Daddy's girl

Holly loves to mow the lawn with Don.  She thinks that it is fun.  They looked so cute out there together.  I was so proud of Don, it was hot outside and letting Holly help takes twice the  time, but he was bonding with his girl.

Holly loves her daddy, and her little smile melts his heart.  I can see many daddy daughter dates in the future.

Healthy

Nope this is not about Weight Watchers. The other day I was getting Josh's lunch ready and being quite lazy. I didn't want to put a healthy snack in just a quick one. He saw what I was putting in and said, "Mom, I don't like those.".
I looked down and said, "Fruit snacks? Spider man fruit snacks?".
Josh, "Yep.".
Me, "What don't you like about them?".
Josh " I don't like the way they taste, and they're not healthy for you either.


Me: Dumbfounded look on my face!
So there you have it from a 7 year old boy.
WE SHOULD EAT THINGS THAT ARE HEALTHY FOR US!!!!

A week in my life

I had this great idea I would take picutres of things I did during the week, I ended up with way too many pictures. But her are some. For anyone that really knows me I am a schedule freak. It bring sanity to my life. Monday: Go walking; do laundry/change the bedding; make bread; make treat of the week and FHE treat; pick-up Josh; homework; dinner; FHE.

Tuesday: I went walking (here are the girls in the double stroller waiting to be pushed as I walk); I swept, vacumed, and mopped all my floors; met with Katie to go to children's museum-for free!

go and pick up Josh from school. Holly buckling her seat belt. That is a wonderful time when kids start doing that themselves; read while waiting in line to pick-up Josh at school. Go to the co-op to get some plants for the garden ( a little disappointed not quite the nursery feel, but the feed store feel which is exactly what it is, but not what I was hoping it to be. Over all great prices.)

Read my scriptures (this and making meals are just part of the everyday life).

Make sure the kids get a shower or bath; went to book club (didn't read the book but had to say good bye to a friend that was moving and got introduced to Magpies a yummy cake/cupcake place).

Wednesday: Our pre-school for Holly was canceled due to the teachers child being sick. No problem everyone meet at the park. Holly rode her bike and we flew a kite. I haven't done that for a long time. I got caught up in the moment. After picking up Josh plant the plants I bought the day before. I was suppose to dust today, but it just didn't happen. After dinner a meeting with the bishop for primary.

Thursday: walking; WEIGHT WATCHERs; lunch; nap; pickup Josh; pay bills. That night I went out with the girls and we went appitizer hopping. We went downtown with these cute eateries and took turns paying for appitizers. What a great idea, thanks Aimee. This was a yummy pesto fondue and brushetta. It was soooo good. Each resturant was yummy and it is just the right amount to share and not get stuffed.

Friday: Drop-off Josh; no walking instead went to 50% off day at goodwills (went with friends, had a great time with Marla went out to lunch with her); clean bathrooms; pick-up Josh; homework; dinner; game night at the Teeds.

That was my week in a nut shell. It is not glamourous, but it is my life and I enjoy it. Even the everyday chores, meal making, homework helping, and kid rearing. It's a full time job and I am the CEO of this family. I think our company is doing well!

Mommy Joshie date

Where has the time gone! What happen to this little boy that fit in my arms not this boy that is getting too close to my shoulder!

Josh and Holly both had "Make good choices chart" when they made good choices they got a sticker. At the beginning they got to choose their reward. Josh wanted water colors and ice cream with mom. Holly wants a date with Daddy.

Josh and I had a hard time finding a water color with the book of pictures that wasn't girlie. He was really going for superheros, transformers or star wars. We did have great success with the ice cream. As we were eating ice cream I asked Josh why he is growing up so fast? I told him he better slow down or the next thing I would know he would be getting married and moving into his own house. All of the sudden he got really sad. "Mom I don't want to leave!" I tried to explain and thought I had done a good job until as we were walking to the car and he asked me "When will I have to have a new mom and dad?" I was like what! He said "You said I'd go to a new house, when will I have to go?" Tears started to form in his eyes. I was like forget I ever said anything. You will always be my Josh and you are stuck with me forever. Oh break my heart!

That was the drama of our date. The sweetness was when he asked if he could bring some of the M&M's that were in a cup (to go on the ice cream) home for Holly. That's my sweet boy. He still has a strong hold on my heart.

Play ball.

Okay, so the other day was really nice weather. They say it is going to be the last of warmish weather. I was outside putting my garden beds to rest. Which is funny in its self since I have no idea what I am doing as I put dead grass clippings, leaves and dried garden rubbish in the beds with dirt on top. Hopefully something magical will happen before spring.

Any who. Josh was out there and I thought I should try teach him how to hit a baseball. You would laugh if you knew nonathletic I am. I never hit the ball, but the ball seems to hit me in all sports. But here goes nothing. I tried to show him how to hit. That wasn't too successful. So we started with tossing the ball back and forth and keeping our eye on the ball. Then he threw it to me so I could hit it. Then he tried hitting it. By the time we were done he actually did get some hits in. I think he could of hit more if I was better at pitching, but its the time spent not the ability right? I said RIGHT?

(He was pretty proud to show Don later on:) ) opps double chin.

Proud ma-ma!

Here is a spelling test I gave my kids this last week. Josh's is in red and Holly"s is in green. I am very proud of both of them. They have come a long way in their spelling and their handwriting. I am one proud ma-ma.

First time to the dentist.

Josh and Holly went to the dentist the first time this week. I know, I know I took long enough getting them there! When I found out that our insurance pays for all of a check up I was like sign me up.

Holly went first. Now let me tell you it was a pediatric dentist, so it is all geared for kids. There were toys and fun things. There were movies and the Disney channel. Above each chair is a flat screen tv. That is playing some fun movie. When I was a kid it was a colorful poster. Each child got a new toothbrush, balloon and a fun little toy. Holly did fine until the end when they wanted to paint vitamins on her teeth. She clenched her mouth shut and did not want to have anything to do with it. It wasn't until later I found out why. She said, once we got home, "Mommy, I can still suck my thumb!" She thought the stuff that they were going to put on her would keep her from doing such. When she realized she could suck her thumb she decided it wasn't so bad at the dentist. So, much so that Josh was excited for his turn.

Which turned out to be the next day. He did great until they were going to suck out the saliva with "Mr. Thirsty". The suction noise got to him and freaked him out. He survived to go another day. Both kids are cavity free, yeah!

I'm an awful mom

This week Josh was walked to the car by his teacher. My first thought was, oh great he did something wrong today. When she got to the car she explained that when he was on the playground he was playing tag with someone else and ran into a pole. Then I thought, great he chipped a tooth. It turned out his gums bleed a little and she hugged him until he stopped crying, by the end of recess he was fine. It wasn't until she was done that I finally thought, oh Josh I'm sorry!

Side story this pic was taken when we went to Dollywood this summer, everything ended up closing due to lighting being in the area. We kept promising different things to the kids, when we got to the water area and it was closed too, Josh started to whine about there being no water to play in. I being the awesome mom, opened my water bottle and threw water in his face. Yep, I'm an awful mom.

I want to get married!

Holly is obsessed with getting married. She likes to tell me, "Mommy you and daddy our married and that is why you kiss, or sleep in the same bed." She has even started to talk to strangers and asking if they are married and if they kiss. She has decided of late that she is Ariel and she is going to marry Eric. When Katarina was here they dressed up often to go get married. Katarina looked super cute in these purple shoes that were twice the side of her feet. In this first picture Holly was saying, "Mommy, please can I pretend to get married, PLLLEEEAASSEE!!!". Yeah, I can't wait until dating time comes around. Whoopee.

Tender moments

Josh had his first day of school today. Last night Don gave Josh a fathers blessing. It was a very spiritual and sweet moment for our family, I totally cried. Before hand we had talked about the special gift of the priesthood that our Heavenly Father has given us. How daddy could use the power to help others but not himself. After the blessing Josh gave Don a big hug.

Fast forward to today after Josh is at school and Holly and I were at home. Holly said that she was Ariel and she and Eric were in a meeting in New York (her bed). Next time I looked in on her she told me Eric was going to give her a blessing because she was going to school tomorrow. So there she sat on the bed head bowed, and eyes closed. How cute is that.

A look ahead

Josh loves to play on the computer. His favorite sites are http://www.friends.org/, http://www.playhousedisney.com/, and http://www.pbs.org/. Everyday he wants to know if he can have computer time. At first he had a hard time figuring out the mouse, but now he is a pro and he can find the sites by himself. I pop in our computer area often and make sure he is doing what he is suppose to. When I came down the other day this is how I found him. All of the sudden I flashed forward to teenage years. I don't know if it is because of the layed back way he was sitting or because he was playing games (they are all educational) or what. But all I can say are the kids are growing up too fast!

Why is it...

Why is it on the weekends the kids are up no later than 7 am? They're giggling and whispering loudly running back and forth from each others beds thinking that they are being so stealth like. But then on Monday morning I go to wake up Holly and she says, " I am so tired. I don't want to wake-up!". This is a picture of Holly on her bedroom floor trying to get a couple of more minutes of shut eye. I love that only her toes are sticking out. You know when she is a teenager and wants to sleep in I am going to come in her room and whisper real loud and giggle and run around with her father. I bet she will love that.

Don't tell, shhhhh

Okay, so I will probabaly regret sharing this, because it will get back to my family. But, I have been sneaking zucchini into as many dishes as possible. Don doesn't like zucchini and the kids aren't so fond of it. I started out diceing it up and sauting it with onion and putting it in speghetti sauce. Then I grated it really fine and put it in our homemade hamburgers. There is no telling where I will sneak it in next. Any suggestions? Don't tell my husband, I want to tell him in a couple of months so I can be like see you didn't even know.

Mommy's helpers

I love that the kids are getting excited to help out. Here's Holly dragging in the garbage can. Notice her backpack and water. Both we got at the mall for free and it is the kids responsibility to tote their own stuff. Yeah, maybe I can start sneaking my stuff in too, and then I will be bag free. It's just a thought.

A thought from Josh

Last Sunday Josh told me, "Mom, when I am a dad, I'm not going to make kids take naps!". To Josh I say, we shall see.

What do you do?

This entry is about potty stuff. So if that grosses you out you may want to skip it. Our family was at a restaurant and Holly and I were in the bathroom doing our business. When I was done I realized that I had no toilet paper in my stall. So, I told Holly to pass some to me. She gave me a piece of a square and this particular restaurant has what my husband calls John Wayne toilet paper, it is one ply. I told her she'd have to give me a bit more. Well this went on several times. Then she said Mommy I don't have any left. I told her to hold on. Got my pants situated hopped to the stall next to hers and gave her a bunch of toilet paper, she says "I'm going to need a bit more" she is such the parrot. Luckily we both were able to finish and go on with the night. This story just struck me as odd.

Tough Week for Don

Two Stories:

This week I was doing school work with Holly. I was letting her pick a vocab. card and then having her practising sounding it out so she could read it. The first one was red. RRREEEDDD. She got it quite fast the next one was for. That took a little more work. The last one was has. HH AA SSS. HHHAAASS. "Has, mommy, has, like has been, Daddy is a has been." (She meant husband, it was something we had talked about earlier when she wanted Uncle Mike to be her brother).

I cut my families hair. Dons isn't hard and I figured for the kids if I started young enough by the time they cared I be able to do a decent job. I cut Don's hair Saturday night after the kids went to bed, it was getting pretty shabby looking. We were sitting in sacrament today and Don was kinda leaning over to pray. Josh looked at him and said, "Daddy, you have hardly any hair left!".

So to sum up Dons week, his daughter thinks he 's a has been and his son pointed out that he is going bald, TOUGH WEEK!

Projects and punishments

Don has started to run new pipe in the basement, to get ready for enclosing another section. He only got to do some, because we ran out of money. Same goes for the framing. I must say that he did it faster than I thought he could.

One day Don and I were actually punishing the kids. They had gone out front without asking permission first. To some of you, you might think big deal. You would change your mind if you saw how fast people drive on our street that is a 35 mile an hour road. So after talking until we were blue in the face, I suggested they go in the backyard and pick up sticks, rocks that they had put through out the lawn, etc. Don and I did a project too. We cleared off the many many planters that were on out porch. Hung some of the hanging baskets and put some pots on our front porch. Now to get plants for all of them.

As for the children and there punishment, I don't think it sunk in. The next Monday, Josh was playing in the backyard, I was out front by our neighbors hanging laundry (I wanted to try it, I had never done it before) I came back in through the garage. A little while later, I went back up stairs and saw a little boy running up to my door. I thought that's odd. It was Josh! He wanted to go say hi to our neighbor and he didn't go through the front door, so he thought it was okay. Argghhh.

Holly is into everything!

Sunday Holly picked up daddy's razor and cut her finger (Don't worry they're still attached). Then the other day Holly picked up mommy's eye drops and decided to write on the tv with them. UgHHH!! Later that day she picks up a push pin and goes to put it in her mouth! I mean doesn't everyone put those in their mouths to eat. Now this behavior is more the thing I worry about with a 18 month to about 2 1/2 year old not a 3 1/2 year old. She is a smart girl and knows better.

What should I grow?

I am really excited to plant a garden this year, both vegetable and flower.

I was driving in the car with Holly and I asked her what she wanted me to plant in our garden. (We have a lot of meaningful talks in the car:P). She didn't understand at first so, I told her mommy could grow tomatoes. Ohhhh! She wanted to know if I could grow banana's. No, they grow in Hawaii and humid places. So she wanted to know if I could grow oranges. Yeah. How about avocados? Uh, probably not. What about applesauce? I explained that comes from apples and they grow on trees. I told her we could do cucumbers and green beans. She asked what about salad. I said yeah, we can grow lettuce and she said NO, SALAD. Oh, okay we can grow salad. Then Holly asks what about animal crackers? I told her they come from wheat and I wasn't planning to plant those.

I think now both Holly and I are excited about the garden, though I think she would be happier with the things you could grow somewhere tropical. She can do that when she is grown up.