I love Monday again

I've completely forgotten about doing I love Mondays lately. I don't think I'll do one every week anymore, but I thought this last week would be a good one to I love. I love...surgical glue. And good neighbors who happen to be nurses. On Saturday night, my bro and his family came to spend the night, so of course the kids where SO VERY excited and bouncing off the walls. And the fireplace. Seth was in high gear (but then, he doesn't really have a low gear, it's more like High Gear and Very High Gear and Suddenly Stop To Sleep Gear) and crashed into our fireplace. Yes, the same place that Felicity crashed and ended up with stitches. His cut wasn't nearly as big, only about the same diameter as a B.B., but it looked deep. We weren't sure if we should take him to the ER so we decided to call Kathy in our ward to see what she would advise. She asked a couple questions and said she would be right over. She checked him out, opened a small container of surgical glue and fixed him right up. Once the Tylenol kicked in he was running around again and no concussion. He still touches the spot on his head and talks about how he "broke his head," but he's doing great. Very glad we didn't have to spend hours (and lots of money) at the ER. Thanks again Kathy! I love...family. It's been fun having my brother stay with us since he started his new job about half an hour from here and this week was spring break for his kids so they came down to figure out exactly where they want to live and look at houses. This family is so much fun! We'll love having them closer to us! Their youngest is six months younger than Felicity, her and Felicity disappeared into Felicity's room and came out mostly just for meals. Three of their boys (their oldest is an Aggie, and was busy getting close to the end of the term) were pounced on my boys as soon as the door opened. Let the wild rumpus start! Our house is always noisy, but it hit some new levels this weekend. Then when most of the kids were settled for the night (the older ones were watching Napoleon Dynamite downstairs. Hee-hee. "I like your sleeves."), Farris' bro Sam came to spend the night. Our house was full, each bed, couch, and some floor space were taken! Sam left much earlier than I was awake the next morning, but it was fun to see him for a little while. His wedding is very soon and we're looking forward to getting the whole family together to welcome Kolleen in. We haven't scared her yet, so she must love Sam a lot! I love...being able to serve in our church. This Wednesday we took the YW to see the Carl Bloch exhibit at the BYU art museum. It was wonderful to watch them as they saw the work of an art master capturing scenes from the Master. Beautiful! Then on Thursday we had our RS birthday dinner. Now that we don't have ward or RS activity committees, they just ask a few people to help out for activities, and they asked me to help for this one. The ladies I worked with are great, and we put together a simple dinner (Cafe Rio salads!), some humanitarian projects and a chance for all of us to chat. I love my family, but it is so relaxing to have a night off and a chance to catch up with friends that I don't see enough. I love...spring snows! I know, I know, shoot me now. But I loved the storm we got this last week. Seth looked out at the flakes falling and wanted outside immediately to "throw balls!" That's my boy! Joseph only lasted about ten minutes outside before he wanted some hot chocolate, but Seth was out for about half an hour. His favorite? Throwing snowballs at the window the cats were peeking out of. Gales of laughter each time the cats would flinch. Yes, they love him. I am happy that it's supposed to get into the 70's this week, though. Summer time!

Just a couple of things

Today there is no school and it's warm-ish so the kids are enjoying time outside. Joseph decided he needed his coat; he just came inside and said "It's as freezing as cold tar out there!" (Farris tells the kids "You're moving as slow as cold tar uphill in January, " I'm assuming that's where he got the idea from). Another famous one-liner.

Another thing is that I've been feeling the baby move! I'm 16 weeks along now, so it's still about a month from when we find out boy or girl. I've been thinking it's a girl but I have been wrong four out of four times before, so that means it's probably a boy. But now that I think it's a boy, does that mean it's a girl? Either-or, I don't mind. Caleb is rooting for a girl, Felicity for another boy, and Joseph thinks it's a boy (He wants to name it Super Why--PBS cartoon), Seth is still unsure of the idea that there is a baby in mommy's tummy.

My bro in law is getting married in about a month, I'm thinking of making this skirt for Felicity:

from:http://sunscholars.blogspot.com/2011/02/bustle-skirt.html?showComment=1298820957229

the original tutorial is on:http://simplesimonandco.blogspot.com/2011/02/bustle-skirt-tutorial.html

or maybe this skirt:

from:http://pinkpicketfence.typepad.com/pink_picket_fence/2009/04/her-tulle-skirt-the-new-fave.html

But I'm thinking with wide lace instead of tulle for a more grown up version? I don't know, but Felicity wants to help sew, so this could be an adventure!

Of course the boys need something, too, but I'm planning a much simpler bow tie:

from: http://alemonsqueezyhome.blogspot.com/2010/04/bow-tie-tutorial.html

And I've got until April 8th. Or a couple days before, anyway. Hmmm, I better get off the computer...

I'm taking up chanting

I LOVE two-year olds. I love TWO year olds. I LOVE TWO YEAR OLDS... Yeah, how bad can one day with a two year old be? After the last mess, I gasped "Seth! NO!" and he walked over to a wall and set himself down in time-out. Seriously. So to make me laugh a little, here's my list:

When I was exercising at the church today, he lost my keys. Not too bad of a disaster, we do have a spare key...oh, except I pushed the little lock/alarm button on the keyring on the way into the church. And we do not have another alarm button to turn it off. I know, normal two year old thing, but ARRRGGGG!

When we got home, he decided to throw frosted flakes at the cats. All down the stairs. Half a bag of those huge malt o meal bags. Yeah, that was a fun crunchy mess.

During quiet time he emptied five shelves of our book shelves downstairs. Nice big pile.

During snack time he threw carrot sticks at the cats (um, the cats aren't fond of two year olds either). I was finding carrots upstairs and downstairs.

He did try to help me clean...but it was the toilet with my duster, so I didn't appreciate it as much as I could have.

I was making cookies for Preschool tomorrow, and he spilled a number ten can of wheat on the floor. This was when he put himself in time-out. As he was sitting there he pulled off his boots and emptied them of wheat, too.

I feel like there is more, but I may have just blocked it from my mind. There was, of course, the usual: pillow fight with brothers, chasing cats, messing up Felicity's room, the normal things. This doesn't seem like too bad when I write it all down, but it happened all in one day. When I was trying to get ready for preschool and trying to clean out our guest bedroom/craft room/storage room so my brother can fit in there for a little while. Thank heavens I am pretty much over morning sickness!

Since I started this post, Farris took the kids to the Church and spent an hour looking for the keys. He found them! The little stinker got them stuck on a chair hanging in the middle of those huge racks. It didn't fall all the way through, just got stuck on an edge, so you couldn't see it unless you separated the right chairs. Inspiration in answer to a prayer!

Oh, I love that little guy, he makes me and lots of other people laugh every day, and he is the greatest snuggler. He's growing so fast and learning so much it's incredible. My cousin has adopted two year old twins, I shouldn't even complain. But I still might take up chanting as a way to relieve stress.

weekend, spring, similes with Joseph

I'm catching up. If you just want a laugh, skip to the bottom for Similes With Joseph.

This weekend was wonderful and busy. My sweet niece Rylee was baptized and she asked me to give the talk about the Holy Ghost. Recently I went to a special RS meeting where a man and his wife talked about making stain glass windows for many of the temples, and about light, and how it compares with what Heavenly Father does for us (this was an amazing meeting, I'll have to write up some of my favorite stuff some time). They shared a favorite quote from Plato something like "The shadow of God is Light" and one of my favorite quotes from CS Lewis is "The Son is like the sun, not that we can see Him, but that because of Him we can see everything" (not an exact quote, but the gist. And I have to admit I have only read the Narnia series and the Screwtape Letters, I got the quote at Institute from wiser people than me). Anyway, back to the topic, I compared the Holy Ghost to a flashlight. I was going to make a little stain glass (fake, I'm not that talented) window for Rylee, but the glue I used is apparently not to be used with glass, and it never dried. **Anyone know a good glue for non-porous materials that dries very clear?** All in all, it was a beautiful baptism and the Spirit was strong. Two of her older brothers were able to be the witnesses, and her oldest brother stood in the circle to give her the gift of the Holy Ghost. Lucky girl, she's the youngest in a family of five--and the only girl. She's the automatic Princess of the House, and the boys are so good to her. And terrific news (for us!) came this week. Rylee's dad, my older brother, accepted a job in our corner of the woods, and they'll be moving to a town near here in the next couple of months. Yahoo! Very excited! It'll be a blast to have family a lot closer to us, and they are a great family. After the baptism it was yummy lunch (thanks Tarilynn!) and lots of chatting with family. My family likes to talk and laugh while kids run around and entertain us. Then, it was a quick run to Burley for Farris' brother Sam's fiance Kolleen's bridal shower (got that?). Kolleen is going to be a lot of fun to have in the family, I hope we didn't embarrass her too much at the shower...their wedding is in about a month in Idaho Falls, very excited for them. It was nice to have some chatting time with Farris' mom and sisters and sis in laws, we don't see them enough either, although we missed Desi and her too-brand-new-to-come baby. But we have plans to make dresses or skirts or something for the girls for the wedding. Which is in a month. Which we'd better get started on soon...eep. After the shower we went to Mom and Dad's and then church in my home ward for Sunday (how comfortable is it to go back home? love it) and then the long drive home again. My brother caught a ride with us so he could start training for his new job, it will be fun to have him around us for the next while. Sorry this was so long...

But Spring! Is coming! My bulbs are shooting up, my crocus have been blooming right through snowstorms, and the kids have been playing outside occasionally the last few days. I know, I know, we'll have at least one more snowstorm, probably more, but we're getting to the end! I'm thinking planting, raking, pruning, fixing, trimming, digging, watering, and all the outside stuff to do and since it's spring I'm still excited about all that work!

And now for that special time, Similes with Joseph:
We cleaned his room, and he proclaimed "It's as clean as a pancake!"
My sis's were telling him about something that was cool (slang cool, not temp cool) and he said "That rocks like a rubber band!"
No cliche's here, it's all original.

Busy day today! Just because I'm getting ready for tomorrow. Tomorrow is: My niece's baptism--in Idaho, my almost sis in law's bridal shower--in Idaho, a friends baby shower--here, Joseph's friend's birthday party--here, and a lady in the ward's wedding--here. Sooooo, obviously not gong to make it to everything, but trying to acknowledge all these good people around me and my family. I'm throwing things together, but I still had to take a sec to check out my usual stuff on the Internet, and I have to post this from I am Momma Hear me Roar:
I have got to learn how to do freezer stencils. I can think of a dozen kids I want to make this for. Some adults, too. Here's the link:

http://iammommahearmeroar.blogspot.com/2011/03/you-roared.html

Someone named Jillian deserves big kudos for this.

And now I've got to go be responsible. Happy weekend!