Post of the Day Award

So, the newly annointed "Post of the Day Award" goes to a fun friend from Charlottesville. Melin has an amazing knack for writting exactly what motherhood feels like, making me laugh with one sentence, and cry over the sweetness of it all on the next. She also happens to be one of the best moms I know and has darling kids.

But most of all, she wins the award today because we've all been there...

This doozie is little C's painting of me for his preschool Mother's Day Tea. The
paintings of all the moms were up with no names. We were supposed to guess
who was who. Obviously I didn't guess "the angry" mom first but went for the
mom in the blue shirt, or green shirt, etc. But apparently this is how
little C views me. Very angry.

So when people ask me how I manage 4 kids under age 5...with anger is what I'll say.

And part two here:

Return of the Beast

Today we had a discussion, prompted by a question from Mms, about who the
Devil was. Basically I said the Devil was someone who wants us to do bad things,
unlike Jesus who wants us to do good things that make us happy.

A rather enjoyable day was finished off by a lot of whinning, crying and
little C throwing an enormous tantrum to which I gave him a spank on his
bum.

During dinner a few moments later.

"Hey, I'm sorry I spanked you. I shouldn't have done that."
"Thats ok mom." little c.
"Yeah, you were just acting like Satan again." Mms.
"Thanks Mms."

The luckiest...

The big 3-Oh was much more painless than I thought it was going to be!:) In great anticipation for the good Cougar football season, Casey had bought a rather large television and signed up for cable, which I jokingly referred to as "My birthday present". Poor guy must have felt a little bad--who knows, maybe the guilt helped motivate him to make this birthday the best ever!!

He threw a great barbecue in the backyard, taking care of every detail from invites, shopping, cooking, setting up and clean-up. Are you kidding me?!? What a terrific guy! The kids really were so great--Tyler every once in a while throughout the day would just come up to me and say, "Mom?" "Yeah, Tyler?" "Happy Birthday!"

That, and the fun afternoon that I got to spend scrapbooking with my aunts & cousins--some of the ladies that have been the biggest influences in my life. What more could a girl ask for?!?

Seriously--I would turn 31 today if I could recreate such a great day!

Preschooler

Big T ready for preschool! The first day went great! We celebrated with a hike around Silver Lake.

Good luck Miss Erickson!

Good Morning Sunshine!

Seriously...could I ask for a happier face to wake up to?

First Grader

"The first day of school is an anticipation of good things to come."

Ash's first day went great! She met up with her good buddy on the way to school and said she had a great time, but it was SO long, and maybe just going 3 days a week would work better for her. Is now a good time to tell her that it was early day and that she'll have even LONGER days the rest of the week?

Also, a little Domino effect occured in her classroom where one boy on her row started to cry because he was missing his family, then the girl next to him started to cry. Ash said she started to get tears in her eyes because she missed us too, but decided to be brave and try to help the kids next to her not be so lonely. I assured her that she only missed us doing laundry and mowing the lawn. She felt a little better about not missing out on too much at home:)

So, if you need to get a hold of me this week, I'll be doing totally boring things like running errands, cleaning the house, organizing and whatever else would make a first grader think that being at school during the day would be much more exciting!

Ash Rocking the New Glasses

Ash got my eyes...nuts! But don't the frames look fun?



She's also sporting 4 new teeth. Life is good for this 6 year old.

A token Ty shot. I really need to get my camera out more when Tink is awake! Poor third child!!!!

Rub a dub-dub, three bubs in a tub

Holding tight to the last bits of summer...

I never realized the mixed emotions going back to school would bring to me as a parent! I'm so excited for the kids to meet their new teacher, make fun friends, get into a more consistent routine, wear the new school clothes and use the crisp, clean backpacks, folders and books. Oh yeah, and learn a thing or two!

The other side of me wants to hold on to summer forever. I LOVE having all of my kids together--riding bikes, playing in the backyard, boating, sleeping in a tent, swimming at grandmother & grandpa's, coloring with chalk on the sidewalks, checking out the zoo, aquarium, museums, parks, etc. all on our time table.

So, I'll relish the fun memories made this summer, enjoy the next 7 days to the fullest and choose to be excited when Monday the 27th rolls around and celebrate the new school year. Happy school year!!

T sleeping with his soccer trophy

A on her new bike

T on the Rock It

Settling in...

And we're home! Hooray!




We're so happy and are loving our new place, neighborhood and ward. We feel extremely blessed to be where we are at. Although every day for the first week T would occasionally say "This is fun, but when are we going back to grandma's house?" He's enjoying the bunk bed in his room. The first night here we didn't have them set up, so we pitched a mini tent in his room and he and Ash got to camp out in the new house.



Another joy of home ownership is figuring out how to make the things work that were left behind. Exhibt A is the self-propelled lawn mower. This is an awesome mower with quite a little bit of pep, and apparently a bit of a learning curve for me, as it dragged my around half the front yard until I got the hang of it. Unfortunatley, our first week at church Brother Shupe introduced himself to us as the new neighbor across the street, and commented on the laughs and entertainment I provided him while he watched the machine defeat me! So, note to self--figure out how to use the ding-dong machine in the BACKYARD next time. By the way, the lawn looks awesome.

Travelling

I was just talking to some of my siblings about some of the places I've travelled. Some days it seems like a lifetime ago--living in Jerusalem, back-packing through Europe, a medical/micro-credit mission to Africa with C, and then the cross-country flights/drives with kids from Virginia to see family, not to mention all the great family vacations all growing up.

We've really settled in lately--now traveling consists of quick road trips, or watching the Discovery channel and learning tips from Bear Grylls on Man Vs. Wild. And I'm completely content with the stage of life we're at.

Kid sayings

Walking home from church...

T: Mom, I just cut my toe. You go get the band-aids, and Jesus will make it better.

______________________________


A weekend spent in Park City, getting things boxed up and ready to sell my parents cabin...

A's face was pressed up against the window.

T: Why you doin' dat, Ashy?

A: Because I'm trying to memorize everything about Park City so I won't ever forget it.

Homeward Bound

We bought a house! Holy cow--what have we done!?!? One minute I'm thrilled beyond belief, the next I'm sick to my stomach about the debt we've just incurred. I'm constantly thinking about it now--where to put the furniture we have, what to get, how I'd like to tweek things.

I'm trying to be calm and collected, but inside my stomach is a jumbly mess of every emotion. Above all, I'm so excited to raise our family in this home because it feels like it's the place we belong and where we should be at this stage in our life.

Sickie Pie

A was a little under the weather yesterday. If you asked her though, she continually had miraculous healings, followed by bouts of downward spirals. Funnily enough they coincided with what she was doing at the moment. For example, when she was asked to share her Capri-Sun with her brother, she reminded me that she was still so extremely sick that she couldn't possibly feel good about spreading her germs to T. Or when we were coming home at night from Grandmother and Grandpa's, she needed to sleep and was "too weak" to walk up to her own bed, so we'd better carry her.

The miraculous healings came when her friend showed up at the house, when we were debating whether to bring her to the for mentioned grandparents home, or when she was wanting to snuggle and love her baby sister so intensely. Miracle of miracles, she would talk her way into convincing me that she was back to feeling 100%! Hmmmm...do you think mom will catch on?!?

Truth be told, I like indulging my kids a tiny bit when they are feeling a little sick. It's one of the reasons I'm grateful to be a stay at home mom. Nothing like spending a day in pj's, slurping chicken noodle soup and enjoying more movies than we'd ever admit to watching.

2007 Resolutions

I resolve to be more realistic this year--with my time, my expectations and my new years resolutions! I will use my time to enjoy this stage we're in. I'm thrilled that my biggest concerns involve potty training issues, how to make it through sacrament meeting with wiggly kids and carpools. I enjoy reliving childhood with each of my children's discoveries.

Tink has figured out how to grab on to things and she'll study every little thing, first with her eyes, then with her mouth. She's my first baby that doesn't need a binkie to sleep, but instead opts for a soft blanket to soothe her to sleep. It's so sweet and I keep wondering how we've lucked out with such a content little soul.

T is really into colors, mazes and puzzles. I'm amazed at how quickly he is picking things up. He has also turned into the resident ham (pretty evident by his poses, eh?).

A's world his opened up 10 fold as she is reading everything--if it has letters, she's bound and determined to figure out what it says. It's a world filled with awe and wonder and I love the craziness and the joy that being a kid brings.

Change of seasons

Christmas is coming... No more apple juice stands now that snow is on the ground.

We made a chain this morning for a countdown to Christmas, we've decorated the house and are figuring out the traditions we want to continue and introduce for the first time this year. Most of the shopping is done, and A even signed for her first ever package...

I was literally stepping out of the shower when A told me someone was knocking at the door. As I was explaining that we'd just have to miss whomever it was, she was already down the stairs opening the door. I was grateful it was UPS delivering a package for Rosalie, and not a perfect stranger, so I listened in on the funny conversation.

"Is your mom here?"

"Well, she's actually kind of busy. She just got out of the shower and isn't dressed yet."

"Umm...okay. Do you know how to write your name?"

"YES!", exclaims the excited Kindergartener who happens to have that skill mastered. She busily signs her name, afterwhich he hands her the package.

"And is your last name Ringwood?"

"No, actually it's Owens. We're just babysitting the house for my aunt and uncle, Mike and Rosalie, who are living in Korea. We'll get a new house this summer."

All the while, T who is standing on the landing of the stairs is trying to get in on the conversation with, "I'm Ty-Ty. I'm Ty-Ty. I'm Ty-Ty."

I don't think my kids are intimidated by strangers much.

My first attempt at blogging--hoping to chronicle our family happenings and the funny, sweet and sometimes maddening things my kids do and say in our daily routines.

Tink continues to be a sweet baby. Its fun to watch my kids and husband soften when they see her. She truly is a great blessing to all of us and has added happiness to our lives that only something so new and fresh as a baby can do.

A is going to be a Barbie Ballerina from the 12 Dancing Princess. She is a very creative little soul--loves to dance, tumble, create things with her hands from coloring & cutting to pipe cleaners & clay, etc. One of her most endearing talents is her singing. She is constantly making up songs that are really quite sweet and is often found singing them to Ali to try to make her happy.

T has decided to be Superman for Halloween, and just informed us yesterday that he wants to be Darth Vader at the same time...hmm, might make for an interesting costume ensemble. He told me that I should be Lois Lane so that he can be my hero. He can be so sweet and doesn't know that in many ways he already is.