one).

At a library event recently, the 3 year old freaked out at the lifesize Clifford, Curious George and Wild Thing (Wild thing? Where did they find that costume???).

Today, my sons were talking about it, and Jacob told Brandon, "they are just people in costumes. We don't need to be afraid of them."

In the middle of the night, if Megan wakes up, She'll wake up her brother, who will calm her down and give her hugs. The 3 kids have always shared a room, but I know where Jacob is 5, the end of room sharing is coming near. Eventually Megan, the lone girl, will have to sleep alone. But it's hard, because I put them to sleep separately, and when I go to get the kids in the morning, they are no longer separated. Typically, I find a big puppy pile of arms, legs, and blankets.

Books we've read a million times for the kids, Jacob will read to Brandon, and to Megan, and they hang on his every word. (Jacob can't read, he just knows the pictures, and the important information about the books).

My favorite part about Jacob trying to act like a mother? If he smells something, he'll check his brother and sister and come tell me who is messy.

Actually, he used to ... now there's not much guessing to do. Brandon is nearly potty trained! We have had a few accidents here and there, but he's doing so good!

Brandon is the peacemaker. I guess that's a typical 2nd child trait? If Jacob is upset because Brandon is in his seat ... often Brandon will move without being asked. Typically the rule is simple. If a sibling has something another child wants, they can ask for it. If whoever has it says yes, great, if no, that's fine too. It's a working method.

We have a family thing this weekend, and we are driving down to Utah. Jacob grabbed the church bag (which was still between the seats where he could reach it), pulled out the coloring books, coloring utensils, and so the boys could color, while their sister played with a toy.

I count myself lucky these kids are such good travelers. Few arguments, few rest stops, and we can make a 4 hour drive in just a little more than 4 hours.

Now if only we could get Jacob's bossy nature under control; ... I'm sure the day will come. :-)

I did it!

Guess what? I cleaned out my van! It took me a while, ... but I've been meaning to do it for a while.

Although the middle-of-nowhere farm summer had something to do with it. (Note: in farming communities, when mice leave fields, they find somewhere to go, Namely your warm engine).

So I took some time, cleaned out my van, and even vacuumed it. Although I swear about halfway through the vacuuming I heard the vacuum cry out for mercy. ("No more! Let me go! NOOOOOOO!!!).

I reset the traps, including this years most active one, which has caught a total of two mice. (Note, they are out of reach of children, one in the glove compartment, and one in the hole where the sliding doors slides in).

Ah ... the joys of summer! :-)

P.S. ... last week Brandon discovered why mom and dad say "don't touch mousetraps if you find them" ..... poor kid.