President who?!

Funny story... The other day I was picking Grant up from school and visiting with one of the other moms. The kids had come out and they were just waiting for their moms to stop talking. Their teacher came up to us and said, "I have a question...Who is President Hinckley? And apparently he died?"

We mentioned to her that he was the President of our church but that yes, he did pass away. She replied that they were talking about the President of the United States and about half the kids were insisting that the President is President Hinckley, not President Bush. They also of course informed her that President Hinckley died.

She said she had a hard time convincing them that they were wrong and that the President of the United States is President Bush. Out of a class of 20 students, 8 of them are LDS. I'm not sure who the really outspoken ones of the bunch were. I can't really see Grant being the one to really insist that President Hinckley is the only President. Although I don't ever remember teaching him about our country and that we have a President of our country who is our leader just like our church has a President. Good FHE lesson. What cute kids though! They loved their President Hinckley.

Oh the Places You'll Sleep

I'm not sure why I have so many pictures of these kids sleeping in different places. Maybe they're just so cute when they sleep. Or maybe it's that I'm often times surprised with how and why they fall asleep the way they do. I have claimed that Grant has never been much of a sleeper...don't know how I can say that now.

(click on picture to enlarge)

We go look in on the kids every night before we go to bed and we can't help but take a picture. The picture in the bottom left of Grant with his arm raised...not sure what that was about. Talmage came to tell me I needed to see what he was doing, didn't expect that! During the summer the kids would read in the hallway right outside their room. They started bringing pillows and blankets to be comfortable. Now that Grant is in school they can only do that on Friday nights, although Kenzie will still read in the hallway on weeknights but mostly only does it if she's had a nap that day. What funny little kids!

3 Kids, a Soccer Game, and no bathroom

So the kids and I went to Talmage's soccer game...which was a lot of fun for most of the time. I was surprised with how long the kids lasted. I made sure to pack a lot of snacks and a few favorite books so they would be occupied long enough. Is there ever enough to occupy a 5 year old and an almost 3 year old at a soccer game? Of course not. The snacks were gone before the second half even started. The books were not exciting enough while sitting outside on the grass. Luckily they found out the stroller could be used as a jungle gym until that turned into a battle as to who got to sit in front. I kept counting down the minutes of the second half...it just didn't seem to go fast enough. I also kept thinking they might have a mercy rule that would end the game early being that Talmage's team was winning 10-0 with 15 minutes left in the second half. I started feeling bad for the other team. Their players just didn't look like they wanted to try anymore. I don't blame them! Not only were they losing...by a lot...but the Referee even asked Talmage if he would another player out of the game so they would have one less player than their opponents. I guess that's better than telling your team to ease up a bit because you still want your team to play strong. They ended up winning 12-0. I was really watching the game and knew my older two kids were okay because I could hear them right next to me. But I just happened to look down at the right time because Kenzie had her skirt off and was starting to pull down her underwear. She informed me that she had to go tinkle. I was holding Tyler feeding him a bottle but quickly bent down to help my little girl understand that she can't just go to the bathroom anywhere she wants! I quickly glanced around to see how many people had noticed. I didn't look to Talmage or his bench so I don't know how many of them noticed. There was a sweet mother that did notice and came to my rescue to help her pull up her skirt. The skirt has little shorts attached underneath and I made the mistake of putting two legs through one hole which we had to fix later, but at least we got the skirt up. Then came the next concern... Where's the closest bathroom and how am I going to take all three kids with me. The last 12 minutes went by really slow after that! Escalon's soccer field doesn't have close bathrooms. I just told Kenzie to hold it and I hoped for the best. Luckily we made it all the way through the game and even a little while after. Whew!

Everyone sure does love me!

Tyler is such a sweet little boy. Poor kid has had to go through a lot of tummy troubles since he was born. He just seems to have a hard time with gas. He's gotten a lot better but still has episodes every once in a while.

It's amazing the joy and peace a little baby brings to a home and family. Grant and Kenzie absolutely adore him. If I had a picture of each time this little boy has gotten a kiss it would take a day to just scroll through the pictures.

He's a lucky boy to have a brother and sister that love him so much. I'm a lucky mom to have 3 healthy and happy kids. I find so much joy in being able to watch my kids play together and be kind to each other. Of course they fight as well. Are there siblings that don't?! Just makes them love each other even more, right? Opposition in all things.
It will be fun to watch them interact more as Tyler gets older. He's become very smiley and tries to "talk" to us. Already more fun for Grant and Kenzie.
What a fun and crazy time in our lives. Of course it will all go by way too fast. I cherish these moments. I am so glad I get to stay home and be a mom full time. If I had a job I'm sure we would have bought a house by now, but somehow I realize it's worth it. I can't get these days back with my kids but someday (hopefully soon) we will have a house.
This is what it's all about, isn't it? Joy and rejoicing. Now that they are teaching me that simple aspect of life I need to do my part and teach them the rest. To follow the teachings and example of the Savior. To be kind and respect others. To follow the Prophet. To read their scriptures. To pray. To have faith. To be worthy to attend the temple. To serve a mission. To marry in the temple. Being a parent is a tough and FULL-TIME job! I better get busy.

Jog-a-Thon

What a fun day! Made me almost wish I could be out there running with the kids. 1:00 in the afternoon on a pretty warm day. Aren't the kindergartners so cute. They're all standing so straight in their line just like the teacher told them to do.

Kenzie and Tyler were good sports to come watch their big brother. Kenzie wanted to run on the field until the big kids came out and started running. Tyler preferred to just sleep in the stroller. I was very lucky that he slept the whole time. We found a nice spot in the shade to park the stroller but Kenzie didn't sit long.
Where's Waldo? Just look in the middle of the line for a cute little short boy with tall white socks on. What a cute kid!
Go Grant go! It was fun to watch him go around and around. The little kindegartners were on the inside track so it was hard to see them from the sidelines. I heard they were pretty strict about who they would allow on the field. But thanks to a cunning mom I have a few pictures of the action. (Thanks Tennille!)
When I couldn't see Grant running around this is where he would hide out. Get a nice drink of water and eat some oranges. I don't blame him...it was pretty warm out. I wonder what he's saying to Max Palmer. I think it's cute to hear what kids talk about. I remember feeling so big when I was in school, but looking at Grant I feel like he's so young. So young to be able to talk to friends about real "stuff." I wonder what I used to talk about... 27 LAPS! Way to go Grant!

What a cute group of kids. I think this was while the jog a thon was still going. Shade...Oranges...Friends...Good choice! Ashlynn Leibenson, Grant, Kennedy Marler, Tyce & Corbin Kerr.

Nice red cheeks.

I wonder where he gets it?

There's nothing wrong with getting a little red in the face. I managed to do quite well adding color to my face. And if you don't get enough red in your face from running...go for the Icee Juicee method.

I didn't know they still made those things (Icee Juicee's). I remember that being my favorite thing after the jog a thon. I was a little disappointed they didn't have the fire truck out to spray everyone when it was over. Grant did a great job that day and I was proud of him for asking people to sponsor him. He earned $125 for the school.

My first Apple Pie

I've never made apple pie before. What am I saying...I've never made any kind of pie before. I think about the things I wish I knew how to do or the things I wish I would teach myself but that's about as far as it goes...I just think about it. Well today I actually made myself do it.

I think part of the reason I never have attempted to make a pie before is the fact that I don't really like pie. I prefer desserts with a little more, no a lot more chocolate or ice cream to them. I see so many women whom I admire so much because of the skills they teach their children at such a young age. Canning...Sewing...Gardening...Baking...etc. Real womanly things. I don't do any of those things. I take that back; I'll bake cookies with the kids, but that's about it.

I remember when I was growing up my mom would make us clothes and while she was at it, she would make matching clothes for our dolls. My Cabbage Patch doll even had a swimsuit! My mom also canned and made freezer jam and baked pies and all sorts of real mom things. So today I decided was my day to at least give it a valiant effort. Kenzie and I made an Apple Pie.

She was a great helper. It of course isn't recommended to sit on your work space in the kitchen but the table gives us the most space and since the health code officers weren't coming to my house today I just let it slide. It wasn't the prettiest pie and the dough didn't turn out like I've seen and sampled my mom's pie dough, but it worked.

Caramel Cinnamon Graham Apple Pie, with Caramel Pecan Cream. This was a recipe I got from Eleace about 2 years ago after a demonstration she did. Her pie tasted a lot better than mine but who's surprised?! I also went without the Caramel and the Caramel Pecan Cream. Probably would have made a difference. BUT, this was not a disappointment at ALL. I actually was quite pleased with myself.

For my first pie it was quite delicious. I'm not about to enter any baking contests or open my own bakery but I felt the great satisfaction of accomplishment. And what's even better, I got it in the oven, the kitchen all cleaned up with dishes done before Tyler woke up and before we had to go get Grant. Yay for me! I wonder what the next "mom" thing to attempt will be. Any suggestions??

Budding Photographer and Little Princess

I love my kids. It's fun to see their different personalities and wonder what the years to come will bring. With Grant in school I wonder how he will interact with others. Who will his friends be? What will his teachers think of him? Will he be a quiet and sweet boy that I have imagined? or will he be inquizitive, outgoing, and friendly? Regardless, I know he's a good boy and a smart boy. I remember how worried I was about Grant starting school. I don't know if it was the pregnancy hormones or what but I can't even count the number of nights (or days) that I would cry thinking about him starting school. I cried the night before his last day of Gayle's School. I knew that since that was done school was the next thing. And once a child is in school it just never slows down from there. I would think about my little Grant and how he's gotten so big and so smart.

Makes me a little sad thinking about it even now. No tears are shed...as no tears were shed on the first day of school because I had gotten all of that out of my system by then. It's just an interesting thing we go through as mothers. We spend 9 months carrying a developing little person around thinking about what the baby will be like and one of my stresses, labor and delivery. I also remember worrying about Grant having a birth mark. Then we go through the stresses of trying to get the baby to sleep at night and during the day (I know that was a stress with Grant just as it is with Tyler now...when will I ever learn??). Worrying about why they're crying and what to do to fix it. The worrying and stressing just continues. What will happen when Grant gets his drivers license and starts dating?! It just never ends!

On another note... Grant has taken a great interest in photography lately. He always wants to borrow the camera. I'm okay with his love of photography...maybe he'll make a profession of it someday. Maybe he'll take over my mom's business. It's fun to see what he takes pictures of. Of course since he's just starting out he only takes pictures of what he loves most...a Star Wars book from the library.

Kenzie on the other hand...she used to love having her picture taken. All we would have to tell her was to smile like a princess and she would tilt her head to the side and smile. That doesn't so much work anymore.

She has a scowl for anyone that looks in her direction or tries to talk to her. I expect she'll outgrow it eventually...hopefully. I guess I won't have to worry about her dating if she keeps it up. I think she gives the dirty looks to people only because she's smart enough to do it. At least there's no question as to whether or not she has personality!