Flowers

Since the flowers have been popping out, Mikey has had an obsession with them. It all started when a tree in our yard had some really pretty and big blossoms coming out. He wanted to go "open them". I explained that they had to open themselves. Not having much knowledge of plants, I just said that he'd have to wait several days before it would occur. The next morning he ran to me and told me, "Mom!!! The flowers opening themselves!!!" Sure enough they had opened themselves.

We have some tulips that he absolutely loves. By observing them he has informed me, and does so daily, "During a day they open themselves, when a moon comes out they close themselves". He spends tons of time just sitting and looking at the flowers. And loves to smell them.

Here Mikey is outside by himself just observing and thinking about nature

I had told him not to pick the flowers, but then when you start to scold him and he lifts it up and says, "I pick a flower for you", it's tough staying mad. But I did explain that picking the flowers kills them, so now he talks about the flowers dying.

Notice all the "dead" flowers in their hands - this is the only picture I could get of all 3 looking at the camera

After close examination of one, he asked me what the "messy stuff" inside them were, I explained that it was pollen and to add in more knowledge I told him that bees get the pollen and make honey with it. He went off repeating that for a while, then returned to me and said, "We got to help the bees get the pollen to make honey". I explained that they have to do it himself, so now he informs me several times daily that "a bees got to get the pollen themselves". He's really a cute kid and I love seeing him learning and understanding what I am teaching.

Here Mikey is explaining that "bees got to do it themselves"

Here are some pictures I've taken of the Roger - my ladies man. I cut his hair (by myself) and I'm afraid he seems older to me, oh well. - don't you love Spring?!

Farewell to my Body

I thought I had been nice, but I'm realizing that I have actually been quite cruel. My body has been so very kind and loving towards me, but what have I done in return? I actually feel a list coming on.

I have forced my body to:
lift girls my same size
play soccer (I LOVE slide-tackles)
play soccer and cheerleading in the same season
stay up way too late, a few all-nighters (one word: college)
train for and run a marathon
get up early to exercise
be a jungle gym
stand for way too long holding a baby
carried a baby in a car seat way too much and too often (those things are HEAVY)
eat whatever I want, not necessarily what I need during pregnancy
bend over to pick up toys, shoes, babies, even small children
spend too much time bent over a toilet - no not nauseous, but cleaning the thing (boys' aim)
and the killer is going through 4 pregnancies in just over 4 years!

Now, my body is starting to refuse. She has let me know that my demands are way too difficult. The things my body are doing back at me are as follows:

Bending over is not an option
Getting up from lying or sitting is difficult and tiring
Standing can only last for a short time
Carrying William causes shortness of breath and aches
My lap space has decreased, causing my children to push into my tender belly more frequently
My feet are swelling
My womanly figure consists of something that looks like a basketball
Walking up the stairs not only is "breathtaking", but I feel like I'm pulling muscles every time
Sleeping is even uncomfortable
My brain has turned to mush - I do have a bachelors, but you wouldn't know it by talking to me

And the killer is this: I am only 25 years old, yet I suffer from varicose veins!!!
(this is where the Psycho music comes in)

I never had them until just a few months ago, and if you do not have them, let me tell you that not only do they not look very flattering, but they hurt! Luckily I only have it really badly on one leg, but it still sucks. My legs that use to be oh so very sexy are only oh so sexy - if you like the blue vein bulging out thing.
I have to admit, I am sad about this, but Todd did give me the sweetest compliment. I went to church, not wearing any nylons (have you tried wearing them with a big belly - doesn't work out) and he was so impressed that I didn't wear nylons or a skirt that went to my ankle, showing wasn't ashamed of my VVs. Also that in a way my VVs showed that my priorities are my children for I wouldn't have VVs if I didn't have my kids. I think he was just being nice, but I did appreciate it.

Now prepare yourself ... do not get jealous ('cause I would be jealous too). We have live-in help!!! I know, exciting and amazing!!! But I do have to say that the reality is not as awesome as the dream. The help isn't as helpful as I had wished or expected.

There are a lot of demands put on me. For example, we agreed to provide shelter, which when it's off work hours, the help actually contributes more to messes than anyone else. We provide food, which sometimes can be expensive and also the demands of having to provide and prepare at least 3 meals a day can be overwhelming. I furnish all the rides and recreational activities (I agree, maybe I should have paid a little more and gotten someone a little less demanding and more independent). Unfortunately I didn't negotiate an hourly wage, but a flat salary so of course I'm being taken advantage of, the help isn't quite as effective as it should be nor working as long as I had thought. And I forgot to negotiate a contract on how long I would be employing this help, so I'm starting to feel as though there is no way out.

I actually heard a story of a woman who hired a live in help, but soon found that the girl she hired was a nightmare. Then, after being pushed to the limits she tried firing the girl, but soon found out that she had to give the girl a 2 week notice and had to allow the girl to live in her home because of the law!!! The girl then held the woman and her family hostage in their own home, bringing in and taking out whatever she pleased.

But, I guess my situation isn't that bad, not yet anyhow. I really shouldn't complain, I know that any help is help and I should be so grateful and realize how blessed I am. There are some perks to my live-in help.

For one, payment may feel like it's expensive, but the rewards that I receive in return are quite amazing. Second, even though I do hear a lot of complaining, my help is quite complimentary to me - knowing that I love to hear the words, "You is a princess." Third, it allows me to be able to say that I have more friends and am continually making more. Fourth, it gives me just one more person (or more) to hug and love.

So even though they are usually more work than help, I really am grateful for my live-in help, and I would definitely recommend getting some for your self if you are able. Here are some of the tasks that they do:

Grab things out of the cupboard for me
Feed the baby

Cook
Clean the toilets -I know, very disturbing, I'm not quite sure it's worth it, but they've got to learn sometime, and why not while they're willing?

Play with the baby

Sweep my floor (in Ohio vacuums are called sweepers and vacuuming is sweeping)

Test out the sturdiness of my dishes

Bring in the trash cans - which he will actually do for neighbors and strangers - he's obsessed

Sleeping Boys

The other morning Todd went to wake up Roger. He thought it would be fun to drop a small stuffed animal on his face to awaken him (I know, very mature). After doing this a few times, Roger sat up - not noticing Todd, grabbed his pillow, and slammed it on Mikey's face which caused Mikey to awaken with a start, or I mean a yell. I wonder if Mikey wakes up Roger that way every morning?

Todd and I had different opinions on sleeping options for our boys. For awhile we had Roger sleep on an old toddler bed and Mikey slept on a crib mattress that we would store under Roger's bed during the day. Once William needed the crib mattress we moved Mikey onto one of those chairs that fold out into a cushion to sleep on. We knew that we would have to at some point get the boys an actual bed. Todd had wanted to get bunk beds - which I agree that there is something very cute about boys in bunk beds, but I still felt that a double bed would be better for them at this age - plus I was able to get one for forty bucks.

So we got a double bed for the boys, and I have to say that it is so cute to see them sleeping together. They're like little puppies that cuddle together.

Girl in Philly

Last Tuesday Todd had to take a national clinical test in Philadelphia. Philadelphia is a seven hour drive from here, so I went down to Philly with him. We got three of my friends to take care of the boys, I decided that if they were split up it wasn't such a huge task to ask someone to watch one kid, versus three kids. Monday Todd and I drove down. The drive was amazing. Not only did I not have to entertain and take care of the needs of three kids, but I was able to talk to Todd without any interruptions - something that is really a rarity. When we got to our destination we kept on saying how quickly the time flew, and how easy the drive was. Road trips are much easier without kids.

Back at BYU Todd & I had a little study group, made up of people from Ohio plus me. One of the guys in our group is from where we live now, and a few years ago I set him up with my dear cousin Natalie. They actually got married (and now blame me for all their woes), and he is getting his PhD from UPenn in Philadelphia. We stayed with them, which was tons of fun. We got to talk about our old times in Provo, and discuss how our lives are going now. They have a 2 year-old son, who is very cute, and the best part was that I got to play with him without being responsible for him.
Natalie, Lyndee & I


My sister, Lyndee, is going to NYU. Philly is only a 2 hour train from NYC, so Lyndee came in to see us too. It was so much fun to see family and feel that support from those of us that are so far from our families.



Despite Todd having to get up really early Tuesday morning to go take his very important and very expensive test, we stayed up a little too late playing guitar hero band thing (I really don't know it's real name). Todd absolutely loved it, but around 11 PM we forced him to go to bed. Then Lyndee, Natalie and I stayed up until 3 in the morning just chatting. The next day while Todd took his test we talked some more and of course went and got ice cream.

Todd would quit the whole med school thing if he had some real skills in music

After Todd's test, Todd and I drove down to Washington DC to go to the temple. It was a little out of the way, but when you don't live near a temple & you have kids, you really take advantage of every opportunity to go. We were nervous that because of traffic that we wouldn't make it to the temple on time, so with a prayer in my heart the entire drive we continued on. Luckily we hit little traffic and made it one of the last sessions of the night.


The DC temple was awesome. I have always wanted to go, and glad that we could make it. It's always kind of been Todd's temple. It's the one that his family was sealed in, and he always thought that he would get married there, so he finally got to take his wife there. After our session, and grabbing a bite to eat we headed home (at 11:30 at night). Todd had class on Wednesday morning, so we took turns driving through the night - which is very painful. We got home at 6 AM, and after a quick shower Todd headed to school while I slept for a couple of hours before picking up my boys.

Even though in some ways it was a chore setting all this up, it was great to spend the time with Todd and also having no kids - even though I do love them. And even though it has taken me almost a week to recover from the all-nighters, I'm glad that I got to do it. So, if your husband ever has an exam, I recommend getting rid of the kids and going along with him.

You Are My Sunshine

The last week we've had quite decent weather. This of course prompts a lot of outside play. William has loved getting on the little scooters, but his legs are too short to push himself.

Luckily he has a super helpful 2 year-old brother that can help him in that department.

Roger also ensures that William has fun by helping him in other activities as well.

This of course is quite dangerous for Roger as he has been kicked and knocked down many times. But he's still a trooper and keeps going.

Walking the dog has become a loved activity. Mikey loves to have the control of the leash. About half way through our walk I will have Mikey give the leash to Roger. At times Mikey will find a way to work around giving up the leash ... like sharing the responsibility.

One of Roger's favorite stops on our walk is to "sit on the big one" - I don't know why.

When walking is too slow, the boys take out their bikes. Mikey has not really rode his bike until recently. It is hilarious to see him ride it around. I have never seen my son display so much confidence. Maybe it's because he figures that now he has freedom to go wherever he wants.

Speaking of confidence, I have no clue where my boys found enough that they think that they can do this:

I mean really, where is their mother?! Oh ya, behind the camera.

The good weather has really changed our lives. We appreciate all the sun and warmth that we can get. Too bad it's supposed to get cold this weekend.