It was a beautiful Fall day yesterday. During the afternoon when the sun was at its warmest we ventured out to the Post Office and the local playground. My girls love walking to these sites and get so excited to go. The wind was lightly blowing and hte leaves were in the air. I watched my girls laughing and running as Liliana pushed Mattie in her favorite Pooh stroller. It was one of those moments when instead of thinking about them slowing down or staying closer to me, I just turned my thoughts to how I will miss this. I will miss seeing them so young and innocent and loving. Right in that moment I wanted to stop time. Jacob and I just love our girls.
This other mom feels the same way and expressed it on her Blog (she has three boys).
http://momsinneedofmercy.blogspot.com/2009/10/magic-time.html
Incidentally, we have 'figured' out that we have one child who is a little me, one that is a little jacob, and one that is a combination of both of us-we are hoping this combo child will get both of our good sides :)....
I am thankful to be home with my children. I can honestly say now, that I wouldnt trade my job for any other...
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Moving again and other stuff
So...looks like we will be moving again(you know it was just so much fun last time we wanted to go through the whole experience again)...We are a day away from buying a home. It has been a long road to this point. It still wont be over till we have those keys in our hand. Once we get a home under contract we have to work on getting our various student loans in deferrment so that the house loan can go through. We have had to wait till now to look again as we needed to be closer to our grace period being over....Just crazy! Will let you know which one we chose. Assuming we can actually chose just one!
and had to include this. During school this morning Liliana and I were picking out random words(they are written in medium print on a magnetic strip). She had to read the word to me then tell me what it meant.....
"After-You know, when you are after someone"
Fat- You eat too much"
I wish i could remember the other words she defind for me...it was hilarious...
and had to include this. During school this morning Liliana and I were picking out random words(they are written in medium print on a magnetic strip). She had to read the word to me then tell me what it meant.....
"After-You know, when you are after someone"
Fat- You eat too much"
I wish i could remember the other words she defind for me...it was hilarious...
Friday, October 2, 2009
bosses
Alright I think I am tired. The tired clue is this-when upon laughing I start crying-that means I need a nap,which wont be happening anytime soon but in the meantime enjoy the following I found on some other tired moms blog, she has two sets of twins:
http://2setsoftwins-helene.blogspot.com/
M E M O R A N D U M
To: My employers -
Cole, CEO of Crying For No Reason
Bella, President of Being Extremely Sensitive and Emotional
Garrett, Vice President of Being Overly Demanding
Landon, Director of All Things Smelly
From: Your dedicated, hard-working employee (aka - Mommy)
================================================
First, let me start this memo off by saying how wonderful it has been working for you all. When I was hired for the position of "Mother", I truly underestimated just how fulfilling and rewarding it would be. Each day is full of new adventures, among other things (yeah, let's just leave it at that, shall we?).
There are some things I've been wanting to address with you and I feel now is as good a time as any. I mean, it's not like you all could fire me.....right?
1) My hours: When I was initially hired, I understood the position called for 24-hour shifts. I had no problem with that. It was a new job for me...one that I had never done before and I welcomed the hours with open arms. However, over time, I feel like you all have been taking advantage of me. You never mentioned that the 24-hour shifts would be never-ending. I'm being paged at odd hours almost every single night (like 3:15 am) and I'm expected to work overtime quite frequently (although is there such a thing as overtime when I'm working never ending 24-hr shifts?)
I am proposing a change in my hours (don't you love how I make it sound as if it's your decision but we all know it's really not). I would appreciate not being expected to clock in any earlier than 7:00 am and I'd like to complete my work day by at least 8:00 pm, if not earlier. I'd also like to only be on-call at night for emergencies only, like when you have a nightmare in the middle of the night or if you wet your bed.....emergencies that do not constitute paging me: you have a booger in your nose that's not quite within your reach or because you're scared that your eyelashes are going to disappear if you close your eyes for too long. I haven't decided if "my butt itches" is considered an emergency....I suppose it depends on WHY your butt itches but, chances are, it's something that can wait until the next morning.
2) My benefits: This falls right in line with my hours (see above). I would like to be able to take personal days here and there, as needed. Of course, I would give you advance notice so you could find a temporary replacement (might I suggest your father, who is perfectly capable of filling in for me). Oh, and you are no longer allowed to cry, whine and scream to me "Mommy, I want you...." as I'm running out the door. Guilt trips will no longer be acceptable. I also would appreciate regular 15-minute meal breaks and 5-minute potty breaks for every 2 hours that I work. I think that's very reasonable. Furthermore, I will be taking sick days, as needed. Nothing excessive but if I should come down with a blinding migraine (that, chances are, you all caused...and I say that with all due respect of course), I'd like to know that I won't have the added pressure of having to work that day. Again, your father is a willing and able substitute in my absence (he may not be aware that he's willing and able but, trust me, he is).
Even though this is not a paid position, it would be nice every once in awhile to receive a gift certificate from you for a massage or a mani/pedi (just to show your appreciation of all my hard work).
3) My job responsibilities: While my job responsibilities were never really clearly discussed in detail, I did have an idea of what the position would entail. With that said, as time has gone by, I've taken on so many more responsibilities that have left me feeling overwhelmed. I feel like I'm not able to give my full attention and devotion to other aspects of my job because I just have so much on my plate on a daily basis.
The following is a list of jobs I will no longer be doing:
wiping the butts of those of you who are potty trained
running around like a chicken with my head cut off at meal times fetching "this and that" for you all that I never get a chance to sit down myself and eat
providing constant and never-ending entertainment
cleaning up the toys that you take out but never seem to put away (I'm not buying the whole, "But I don't know how to put it away" excuse anymore)
no longer responsible for scissor mishaps....you cut your own hair, it's your problem; oh, and no longer protecting any of you from chopping off your own fingers....one less finger means less nose-picking, which you already know annoys the hell out of me
breaking up fights 24 hours a day (one can only say "use your words" and "we don't hit" so many times a day before she is deemed legally insane)
warming your milk twice a day in the microwave (man-up already....from what I know, cold milk has never killed anyone)
fighting with you all to brush your teeth twice a day (if your teeth rot and fall out, you'll just have to drink all your food through a straw).
4) My right to privacy: Now this is something I feel very strongly about and I feel that it's gone on for way too long. I am now requiring total and complete privacy when I'm in the bathroom (that includes going potty, taking a shower, getting dressed, etc). The harrassment that I'm subjected to on a daily basis is just inappropriate and downright rude. No employee should ever have to sit there while the bosses ogle her and scream out, "Look at her boobies", while each of you take turns trying to grab said boobies. Last time I checked I was no longer required to fulfill the job responsibility of breast feeding.
From now on, you are no longer allowed to enter the bathroom when I'm in it (including sticking your hands under the door and yelling, "how many fingers can you see now?" over and over until I scream "leave me alone please", banging on the door repeatedly with the hopes that I will eventually cave and let you in, and beating each other up outside the door with the expectation that I will be able to hold my pee long enough to break up the fight).
Lastly, I would like to thank you for the wonderful learning opportunity you have provided me with. While I'm sometimes guilty of making mistakes and not performing tasks to the best of my abilities, I appreciate that you all have continued to encourage me with your never-ending smiles, hugs and kisses.
Someday, I hope to be promoted to the coveted position of "grandmother".
http://2setsoftwins-helene.blogspot.com/
M E M O R A N D U M
To: My employers -
Cole, CEO of Crying For No Reason
Bella, President of Being Extremely Sensitive and Emotional
Garrett, Vice President of Being Overly Demanding
Landon, Director of All Things Smelly
From: Your dedicated, hard-working employee (aka - Mommy)
================================================
First, let me start this memo off by saying how wonderful it has been working for you all. When I was hired for the position of "Mother", I truly underestimated just how fulfilling and rewarding it would be. Each day is full of new adventures, among other things (yeah, let's just leave it at that, shall we?).
There are some things I've been wanting to address with you and I feel now is as good a time as any. I mean, it's not like you all could fire me.....right?
1) My hours: When I was initially hired, I understood the position called for 24-hour shifts. I had no problem with that. It was a new job for me...one that I had never done before and I welcomed the hours with open arms. However, over time, I feel like you all have been taking advantage of me. You never mentioned that the 24-hour shifts would be never-ending. I'm being paged at odd hours almost every single night (like 3:15 am) and I'm expected to work overtime quite frequently (although is there such a thing as overtime when I'm working never ending 24-hr shifts?)
I am proposing a change in my hours (don't you love how I make it sound as if it's your decision but we all know it's really not). I would appreciate not being expected to clock in any earlier than 7:00 am and I'd like to complete my work day by at least 8:00 pm, if not earlier. I'd also like to only be on-call at night for emergencies only, like when you have a nightmare in the middle of the night or if you wet your bed.....emergencies that do not constitute paging me: you have a booger in your nose that's not quite within your reach or because you're scared that your eyelashes are going to disappear if you close your eyes for too long. I haven't decided if "my butt itches" is considered an emergency....I suppose it depends on WHY your butt itches but, chances are, it's something that can wait until the next morning.
2) My benefits: This falls right in line with my hours (see above). I would like to be able to take personal days here and there, as needed. Of course, I would give you advance notice so you could find a temporary replacement (might I suggest your father, who is perfectly capable of filling in for me). Oh, and you are no longer allowed to cry, whine and scream to me "Mommy, I want you...." as I'm running out the door. Guilt trips will no longer be acceptable. I also would appreciate regular 15-minute meal breaks and 5-minute potty breaks for every 2 hours that I work. I think that's very reasonable. Furthermore, I will be taking sick days, as needed. Nothing excessive but if I should come down with a blinding migraine (that, chances are, you all caused...and I say that with all due respect of course), I'd like to know that I won't have the added pressure of having to work that day. Again, your father is a willing and able substitute in my absence (he may not be aware that he's willing and able but, trust me, he is).
Even though this is not a paid position, it would be nice every once in awhile to receive a gift certificate from you for a massage or a mani/pedi (just to show your appreciation of all my hard work).
3) My job responsibilities: While my job responsibilities were never really clearly discussed in detail, I did have an idea of what the position would entail. With that said, as time has gone by, I've taken on so many more responsibilities that have left me feeling overwhelmed. I feel like I'm not able to give my full attention and devotion to other aspects of my job because I just have so much on my plate on a daily basis.
The following is a list of jobs I will no longer be doing:
wiping the butts of those of you who are potty trained
running around like a chicken with my head cut off at meal times fetching "this and that" for you all that I never get a chance to sit down myself and eat
providing constant and never-ending entertainment
cleaning up the toys that you take out but never seem to put away (I'm not buying the whole, "But I don't know how to put it away" excuse anymore)
no longer responsible for scissor mishaps....you cut your own hair, it's your problem; oh, and no longer protecting any of you from chopping off your own fingers....one less finger means less nose-picking, which you already know annoys the hell out of me
breaking up fights 24 hours a day (one can only say "use your words" and "we don't hit" so many times a day before she is deemed legally insane)
warming your milk twice a day in the microwave (man-up already....from what I know, cold milk has never killed anyone)
fighting with you all to brush your teeth twice a day (if your teeth rot and fall out, you'll just have to drink all your food through a straw).
4) My right to privacy: Now this is something I feel very strongly about and I feel that it's gone on for way too long. I am now requiring total and complete privacy when I'm in the bathroom (that includes going potty, taking a shower, getting dressed, etc). The harrassment that I'm subjected to on a daily basis is just inappropriate and downright rude. No employee should ever have to sit there while the bosses ogle her and scream out, "Look at her boobies", while each of you take turns trying to grab said boobies. Last time I checked I was no longer required to fulfill the job responsibility of breast feeding.
From now on, you are no longer allowed to enter the bathroom when I'm in it (including sticking your hands under the door and yelling, "how many fingers can you see now?" over and over until I scream "leave me alone please", banging on the door repeatedly with the hopes that I will eventually cave and let you in, and beating each other up outside the door with the expectation that I will be able to hold my pee long enough to break up the fight).
Lastly, I would like to thank you for the wonderful learning opportunity you have provided me with. While I'm sometimes guilty of making mistakes and not performing tasks to the best of my abilities, I appreciate that you all have continued to encourage me with your never-ending smiles, hugs and kisses.
Someday, I hope to be promoted to the coveted position of "grandmother".
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Dreaming
I have a dream.....
I love that statement and that sentiment...
I have many a thing to follow that statement...What is it for today..
I have a dream-that by the end of business today (i.e. bedtime) today my children will have helped me clean and tidy our home so that in exhaustion we can go to bed with a clean home.(we are 'stuck' home anyway as Jacob has the van till I registar the Jeep-carseats are with him)
I have a dream-that my children will show great love to one another (I know this depends alot on me, am I around to help them , do I model correct behavior, etc...)
I have a dream-that we will be able to learn a little today, about the Lord (liliana is wanting to know everything about the Second Coming-She has testified to me that He will come again! and just wants me to prepare her-and wonders outloud if there is some where to live with a strong house (that the earthquakes cant crumble), where the stars will not fall from heaven and where the moon will keep shining)...I have a dream that I can help her become strong enough on the inside that houses and stars falling around her will not scare her.
I love my children. Those are my dreams for us today, among many others....
ps...Member that desire for a 'Maid'...well, she is coming tonight !!!!!It is nothing fancy or official, just someone who wanted to make a little extra money (and I only had a little to give)...but I am grateful and cant wait to see my new clean bathrooms
I love that statement and that sentiment...
I have many a thing to follow that statement...What is it for today..
I have a dream-that by the end of business today (i.e. bedtime) today my children will have helped me clean and tidy our home so that in exhaustion we can go to bed with a clean home.(we are 'stuck' home anyway as Jacob has the van till I registar the Jeep-carseats are with him)
I have a dream-that my children will show great love to one another (I know this depends alot on me, am I around to help them , do I model correct behavior, etc...)
I have a dream-that we will be able to learn a little today, about the Lord (liliana is wanting to know everything about the Second Coming-She has testified to me that He will come again! and just wants me to prepare her-and wonders outloud if there is some where to live with a strong house (that the earthquakes cant crumble), where the stars will not fall from heaven and where the moon will keep shining)...I have a dream that I can help her become strong enough on the inside that houses and stars falling around her will not scare her.
I love my children. Those are my dreams for us today, among many others....
ps...Member that desire for a 'Maid'...well, she is coming tonight !!!!!It is nothing fancy or official, just someone who wanted to make a little extra money (and I only had a little to give)...but I am grateful and cant wait to see my new clean bathrooms
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Maid
O, the joys of single parenthood. I keep trying to think on what would make my life easier and i come up with the same answers every time.
In lieu of Jacob not being around what i need is a maid, a cook, and a nanny. Now if I could only pick one I would opt for the maid.
I can accomplish wonders when my home is clean and organized but if that is in disarray everything falls apart. With Jacob working 7 days at a time in a row until a day off I just can only minimally keep up. You know bare minimum done each day. What I need is someone to take the kids/cooking off of my hands and I can get everything cleaned up (be the maid) and then resume being the nanny and cook as well.
I have to say I am thankful that my 7 week old now goes to bed when her sisters do, which frees up my evening to clean but I usually can only accomplish so much due to being so tired. I know I am not the only one who has had to do such things, nor will I be the last. I am not even the one who has it the worst but this is hard....
hmmmm...I wonder how much a maid cost????
In lieu of Jacob not being around what i need is a maid, a cook, and a nanny. Now if I could only pick one I would opt for the maid.
I can accomplish wonders when my home is clean and organized but if that is in disarray everything falls apart. With Jacob working 7 days at a time in a row until a day off I just can only minimally keep up. You know bare minimum done each day. What I need is someone to take the kids/cooking off of my hands and I can get everything cleaned up (be the maid) and then resume being the nanny and cook as well.
I have to say I am thankful that my 7 week old now goes to bed when her sisters do, which frees up my evening to clean but I usually can only accomplish so much due to being so tired. I know I am not the only one who has had to do such things, nor will I be the last. I am not even the one who has it the worst but this is hard....
hmmmm...I wonder how much a maid cost????
Friday, September 18, 2009
Grace
A Belief-
I was recently reading on someone else's blog that I do not know and looking at their recipes. I get some of my new favorites from others great blogs. Anyway. She spoke about keeping the sabbath day holy and what that exactly means to her. What caught my eye was that she started the conversation of by saying, in the end it didn't matter as we are 'under grace'. If I remember correctly (from pre-church days) this basically means. Do the best you can but in the end we are all saved by God's grace due to His sacrificing Jesus regardless of our choices. So she went on to talk about the sabbath but my mind stayed fixed on that comment. It came back to me this morning as I was reading my scriptures. I am currently reading about the prophet Abinadi in the Book of Mormon. He is told to go tell a people that they are making wrong and bad choices (essentially) and these choices are helping to lead others astray. He also specifically blames the leaders (in the case the king) as they are supposed to be leading the people in righteousness not wickedness. These leaders and priests do not want anyone saying there is something wrong with what they are doing and would silence abinadi (and do by burning him alive). I was thinking that the modern day concept and comment of being saved by grace may be similar. It can be used to 'silence' another. In theory the concept sounds great. I love the idea that 'all things will just be worked out (incidentally-this usually means for my good) after this life. I don't propose to know all that is going to happen after this life. I just know there is MORE life.I know my Father's firstborn was sacraficed to satisfy a law, an eternal law, that would not have allowed me to live with my Father again (but not just that, without that sacrifice the plan would no longer work, there would have been no point to this whole existence)
You know I went to a college where nothing was ever really wrong. The Quaker belief of the school was that whatever your inner light told you was right, was right, even if others were in disagreeance. Now on the outside I believe this idea (I mean, I make decisions based on promptings of the Holy Ghost-so I get this concept) but my school was so liberal due to there not being any boundaries on this. Afterall, how do you 'argue or disagree' with another when they say, "but I feel like I should do X, it just FEELS right"
I feel like there really isn't as much 'gray' area as we like to believe. Things really are black and white. The more our focus is lined up with the Lord's the more black and white we see as well. In the end all things, EVERYTHING is spiritual unto the Lord. I am not in charge of defining what is black and what is white but the scriptures do guide us. Speaking of the Sabbath, here is one of my favorites...
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy"
Well it is a commandment. I just love that word, 'holy'. Doesn't that day just sound so special? Being described as holy. I so look forward to Sundays. Incidentally I have discovered that 'holy' is not synonymous with restful :)....Sunday to me is special because we are being asked to share in something with our Father. He took a day of rest after making us and all that is around us. He was done and was able to look upon all of us and see the beauty of his creation. No wonder hte day is Holy. Those moments after I have a new little baby are holy to me (crazy, but holy). This time around when in labor I thought I would not ,could not make it and then rest came upon me and I spent hours just looking at Jane. There are moments that bring us closer to our Creator. Having children is one of them. Although that is not one we all experience here, we can all experience keeping the Sabbath day holy and feel closer to Him. "Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work...For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that in t hem is;wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it"
How thankful I am for this day. I hope to instill a love for this day in my children. That they come to look forward to it. That it truly is a day that refreshes them for all the work of the rest of the week. I am so thankful we have opportunities to share in our fathers work as well as resting when He rested.
I was recently reading on someone else's blog that I do not know and looking at their recipes. I get some of my new favorites from others great blogs. Anyway. She spoke about keeping the sabbath day holy and what that exactly means to her. What caught my eye was that she started the conversation of by saying, in the end it didn't matter as we are 'under grace'. If I remember correctly (from pre-church days) this basically means. Do the best you can but in the end we are all saved by God's grace due to His sacrificing Jesus regardless of our choices. So she went on to talk about the sabbath but my mind stayed fixed on that comment. It came back to me this morning as I was reading my scriptures. I am currently reading about the prophet Abinadi in the Book of Mormon. He is told to go tell a people that they are making wrong and bad choices (essentially) and these choices are helping to lead others astray. He also specifically blames the leaders (in the case the king) as they are supposed to be leading the people in righteousness not wickedness. These leaders and priests do not want anyone saying there is something wrong with what they are doing and would silence abinadi (and do by burning him alive). I was thinking that the modern day concept and comment of being saved by grace may be similar. It can be used to 'silence' another. In theory the concept sounds great. I love the idea that 'all things will just be worked out (incidentally-this usually means for my good) after this life. I don't propose to know all that is going to happen after this life. I just know there is MORE life.I know my Father's firstborn was sacraficed to satisfy a law, an eternal law, that would not have allowed me to live with my Father again (but not just that, without that sacrifice the plan would no longer work, there would have been no point to this whole existence)
You know I went to a college where nothing was ever really wrong. The Quaker belief of the school was that whatever your inner light told you was right, was right, even if others were in disagreeance. Now on the outside I believe this idea (I mean, I make decisions based on promptings of the Holy Ghost-so I get this concept) but my school was so liberal due to there not being any boundaries on this. Afterall, how do you 'argue or disagree' with another when they say, "but I feel like I should do X, it just FEELS right"
I feel like there really isn't as much 'gray' area as we like to believe. Things really are black and white. The more our focus is lined up with the Lord's the more black and white we see as well. In the end all things, EVERYTHING is spiritual unto the Lord. I am not in charge of defining what is black and what is white but the scriptures do guide us. Speaking of the Sabbath, here is one of my favorites...
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy"
Well it is a commandment. I just love that word, 'holy'. Doesn't that day just sound so special? Being described as holy. I so look forward to Sundays. Incidentally I have discovered that 'holy' is not synonymous with restful :)....Sunday to me is special because we are being asked to share in something with our Father. He took a day of rest after making us and all that is around us. He was done and was able to look upon all of us and see the beauty of his creation. No wonder hte day is Holy. Those moments after I have a new little baby are holy to me (crazy, but holy). This time around when in labor I thought I would not ,could not make it and then rest came upon me and I spent hours just looking at Jane. There are moments that bring us closer to our Creator. Having children is one of them. Although that is not one we all experience here, we can all experience keeping the Sabbath day holy and feel closer to Him. "Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work...For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that in t hem is;wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it"
How thankful I am for this day. I hope to instill a love for this day in my children. That they come to look forward to it. That it truly is a day that refreshes them for all the work of the rest of the week. I am so thankful we have opportunities to share in our fathers work as well as resting when He rested.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
My broad of girls
I love seeing my children helping one another. Liliana is more than willing to help mattie learn something new (she is our number one Potty training helper(incidentally, she gets a treat along with her sister if potty ends up in the right spot). Right now she is helping mattie learn how to make patterns with blocks and preset pattern cards. Things ALWAYS end up messier with getting mattie to be involved but most of the time she is also more willing to clean.
I am so thankful for this time with my children when they are young and still mine....
Just yesterday I was looking at photos of when Mattie was born and Liliana was holding her. How young Nana looks I could not get over it. She has gotten so big and only wants to get bigger (she is so sad her birthday seems so far away).
I have a favorite blog of another stay at home mom that I wanted to share. I have been meaning to post it for awhile now (along with all the other things I have been meaning to do)
http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/blog/
Enjoy
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