A Birthday

It was Chad's birthday recently so for a little while we won't be so far apart in age, and it won't look like I'm robbing the cradle as much. We saw something on tv that said the most successful marriages had a five year age gap...with the husband being older. Chad just gave me a big smile and said, "We're in trouble." That made me laugh; he's a wonderful husband and my best friend.

For his birthday Grace drew him a picture, Merritt made him a book about "Dogzilla", and Grant made sure Dad got some candy.
I pre-ordered him a copy of the new President Monson biography, picked up "24" Season 2 at Costco, and found a beautiful picture of the Bountiful Temple. Turns out he almost bought me the same one for Christmas (only there was a problem with the one he wanted to buy)...great minds think alike!

(I know he looks really thrilled...he just hates having his picture taken! "You've stolen my soul!")

Finally, we (meaning Chad and the kids) finished off the evening with ice cream "cake" (I use that term loosely as there was no cake involved). There was an Oreo cookie layer, a mint chocolate chip ice cream layer, a chocolate ice cream layer, then fresh whipped cream and shaved Andes mints.
It looked really yummy and everyone said it was delicious. Merritt said he wanted it for his birthday cake "when he turns 9" so I'll have a slice next year. Good thing I love you baby 4!

A Rant

Have you ever tried not to eat something that everyone around you eats and doesn't think twice about? It can be difficult at times, but not for nothing (double negative) has God granted us agency and power to resist temptation. Take that sugar!! I can say no to ice cream and cake and cookies and syrup and cereal and muffins and on and on, but how can I say no when corporate America is sneaking sugar into "healthy" foods? Do you know how much sugar is in that yogurt you ate this morning? 27 freaking grams...at least! That's almost 6 1/2 teaspoons! Would you put 6 1/2 teaspoons of sugar on your morning bowl of Cheerios? (1 gram of sugar there by the way...most excellent.) Think about it! I bought a bag of dried tart cherries at Costco and was so happy to have found a healthy snack until I read the label the next day (I couldn't figure out why I felt so yucky...I'm careful about what I eat). The ingredients list is as follows: cherries, sugar, sunflower oil. What!? Why does there need to be sugar on my TART cherries?! The only stupid ingredient that should be on that list is CHERRIES! Seriously! The next time you are in the store, pull down a box of something labeled to be healthy or to aid in dieting or whatever...sure it may have only 1 gram of fat but the sugar content will bowl you over. It makes me feel crazy!

I Went To The Store...

with only one kid. Just me and this guy...
It's really amazing how easy it is to keep track of one kid. Plus, I don't think I've ever gone anywhere with just Grant. It was fun to focus all my attention on him. We went to Deseret Book and I bought him a cookie at the Lion House bakery. We chatted while we strolled through Costco and he ate his cookie and got chocolate face. He is a charming companion and we had a great time. It is really nice to have this one on one time with Grant, especially since things will get crazy once baby 4 gets here. Love you Grant!

Once More...For Real

It was Grace's second "first day" of school - this time the real thing. All the kids looked so small lined up and waiting for their teachers. Of course I got the time wrong and we were there 25 minutes early, but that's better then being late I guess. The kindergarten classes are having a color week and today was their RED day. Here's Grace at school in her nifty red shirt that only cost $3. :) What a big girl she is!

New Roomies

We are starting to get things ready for baby's arrival. First step in our plan: move Grant out of the crib and down into Merritt's room. We debated whether we should get Grace a new bed and put Grant in her old toddler bed, but in the end we opted for bunkbeds. Merritt has taken to having a roommate very well, he seems to like the captive audience! Grace now has Merritt's bed in her room, which she likes very much, and she is anxiously awaiting the arrival of her new roommate. She misses Grant.

First Day of School!

For Merritt, it was for real...the 3rd grade and all its attendant excitement. For Grace, it was an introductory-type day. I went with her, the kids played some games, sang a song, read a book and then headed outside for playtime and cookies while the adults stayed with the teacher and went through all the information we'd need to survive kindergarten. (I'd have much rather gone outside and played on the swings but I guess I need to be all grown up or something.) Kindergarten testing takes place the rest of the week, so no class until Monday, but then all things school begin in earnest for Gracie, and my afternoons will get a whole lot quieter. I'm not sure how Grant and I will feel about that.
He is so big! I can't believe how time flies. I love how excited he was for school to start, but how he also had a titch of nerves and so asked me to come with him and wait. We held hands and talked and when we reached his line, he bounded over to say "hi" to friends but always came back for a quick hug and a chat with mom. I love that kid like crazy!! And yes, I cried as I walked back to the car.

This was one excited little girl! Grandma came over and stayed with Grant so that Grace could be my focus while we were at school together. Every time the teacher announced what would be happening next, Grace would turn in her chair and give me the thumbs up sign, or a big smile, or even silently clap for a bit. The teacher made an interesting comment to us as parents, "Kindergarten children are so special. They've only been alive for 5 years, and three of those years they don't really remember, so everything is new and fun for them." It made me think of the joy Grace gets from rocks and flowers and echoes and other everyday things...they are new and exciting to her! I should adopt some of that excitement for the world I live in and stop being so blase about the wonderful things around me. I'm looking forward to all the growth and development this school year will bring to Grace.

And finally...just for fun...
He's adorable!

It's The Small Things

When I lived in Wyoming there was a saying, "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes and it will change." I've heard the same said here. I've come to apply that in my life..."If you don't like how you're feeling, lie down and wait 5 to 30 minutes and it will change." I'll maybe feel better, maybe feel worse, maybe fall asleep, or maybe throw up. It changes though, and change is good. I've come to realize the power of small things: an incremental feeling of wellness throughout the day that culminates in being able to successfully eat dinner, prayers offered in a sweet child's voice that "mommy and the baby" will be blessed and that "mommy wont' barf", being able to do for myself, tomatoes on a salad, a phone call from a friend asking how things are going, cauliflower soup from my mother, the gentle and patient solicitude of my spouse, time to think and read and pray instead of run here and run there, tiny punches and kicks from my womb's latest occupant, and crazy cravings that make me laugh and restore my faith in food. Case in point: I've given myself a $3 to $5 budget at the grocery store to buy something that looks awesome to eat because I've learned that if it looks good and I eat it...it will stay down. Wandering through the produce aisle produced my most recent jackpot this past Saturday. I bought a pineapple and a bag full of brussel sprouts. It's not exactly pickles and ice cream but wow! Yum-O! As I finished my shopping and contemplated my "treat" I had to laugh at myself...I couldn't think of anyone else to whom this would seem appealing, but I was thrilled! See, it's the small things that make life.