NOT a slacker

Well I actually did get mom something and also sent a homemade card (boo yah) BUT I had to add a little post about our amazing mom.

It finally happened. The other night Ruby came into our room at 1 am and said she was scared and wanted to sleep with us. I walked her back and sang songs until she fell asleep. Repeat above scenario at 3 am. I was SOOOOO tired but I couldn't help but think of the THOUSANDS of times that I did this to mom. All the nights I slept on her floor, the nights I made her sit by my door - and how she did it. She did it every time and I never sensed even an ounce of annoyance. I don't know how you did it mom!

Happy Mother's Day

I was trying to think of something to post on the blog. This might actually be my first post. But the fun memory I have of mom is the time we played hoopla in Utah and she acted out Viagra. May have been the funniest thing I have ever seen in my life. 

I also started writing down some thing in church, figured I could make it into something really corny and this is the result. Hope you like it mom. Happy Mother's Day. You're the best. 

Mother

Mother, it's a powerful word. One with many definitions. It's a word that can make pain and tears disappear.  A word that refers to someone always awake to talk or willing to help with homework at any hour of the night. A word defined as work that never ends. A word that means,  all knowing.  The only word in the English language that means, one who teaches, works, loves, and cares with all her heart, and takes a macaroni necklace as payment. One that is willing to give all that she has for the sake of her family.  Someone who is willing to do everything from giving up on dreams she had as a child, to watching a 5th grade band concert for the 6th time and still cheering as loud as she did the first time.  A word that means master multi tasker. A word that in Latin means healer of ripped pants. This word refers to someone crazy enough to drive 14 hours straight at 4 in the morning to be there for her children. All of these definitions can be summed up by saying that mother means love.  But most importantly mother to me is defined as someone who has never stopped loving me and I know never will.  Thanks for helping me become the person you knew I could be. I never would have made it without you. 

Mom Post

Well it's Mother's Day, so I thought I'd put together a few of my most favorite things I thankful for about you, my Mother. (Anyone else who didn't get Mom something for Mother's Day may want to create a post as well.)  Having a child of my own has really opened up my eyes to the many sacrifices and blessings you have provided me.  First off, let me thank you for the hundreds of diapers you changed on my behalf in order to keep my bum fresh and clean.  I can't even imagine doing the clothe diaper thing, though I don't remember if this was still done on me or not.  Next comes the meals.  One of the things I hate most is to spend the time making a meal for Paxton only to have him turn his nose up and seal his lips shut.  I'm sure I did this as a child, but can definitely remember balking at some of the dinners Mom made for us as a kid and teenage.  I now realize how frustrating this can be and thank you Mom for all those meals that I didn't thank you for previously.  Then of course there's the chauffeuring.  I don't know how many times I got after Mom for being even a couple minutes late in picking me up or dropping me off.  As a kid I didn't think to consider that there's responsibilities other than taking care of my every need.  With all that you had to juggle, I thank you Mom for always being there and trying to make each of us feel special.  Having this last week away from Pax and Connie, I've come to realize how exhausting a time consuming a child can be.  And who can forget the relentless piano teaching.  I can remember blasting away over and over that stupid Wigwam song only to try to annoy you into letting me quit.  You endured a lot through those piano years, and though I have yet to thank you for the instruction (and will hold to the claim that I never will), I do thank you for your patience and longsuffering.

One final memory I wanted to share with you Mom is one that you may have forgotten, but still remains very dear to me.  I remember quite vividly a lesson taught in our Primary Class by a very stern and unique individual (I won't mention his name).  He hammered into our heads over and over that, "If you utter the words, 'I don't believe in Jesus Christ,' then you would go to hell."  I even remember him telling a story about a man having a gun pointed to his head and the shooter telling him to deny his belief in Christ or he would be killed.  I went home that day freaked out, but just like a kid being told not to throw rocks into the neighbors pool, I had to see what would happen if I did.  That night I remember being in bed (actually I was on those couch pillows sleeping in front of the fan in the hallway) and saying the words quietly under my breath, "I don't believe in Jesus Christ."  All of a sudden I was balling my eyes out.  I tried to take it back, prayed to say that I didn't mean it, even tried to sing primary songs, but nothing worked.  I thought for sure I was doomed to destruction and I was terrified.  It was at that point when I went and got Mom.  I told you what had happened, and together we knelt down and prayed in the living room.  I remember you told me everything was going to be ok, you told me that Heavenly Father still loved me, it was you who hugged me until I felt safe and loved once again.  Thank you Mom, for always being there.  Happy Mothers Day.

Manny

Toshi thought about coming to stay with us for a few months last year but things didn't work out. This year we begged and he made the trek down from Idaho right before Gary was born. PERFECT TIMING! He stayed from August to December and it was GLORIOUS to have him around. (PS in case you are trying to figure out how to lure him into living with you for 5 months try offering him a job that he'd love and then once he arrives tell him it isn't going to work out, but don't worry, we have plenty of stuff around here to keep you busy :) In the famous words of Ruby....SUCKAHHHHH!

Not only was he amazing with the kids, but he was also handy around the house! While he was here we finished painting almost every room, took down and painted all the doors (there are only like 24 in this house people....), replaced all the hardware on those doors, painted most of the trim with oil based paint (ugh), replaced all the outlets and switches - with only a few glitches :), painted the closet in Ruby's room with chalkboard paint (she loves it), spent hours installing several "10 minute" ceiling fans, put up all the outdoor christmas lights (only breaking 2 sprinkler heads in the process), removed some VERY stubborn wallpaper, cleaned the back porch roof - super gross, and removed a toilet (which did end in the calling of a plumber BUT also a toilet that no longer wobbles). He also did loads of yardwork, roof blowing, babysitting, and vacuuming. He was my side kick for a non stop, through the night, roadtrip up to Michigan (or more accurately I was HIS side kick). When our boat cover was slipping off during a torrential downpour he threw on a swimsuit and ran out with a bucket. After getting out most of the water he strapped down some extra tarps - what a guy! He read snow white a hundred thousand times and made the best fairy godmother when Ruby wanted to "play" cinderella.

This morning Ruby made cupcakes in her play kitchen and said, "this one is for uncle toshi. Where is he?" I explained that he left to go back to school. Ruby's response, "well let's just put it over here in case he comes back." We all miss him.

Tosh, if you get too cold in Idaho there is a fake cupcake here waiting for you on the window sill that you painted :)

Visit from a Princess and her Royal Subjects

Ruby loved this Sleeping Beauty costume that I found at a garage sale for $2.   She wore it almost every day and only took it off to play in the sandbox or to go out on an excursion. 

We went to the Country Basket and Ruby fed the goats.  When the goat's tongue tickled her hand, she laughed so hard that her gum fell out on the ground.  Ruby, the goat and Grampie all went for the gum at the same time and luckily Grampie got to it first! 

Ruby picked apples from the trees and chose a pumpkin at the Country Basket.

Ruby really liked playing in the corn at the Country Basket. 

Another day we waded in a creek at Townsend park hoping to see frogs but it was too cold.

Ruby helped make apple pie.  She was very busy the whole time she was in Michigan.  We had a lot of fun! 

What did Gary do while he was in Michigan????   He slept. 

And Slept....

And slept....  

Our first retirement project

Here is the finished project!  You can see that we should have ordered the window to fit as it looks a little strange.  What do you think?  We could take the shutters down and then it would probably look better.  Or we could move the shutters over the white... but that would be more work so maybe not.  :)

Well, I can see that you don't have to post photos in reverse order anymore... so you are going to see this process backwards:)  This was the second step.  After adding the 2x4's and wrapping the bottom, we put the window in and wrapped the sides.  We also put shims in all the way around. 

Here is the first step.  We put in the bottom wood and wrapped it and then put in the side wood to fill the spot. 

This is what the original window looked like.  All of the wood at the bottom was rotten.  So, Dad and I got the new window in and it really went smoothly.  Some steps Dad figured out and I totally didn't know what to do and other steps it was vice versa.  Nice teamwork!!!  New for us :)

Chicken and Puke

During Ruby's nap today I left to run a few quick errands with Gary. Halfway through the first he started to lose it. Cried all through checkout and the whole way to our second errand. I just wanted to pick up a rotisserie chicken at Walmart for dinner and I knew he wouldn't stop crying until I physically picked him up and took him out of the car seat, so I decided I could easily carry a chicken and a baby.

I ran in with Gary and bypassed the carts. I grabbed a chicken by the cardboard handle and made it about 5 feet before it broke off. Chicken down, grease everywhere, me standing there with a baby, no idea what to do next. I knew I couldn't pick it up with just one hand so I went back and grabbed a cart. On my way there Gary puked. BIG TIME. So now I'm covered in puke, trying to push a cart with one hand while I hold Gary in the other. Awesome.

I get to the chicken and realize I can't get it into the cart with just one hand. So I carefully lay Gary in the cart (this is where I start to get some very judgey glances from the other walmart customers). I grab the chicken real quick and then grab Gary. He was TOTALLY secure in the child area of the cart, wasn't worried for a second. Ok I was a little worried but what's up with nobody there helping me!? Less judgement, more help people! sheesh. Not my proudest mommy moment.