Turning 4

She woke up and said, "Mom, I'm four today!" She's very pleased at adding a number to her age...she's feeling very grown up. I can't say exactly how I'm feeling, because it's bittersweet and all that, having a child grow up. She's a beautiful little girl with a big personality. She's very excited to have the title "Big Girl Helper" now and for when the new baby comes. She had a good time today, and she got lots of presents. Peter said, "Only four presents?" I told him that four is a lot for one person. She got a virtual coloring book that plugs into the t.v., two books, clothes, playstuff like bubbles and playdough, and an emergency pack--fully loaded--like Peter's 72 hr kit. She's almost the most excited about her 72 hr kit, except that she can't use the stuff in it except for emergencies. Now, I just have to write names on the bags.

Confession: I feel like a bad mom because when I asked her what she wanted for her birthday dinner, she said fruit, salad, and potatoes. I convinced her to choose a meat to have also, and she chose chicken. She also requested chocolate cake. However, I was having problems getting going and making things happen today, so she didn't exactly get all that. It was almost dinnertime and I still hadn't been to the grocery store. So, we were out of lettuce, fruit, and chocolate cake mix. I realized that I didn't really have my act together enough to make a chocolate cake from scratch, so I took her to the storage room and let her choose from lemon, yellow, carrot and spice cake. She chose yellow with chocolate frosting. Then I asked her with much animation, "Andrea, do you want to have pizza and carrots?" She said, "Yeah!" So, I lucked out again. I don't expect to be so lucky next year. I had just better be on top of things. She's easy going and a good girl. She's my little sweet girl.

First Run

He took it out on the first legal run today, helmet and all. The white flecks in the picture is snow. We have strange Springs here. Don't worry, it wasn't sticking and he was just taking it to his parent's place and back. He just walked back in the door with a big grin on his face and said, "I tell you what, that was fun...I shoulda got one of those years ago!"

Who Knew?

So, Thomas is happy. I'm okay, too. :) We are now the proud owners of a '77 Honda GoldWing. Nice, eh? (Never mind the state of the garage--Thomas is building in our house, and the garage is part of the construction zone.) This thing is older than he is! Still, it kinda makes you feel cool or something...

Pregnancy Brain Strikes Again...I hope

Oh, man. Sometimes I wonder about myself. A few months ago the music chairwoman at church asked me to sing in church in April. I could've sworn that she asked me to sing "God so Loved the World". Early last month, I told her that I couldn't find the solo version of that song, and she said, "No, I wanted you to sing (whatever song it was)." For those reading, it is now obvious that I still can't remember what song it was that I was supposed to sing in the first place, but we digress. Anyway, so I said okay, and then it left my mind completely until....
We have 8:30am church. We were running late this morning, so we had to sit in the foyer as a missionary had just come home from his mission and the seats were all full. Thus, after the Sacrament was passed, we were still out there and I hadn't seen the program for the day. A man from the ward happened to be getting a folding chair for someone, saw me standing just outside the overflow door and stuck his head out and said, "I'm looking forward to hearing you sing today!" I said, "You mean with the choir?" "No," said he, "Your name is on the program." You may imagine the look on my face and the feeling in my chest. Having seen said look on my face (I'm not really even sure what it looked like), he said, "Wait, maybe I'm wrong!" However, my next door neighbor who is my age was wide eyed and nodding in agreement that this was the correct day and I was in trouble. So, he went to grab a program and, sure enough, there was my name in print, after the first two youth speakers. The first one had already gotten about half-way through his 5-10 minute talk. As a friend of mine, Heidi, was sitting in the back row of the overflow area and near the door, she saw and heard everything. Her mother is the choir director and extremely accomplished at the piano. I mouthed to her, "Is your mom here?" She also looked at me wide-eyed and said, "No..." I think I mouthed the words, "Oh, crap," or something like that. I know it was a bad choice for being in church, but I was feeling a bit panicked. Then, I felt that hot feeling...when I get really upset or highly emotional very suddenly, my face starts to get hot and very red. The frustrating thing is, that I can't seem to put it under control until my face has reached a certain level of hot and red. Heidi told me that Lisa, who is the pianist for the choir and also very accomplished, was there. So, I went to where she normally sits with her family, and told her I needed her help, now. She got up to come out to the foyer, where I commenced to try (in vain) to fan my face, hoping it would cool quickly. The afore mentioned neighbor was watching me do this, and was trying not to laugh to my face. I told Lisa that I was supposed to sing, which she already knew, having been on time and seen the program, but that I couldn't remember what song and had nothing prepared. I hadn't even sung a thing yet that morning--I didn't warm up in the shower, I wasn't on time to sing the first two songs at church or anything. We only had time to locate a hymn book and choose a missionary-type song. So, we talked over number 270, "I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go". About then, the second youth speaker was finishing up her talk, and in we went. As she played the introduction, I prayed in my heart and mind for help from the Lord, and He, in his mercy, came through. Thomas received many compliments on my behalf. It must have worked out well enough this time, but I hope never to do that again. I am so grateful for Brother McC., Lisa and her talent, and for music memory...that is, if I can just remember to look at the music in the first place. I hope to blame this on "pregnancy brain", but I will restate the above: Sometimes I wonder about myself.

Checkup

I had my checkup today. I have excellent bloodsugar levels and have again won the award for best iron level in a 3rd trimester patient that my midwives have ever seen, without ever taking extra iron. Whoo-hooo! ....so do I get a cash award for that to help pay for the baby delivery? I wonder who to talk to about that...

Turning 6

Well, he made it through another year. Pete went to Kindergarten and got to take a treat of his choice to class for everyone to share; he chose chocolate chip cookies--thanks to Trish for the best recipe ever! Then he got a balloon hat from his teachers. They have the kids say something nice about Peter if they want to, and then they write it on the balloon hat (pic). Most of the kids said, "Peter is a good friend." That's good for a mom to hear, especially since he's a bit too much like her and probably gets a bit bossy in class. Of course, Andrea thought the balloon hat was really cool and wanted to wear it, so they commenced fighting over it after he got home, thus waking Sam early from his nap. He got to have friends over to eat pizza and decorate cupcakes for lunch. I'll tell you what, having a bunch of little kids (pic) at once is almost maddening. It's a good thing Aunt Caitlin was here to take them all downstairs and run them around good and, um,...downstairs. When I had all seven kids at the table, including Sam, for lunch, it happend to be the LOUDEST and craziest point of the day. Thomas thought he'd be funny and said, "Oh Char, lets have seven kids."It's enough to make a pregnant lady lose her mind! :)
For dinner, he originally requested hot cereal, fruit and grilled cheese sandwiches. With a bit more probing, he said he could take potato soup with his sandwich, that he wanted fruit salad, and that he would be okay also with carrots as well. He decided it would be okay to have the hot cereal for breakfast. Grandma and Grandpa E. came for dinner, and then Aunt Miriam and Uncle Nate came after dinner. Sam almost didn't make it through dinner because of his extra short nap (pic). Peter requested red frosting for his cake, but that takes a LOT of food coloring, so I told him that he would have to deal with "light red", which equals pink but he accepted that well (pic). What was really funny was that he was joyfully joining in to singing the happy birthday song to himself, and everytime someone wished him a happy birthday, he would say, "Happy Birthday to you, too!"

He had to seek for his presents, and then was very pleased with what he got: a loaded 72 hr kit in a backpack (except for the change of clothes we need to put in), an Idaho tshirt, an RC car, activity pad, book, spiderman stickers and a battery-less flashlight. At the end of the day, I video interviewed him and he said he had a really good day--what more can a kid (or a mom) ask for?

Diving In

Yes, it's hard even for me to believe it, but I figured I may as well jump in like everyone else. Besides, then I can brag on my fam or whatever, and no one actually HAS to listen if they don't want to! Defintely best of both worlds. I will very soon be posting some pics as Peter's bday is tomorrow. This may actually turn out to be pretty cool....