With just a little imagination

This is Jacob's pet robot.  It is also a bald eagle, a transport vehicle and a transformer.  The green parts are little people that control the robot/bald eagle.  The small yellow and blue parts are bullets and of course the orange and purple parts are wings.  He will happily construct another one for you and give you the grand tour if you happen to come over.

My Dad

My dad’s the biggest guy, and my dad’s the strongest guy, and my dad’s the nicest guy of any guy in town.

He can do anything, he’ll fix your bike or fly your kite, cause my dad, my dad’s the greatest guy around.

He can throw a ball so high you think it’s going to break the sky; he knows the name of every kind of jet (vrooooooom);

He can add up any sum; he always has money for bubble gum. I haven’t figured how he does it yet.

But, my dad’s the smartest guy, and my dad’s the bravest guy, and my dad’s the neatest guy. It’s positively so.

Maybe I’ll introduce you, then you’ll know that it’s the truth that my dad, my dad’s the greatest guy you know!

"My Dad" by Janeen Brady 

It's true, our Dad does know the name of every kind of jet and he has fixed many a bike (and truck, and plane, and Polly Pocket...).  If you have ever witnessed my boys and how they light up and run to Tyler when they see him then you know there is a special, strong bond between our boys and their daddy.  At Disneyland Tyler went to get some fast passes and we were waiting for him in another location.  All the sudden Camden shouted out "DADDY!" and took off running.  My sister-in-law couldn't believe how Camden could tell that the person far off in the distance was his daddy, but it was.  Every Sunday at church as I'm trying to get my five wonderful children out the door, if any of my boys happens to spot Daddy at the far end of the hallway by the bishop's office, they forget about going home and take off in a mad run to get to their favorite person in the whole world.  

 How can you not adore someone who gives horsey rides up to bed every night?

My girls got their fair share of rides in their young days but they have a hard time standing back and watching the boys get all the fun.

 Our dad:  the greatest guy around

One Sweet Day

 It's hard to believe but a full year has passed since our Hannah had treats and here she receives her monetary reward.

Yesterday was a day of tasting lots of things...a slice of Pumpkin Coconut Bread, a sucker, a chocolate, a few spoonfuls of an Iceberg cookies 'n' cream shake, and a s'more. 

Parenting 505

When potty training is still fresh in the history of a child, the last thing you want to see is that individual walk out of the bathroom looking like this:

 

I wasn't sure what to think except "I hope that's not what I think it is".  I was too horrified to cope at first so instead of looking or smelling I just marched him back to the bathroom.  All along the way I saw brown smudges on doors and other surfaces and my horror was growing...

Let me tell you, that when I found the source of the muck I was hugely relieved.  

Nutella.

Sometimes my body feels deficient and I will eat more fruit, more grain, or drink more water to feel balanced and better.  Drew must be going through a chocolate deficiency because this week everytime I turn around he is eating it like his life depends on it.

One day I found Camden toddling around with a couple of unwrapped Hershey kisses in his hands.  I followed crinkling sounds to the back of the couch where Drew was pumping himself, Camden, and our diabetic dog with my Valentine's stash of caramel-filled kisses.  I confiscated the chocolate and had Drew clean up the wrappers that were littered all over.  Then I saw where he was putting them.

 Exhibit A - the pop-up toy

 Exhibit B - it doesn't work so well when you stuff it with Hershey kisses and a dozen wrappers

The next day I heard more crinkling sounds issuing from behind the couch and found him with a box of my ferrero rocher chocolates.  The bright side is...there are less sweets around that I really don't need.

Just now it occurred to me that perhaps there is a connection between his chocolate consumption and the sudden change in his napping habits.  For some time he has needed a nap every other day but we have gone four days with unsuccessful nap times.  Hmmm. 

And now for the moral to the story.  "A sweet and obedient child will enroll a father or mother only in Parenting 101. If you are blessed with a child who tests your patience to the nth degree, you will be enrolled in Parenting 505. Rather than wonder what you might have done wrong in the premortal life to be so deserving, you might consider the more challenging child a blessing and opportunity to become more godlike yourself. With which child will your patience, long-suffering, and other Christlike virtues most likely be tested, developed, and refined? Could it be possible that you need this child as much as this child needs you?"  Elder Lynn G. Robbins (to read the full talk go to http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/what-manner-of-men-and-women-ought-ye-to-be?lang=eng)

I'm sure I need each one of my children more than they need me in that regard.  What a wonderful opportunity to grow and learn parenting is!

Growing Boys

Yesterday my sweetie-pie dug four holes, each two feet deep, in our garden so he could put up some sturdy T's to support our berry plants.  It was hard labor and I am so glad for all his hard work as the result looks great and I'm sure will help our berry rows THRIVE.

Drew wanted to climb in one of the holes and after loading two holes up with boys Tyler wisely observed "Look Momma -- we are growing some boys".  For sure!  That is the reason that I do just about everything I do:  to grow some good boys. 

St. Patrick's Day 2011

 The green gang 2011.  Drew was double-safe since he wore not one but two green shirts.

I did something crazy this year and decided spur of the moment to fulfill my dream of having a spring green laundry room and what better day to do it than St. Patrick's Day.  This was not high on my priority list but I had Tyler's willing support & encouragement from friends so I went spontaneous and did it.  My heart was still in California after our fun week there and let me tell you there is nothing like Behr's "grass cloth" smiling at me from the laundry room's wall to bring it back.  Because I still have to do beadboard, paint white trim and put up a cupboard and hooks I may never get around to having a big reveal post.  But I had to share my bright spot in my house. 

Also new this year, I served corned beef & cabbage for the first time.  I had never even eaten it before and it was yummy!  Here's the super easy recipe I used http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/corned-beef-and-cabbage-i/Detail.aspx

That's a keeper of a tradition for us.  Next year we'll try Irish soda bread to go with it.

Hannah: talent and dessert freeze

I'll just admit up front that I am biased because my daughter is the artist here, but I think it's pretty obvious that Hannah has got some talent.  She whips up figures like this all the time.  She is wanting to invest in something to start a little business with her characters and I'd love to help her but I don't know where to begin.  We're thinking maybe stationary or cards or stickers, but I don't know how to do that...ideas, anyone? 



I don't think I've ever given blog space to something that has been prevalent in our household the past 11+ months.  We named it the "dessert freeze".  Hannah's friend's dad said he'd pay his kids to go without treats and candy for a year.  Ever looking for ways to build her cash stash Hannah asked Tyler if he would do the same and he agreed.  Bless Hannah's determined heart, she now has two weeks left!  She skipped every dessert, candy, drink of soda (or anything besides 100% juice), tiny chocolate chips in granola bars, and even items that aren't technically treats but are high in sugar.  Pretty soon Hannah will be a lot richer and she's hoping to put that money into the above-mentioned venture so that she can get a little business going. 

The dessert freeze has started quite a fad.  Several kids at school are doing one for various lengths and rewards, and I must say none of the rules are as stringent.  Callie began her dessert freeze anew with the beginning of the year, and just a few days ago Jacob joined in.  This is quite a trial for a mom that loves to bake!  Pushing my selfishness aside, I am so impressed with my children and their determination.  This is a character-building experience, aside from the obvious health benefits.  It has blessed each child in a different way but it's been wonderful.  Go Hannah, Callie & Jacob!

Help!

I went to answer a worried call for help yesterday and this is what I found. 

Just because he can climb up doesn't mean he knows how to get down.