Painting the Sky

Today we painted the sky.

I borrowed this idea from my friend Arianne over at Still Parenting. Her sky prints turned out much more beautiful and artistic looking than ours did. But my kids still had a good time, and that's what's important. But really, go check her blog out, it's awesome.

Sky painting is basically exactly what it looks like. :) Take  mirror, find a patch of sky that suits your fancy, and point the mirror at it. Then paint on top of the reflection. When it looks how you want it to, take a piece of paper and press it onto the wet paint, and you'll have a piece of painted sky!

My good friend Molly came to visit me today, with her baby who is a day younger than Oliver. It was good to see her. Ollie was being a sleepy head, and slept the whole time she was here. But one of these days the two boys are going to be big enough to play. That will be fun. :)

It's almost the end of the week, and I am feeling a little bit frazzled. That seems to be how the weeks go lately. Monday and Tuesday are usually awesome. I get so much done. The kids do well with their school work, I make noticeable dents in the housework, sometimes I even get some baking done (this week I made bread). And then for whatever reason, things start falling apart on Wednesday. Our routine gets kind of thrown off, and things get out of whack.They continue to go downhill Thursday. The kids fight their routine. They don't want to do their chores or their school work, they are tired of playing with each other, nothing is exciting or fun, everything is boring, etc.  Thursday nights Aaron has Elder's Quorum meetings, so after what seems like an eternally long day for me, he's not around to help me put the kids to bed. I turn into Mom-Zilla because I've had it with everything and everyone. And by Friday, I mostly just want to curl myself into a little ball and not get out of bed.

I think the problem is that I have kind of an intense "get-it-done" personality. My mind is continuously spinning with all the many things I want to accomplish. Even though I know that there is no earthly way I could ever accomplish all the things on my mental to-do list, I still get frustrated with myself for my inability to make progress on that list. For example, a 45 minute feeding of the baby, how every many times I do that everyday, is hard for me. Because while I'm sitting there doing nothing (except feeding the baby), my mind is going through countless numbers of things I could be doing if I weren't feeding the baby. I cannot figure out how to be productive while feeding a baby. I know the baby needs to eat, and I know it's what I should be doing, and I'm glad I'm feeding the baby, because I love him and I know that he and my other kids are the most important things; but at the same time, it's hard to not feel like I'm tied down. My mind is working, my body is not. Does this make any sense, or do I sound like a raving lunatic?

I've been thinking a lot about this statement from Elder Scott lately, and it helps me calm down a little:

"We need not worry if we can’t simultaneously do all of the things that the Lord has counseled us to do. He has spoken of a time and a season for all things. In response to our sincere prayers for guidance, He will direct us in what should be emphasized at each phase of our life. We can learn, grow, and become like Him one consistent step at a time." -Elder Richard G. Scott, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, General Conference Address, April 2013

I can't seem to simultaneously do all of anything...let a lone all the things the Lord has counseled us to do. So it's nice to be given the okay from an apostle that I don't have to do it all, and even more than that, that I don't need to feel guilty because I'm not. I know that I need to work on the one or two things that are in "my season" right now. I know that a major thing in my season is my family, specifically my kids. I know this. And yet, my brain continues to perpetuate my problem. *sigh* It's all right. It's the end of the week, and I am frazzled. Soon this week will be over, and the next one will start, and I'll feel like I can conquer the world for a couple days. And the cycle will continue.

Memorial Day

We had a low key Memorial Day. Sometimes it's nice to just not go anywhere, and work on some things that need to be done. Aaron spent the morning working on the patio and yard. I cleaned the house and did laundry. Not exciting, but things that needed to be done.

Then we went and had a picnic lunch with Aaron's parents, and his brother's family, at the new splash park. The kids enjoyed it. The weather was beautiful. The food was good.

 

 Cousin Asher and Ivan enjoying their hot dogs.

And of course, you can't do yard work without a Home Depot run, right? What did that say, do not climb on the carts?

Three Months!

This little grinner guy is three months old today! It's a little bit of an undertaking to get him to smile, but it's about the cutest thing there ever was, so it's worth the effort. He's really not ticklish, at least not yet, so that doesn't do it. And he doesn't really like to be kissed on the cheeks, so that doesn't do it. The way to get the grin is to just look him in the eyes and start having a conversation with him. His eyes light up, and the grin comes out. He likes to be talked to, what can I say?

At three months he is consistently sleeping though the night. He goes to bed at 9:00pm, and wakes up at 7:00am. Almost like clock-work. He also has a very predictable nap schedule, unless I mess it up by being out and about. He goes down at 10:00am and wakes up around 2:00pm. Then in the afternoon until bedtime he has little 20 minute cat naps here and there. It has been very nice of him to be so accommodating with his sleep.

Ollie will not take a binkie. But he does like to suck on his fist or fingers. I'd rather that than a binkie anyway.  His eyes are really blue. His hair is always crazy and sticking up. He loves to talk to me. He hates his car seat. He loves his siblings (as long as they aren't poking him in the eyes, or smothering him, etc.) He's still my little peaceful, easy going (comparatively) baby.

Oliver you are a keeper. :)

Lincoln Liners Return

I used to do a monthly post of all the funny things my kids said. I have been REALLY bad at that since Adelia was born. But a while ago, I started making notes on my phone when the kids said funny things. It is now time to take them off my phone and put them here.

Lincoln Liners
"Keep a look-out for his (Aaron's) handsome head in his coat."

"We like to watch Magic School Bus, but sometimes you tell us we can't because the Spirit tells you that we've already watched too many Magic School Buses, right? But we don't always listen to the Spirit, so you could let us watch more."

"Ivan, don't you wish you were born first? Then you'd be older than me."

L: "What was that?"
Me: "I just dropped the dust pan."
L: "Oh, it startled me."

"I will show Daddy my new sandals, it will surprise him right out of his socks!"

L: "Mom, can you get sick after you're resurrected?"
Me: "Nope. When we get resurrected our bodies will be perfect, so they won't get sick or hurt."
L: "So no blood can come out?"
Me: "Nope."
L: "Cool! Then we can poke each other with knives!"

"Mom, are we going to discuss the plan?"

Speaking about the space in-between his and Ivan's car seats, "This would be a good spot for a thin guy."

"Mom, I think the bread should wear bread-screen in case it falls into the toaster on accident, then it won't get burned."

L: "Mom, I need a new band-aide, my old one isn't working anymore."
Me: "It looks like your owie stopped bleeding, you probably don't need another band-aide on it."
L: "But it's still hurting."
Me: "Band-aides won't stop it from hurting."
L: "I know, but I just don't want anyone to be able to see my hurting spot."

Aaron: "Linc, what did you learn about during school today?"
L: "Well there was this king and he wanted the people to pay money to make drink. And the people didn't like it. And then the king got angry and sent soldiers. So the people and the soldiers were fighting. And then the soldiers left. And that's why we have Firework Day."

"That guy has a very sharp knife. Never, never buy one of those, ok Ivan? Remember that when you're a parent."

"Hey Mom, do you know what's happening to my heat? It's wiggling away from me and out into the air."

"Gingamore means they know how to take care of a good house."

"Mommy, *long, deep sigh* I wish we had an ant-eater."

I: "I have a little (imaginary) mouse in my hand!"
L: "I killed your mouse."
I: "wahhhhaaaaa! *Sniff, sniff* Well, now I have a new nice mouse in my hand."
L: "I killed that mouse too."
I: "Waaaaahhhhhhaaaaaaa!"
Me: "Lincoln, that's not nice. I don't want to hear you say the word kill again."
L: "But I can say killer whale, because there's a whale on the end. Killer whale! Killer whale! Killer whale!"

Linc: "Did Ivan poop in the potty?"
Me: "No."
Linc: "Then why did he say that he did?"
Me: "He wasn't telling me the truth."
Linc: "Hmmm, that's unwise."

"Mom Adam had to eat the fruit of good and evil, otherwise we couldn't be here making Valentines."


Ivan-isms
"Mom, did you know? I'm the fastest swimmer in the whole world."

"I am the hungriest man in the whole world!"

Watching indoor volleyball during the Olympics, I: "Mom is that the coach?"
Me: "Yes."
I: "But why doesn't he grow any hair on the back of his head?"

L: "Mom, how many days until Christmas?"
I: "I know! We had a chain at my preschool and we counted all the way up to some number, and that's how many days 'til Christmas."

"I can say the 4th article of faith...We believe that god must be punished for all our sins and not for Adam's transgression."

"Mom, I'm letting it snow, but it's not snowing!"

"Please bless our car that it will not get a flat tire when we drive on the bumpy road."

"I don't want to wear that shirt! It makes me poop."

"Mom, super heroes always kiss their mother before they go to bed. But bad guys never do."

Ivan ran into my bedroom to use the bathroom during quiet time. When he finished, he ran back to his bedroom and called to me, "Have a good quiet time Mom!"

"Mom, do you know what we're rich of?!....Straws!!"

Adelia's Additions
Aaron shut the car door kind of hard and it made the van shake a little, Adelia said, "ooohhhhh bibrations! (vibrations)"

Aaron: "Adelia, you need to get off my throat."
Adelia: "Hu? I want to snuggle your throat."

Adelia: "Your a good girl Dad. *Pause* Your a good boy Dad."
Aaron: "Your a good girl, Del."
Adelia: "Exactly."

"Do you want to see what's in my shirt?....An octopus!"

"Daddy, my little piggy toes haven't seen you for awhile."

"Mom, he fell off! He fell off normally Mama."

"I'm not a party. I'm Adelia!"

"Um, Dad? I'm kind of good. Dad, I know everything."

"I miss playing with my brothers...but they called me a Indian. I wasn't. I was just running."

"Mom, my body doesn't feel good because it has lots of ouch on it."

"I've been a baby long ago."

"My owies are getting owier."

This Last Week...

I have been a poor blogger this last week. But it was a good week. (Aside from Thursday, which we will just choose to forget about. I should have stayed in bed that day.) We were going to roast hot dogs on Monday night for FHE, but it was raining, so our roast got pushed back to Tuesday. But that worked out to our advantage, because I found corn on the cob on sale at Ream's 5 for $1.00. Yay! So we got to have our first corn on the cob of the year. And we thoroughly enjoyed every bite.

We found our first bean sprout in our garden. The miracle of seeds and plants never ceases to amaze me! I love our garden, and I hope it does well this year. I'm a little iffy about it, because I didn't really have time to study up on what method I wanted to use, or to plan our where I wanted to plant what, like I usually do. Mostly on a whim while the baby was asleep, I stuck some seeds in the ground helter-skelter, and I'm hoping that something grows. So far, we have bean sprouts and pea sprouts, plus the tomato and pepper starts I planted. Keep your fingers crossed. Last year the only thing I got to grow in our garden was a zucchini. (But to be fair, last year we'd just moved into our house, and we didn't get our garden planted at all until after Father's Day, so I'm thinking this year will be better.) Also, Aaron planted our grape vines. I'm excited for these. We're hoping they'll grow up along the farm fence and be kind of a shield from the weeds that grow on the edge of the field.

I know the Astro Fest we attended at BYU last weekend was a success, because Lincoln drew me this picture of an astronaut getting into space shuttle. There is smoke coming out the bottom, because the space shuttle is getting ready to go out into space. I love the pictures the kids draw for me. :) I wish I could take them to Florida to watch a shuttle launch, like I got to do when I was a kid.

Wednesday it was my turn to host clubs. I opted to meet at a park, and let the kids do marble races with pool noodles. Basically they stick the marbles down the pool noodle, and whichever marble comes out first is the winner. The activity wasn't that great of a success, but I had the play ground there for a back up. Oliver took a little snooze in the shade under a tree. He's adorable. I love his little hat and squishy toes.

Wednesday night I got to go out on a little girls night with my good friend Wynter. She recently had a baby as well, so we kept it simple. We got food at Kneaders and then went back to her house to chat. I think I could talk to Wynter for hours without getting bored. She's that kind of friend. Unfortunately, Oliver was not a happy camper. He fussed and cried a lot of the time, so we headed home about 11. (Wynter and I have been known to sit in the driveway talking until 1a.m. or later.) Good times.

While I was gone, Aaron, Aaron's dad, and Ryan and Melissa worked on our shed. They fixed something on the roof, and then put the tar paper down. It's ready for shingles! Melissa took this picture and titled it, "Go to bed kids. We will be hammering stuff outside!"

Friday Debbie and I took the kids to the new splash pad in the afternoon. They had a blast. I forgot my phone at home, so there were no pictures taken to document this particular afternoon in their lives. ;)

Saturday Aaron started yet another backyard project. He found a concrete company that's been pouring foundations for new houses in the neighbor, and asked them if they did patios as well. They said it would be a side job, but they'd do it for only $250! That's the best estimate we've gotten by about $750 dollars. So we were eager to take them up on it. The only catch is that Aaron has to do all the prep-work. (Which he was planning on doing anyways.) So we bought a sledge hammer and got to work. (And by we, I mean Aaron. And Lincoln, I suppose.) Kelly and Esther came over in the afternoon, and Kelly helped Aaron out a bit as well.

Good-bye stoop. Now Aaron just needs to dig down about 8 inches, then fill in about 4 inches with gravel. Then the cement guys will come sometime this week or next and pour us a nice patio.

Today we went to Aaron's cousin Lindsay's mission farewell. She's off to serve in the San Bernadino, CA mission. She did a great job speaking. And she will be an awesome missionary. Aaron took this picture of me walking into the church with the kids...he said he thought I'd want to remember what it was like to be a mommy. :) That back-pack diaper bag was the smartest move I ever made, I'll tell you that right now! Wish I would have thought of it about 3 kids ago.

Articles of Faith 4 and 5

I've mentioned before that Lincoln's primary class is working really hard this year to memorize all of the Articles of Faith. Linc has been really excited about it, and memorized 1-4 pretty easily. When he got to number 5, it proved to be more of a challenge. It's a little longer, and has big words in it such as administer and ordinances. It was a tough one for him. He worked on it and worked on it, and tried to pass it off in class for several weeks in a row with no luck. Finally, last week he got it! I'm so proud of him for sticking with it and working hard. I may be a bit bias, but he's adorable in his little red tie and white shirt. :)

Also, I forgot to record him saying #4, so here's that one as well.

Are You a List Person?

Are you a list person? I'm not. I hate lists, actually. They stress me out. But my husband is a list person. And it's becoming rather apparent that Lincoln is also a list person. Every morning, the first thing he wants to do is sit down and make a list of everything we need to do, in order of how we need to do it, so that he can cross it off as it gets done. And don't worry, because he will definitely freak out if we skip something, or go out of order. Sheesh. The only thing I can think of that stresses me out more than a list is a five year old following me around repeating the list out loud and making sure I follow it! 

Have you ever wanted to take a ride in a magical ship? If so, let me know, because I am now the proud owner of a magical ship. Ivan built it for me. It has an engine and sail that spin like a pin wheel. Pretty cool, no?

What about hunting creatures in the dark? Ever had a problem with that? Well don't worry, Adelia's got ya covered! She's invented the coolest new shades, complete with flash light, so that you can hunt for creatures in the dark without damaging your eyes. Thanks Del!

And this little guy, he doesn't have much of an imagination yet. At least, not that he's told me about. But he comes in very handy when you need a snuggle buddy. He like to goo and coo, and if you're lucky you might be the recipient of some very handsome grins.

I love these munchkins. They keep me on my toes and laughing all at the same time. You never know what's going to come out. For example, at lunch today Lincoln said, "We're eating a dead pig. Did you know that Ivan? The same way we eat dead chicken." Um, thanks Linc, for making our left over pork roast sound so appetizing? Or like when Ivan told me this morning, "Mom, did you know I have five hearts inside of me? One for you, one for Dad, one for Lincoln, one for Del, and one for Oliver." I thought that was a really cute way for him to say that he loves our family.

But ya, we're just hangin' out at home today, enjoying each other's company.

BYU Astro Fest

This weekend Aaron and I took the kids to the BYU Astro Fest. I've been wanting to go to this for years, and I wasn't disappointed. We had such a great time. Aaron's parents met us there to join in on the fun.

At the first booth we went to they were handing out pictures taken by the Hubble Telescope. My kids were anxious to take them home and hang them up in their room next to their solar system and map of the International Space Station.

Then we went to another table and made star maps. Basically, it's a wheel that you turn to align the time of year with the time of day (or night as the case may be), and it will show you which stars you should be able to see in the sky, and where they are. I love star maps. I remember making one as a kid and spending countless nights outside on the trampoline looking up at the stars and finding the constellations.

The most exciting part of the day, by far, was building and launching rockets. Our rockets were paper tubes with a piece of foam stuck in the end for a nose, and then the kids got to glue their own tail fins on.

While we waited for the glue to dry on our rockets we went to an audio demonstration. It was really cool, but a bit over the kids' heads. They got restless, so we left early. But they had some really neat examples of how sound works.

Then it was time for blastoff! They were firing out paper rockets off of the end of pvc pipe using an air compressor. I told Aaron to take good notes so he could rig our air compressor up to do the same thing one of these days.

After rocket launching, we ate some lunch. Then we saw a show in the Planetarium, built paper air planes, and jumped in the bounce house. There was tons more to do, but it was time for us to head home. We will definitely be going back next year though.

On the way out I stopped to take a picture of the kids, because I thought them, and the mountains and the green grass would be a cool shot. It was...and apparently Aaron thought it would be fun to take a picture of me taking the picture. :)

Bridal Veil Falls

Bridal Veil Falls is one of our family's most favorite places to go to enjoy some beautiful, kid-friendly Mother Nature. It boasts a paved trail with a very gradual incline, a shallow wading pool, great skipping rocks, a fish pond, and a pretty waterfall, all at one convenient location.

Today we shared this beloved spot with our homeschool group, by planning a combined clubs activity up in the canyon. I think everyone enjoyed themselves. I know my kids did.

photo by Lincoln

Adelia wore herself right out

All of My Greatest Blessings Call Me Mom

Those who make me Mom:

And believe me, I had to use a HEAVY bribe to get them to sit still and smile for this photo so we could send it to the grandmothers. It's a good thing they're cute.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

More Shed Building

Spent today outside watching Aaron put the roof on the shed. :) The sky was beautiful, and it was nice out, so Oliver and I sat in a camp chair while the older kids rode bikes, drew with sidewalk chalk, and dug in the dirt.

Now we just have to put the doors on, put the shingles on, and paint it. Then we can clear a bunch of stuff out of our garage. Yippy!