Hoppy Valentines Day!

We made frog valentines in lieu of attending preschool today. Tuesdays are busy for M, and her preschool is very optional {we aren't paying for it, she mainly goes for playtime}. We needed to get these finished up early because I have Valentines of my own to finish this week.

I'm not a fan of gummie candy in general, but these frogs are pretty good.

We also finished up the craft/thank you gift from M's tea party...now we just need to deliver. Notice the reuse of these stickers? Young Womens....M's birthday.....valentines day.

The Conclusion

M's birthday week is now officially over.
Swimming, pizza, braving the big yellow slide (I now owe her $1), ice cream, cookie cutters, a melody harp, playing with "best friends". Our five year old and Bub were in bed by 6:45 pm after all the excitement. That makes a nice evening for Darin and I.....blogging, movie, and left over pizza.

PS We watched King of California. We enjoyed it, any true Costco fan would.

The Birthday continued....

Miriam picked Royal India for her birthday dinner. Darin and I were over the moon about that since we would choose pudina chicken and vegetable coconut kurma over chicken nuggets and fries any day.

Darin started a tradition 5 years ago of bringing flowers to me on our children's birthdays. He had taken flowers to the restaurant early to surprise me, but to his surprise they gave them to Miriam. She was over the moon about getting them, and neither of us wanted to break the news. I slid the card to me out, and I smiled...Darin shrugged. She still thinks they are for her.

Sharing a mango lassi.

To our unbelievable good fortune, our local theater company was performing The Wizard of Oz!

It was incredibly fun. Miriam was enthralled the whole 2 1/2 hours.

Halloween 2006/meeting Dorothy and Toto

Halloween 2007/meeting Galinda, who said they looked like twins


That is one lucky 5 year old.

The Tea Party

Yea, thats pink bread....our local grocery store is awesome {they handed out kazoos on National kazoo day}.

Hope all your wishes come true!

It's Celebrate Miriam and Punxsutawney Phil Day!

Dear Miriam,

FIVE?! Five...really? I have been a mother for FIVE years today? It has been an amazing and exhausting five years. Your Dad and I are blessed Heavenly Father sent us such an wonderful little girl to be our first, our guinea pig child. You are smart, imaginative, and resilient so I have every confidence you can overcome our parenting blunders.

Miriam Love, our "miss" "luvie" "ni ni" "moo" and even "the Divine Miss M" {from Nonnie}. Have I told you the story of your name? It's a lovely story full of love and anticipation. So here we go...

Daddy, your G'ma C, G'pa B and I went to visit the cemetery one Spring Day and I read the name Clara Rebecca on your great great grandmothers grave. I decided when/if I had a baby girl THAT would be her name. Then came you, and you became Clara. My due date was given as January 29 {Alicia's birthday} but I was cautioned that first time mothers often go days if not weeks over due. Hummm...I thought, that wouldn't be fun, but if I do go over into February, the month of LOVE, I will give you the special middle name of Love...after your G'ma C and great great G'ma. Clara Rebecca, or Clara Love depending on when you arrived...that was settled.

When I was in full bloom of pregnancy, daddy and I went to watch a bouldering competition. Yes, your dad and I use to do cool things like boulder....but I digress. There was a very strong, but feminine climber named Miriam from France climbing that day. Your dad turned to me and said that although he had never thought of it before, he liked that name. I thought "Miriam? like Moses's sister Miriam?".... I wasn't so sure. But the name resonated in my head so I went home and read about biblical Miriam, how she watched over her baby brother in the bulrushes, she sang, she protected, she bravely spoke to the Egyptian royalty and smartly suggested her mother as a nursemaid for the baby. It seemed like the perfect example of an older sister, which we hoped you would get to be someday.

So you were born, 4 days late, and we were enchanted. You, my dear, were a beau-tiful baby. When it came time to declare the name we wanted on the birth certificate Dad said "Miriam?" and I said "Miriam". "Love?" he asked, "definitely Love." I answered. You were given a name and a blessing in between General Conference sessions of that year. Elder Robert D. Hales gave a talk in that conference entitled 'With All the Feeling of a Tender Parent: A Message of Hope for Families'. In that talk, he told the story of Miriam watching over Moses and said this: "....at times when our children are away from us, the Lord provides inspired "Miriams" to watch over them.". At five years old, you have already become a special a teacher, leader and protector to Bub. Just remember to let him lead once and awhile, and someday he will be able to protect and teach you as well!

Maybe if there is a baby sister to come we will name her Clara, or Rebecca because I still love those names, but for you....Miriam just fit. So although, you told me just the other day that Miriam is only a good baby name, and you might need to change your name to "Misty" when you grow up, I hope you grow to love your name like we do.

Luvies
Mom and Dad

Super Bowl Sunday XLIII

It shouldn't come as a big surprise to anyone that I didn't watch the big game tonight.
Darin and I usually watch just to see the commercials but these days they are all on line!

I do remember fondly and so vividly watching the Super Bowl XXXVIII.
Five years ago today Darin and I were timing contractions while watching the Patriots beat that Panthers. I was on my hands and knees trying to get through contractions during the after show, and around 3:00 am Monday morning, Miriam was born!

Tonight we celebrated that event by making M's birthday cupcakes.

Who shovels the snow around here?

I do, because Darin is never home till after dark, but I actually enjoy it {except when I fall...true story}. I do my neighbors driveways too.

It's quiet, peaceful and these two help me out.

You mess with the BULL, you get the HORNS

Happy Chinese New Year!!
Our celebration started with a winter storm. Not a storm actually, but a continual soft snowfall all day long. We almost stayed home all day, which would be amazing for me since it drives me crazy to be home for and entire day.

But then, I opened my email to find a Gymboree ad showing their "Birthday Girl" t-shirt was $5 (as well as a pair of jeans). I had to got get it because I completely messed up Miriam's birthday shirt this year. I was going to have to buy a new shirt, new iron numbers, new glitter....everything! This was a much cheaper and easier route.

(last years birthday shirt)

PLUS, we got to go play at the mall foamy play place on such a cold snowy day.

I think these places are a great marketing. Mothers with young children have no where to go on snowy cold days, and if you get them to the mall they are certain to buy something....if not a whole bunch of somethings.

We had the whole place to ourselves and the kids ran themselves ragged.
We then headed to the food court to eat our apples, string cheese and crackers before we all shared a pretzel. A very kind older woman stopped by our table to say that my family was beautiful and that she was impressed with the sack lunch I brought for the kids. It is absolutely amazing how compliments from a stranger can make me so happy. Tears came to my eyes!

We ended the evening enjoying dinner at Cutlers with Grandma C and Grandpa B.
We thought about having Chinese food, in honor of the day, but sandwiches just sounded better.

Bub and the Ladies

Dear Darin and Miriam,

Bub and I miss having you guys around. We have had to keep busy so we don't get lonely!

Last night I made my YW invitations while I watched The Office and then Father of the Bride (with Steve Martin). I know I should have watched Rebecca, but I was too afraid by myself.

This morning we had breakfast with the ladies. We look tired because we slept in till 8:00 (which is amazing) and had to be there by 8:30 am!!

We covered tons of topics from behavior problems to appendectomies, and of course breast feeding came up. We all determined we need to go out more often.
I think I need to get someone with longer arms to take the self portraits.

Bub and I did some shopping and found these BUSTER BROWN shoes for so cheap! So Miriam's school shoes are taken care of. I never want to buy shoes with Hannah Montana, Barbie, Spiderman, or any other character on them but Bub was mezmorized by the Thomas shoes (and remember the fit he threw about the Cars shoes) what is it with little boys and their shoes??

While I was checking email/facebook Bub took some self portraits of his own. That kid is too smart, he never ceases to amaze me!

Bub's napping.
I'll update later.
Say hello to your parents for us!

Luvies!!

It's a comin'

These invitations are why I adore Target , they are scalloped oval cards,, the green polk-a-dots are the envelopes....so charming....so Miriam.

If M's party planning was left completely up to her, we would have an American Girl tea party, with fairies, horses, and dogs, a pinata, dance party, play-dough and lots of crafts, with a Costco sheet cake, home made ice cream, old fashioned lemon aid, cookies "glued together" with icing, and butterfly biscuits.
The invitations have now been completed, so we will go with the original plan

A Tea Party Birthday

There will a craft (but not 3), there will be dancing (but no strobe lights), there will be games (but no pinata), there will be cake and treats (but not a Costco sheet cake).

I think, that as long as there are friends, lots of sugar, and prettily wrapped packages she won't notice.

A Pie

Today wasn't great, I feel bad about that since it is Sunday, and was Stake Conference, but even hearing Elder Oaks speak, and he is hilarious by the way, couldn't help me today.

It's funny, if you look at the following pictures, it would seem like we had a wonderful day, you wouldn't know that I was frustrated with Darin, that Byron cried and whined relentlessly, and that Miriam was sent to bed without stories and cried herself to sleep.
I feel guilty about all of it.

We did do some fun things in between the frustrations and here they are:

Last week we found this book at the library. I wasn't going to get it because, lets be honest, no matter how charming it is, I am not going to make black bird pie. Then, I noticed the recipe for Custard Pie which is Darin's favorite and is so hard to find. Miriam and I made plans to surprise him with a treat.

The book has all the darling illustrations from the series with excerpts from the books when they mention foods they eat or make.

Here she is! Yummy, but not as smooth as I would like it.


Miriam spent some time with my camera. I think these capture those fun moments that you never take pictures of.

Now it's time for bed because this day must end.

"The sun will come out tomorrow, but cha' gotta hang on till tomorrow!"

Divine Nature #1

This is my second go-a-round with the Personal Progress program. The first time, when I was a pre-teen/teenager was a good experience. This second time as a thirty-something is an amazing experience. The first time, I read the scriptures, I thought about them for about 3-5 min and then wrote in my journal. This time around I read the scriptures, had a great conversation about them with my friend Fiona, read a few scriptures over with Darin, had another great conversation with my friend Mirissa, have pondered, felt repentant and humbled.....I am now ready to write in my journal.

Divine Nature
Be partakers of the divine nature....Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue;and to virtue knowledge;And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity
(2 Peter 1:4-7)

I have inherited divine qualities, which I will strive to develop

I am a conflicted woman. I have inherited both divine qualities and some not so divine qualities. I have this prideful, overbearing nature that is in conflict with my peaceful "happiness maker" nature. Swinging in between, is me. I have been raised to have an opinion on things, which is good. I have been raised in a time where everyone, especially women, are encouraged to express that opinion, which is also good. The bad part comes when I feel the need to express these opinions in a prideful or forceful way. The scriptures in 2 Peter, Alma 7, and D&C 121 all talk about being patient, humble, kind, temperate, and virtuous always....ALWAYS. Even when you disagree with someone, even when provoked, even when you are tired or sad.

I can hold my own in an argument, I talk loud and fast and think of sarcastic "zingers" to get my point across, but when this happens I inevitably feel sad and regretful later. It's not in my true nature to act this way, even though I have this HUGE impulse to jump in and fight. I am an emotional, spirited person, which I feel is a blessing, but I can't let those emotions override the empathetic, caring person I also am. No one listens to opinions when they are flung about in anger anyway....at least I don't. The only way ideas can really be shared is with kindness, patience, temperance, humbleness and virtue. So....I will continue striving to develop those divine qualities which I have inherited, and keep my feistiness for things that really matter!

Today.....

was a pretty fun day!

January Means.....

Snowflakes and hearts.

It also means Heather's annual White Elephant cousins party!

Miriam getting her yearly measurement taken and recorded in the phone booth...yes their house really does have a phone booth right off the kitchen. The previous owner needed to take calls when he was home and wanted a sound proof barrier between him and the rest of the family. Good idea.

YANKEE SWAP!!
I almost had this. As the time ran down, I had big plans to send it to Shauna.

We ended up with these...."Christmas fries" which was what M called them (Homer and Bart Simpson ornaments). As you can see she was NOT happy about it, but I don't think she was all that excited about the curling iron case either. Sorry Shauna...we tried!

I actually think we came out on top seeing as I gave my old high school graduation mug. Getting rid of that thing automatically puts me on top!

Scary Stuff

M's friend Finn came by with a cryptic message "someone scary is coming over very soon".
A minute later THIS was at my door....

yes, I would say that is scary, but not as scary as THIS....

I was in the middle of taking down Christmas when THIS guy....

woke up from his nap really early (and wanted to help)!! AHHHH!

GIFT

I have a problem similar to a lot of women I know with young children. My children want my attention 24/7 and if they don't get it they are sad, and if they are sad, I feel like I am not being a good mother (their sadness vocalized also makes me feel like my brain is going to explode).

A few years back I learned an important lesson. No matter how much you give to your children they will want more. You can read 6 books and feel like they should be satisfied...but they won't be. You can play for 3 hours and feel they will be good for the day.....but they won't be. You can let your kids have one cookie and say "enough is as good as a feast" but it isn't. Kids, at least my kids, will take all I can possibly give and ask for more. They are insatiable when it comes to love and attention (and treats).

It's up to me to set the limits of what I can give. Oh, but I want to give SO MUCH. I want them to have the whole world, to experience everything good, to read every great book, see every great thing, and most importantly to BE HAPPY. I want this so bad that their wants are being put above my needs.

One more thing to add to all this is that I preach waaaaaay too much.
This brings us to my WORD FOR THE YEAR.

"....We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same...."

-Nelson Mandela

"Don't tell me you are going to be good....SHOW ME"

-Me, to Miriam on a daily basis

Example sheds a genial ray which men are apt to borrow, so first improve yourself today, and then your friends tomorrow.

-Unknown

I am going to give my family the GIFT of taking a bit of time to achieve my goals.

I am going to exercise everyday while they cry, complain and whine.
I am going to go to that General Conference discussion class I am interested in, and maybe the bread making class too.
I am going to get babysitters more often to be alone with Darin.
I am going to sew something ANYTHING this year.
I am going to get my Personal Progress medallion (for the second time).

because I truly believe that sacrificing some of their time for me is a GIFT to them in return (even if they cry about it). It's the GIFT of a happy confident mother, the GIFT of someone who doesn't base her self esteem on others achievements, the GIFT of a good example rather than just a good sermon. So when they cry, and whine and complain I won't let my exploding head keep me from doing something that is necessary for my self worth. I will give them a hug and whisper "I love you so much I have to do this".