'Brett's' New Ride

Brett has missed his Jeep every single day since he sold it and decided it was time to make up for it. He pulled into the driveway with this one day, in the middle of the day. I could pretend to be upset with his going back on being frugal with a great gas mileage car, but who am I kidding!? A truck!- I was so excited. Thank heavens he was kind and bought an automatic this time and now I take this baby out every chance I get. :)

Just Chillin

I Want To Live Here

Just For Your Information . . .

It is much MUCH harder to remove bubble gum from the inside of a dryer drum than crayon. And the inside of the dryer drum is NOT a 'well ventilated area.' (Don't worry, I learned my lesson -when I found the mess I promptly sat down on the floor instead of the new shoe shelf.)

Movie Recommendation

I thought I'd pass along a new favorite to my fellow Jane Austin type movie loving sisters. It is a 4 part BBC miniseries that was on Masterpiece Theater called "Wives and Daughters." I absolutely loved it. I was completey sucked in. It is very long (about 5 hours all together), but the end was sooo worth it. :) If you ever have nothing to do on a rainy day (or several late nights :), it almost made me cry happy tears at the end.

Sick Kids and Ice Cream

This morning I have already dug into the rocky road double chocolate ice cream. My kids have been sick for over a week now. It started with Clay and unfortunately they all got it. Since Clay is still coughing, the end is not in sight. Luka has had a high fever for three days now and isn't sleeping at all. Fortunately Brett gave me a break last night and watched the kids so I could run to the store and buy some much needed groceries. Like the rocky road ice cream. My Grandpa was on my mind last night for some reason, and again this morning as I dug into the ice cream. I LOVE ice cream! I mean, I have a dairy allergy and I can't stay away from the stuff!! And as I was nibbling this morning I was thinking about how my Dad loves ice cream, and my Grandpa also loved his ice cream. Grandpa and Grandma always had a freezer full of it in the garage. So I choose to believe that loving ice cream is genetic. It helps me connect to people I love and it makes me feel better. :) (although I doubt Dad would munch on rocky road- nuts yuck, huh Dad? maybe just some good old chocolate marshmallow?)

One Proud Mama

Spaghetti has always been my favorite food so how could I not take delight when my little girl attack it like this while saying enthusiastically, "Yummy! yummy!"?
And my baby girl also likes her cookies, just like Mom of course. But the greatest cookie joy sometimes comes when you see how many pieces one chocolate chip cookie can be broken into. Hooray for good food!!

Tender Mercies

If you've read any of my family's blogs lately you can get a small sense of the enormous loss that we all feel. It comforts me to read that others are struggling with ups and downs as well. One moment I think that I am finally past the overwhelming sense of grief, and then something will bring it all back. It really is a tribute to my Grandfather that he is soooo missed. Just writing this I am brought to tears again. I have no regrets or 'wished I could haves' or anything like that. I am just sad for empty place in my life that I will feel each time a holiday or special moment triggers a memory of Grandpa. I think having him leave us has caused me to reflect on all of the amazing memories I have of him and then I realize just what an amazing person and example he was. Anyway, yesterday my Visiting Teacher called me at 8:00 in the morning to say that she wouldn't be able to make her appointment to visit later because her Grandmother had died that morning and she had to drive to Michigan. I wanted to jump through the phone and give her a hug!! It was a very profound moment for me because as I talked to her on the phone for several minutes and we shared our stories with each other, I realized that the Lord allows us to go through trials so that we can be made stronger and he can use us to help others. If I hadn't just been through a similar experience I could only have offered a simple, "I'm sorry" instead of the genuine intense heartfelt love I felt for my visiting teacher. I don't know if I was able to help her feel any better, but it made ME feel better. Compassion isn't a gift that you can just be given, you have to gain it through experience, often ones that may seem unpleasant. So I guess that I am just thankful for the small ways that the Lord shows us he cares about us. I am now picturing my silly Aunt Crystal standing in the grocery store with a carrot for a mic saying, "I'd like to bury my testimony. . . " (for all you Watson relatives :) But seriously, I am so thankful for the tiny moments when the Spirit makes its quiet way into the chaos of my life.

An Update

I can now add removing crayon from a dryer drum to the list of skills on my resume. And, I'm happy to say, I was able to save some of the clothes with a little color safe bleach paste and a whole LOT of elbow grease. I also had a crayon round up and all bits and pieces went to the trash while the surviving whole crayons were banished to an upper shelf. I need to confess that I didn't quite tell the whole story in my last post. The moment that I discoved the crayon fiasco yesterday I was so distraught that I immediately sat down on the shoe shelf in the mud room by our dryer. It promptly split in two and collapsed under me. Let me tell you, it is a lot more funny today than it was yesterday. :)

It is Not a Good Day

Ever wonder what a batch of clothes would look like if a crayon somehow managed to find it's way into the dryer with them? I got to find out today! OHHHH! It already was a grumpy day, and this did not help. Brett was on his way out the door to buy a new DVD player since both of ours have recently bit the dust when I stopped him and said maybe we should wait a couple weeks. Why? Oh because we need to purchase new church clothes for everyone. Sometimes when things like this happen I can laugh about it and say, "All well." Today I just wanted to cry. It is amazing how one (I'm assuming one) little crayon could manage to find it's way onto a whole batch of clothes (not to mention all over the inside of my dryer.) Okay lets try and think positive. Think think think..... hmmm nope. Try again, think think think,......okay, well I guess it is just amazing that this hasn't happened before.
I think I'll have some ice cream and go back to bed.

Valentines

This has been a very difficult week for me and for a lot of people that I love very much. My Grandfather passed away on Tuesday. I have been very blessed to have 28 years with him. It is a priveledge to be a grandchild of Lula and LaMont Henriksen and I am very aware of that this week. My Grandaparents are the most loving people I've ever met. Grandpa's love for Grandma is the kind of perfect love you can't replicate in books or Hollywood. Thier love is strong, and because of that it encircled all of us - children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends, neighbors, and relatives. Yesterday I realized what a wonderful love story I have the blessing to be part of. I didn't think this would be a very good Valentines Day, but today I just feel love and peace. This picture is one that my dear dear Aunt shared with me and I hope she doesn't mind me posting it. It is my Grandparents on the day they got engaged. They loved each other immensely and were determined to live the gospel and share that love with their family and that has never ever changed. I love you Grandpa and Grandma! Happy Valentines Day.

A Princess And Her Crew

Luka loves to play in her toy box. She pushes it around the house and then climbs in it to play. I'm sure Santa would be glad that she likes his gift so much. She is turning into quite the little tag a long. She follows her brothers around like a little puppy, wanting to hold their hand, eat cake, play trains, drink juice, basically do whatever they are doing. And of course, she is still a Daddy's girl. She squeals with excitement every time he comes in the door and she says, "Suprise!" It's a riot.

A Mommy's Ramble

So it probably seems like I have an unnatural obsession with age. Many of my friends who are older than me (calendar wise not actual age) would say so. But I FEEL old lately. Brett is staring down 30 this year and I'm next. I met Brett at college 10 years ago this year. My adorable baby sister is going to a sweethearts dance at the high school, and after offering her any of my dresses, realized that no one should have to wear a 10 YEAR OLD DRESS! Holy Cow, they're practically vintage. I don't really mind being older so much as I can't stand that I don't know what I've done with all of that time. When I was in high school I had such big plans (remember Bridget?) I should be working at a newspaper or newsmagazine in some big city, wearing pumps to work everyday and wowing everyone with my amazing wit. Hiking to the top of mountains and visiting exotic places. Or at least I should have finished my pre-law BA and the went to law school. I think I'm just restless. I love being a mother. I LOVE my kids, they are the greatest thing ever. Who can help but feel wonderful when they hear a little voice say, "I love you Mommy!"? I love the feeling of a clean house, that I put together, eating a meal with my family that I made (allergies and all), and even doing taxes because it makes me feel smart. Somewhere along the mommy trail I seem to have lost my knowledge of correct grammar, my hip taste in music (okay so I never had that but I do miss the concerts,) and I even leave the house in sweat pants occasionally- no really, I have!! :) I seem to be filled with all kinds of ideas for a small business or a book or things that other people do, why not me? But I know the most important thing I can do right now is be Tucker, Clay, and Luka's Mommy. At least it keeps me busy, very very busy. Well I guess I'll settle for the little triumphs in my life. They may not seem like a big deal to the world but they are to me. Like surviving a trip to Walmart with all three kids by myself, completing the laundry all in one day AND having it put away by the time Brett is home, or keeping the budget in line (a girl can dream can't she). I love my life with the greatest guy a girl could ask for, and my smart little rugrats (Tucker can SPELL words like machine, enough, people, anything!) but sometimes I wish I could go back to that insecure girl in high school and tell her, "Yes you can!!!" :) Wow, if you made it through this post you are a trooper, and deserve a pat on the back! I think I'll reward myself with some chocolate, may I suggest you do the same?! :)

Happy Halloween!

Halloween was a lot of fun even though Tucker was sick with a cough and stayed home from school, we still let him trick or treat around the neighborhood and wear his costume all day. He coughed all day straight, until it was time for trick or treating (prayers are answered even about little things). Strawberry Shortcake didn't want to leave her hat on of course, and Brett made a very handsome cowboy (which made up for him coming home with brand new boots:D) . Clay liked his costumed so much he has decided he wants to be a fireman when he grows up. I was a witch, and didn't realize we didn't get a picture until just now :(. You can also se Jack and Boston in a couple of these pictures. Jack was a very cute wookie (almost as cute as his Princess Leiha mommy). Thanks to everyone who braved the illness and came over on Halloween, it made us all feel better :).