Here's the "DL"...

What a weekend!!! Had the funeral on Saturday... The primary kids did so well, although I have never heard "I am a Child of God", sound so sad. Randy did a great job! It was amazing how he got through that feat. All-in-all it was a very emotional day. It definitely gets you thinking about priorities. I was already having a hard time, then, when I went to leave the church, I could hear the bagpipes playing for him up on the hill... they always get me. Maybe it's the Scot in me... There have been so many blessings because of the events that took place one week ago.
I have decided that I want to be a scriptorian ( when I finally grow up...). My mom is so knowledgeable in the scriptures. I could call her anytime this last week with any question, and she knew the answer. I want to be just like her. I bought a little notebook, Peyton Green of course, and that will be my special place to write down what I learn. I want to be able to help my kids one day too. I should school myself better.
Yesterday was such a beautiful day. All went well getting ready for church. Got there a little early too!!! Ash went to her class and stayed there!!! Lynn read the scripture, no problem. It did help that I bribed them both with gum.
The blessing was awesome. Merrill always does such a good job. I prayed the night before and even that morning to have my mind calmed, to have questions that I have had about Peyton answered. Those prayers... He always answers them!
I missed Grandpa & Grandma Wallace. Grandma keeps getting worse, and when she is better, it is never as good as the time before she got bad. Grandpa didn't want to leave her side. I did make coconut cupcakes just for him... I sent some home with mom. I heard he was so happy to get them. I love my Grandpa!
Sophie lost a tooth last night. Lynn was a little freaked out. She now doesn't want to lose any teeth... Today, I spent the day doing laundry, making some headbands, with Brooke's help in cutting and turning pieces, sorry for the raw fingers! I don't have Lynn and Ashley's finished, and I still have buttons to sew on them, but here's Peyton's... Brooke also took some good pics of Pey in her blessing dress. I tried last night, she would do nothing but cry. I did get her all posed and cute, then Ash had to jump at her, get in her face (or "bace" as Ash would say it,) and scare her... that darn kid (Ashley, that is...)!

Flashback Friday...

This weekend marks 8 years since Mer and I went through the temple for the first time.
What an experience! I was quite emotional (see red nose and blood-shot eyes...), for many reasons, but to have everything that I had been taught my whole life, fit together and make sense, it was awesome! The things we learn there give so much more clarity to Heavenly Father's plan for us. There is peace there. What a blessing it is, to have such a sacred and holy place to go to feel the Spirit. To learn...
Covenants that we made, promises that are given to us if we keep those covenants, testify that He loves us.
All that we learned that day was just a preparation for our marriage that took place within the week. Everything we learned, made our sealing make so much more sense.
To have our families there with us, was so neat. It didn't feel complete though. We still had younger siblings that weren't there. We had parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law.... (do Joe and Jaclyn count for two on that?) So many more there in spirit, I'm sure...
What an awesome memory!
What's even cooler, I learn more every time I go back...

Busy, busy, busy...

I've been keeping busy. It helps. But I think it is causing poor Peyton some trauma. She still isn't asleep!
I am trying to focus on the fun, the positive.
This morning I got the girls up. Lynn had pre-school, and right after I dropped her off, I intended to run more errands...
I couldn't get Ash out of bed. So I got her her daily breakfast of Fruit Loops and chocolate milk. She came into the kitchen and sat in front of the heater vent to get warm. I told the girls to sit down and eat. Ash responded with, "Mom, I'm done with my gum."
I said, "What???"
Ash: "I'm done with my gum." Chewing.
I couldn't believe that after I got their teeth all brushed last night, she somehow got gum, and kept it in her mouth all night.
She does want a haircut though....

A good day...

Had a good day today.
Such a blessing to have time spent with friends, remembering, talking, learning from each other, gaining understanding.
A few of us got together to work on a scrapbook of Scout Camp to give to the family. It was so fun to see what these guys got to experience together. What a neat kid! Good idea Christie!
We discussed the Plan of Salvation a lot, and so much peace comes with that. It led me to even more questions, which I talked about with mom and dad. I am so thankful to have parents that have the wisdom I need.
Grandma is continuing to do poorly. Her doc cut her dose of painkiller in half, hoping that that might give her more clarity, so she won't be so sleepy and loopy. Not so. She can't think straight, still. She couldn't remember what her leg was called. Trying to get out the word took her a while. She finally got out the word "defibrillator"... how do you get that and leg crossed, I don't know. Grandpa is getting more confused too. Maybe it's just the stress. He called mom and she answered her phone. He kept yelling, "Hello! Hello!" When mom got him to say more than "hello", she asked him what he needed, he said, "What do I need? You're the one who called me!"
I got to see them today. Mom watched the girls while I had my six week check-up, which went well... So I was there when they came to dinner. Grandma looks really... I don't know how to say it... old, lifeless, skinny, there's not much left. Grandpa tries to help her along. It's sweet to see how good he is to her when he can barely get around himself. They love seeing any of their great-grandkids... They are both happy to see them, but I think Grandpa especially. Ash is his buddy but he loves Peyton so much. He just holds her hand and talks to her. I want her to know him. But time goes on...
While this is hard, I am so thankful that at least we know it's coming, we have time. I am thankful for the time.

I've had a lot of quiet thinking time, trying to put my feelings into words.
Our ward had a boy pass-away in his sleep early Sunday morning. While I can't say that I knew him well, I knew him. I was in primary for a little over a year with him, until he turned 12 and advanced to Young Men. All I have to say about him, and his family, is how awesome they are. He was such a remarkable boy, not your typical 12 year-old boy. Calm and quiet, polite. He knew his stuff! His parents have taught him well. They have such awesome testimonies of the Gospel! While I would like to think that I would be strong in this situation, I feel that I would crumple, hide in my bed and mourn. But at the same time, I feel happiness, I feel comfort in the knowledge that I have. I feel peace.
I know that our Heavenly Father has a plan for us.
I know that He sent His Son, our Savior.
I know that while on earth, He taught many and performed miracles.
I know that He atoned for our sins.
I know that our Savior died.
I know that He was resurrected.
I know that He lives.
I know that beacuse of all of this, I can be forgiven of my faults and shortcomings, my mistakes and sins, that there is mercy, for me, and that after this life, it doesn't end.
I know that we can be an eternal family.
Because of all this, I know that my Heavenly Father loves me.
I haven't seen the Savior. I haven't seen my Heavenly Father. But, I know that they live. I know because I have tested it. I am reminded everyday by the feelings I have in my heart. I know because of the spirit I feel when we read the scriptures, or that I get when we pray. This gives me comfort. While I hope and pray, that my family won't have to experience this trial, I hope that I would have the strength, and the presence of mind to remember what I have been taught. To not let the sadness make me question what I know. To take this knowledge, paired with faith, to understand that I don't know it all, and be comforted.

"f" is for fart, and other delightful things...

tuesday, lynn got to bring home the "sound bucket". the assigned letter was "f". we were brainstorming what things start with "f"... fork, fridge, frog, funell, felt, fabric... lynn busts out, "fart! can we put a fart in the "f" bucket mom?" i had two giggling girls for a while. thursday, while she was at pre-school, sharing her "f" bucket finds, ash and i were snuggling and peyton was asleep next to us. it was such a sweet moment... then peyton totally crop-dusted us... ash got the giggles... again. so some other "delightful things"...
disney's "enchanted"... i bought it tuesday for one of the girls' easter hunt treats, i was
trying to buy very little candy, the grandmas spoil them... i could hardly wait to see it. i contemplated opening it and watching it while they slept. they were so excited to find it this morning. we watched it twice without mer and again for our pizza and a movie night... we all loved it! mer got a kick out of it too.
purell... i read online, the best way to get ballpoint pen out of microfiber... you might remember that my couches have been ashley's canvases? hand sanitizer and a dry cloth... let's just say i am "delighted"!

i almost forgot!!!!

flashback friday... summer's blog reminded me! the smell in the air lately reminds me of track season... that's me making the face. we called ourselves the "lady street-walkers" instead of the "lady redskins"... our track uniforms were quite skimpy and wouldn't stay put unless we wove them through our sports bras. we also had to wear longer shorts underneath our short short short black ones.
our perverted coach there on the left never seemed to mind... we caught him checking out our butts one day while doing calve stretches... how many other days was he doing that and we didn't see???
we were getting ready for the 4x100 relay. i usually ran the third leg. i also ran the medley, combo, 800, and long-jumped.
in our relays we had a password...
the combo was the funniest password. **sorry in advance to my mother-in-law and anybody who might be a delicate flower, unlike myself...*
in the combo, it goes: girl. boy, girl, boy. we each run 100 meters. our old password was "redskins". we'd say it when we needed the front runner to put their hand back for the hand-off of the baton. each school had to have a password that would be unique so their runner would know when it was time... (this is really relay 101 isn't it?) well, anywhooo, we wanted a password that would shock, distract, even make the other teams running next to us laugh. so we chose "boner". it worked, several times. it wasn't a thing we said quietly either...
i wonder if the password has changed...
good memories... a tight, toned, tanned bod, and lots of fun...

ANOTHER Tag...

So Dani tagged me... "these are a few of my favorite things..." all guaranteed to put a smile on my face... make me feel happy!
1 - Our new sheets that we got for Christmas from Mer's mom and dad... freshly washed with Downy "clean breeze" fabric softener, and dried with a fabric softener sheet too...
2 - Floats, Sunkist or A&W... doesn't matter, one or the other with vanilla ice cream! That'll put a smile on my face!
3 - Going in to either of the girls bedrooms... I love my whole house, but I am really happy with the way the paint turned out in the girls room and the nursery... it was fun to do!
4 - Cadbury eggs... original creme, orange creme, or carmel... yum...
5 - Merrill's music finding skills... we are always listening to something new, fresh, and unique. It's funny that music I have been listening to and loving for months, shows up on commercials now, and people are talking about how good it is, wondering who it is, and I know, because I am so cool... because of my Mer-Bear...
6 - Pod-Casts... Mer and I have had this "thing" lately. We put the girls to bed, cuddle up in our bed and listen to a pod cast together, we are usually laughing. We always have such fun conversations afterwards.
7 - Snuggling up with Peyton... especially after she's had a bath, but anytime will do.
8 - The smell of "Tinactin"... I know, this one is weirder than breast-fed baby poop... but it always means that Mer is home, and I love when Mer is home...
9 - The phrase "Giggidy-Giggidy"... makes me smile and makes me giggle!
10 - Living where we do... our families are so close.
11 - Hearing the girls sing. Lately it's been one of Mer's new bands... (imagine music notes here...) "Park that car, drop that phone, sleep on the floor, dream about meeee!" I love hearing their voices. It makes me even happier to see them singing in Primary... which Lynn does more now...
12 - Pizza & Movie night. The whole family is involved. We make home-made dough and sauce, top them ourselves, and eat them while we watch a family flick... sometimes we even make strawberry daiquiris...
13 - Making cookie dough and eating it then baking the cookies and eating them too... always as a family, and always listening to music, and dancing, but please don't come watch us through the window...
14 - Jumping on the trampoline with the girls.
15 - Going on walks.
16 - Lake Powell... mmm... summer, warmth, red-rock, the smell of gasoline and water, jet skiing, water-skiing, barbecuing on the water, sand in my swimsuit (hehehe...), exploring on the rocks and hunting for seashells with the kids... I could go on and on and on... even the drive is fun!
17 - Scrapbooking, of course... although you wouldn't be able to tell lately... refer to #
7...
That's what I can think of now... what are your favorite things...
Christie...... Summer... Jaclyn

Not a pity party..

Okay, so this is one of those posts where I am pretending that this is my journal, not like I am talking to my friends... but I really am... so I am just writing in my "journal" now, no need for pity...
Talked to mom yesterday. She caught me up on the whole Grandma situation. Grandma has been gradually going downhill for a while now, it just seems to be getting worse. Not eating, wandering in the night, confusion, not remembering things, mumbling incoherently, sleep-like state most of the time, losing a lot of weight...
So Monday, mom went up to clean their house. She had to get grandma up and get her breakfast. She asked her what she wanted to eat and grandma told her one of her breakfast cookies. So mom asked her how to heat it up. That's when grandma told her to cut open the top of the package, and microwave it on high, for two minutes. The microwave promptly began smoking, hence, mom almost started a house fire. Grandpa said that grandma had done it a couple of days before, she can't remember even repetitious daily things. So grandma starts to eat something else for breakfast, something not burned... and starts mumbling. Mom can't understand what she is talking about. She does pick up, "Okay, I'll get out of bed now and go and eat my bread and butter..." Later, after mom took dad to the eye doctor (everything is fine there...) and after Peg has come to see what mom is panicking about, grandma doesn't remember any of it. At dinner, mom has to feed grandma, she can't pick up her fork. She won't even answer questions. She seems to be asleep. She doesn't eat very much and tells mom she is full. Mom didn't argue and let her have dessert, that 's all she is interested in eating. Grandpa is really worried. He doesn't think he'll be able to get her into the house, he lost his leg in WWII... so mom goes home with them, gets them all settled and goes home to gather things to go and stay the night. Grandma has fallen so many times in the night, and grandpa can't help her up. A couple of weeks ago, she got up and fell, he tried to help her up and he ended-up falling too. Mom and dad had to go up and help. This has happened a lot, that mom and dad go and help her get up. So mom goes back to their house, starts getting ready for bed and she can hear grandpa saying their nighttime prayer.
"We are so thankful that we have been able to be together for so many years, to be able to be in our home together. Please bless us that we can be together for just a little longer. Help Maxine that she won't be so confused when she wakes up. Help her to not wander in the night. Bless me that I won't be lame, so I can help her. Protect us from those who would harm us, from thieves..." I am just crying thinking of my sweet grandpa pouring out his heart to Heavenly Father, begging for more time. Even if death isn't close, he doesn't want to be separated, her in a nursing home, him not there... The next day mom makes some phone calls. She had some questions for the man who is over the set-up of the trust account. He tells her to get the funerals planned an paid for, that way, Medicaid cannot get to that money if she does end-up in a nursing home, again. So mom and Peg go and get the funerals all planned and paid for. Mom has also been reading a lot about death, the process of it. She says it's like reading about grandma. The body puts aside physical needs to prepare itself spiritually for what is to come, that explains a lot.
So they got her a spot in an assisted living place. The level of care seems to be not as high as grandma needs. Mom and grandpa don't feel good about it, so they cancel it. They started looking into other options. The next day, they found out that grandpa's VA benefits will help pay if he is there too. So they have their name in at a place, where they can have a suite, together...
So Lynn and I had a talk about what Easter is really about. She understands the Resurrection she gets that. So I felt it was only fair to warn her about what is to come with grandma. I really feel like it will be soon, and I want her to be prepared. So I told her that grandma isn't doing to well. Asked her what will happen if grandma doesn't eat at all, etc. She knows. I ask her what grandma will be like after she has died, "Her body will be all better, she won't hurt, and she'll remember things and not be so tired." So I tell her this will be sad for us because we will miss her, but it is a good thing, she won't have these problems any more. Grandpa will be lonely, but he'll be happy because she will be better. Lynn says that we'll have to go and visit him a lot so he won't be so lonely. Then, she adds, "But what about all the other grandpas?" She is so sweet.
I am so happy that my girls have gotten to know my grandparents, I am sad that Peyton won't know her in this life, but am so thankful for Heavenly Father's plan. I know that it's not the end, she'll know her.

Momnesia... Sorry Nat!

I feel like such a dork.
My brain is still not functioning, functioning better, but not fully functioning.
I agreed to help my dear friend with a skit for Relief Society. I thought that it was TOMORROW. TONIGHT, we had a birthday party for my nephew, which my sis-in-law changed from TOMORROW to TODAY, because me and my other sis-in-law had RS TOMORROW...
Got home from the party tonight to have a message on my answering machine...
Um.. it was really TONIGHT... I am so sorry Nat! I am a dork! I even had it on my calendar for TOMORROW. What was I thinking???
Grandma isn't doing too well. I haven't heard all of the details, mom has been kinda busy, too busy to call and chat. Apparently, she has been searching out a nursing home and planning a funeral. Everything that has been going on is end-of-life stuff. That's just what Brooke told me on the phone yesterday during our 4 hour 10 minute and 56 second phone conversation. So glad she knows what I am going through. Christie had an interesting point of view on the length of that conversation... that's a part time job!!!
I got tagged by Dani, a "Favorite Things" tag... I'll have to sleep on it. Right now my favorite things aren't too exciting: Mylicon drops, my pillow, Lynn will be going to Kindergarten (she has given me one of "those days"...), and of course, floats...

Bragging...

So I guess this really isn't bragging per-say, but it is exciting to me!
Ashley slept through the night!!! I know, I should be more excited if say, Peyton slept through the night... but Ash should have been sleeping better than Peyton rather than the other way around. So last night I:
- gave Ash a bath with Peyton's nighttime bubble bath, you know, the one with lavender and chamomile...
- dosed her with some Motrin, cause maybe she hurts (?)
- dosed her with the nasty cherry Mucinex to help thin her mucus (again)
- elevated her head (again)
- had the humidifier running (still...)
- and of course we prayed (AGAIN...) that she would sleep, finally...
So either they all worked, or a combination worked... I have been praying that I would know, as her mother, what to do that would help her. So maybe it's all inspiration...
We had a birthday party for Hallie the other night. Cade was so cute to Ash. The two are usually like oil and water... Ash got a really bad attitude when we got to their house, and we told her to chill out, it's Cade's turf. But he was so sweet to her. He tried to take her by the hand, but of course, she backs away, then he motions for her with his little hand to come down stairs and play with him. I guess they had fun because we were talking about going to Levi's party tonight and the girls were asking who would be there. So I run through the list: Grammy and Grandpa, Hallie and Sophie... Ash jumps in, "And Cade!!! He's my buddy."
So maybe they'll be friends sooner rather than later Jacks!
Oh, and Peyton has four swimsuits because her grandma and grandpa have a pool, and we live at the pool when it's summertime... yep, you'll see those pics too, someday! I don't even want to count how many swimsuits the other two have... or me and Mer...

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday...

So here's some stuff that has been going on...
Sunday:
"You're a WINDOW WASHER!!!"
The girls came up with a new name to call each other. I guess by the way that they react when they call each other the name, that it must be pretty offensive...
"You're a WINDOW WASHER..."
Lynn first called Ashley this despicable name, and Ash cried in horror.
Then Ash turned around and called Lynn the most horrible name, and Lynn dramatically objected, "No I'm not!!!"
Apparently "window washer" is their generation's equivalent to my generation's "taco bender" or "gas pumper"...
Monday:
Lynn had a make-up day at pre-school. They had a St. Patty's day party. She pinched Mer because he wasn't wearing any green to work. I made sure that everyone else had on the color.Got a visit from Dad #2 - Esteban a.k.a - Steve... this is the most awesome carpenter who built my cedar chest and my cradle... awesome man! This is the first time he's seen Peyton. He brought Ash a choice of 4 donuts... so he has her won-over.
Had a fun day making bows and bracelets with Jen...
Dad's eye needs a follow-up procedure... Grandma might be having small strokes??? Mom almost burned their house down following grandma's instructions for the microwave...
Got Peyton's "Peyton green" swimsuit!!! She wasn't too happy with the pic I got. But isn't the suit cute!!!
I found my long forgotten Mounds eggs! How "eggs"iting... (Haw-Haw!) I love it when I find something that I have forgotten I bought...
Does anything look wrong with this pic?I walked around all day with...Yep, a "L" sticker, for LARGE SHIRT not for my LARGE boobs, on my shirt, right underneath my boob, ALL DAY... to drop Lynn off at school, when Steve came, while Jen was here, Talia looked at me like I was crazy... ;) And I found it... later... and I thought people were checking out my rack all day...
Tuesday (today):
Lynn had school.
Ash, Peyton and I went grocery shopping.
I bought more Sunkist AND root-beer... I have rationalized that I need the caloric intake if I am going to go all out exercising... I have to feed Peyton too! See, I am good at rationalizing...
I also got Peyton's Old Navy suit in the mail, I needed a back-up.
So now I really have 4 suits for her. I found 2 more...
4 hours 10 minutes and 56 seconds... that's why Brooke will soon have call waiting... sorry Austin!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

7 hours of sleep?!?

We watched "The Incredibles" for our movie/pizza night tonight. Thanks to a sweet sister in our ward... We ALL enjoyed it. Lynn thinks that she is Violet and Ash thinks she is Dash...
Had a good day today, had a baptism. That was after a night with seven, yep, count 'em, 7 hours of sleep. Ash woke me at six, and Peyton was still asleep! I would have gone on till eight, but there's Ash...

New Developments...

This is my new pic... as much as I loved the one Brookers took of me when I was prego, I wanted to update, just like I want to on my template, but don't dare... I felt a little cheeky...
Peyton has started playing this game today while she nurses. She stops nursing to smile at me, and then goes back at it, then stops, and gives me another smile. It makes for a little longer meal-time, but I can't complain, I love it!
Meanwhile, my three year-old Picasso has been updating our couch... about every other week, there is a new addition... she started the masterpiece about a month before Peyton arrived, what a stinker... notice the technique on her circle though... very impressive!
Yeah, that will be fun to clean... but I'm hoping to not do it tonight. I am hoping to go have fun scrapping with the RS sisters. Just me and Peyton... maybe not too much scrapping, but some much needed "girl time"... and not the kind that you get hanging-out all day with a tired and hormonal 3 year old and a sheriff of a 5 year old...

1 month old... and I relapsed...

Peyton is one month old... this is the best that I could get... she wasn't too happy with me. I took a lot of pictures. I guess the flash is kind of annoying, and so am I when she would rather just go to sleep and have me not bug her and talk to her in an annoying voice...
Yesterday we had Lynn's Kindergarten check-up. This kid cracks me up! I had bribed her with the new lip gloss if she did well at the dentist, and that bribe carried over into the doctor's appointment. I realized that she'd probably have to get shots, so I further bribed her. If she did well, did everything she was told, and acted polite, she could pick a pack that had three in it. She was being so sweet to me all day. Mom watched the other two so Lynn and I could go solo and get Sam's club done. I had to get Peyton's announcement printed-off... Lynn told me that I was the best mom in town. I later got a promotion to the best mom in the whole wide world, and was told that I was still the best mom in town, and I am beautiful! I'll take her anywhere with me. She could be a great support at my six week check-up in a couple of weeks :)...
So we are going through the normal check-up stuff, eye test, weight, height, temperature, breathing... she is 38 almost 39 pounds... that puts her in the 34th percentile... and she is at 61st percentile in height. Eyesight 20/20 in both eyes. Everything else is great! The doctor goes on to ask questions about her past health history. He reads through a list that I already read through and didn't mark anything, because she's never had any of it... Half-way through, he stops, and asks if I've already read it and just not marked anything. I told him she's never had any of it. Every time he's amazed...
"Does she ride a bike?"
"Trike, we are trying the bike this year."
"Does she wear a helmet when she does?"
"Yes."
"Do you have a trampoline?"
"Do you realize who you are talking to?"
"Well... yes... Do you have one?" He's laughing...
"Of course, how could I not?"
"Get rid of it."
"And be dis-owned???"
He's wacky. I wish that I would have had the presence of mind to tell him how many more things are more harmful, the culprit of more accidents and injuries than a trampoline, like bikes, office supplies...
Lynn had to get four shots. She opted to have them in her thighs instead of her bum. She did well until they gave her that one that burns as it goes in... poor thing. I let her get a lipstick pack that had four... I'm such a softie... Her legs hurt last night. She walked around like a gimp. Now this morning I realize why: she got a tetanus shot, you know, the one that is in a whole cocktail of immunizations... I got a tetanus shot when I was twelve after the needle in the foot incident... and I couldn't play softball the next day, my right arm hurt way too bad to throw let alone swing a bat.
We taught her how to play "Uno" last night, after playing alphabet "Go Fish". She won, the stinker. It was Merrill's strategy that helped her win, he was concentrating too hard on getting back at me for giving him all of my "draw four" cards... he didn't even realize that Lynn only had one card left. Good for her! I fell-off the wagon and had an orange float while we were playing and got her addicted too... I guess that now I am a pusher, a dealer...
I then taught her how to count to ten in Spanish, to explain "uno". Then I taught her how to count in German. She said the numbers so well that I taught her some other words. We went through body parts, and I taught her to introduce herself and say how old she was. Then I taught her how to call Mer a pinhead, and how to tell him that he smells like he peed his pants... Good times!
Ash has movie lines falling out of her mouth. She acts like they just came out on their own, like she had nothing to do with it, and then she tells you which movie it came from. She is always making us laugh, and teasing Lynn to tears....
Peyton has been gassy at night, and some times during the day, not to mention how bad this time change sucks for her... I asked Jen about the gas drops she had, if she thought that gas could be our culprit. The drops worked great! Thanks Jen!!! She has always been a happy smiley baby, but that is at an increase now... she's so happy. My neck isn't getting the crap scratched out of it any more, so I am happy too!
And Hallie turned 10 yesterday... the little punk... way to make me feel old... How do Joe and Jackie feel though?

Before & After

I haven't had a float today...
Took Lynn to the dentist and she did great! It was pretty interesting watching her and seeing how much she has grown since the last time I took her, like 2, 3 years ago... she barely let him count her teeth then! It's funny, I usually would worry so much about how much this is going to cost, without insurance, but I just am not worrying... this faith thing is really catching on to my daily life!
We went to the mall... all 4 of us, me the solo parent. We had fun, maybe too much fun! I found Peyton a swim suit, on line... I should have bought it when I first saw it... It is worth it though, Peyton green, white polka dots, and a daisy... way cute!
We had a good day today.
I wanted to post a picture of my one month old little girl... Mer took the good camera (his) down to work and left it there (!) and the old one, here, has two sets of dead batteries... you'll just have to be patient and wait until tomorrow to see what she now looks like at one month old... it just may be different than the beginning of the week!
Here's all of the photo shoots we've had with Brookers lately... I think of it as "The Ultimate Before & After"...

My name is Mindy, and I'm a float-aholic...

So I know I should be sleeping, or at least on my way to dreamland, as I do have three (yep, count 'em, three) sleeping children... but I have to quickly note some things that have been going on, before I forget (momnesia).
I am addicted to floats... root beer, orange soda, sherbet and sprite... if it's a carbonated beverage, and ice cream, chances are I want it. Good example: lunches lately, what the girls want, I don't, but a float sounds great! I thought this craving would be one that ended once the placenta was delivered, but nope, it continues. I have 3 cans of my carbonated tasty beverages left, I will try to refrain from buying anymore drinks that would inspire me to want a float.
Why isn't "Ben & Jerry's" giving me any problems though???
Lynn: Kindergarten doctor and dentist appointments this week :( It's really happening! She is getting too smart for her own good. The other night, as I was eating a float and talking with Mer in the kitchen, she came upstairs and said, "I know what sex is... it's when you kiss and you are naked." We asked her where she learned that, she said her brain. I know she hasn't witnessed any of that kind of monkey-business at our house... not in the last... almost 6 months anyway...
Ashley: I got up 5 times with Ash in the night last night. The nocturnal visits ranged with reasoning anywhere from "my room stinks, spray it with Febreeze please" (must have inherited that nose from Lynn...), to "the laundry basket at the end of the hallway where I can't see it unless I am out of my bed, is scaring me"... I got up with Peyton only once...
Peyton: Is rolling from her tummy to her side! She is trying so hard to go from her back to... well, anywhere but her back... her little left arm and leg shake so bad, all of those muscles all tensed-up. Her face is trying to help her too...
Okay, I'll go to bed now...

My Bloggin' Good Friend Ally...

Today, I love my Mailman... Well, I really love Ally, but I love that my mailman didn't screw this one up! Isn't' this fun? I got a box-FULL of Girl Scout cookies, and a surprise on top! Thanks Ally!!! (I did eat half a box of Samoas all by myself last night while I was nursing Peyton, so they cancelled themselves out, right? Too cute! Love the Peyton Green! Such a fun surprise after busting my butt cleaning my house and referee-ing sister fights all day long... I woke up Peyton last night to take a pic to post, then my camera battery (yes I need to buy a back up...) went dead... no posting last night! My blessing of the day: An awesome friend who not only sends me Girls Scout cookies, but a bonus! Love ya Ally!

Gratitude without deeds is shallow...

Today was a good day at church, well, besides clingy Ashley. Jen wasn't there... she seems to be one that Ashley really feels comfortable around. So Ash was my shadow for the day... The time change wasn't too bad... I did pray an awful lot that things would go well. Poor Peyton, her little tummy and my inner clock are not matching up. I keep getting confused that she is not eating when I think she should be... I am relying on the clock too much. I kept trying to force feed her all day, so I wouldn't be nursing when I have a meeting, or when I am supposed to be conducting... Sacrament meeting was good... the bishop's wife spoke and the post title is the thought that she came up with, she likened it to "faith without works is dead"... get it.... I really liked it. It makes me reflect on how good people have been to me and my family these past few months. They've been good to us before then too... just focusing on the present... I want to be more grateful. I want to help others, be more charitable, to show my gratitude. Hope I can manage to do it... I do have plenty of excuses :)... Is Peyton really that big now, already??? I am down to my last three newborn diapers, which she really is too big for anyway... and her feet hang out of the bottom of all her nightgowns, my favorite things... her head support in her car seat even looks like it should come out... I guess she really is that big, she was big to begin with... Speaking of growing children... I got out the new season of dresses for Lynn and Ash. Ashley is wearing dresses now that Lynn was wearing not too long ago. Lynn is wearing dresses that Sophie was wearing not too long ago. Heavens! When did all of this growing-up happen??? Peyton being in the "extra" closet now, really messes me up. The girls extra clothes can't fit in there, and the basement closet, where my clothes go, now have some smaller buddies. We used to have so much space... What's with the recycling guys not picking up our recyclables? What good does it do me to have a recycling can, if it's always too full, and I end up throwing away the recyclables? Yeah, doesn't make much sense. Here's my project...

Oh Spit...

**A layout is posted at the bottom... whoopie!!!*Apparently Peyton has been chatting with other babies in the area... they have informed her that spitting-up is the cool thing to do. She really hasn't been spitty, until I said that...
I made banana-nut bread this morning... this is why. Lynn was watching "Anne of Green Gables" on KBYU this morning. I needed to get some things done, i.e. laundry, make the beds, get ready, make my banana-nut bread before the bananas are really bad... but Peyton had different plans. She didn't want to nap unless she was being held, so I put two and two together: she wanted to be held, Lynn wasn't doing anything. They both loved it. Peyton got a good nap.
Sisterly love... and a messy face...
So here's the page... page two will come soon, when I get part two of the pics... again, there's one for me, the one posted is for Peyton.
So I have been thinking a lot, excuse me while I think out loud (clickety-clack clack)...
Our wonderful state has recently passed legislation on booster seats. 8 and under or under 4' 9", needs to be in a booster. So our little family, who cruises around in a Honda Civic, do the math, 5 of us, 3 under 8, the backseat of a Civic... we can't fit three car seats... But laws when we planned on having Peyton were different, we weren't breaking any laws. So my thoughts are that the state can't force us to buy a new vehicle... but legislation for smoking in a car with children (as a secondary offense), and thus endangering children, did not pass because a car is a person's private property, and the state can't dictate what a person can or cannot do while in their car... hmmm...
Another issue about the safety of children... my friends and I have recently gotten into a discussion about SIDS. I do not want to seem naive, but, I feel like there is so much more to SIDS than just tummy sleeping. There has to be a link with how strong the baby is, health, what the home life is like... I also feel like there is something that needs to be said about Heavenly Father's plan. Not all things are able to be explained. Maybe that is part of the plan. I don't mean to be insensitive.. I have never had to endure an experience like this, nor do I know anyone who has. I just find it interesting. As I was talking about it with my mom the other day, she said the same thing. Our testimonies make us more confident as moms to know what is right and good for our families, our children, even when "knowledge"tells us otherwise... again, don't want to start a firestorm, just wanted to voice my opinion. I believe there is something more to it...
10 years... Hallie will be 10 this next week. 10 years is big to me. That is how long Mer and I have been together... there will be the story and a slide show later so you all will love 10 years just as much as I do!
I am so not looking forward to the time change tomorrow... I have a baby's schedule to figure out and a meeting to go to... arrggghhhh!
P.S. Spring is officially here... Mer worked a half-day today... that only happens when he absolutely needs to. We are thankful when things pick-up business-wise, it's just hard to let go of our Saturdays together...

Oh, SnaP!

This is the phrase that is stuck in my head (refer to title of post...). I am trying to control my self from saying it too much...
We watch a lot of TBS, I do not even want to disclose the shows that usually get viewed on that station... "The Office" is probably the most wholesome... But "My Name is Earl", will be starting soon... I love that show, and Joy busts me up, so that's why it is stuck... they are constantly running press to announce it.
Yesterday we had a Primary activity. Thank the heavens I had nothing to do with it! All I had to do what buy the treat, and the treat I got was that Christie, Julie, & Jen took care of it all! Those guys are aWEsoMe!!! I just wish that Ash would untie my apron strings from around every appendage of her three year old body... She has been so clingy ever since she made the transition into Primary. She panics even when I tell her that I am going just five feet away to help her sister, that she'll see me the whole time, I am not leaving...
Peyton kind of got thrown off her usual schedule, and was not being the most happy girl while I tried to make dinner and keep her happy. She really needed to sleep so I held her, and made dinner one handed. Steak, mushrooms and onions to top them, mashed potatoes, peas, and five cheese Texas toast... um, one-handed... I finally got her to sleep and I laid her down. Just as I am cutting into my delicious steak, she wakes up. The past two nights she has wanted to eat when we are eating... that makes my dinner a little difficult to eat... but last night she wasn't hungry, just wanted some closeness. Mer, the sweetheart, held her and ate. He held her for the rest of the night, Hog... but I love him for it. He's such a sweet dad!
So all of my plans for the day today (scrapbooking, vacuuming...), went FlUsh!!! We seriously did nothing. I showered, bathed Peyton, and did a load of dishes, well, at least I started the dishwasher. Peyton and I took a nap, awww... And now I am pondering which of Brooke's creations I will print and send out. She makes it way too hard... She's awesome!

Just another day in paradise...

Peyton and I began our day at 4 am... She spit up, while sleeping on her back, and started choking on it. It ended-up going in to her nose, which she was not happy about... I can't blame her. So we went downstairs, with the nose aspirator, and watched some CNN and sucked out spit-up from her nose. I did realize, as I finally got her to settle down at 4:52, that she was three weeks old. I had just given birth at that time three weeks ago! Oh, slow down time!!! The rest of the day, we just took it easy. We did run errands, yes, more, and got groceries done. I even managed to find more scrapbooking stuff at Target, I had to take a tie back... too bad I haven't even done a page... I also got Lynn's Kindergarten Round-up papers in the mail... I opened them and started reading... I started to cry! She saw me. I showed her the papers. She asked if I was crying because I am happy. I told her yes. I am still so confused at how I have a five year old... Ash got gum in her hair. She lost it at the store... I didn't find it till they were brushing teeth tonight... Brooke came over tonight and took pics of Peyton. I found the cutest and most perfect shirt for her at Wal-Mart... It has some peas in the pod on it and says: "Sweet Pea". See, perfect. Brooke is putting together a birth announcement for us. So excited! Here is a teaser... more cuteness to come!

You want something new.... Eh?

So we'll play catch-up then...
Saturday evening, we had a fun family night. We watched "The Adventures of Huck Finn" and had our pizza night. We love doing this every Saturday night!
Sunday, was another fun adventure getting everyone ready and off to church, on time, but not early like I would like... Lynn was proposed to... Sunday was so nice and relaxing. I have to set new rules for weekends... posting and scrapbooking are optional. We have loved being together these last few weekends. If I get to it, I get to it!
I played "nazi gum police" yesterday... I thought, I'll put on a flick and snuggle with Peyton and the girls, that should be nice. Peyton and I snoozed while Lynn went hunting for the forbidden treats, Juicy Fruit gum, a huge pack of it (minus 5 or 6 sticks), and my Cadbury Cream Eggs... Lynn put every last stick of gum in her mouth, and didn't hide the evidence very well... and she gave the eggs to Ash. Out of a pack of four, 50% survived. They didn't get to join in on the cookie making last night, or the eating of said cookies...
So after I got the two "wild thieving ones" to bed, I gave Peyton her first real bath. I have been kind of nervous. When her umbilical cord stump fell off, it was still kind of gooey in there... She loved the bath. She was so relaxed. I love using the bedtime bath stuff, of course she slept so good...
Lynn had pre-school, and then we went shopping today... Here's my rundown:
- Target
- Hobby Lobby (first time)
- Distribution Center
The goods:
- Scrapbooking stuff...
Some of which I even found on CLEARANCE!!!
Ally, notice the paper, the American Crafts... I saw it on your pages, LoVeD it, FoUnD it!!! Hopefully some of my fun finds give me some much needed motivation. I need something cuter than Peyton to play with... I don't think any of these things are cuter than Peyton...
CaNdy.... this is embarrassing... I have the Peeps hidden in the kitchen cupboard... yep, more than pictured...
I was seeing green. I got this for me... the skirt on clearance! I even found Lynn's Easter dress and shoes, well, Lynn found it. I found a probable dress for Peyton. I just can't seem to find anything that I absolutely love...
So here's how the day ended... There are 3 sleeping girls in this picture.