The Man has a New Love

My Stew has wanted to do wood work for years but we just have never made it a reality. But with my soon coming Etsy shop we decided I needed him to get himself a saw. He is in love with it. Almost every day he is out there cutting something for the kids to play with or for my little Etsy business. Here are a few projects he has done with the kids.

A Family Puzzle isn't that cute?!?!

After Christmas last year I found these cute little tress on clearance and so I bought one for each of the kids rooms so they could have their own tress. Stewart made these for them to hang on their trees. Then the kids helped us paint them. Too cute.

The kids names. Bridger's name makes me think of the "Dodgers" name. ;O)

I am glad my hubby has his own little hobby that he really loves and can fit into his busy life style. Now I just need him to get into building me furniture. :O)

Blue Bug Cure: SWAGGER WAGON

I have had a Blue Bug lately I am not sure why but I just feel a little blue these days. When I find myself in a rut and I am trying really hard to get out of it I often find myself watching this. It makes me smile. Enjoy!

Sometimes it's Hard

Bridger gave his first talk today in Primary. I thought I would post about how cute it was and how I was beaming with pride but it didn't really go that way. He practiced his little talk last night and we got to church early so he could practice it at the little stand. He has been so excited about his talk all week he even picked the topic and told me how he wanted it to be about Jesus. But when he got up to speak the kids were mean. They laughed at him and it wasn't a "oh, so cute." laugh it was "Why does he talk that way?" sort of mean laugh and he knew it. He has a tender little heart. I heard kids saying things like, "What language is he speaking?!?!?" and he looked up at me with big concerned eyes and I wanted to cry but I just had to smile and encouraged him to keep going.

He had a hard day after that. After his talk his classmate was yelling at him for not singing the words. He thought Bridger was just being lazy, but Bridger really has such a hard time singing, its not that he doesn't want to its that it is really hard for him. I wanted to jump in and tell the little kid to leave my boy alone but I was in the back of the room and then Bridger pushed him and then he got in trouble for pushing. Oh, it just hurts my heart. When I picked him up from class his teacher told me he was out of control today and how he was so surprised because he usually is the best behaved in class. But I knew why. When we got home he didn't want to talk about his talk. Finally after a little love he said, "The big kids were laughing at me." So many of those big kids are the kids he idealizes and looks up to. It broke his little heart. I was so hurt and mad and sad for him.

As a mom I want to protect him from that sort of ridicule but I know I cant. Parents how do you cope with situations like that? How do you help them be strong enough to ignore all the put downs? I can see how he is realizing that he doesn't talk like all the others kids and cant sing as well and I don't want him to equate that with feeling like he is any less then anyone else. He is still so bright eyed, excited about life, proud of each new thing he learns, and thrilled to be growing up. He loves people instantly and with his whole heart. I don't want people to steal that from him by their making him feel small.

Oh, I guess it was just one of those hard days. Tomorrow will be better.

Our First Camping Trip

As Stewart promised me for Mother's day he took the entire family on our first camping trip. It was really fun. The camp site was super close and yet far enough in the tree line that you had that forest vibe that is so fun. It was pretty darn perfect. We had a little car trauma that made our first hour or so stressful but after that we were able to set up camp and the kids were so excited. Bridger had been asking us multiple times a day when it would be our "camping day". We were excited to finally be Camping!!!!

After setting up camp and eating dinner. We went on a little nature hike and made our way through these old horse paths to the pond. It was so pretty. Then we headed back to camp and did s'mores and sat around the camp fire. We ended up getting some very drunk and friendly neighbors that thought the kids were great. When it was time for bed they kept us up with their way too loud drunk talking (they were talking about shooting Obama, how Russian people are wonderful, Nascar, it was the sort of talk you love hearing late at night ;) But it did give us a few laughs) We got them back in the morning when the kids were up at 6:30 making all sorts of noise.
Stewart kept telling me when we packed that we needed to pack more blankets but I thought we'd have too many...UM, I was wrong. We were freezing! I woke up in the middle of the night shivering and I thought there was a bear outside our tent...it turned out to be the drunk man stumbling around his camp fire but it got me scared enough that I think I got a total of three hours of sleep. Between the cold, the baby screaming some where off, the owls, and so on it was a bit of a long night for me. But I think the kids and Stewart got some descent sleep so thank heaven for that. These are the funny pictures we got with our half frozen camera.

We had breakfast and then cleaned up camp and went for a longer hike. I was freaking out that we might see a bear so I made us cut our hike back some and we ended up finding some more cute little nature trails closer to the camp site that we really enjoyed.

After spending all morning hiking and exploring we had our picnic lunch by the little stream and then headed home.
We had a great time. I hope we have more opportunities to go camping this summer and make it a big family tradition. Also the pond there freezes over in the winter and they open it up for ice skating. I hope we can go this winter. That sounds like such a blast.

University of Utah

Yesterday Stewart was excepted to the University of Utah for an away rotation next year. He'll be living in Utah this August at my brothers...I am going to think of his time there as a spa escape or some vacation resort. That's what living there sort of feels like. Their beds are so soft and their showers are so huge. He'll come home and realize our house is the size of his bedroom while there and might just want to go back! Bob, thanks for making us feel welcome there. We are excited. :O) ....and where will I be? Everywhere. Vegas, Utah, Reno, and probably everywhere in between. Its going to be a very nomad-ish summer for us again. But heck it will be sort of fabulous too.

Stew was also excepted to University of California, Davis for an away in September. He really is excited about their program. He'll drive home from Utah spend one night at home and then drive to Sacramento the next day to live with his super wonderful and very fun aunt and uncle there. Fun times for Stew wouldn't you agree!?!? They are so cool to let him stay there! And I will look forward to the weekends when he can drive over the pass to see us. Fun times for me. - note the sarcasm there ;)

And yes, I know he will be working his head off but still I am a bit jealous he gets such fun "vacations" :O). Anyways, hooray for things actually working out how he wants them too. Maybe he'll discover where he really wants to do his residency. Who knows! But it will be an adventure worth taking no matter what.

Benjamin's First Friend

Benjamin made his first friend yesterday. We had a group of friends come over for dinner last night and had a really fun time together. My really good friend Jenn has this tiny little one year old, he is seriously the smallest one year old I have ever seen. So cute and your jaw just drops when you see him walking around acting like a one year old when he is the size of a three month old. Anyways, Benjie took him under his wing and they were inseparable all evening. They were sharing food, playing in the sand box together, and talking. It warmed my heart. Then this morning my friend stopped by really quick with her baby and Benjamin was thrilled. When they had to leave he was so upset. I think we will be having some play dates just Benjamin soon. How fun is that. Little people rock my world. :O)

Chin Up

There are weeks when things just keep going wrong. When you are working yourself to the bone and it isn't nearly enough. Those are the times when I am so glad I can kneel in prayer and tell Heavenly Father I am doing my best and confess that I know it isn't in any measure enough. Then plead with him to make it enough some how. As a mom it really feels like you can never give enough no matter how much you are giving. It can be so humbling, so exhausting, and at times feel so futile to even try. But you know how high the stakes are. You know how very important the tasks laid at your feet are so you must at least try.

For me when the morning comes and I go and get my baby out of his crib and his eyes sparkle up at me, and one by one the kids stumble out of their rooms and come to me for their needs to be met I know I wouldn't want any other job.....at bedtime when I am so spent I might trade jobs ;o)... but something about the morning when the hope of all the possibilities that day holds seem bright and clear I can't help but hold my chin up and be grateful for another day to work myself to the bone for my family. For me there is no greater labor, no greater cause. I would not ask for more.

*I read some really great conference talks yesterday and posted links to them on the side on my blog. They are so uplifting and encouraging. If you feel the urge read them. They are worth the time.

Eggs Please Stop Hating me

Dear Eggs,

I am not sure why you suddenly hate me so much but it makes me so sad. I loved eating you for breakfast everyday, I loved how you made my baked goods so good, I loved the amazing things you do as meringue, European butter cream, cake, creme brulee, crack pie, and any homemade cookies. I loved baked breakfast casseroles, omelettes, french toast, and a million other things you are a part of in the food world but alas I have somehow become allergic to you. I can no longer eat you in any form or in any amount without becoming a moaning ill mass on my bed.

Oh, eggs will you someday stop hating me? Will I ever be able to eat my favorite foods again? Until then I am so very very sad.

Your Abstaining Fan,
Emily

Health Project

For Stew's Family Medicine Rotation he had to do a health project. We decided it would be great to pretend that we were an overweight/obese family that needed a health overhaul and that our doctor gave us some guidelines we have to live by to improve our health. We thought we'd give it two weeks. So we made our "doctor's" diet:

Food:
Only Whole Wheat
Only Water and no sugar added juice (that means killing our crystal light addiction)
More veggies and fruit
Only Lean dairy
Only Lean meats
No sugar rich treats
No butter, or other saturated fats, only the good kinds ;)

Exercise:
Daily Exercise, kids and All!

As we were already making these changes it wasn't too traumatic. It was really fun to do it as an assignment for our family. Stew and I ended up losing 10 pounds combined and I think the kids seem healthier too. I think these changes will stay, not quite as exclusively but we made some really great food exchanges that were really so easy and so good for us:

Fruit snacks - dried fruit
Ice cream - fruit smoothies
Sugar cereals - whole grain low sugar variety
White refined grains - whole grains (crackers, pizza crust, bread, cereal, tortillas, rice, pasta)
Cookies - low fat,low sugar, whole wheat kind (recipe on food blog)
Juice/crystal light/ diet soda - water
Kids Whole Milk - 2% milk
Chips - Whole wheat cracker, light popcorn, nuts

We had fun being a more active family: hiking, walks, swimming, going to the park, doing races in the back yard, gardening, wrestling, and not having the TV on at all. I am proud of our little family for setting these goals and actually doing them, Go us!

For some recipes visit my Recipe Blog

Motherhood

Today is Mother's Day. It was a lovely day. I was completely spoiled. Stewart sort of gave me a week long mother's day with cooking dinners, cleaning the house, sending me out on runs, sending me out to get my hair cut, buying me the huge gift of camping gear so we can finally go real camping as a family (Eeeeee! so happy!), and by being so loving to me. I am completely spoiled. Stewart, thank you for everything.

This evening after dinner was eaten, gifts were given, and kind words were said we cuddled up on the couch and watched Bridger's birth and first weeks of life on home video. It was nostalgic. It made me miss Utah, it made me miss our little duplex, it made me miss the thrill of having our first and only, and I remembered how extremely tough we have always been. Having Bridger while we were both in full time school at the beginning of a semester! Wow, and we kept going and even got pregnant four months after his birth to have another! We were crazy, tough, and really young.

Looking back makes me realize how fleeting these years with my babies are and really focuses my priorities. I don't want these years to be a blur of running here and there and scrambling to fit in as much as possible into one day. Today I prayed a sincere prayer that I could slow down a little. That I can learn to savor the magical moments I can have with my little ones if I take the time to notice their golden opportunities.

I love Elder Nelson's words, "Sisters, be patient. I know something of the pressures you feel. Your kitchens are too small. Your budgets are too tight. Demands upon you exceed your capacity to help all who cry out to you. Through it all, 'Improve the shinning moments; Don’t let them pass you by.'

I’ll share a few lines that have sustained Sister Nelson through the years. They also reflect her sense of priority:

Cleaning and scrubbing can wait ’til tomorrow.
For babies grow up,
We’ve learned to our sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs.
Dust, go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby,
And babies don’t keep.

I’m glad Sister Nelson has not tried to be a “supermom.” But she has been a “soothing” mom. This she has done simply by being herself. When priorities are in place, one can more patiently tolerate unfinished business.

'Time flies on wings of lightning; We cannot call it back'."

I know as I am being myself I will be a dreamer thinking of grand adventures and plans of creating. That is a part of my being, but I hope that I will not do them to be super. I hope I will do them to be a better mother, I don't want to do a thing unless it will benefit my family and I never want to do a thing at their expense. When this life is over I will not care about so many things I so dearly care for now but I will eternally care for how I mothered my children. For I know the ripples of mothers' nurturing touch go on for all generations of time. I want my ripples to be the very best kind.

My Babies and Me.

I have to spit it out

This is a flow of random thoughts that I would call someone to talk about but I don't have time for that right now but I need to "talk" about it all so I can go on with my day with a clearer mind. Enjoy. ;)

- I watched home videos the other day and it was fun to see how much life had changed and yet how we were still the same old us. Stewart was still Stew, using the same expressions, playing with the kids the same way. I was still silly me. Seeing our progress in life but also having that consistency sort of felt good.

- I am starting an Etsy Shop. It is exciting, stressful, and a LOT of work to get my stuff made, pictures taken, and get it all set up. I hope I will launch it on June 1st. I will keep you posted.

- I unpacked Bridger's old 18month - 2 T summer clothes for Benjamin yesterday and putting them on him makes me feel very nostalgic. Time is going so fast and I feel like I am forgetting all those years that have past. I wish I had taken more pictures. I miss my toddler Bridger.

- I am in charge of our primary activity this Saturday. I am praying it is a success.

- Benjamin is such a joy. He has a temper but he still likes to be held like a baby and he gives the sweetest hugs and kisses. I love that he likes to sit and read books with me. Neither of my other two would do that at his age. Plus when he folds his arms for prayer I get all giggly. He is my buddy.

- I have actually been busy with my business. Which is good but I have to admit I get ceramic overload sometimes. Late nights every night with ceramics gets old.

- Bridger's pre-school lost its funding and it will be no more come the end of the school year. I am devastated. I am not sure what to do. We don't have the money to send him somewhere for preschool so its either make more money to send him or start something up myself. I am very torn on what to do. Both options seem hard at best. I don't know how much more thin I can be spread: Church calling, keeping a home running, supporting the hubby, running one and soon two businesses, trying to be a good mom, be crafty, be healthy, keep my body from falling apart and then adding on working more or teaching preschool too...no one can do that all well and still be happy- maybe if they could pay people to do half their responsibilities for them they could. BUT there is acute story to this. When I picked Bridger up from preschool today he informed me tht his school now had money to stay open next year. I was surprised. I asked him how he knew that. He said, "I prayed and asked Heavenly Father for more money. So now they have more money." Such faith.

- I am so in love with my husband. Yesterday he was so happy he finally got his grade back from Internal Med he was singing and dancing and just so happy. Plus he made dinner for me and sent me on a much needed run. What a MAN! I adore him.

- I wish I was Mary Poppins and could just snap my fingers and things would clean themselves up. How much would that rock!?!?!? I walk around the house snapping my fingers and imagine the toys fly into their respective boxes and clothes fold themselves and fly into their closets. The kids play along it makes us laugh.

- I love running and I am so glad it is finally warm enough to do it more. I really want to do a half marathon but I don't want to do it alone. Any takers?

- I cleaned like crazy yesterday: I cleaned the kids horrible messy rooms - plus closets!, cleaned my bathroom hard core now it is sparkling white!, went through all our boys clothes to pass onto a friend, and I cleaned the garage too. I was so tired when it was done but it is fun when the kids help and get excited to show daddy all we did when he gets home. So glad those projects finally got done even though I know it will last a week at best.

- I am so loving my mom and my mother-in-law. I'm feeling the mother's day love!

- I have actually felt baby hungry. I thought I would never feel that again. I am glad I can feel that. It wont be happening for a while but its nice to have my heart get all mushy when I see a little baby again. :O) They are so sweet even if bringing them into the world half kills you.

- My yard is getting cuter. YAY!

- I wish pounds would melt off with how much sugar you ate. The more sugar the more weight you lost. Wow, that would be really great to say "oh, I gained a pound I better go eat a bag of Swedish fish!" Maybe in the next life! ;O)

Okay I am done. Now hopefully I can move on and get something done!