Natural Consequences, They Work

This afternoon, I was busy minding my own business folding clothes in my bedroom. Suddenly the silence was shattered by a screech from Alayna. Thinking that Ethan was antogonizing her, I headed down the stairs. My initial opinion was proven incorrect as I heard Ethan say, "Laney where are you?" Hhhhmmmm...what was wrong with Laney?

I soon found out as I rounded the corner of our stairs and headed towards the kitchen. She was a few feet from me covered in lotion, literally from head to heel. Unfortunately for her, the lotion was on the bottom of her feet, so every time she tried to walk or turn, she slipped and lost her balance. She DID NOT like this at all!! Unfortunatley for her, she has a mom who scrapbooks and just had to capture this moment of film.

Also, notice the darling ponytail on top of her head. (You can click on the thumbnail photos to enlarge them.)

What's for Dinner?

Today, after the soccer games and during some down time while Laney ways sleeping, Tyler came to Steve and me, together compiling a grocery list, and said, "What's for dinner?" Dreading the usual dialog that follows my answer to this question: "What, we're having ??? (fill in any meal) for dinner. I DON'T want that." I turned the question back to him. "What do you want?" "I want that thingy that's over the refrigerator." For the life of me, all I could thing of was the Crystal Light up there. Steve figured it out and we were all for Raclette.

My mom introduced my siblings and me to the wonderful world of raclette years ago. (There are even entire cookbooks devoted to raclette.) On one of our early trips back east, my mom served up the delicious "grill your own dinner," and introduced Steve to it too. After that, we asked Santa (aka, my mother) for a raclette of our own. Raclette is traditionally a meal served with boiled potatoes and melted cheese (cooked on lower level and placed on potatoe). On the top level, we usually grill chicken and kielbasa sausage, along with mushrooms, green peppers, and onions to top of the cheesy potatoe. As the grill is heating up we place a pat (or is it pad) of butter and soy sauce to give the meat and veggies some flavor.

HISTORY OF RACLETTE

With the tradition originating in Switzerland, Raclette, the meal, is one of Switzerland's best loved national dishes and is very popular in other parts of Europe such as France and Germany. The most famous and best Raclette cheese is made in the alpine villages in the Swiss Alps which has a very distinct flavour and excellent melting qualities as well as being the main ingredient that makes the dish. Raclette is another way of enjoying simple and delicious cooking incorporating lots of interactivity and of course lots of cheese.

Alayna's Pet Fly

My adorable Alayna has decided that she loves flies. She entertains us as she tries to follow the flies around the house. (Somehow, the flies think they have an open invitation to visit...maybe it's the wide open door, left open by my boys.) And, although flies make no known noises, she always growls when she sees them. It is too funny. I couldn't decide which video I like better as my boys and I laughed so hard at both of them.

Where We Call Home

Okay, family, I am finally posting pictures our house for you to see. It's still a work in progess. I am finally starting to work on our window treatments and am hoping they will turn out perfect, okay, I'd settle for nearly perfect. Anway...Steve and I decided we wanted to try our hand at a Tuscan decor. We love it and are happy to be settled after our crazy year of playing musical houses (we lived in 3 different places, before we moved here in April).

My Darling Trio

Okay, I just realized that I don't have that many pics of my darling trio on here. And since they are the center of my universe, I just couldn't let that stand.

(I know the comments won't match, but I couldn't delete a posting.)

If We Made a Television Debut on the Simpsons

My husband found this hilarious websites that Simponizes http://www.simpsonizeme.com/ you. Now, I have to admit that I have never, not even once, watched The Simpsons. I remember walking into my dorm, during my freshman year of college, and seeing tons of people congregated around the TV. Always full of curiosity (yes, I know it killed the cat), I inched my way forward until I had a good view of the TV. I was extremely disappointed when I saw it was The Simpsons. Why all the fuss? Anyway, here is my family as we would appear if we were citizens of Springfield (how do I know that?):

I Got Tagged By Debbie!

1. What was I doing 10 years ago - September, 1997? I had just moved into a new apartment with a really awesome roommate. So, I am sure we were searching for the perfect decorations. I remember her hanging her Lady of Shalott picture on the wall, and not getting the attraction to the picture...that is until she introduced me to Anne of Green Gables which we would watch every Sunday while eating chips and salsa with cream cheese. I fell in love with Anne, Dianna, Mirilla, Matthew, and Gilbert, and could quote every sentence from the movie.

I was also working as a Proposal Writer for a company that sold library automation software to libraries. I worked on a good team, so I enjoyed my work.

I was also on the process of mooning over a boy that I had dated for 2 years and we had broken up a few months before. Silly me, if only I knew then who the Lord had waiting for me.

2. What was I doing 5 years ago - September, 2002? Boy was I busy. I had two little boys, Tyler 19 months and Ethan 7 months. I am sure I wasn't sleeping through the night because Ethan didn't do that until I weaned him at one year. But, I always LOVE the milestones that come during the first year with my children. So, I am sure that I was enjoying Ethan as he was learning to crawl.

3. What was I doing 1 year ago - September, 2006? I was in the middle of one of the craziest, most stressful years of my life. I had a 3-month old baby girl, Alayna, so--again not sleeping through the night--Steve had started a new job in July, which meant we needed to sell our house, and Tyler had just started Kindergarten. Can I say A LOT OF CHANGE!! I think in the month of September we went through the highs of having an offer on our house, and then the lows of having the offer rescinded. We went through this two more times before we actually sold our house.

4. What was I doing yesterday September 14, 2007? Yesterday started out with our morning school routine, doing our checklist (dressed, teeth, prayers, backpack, and shoes: everything we need to be ready to head out the door to school) performed after breakfast. I drove the boys to school and dropped them off, watched them play on the playground for a few minutes and then drove home. Not home for long, I headed out the door with Laney for my morning exercise. My sister-in-law and I trade babysitting on Fridays, so she brought her two munchkins over at 10 a.m. for 2 hours. At noon, I headed back to the elementary school to pick up my Ethan, then I dashed home to feed all the kids, then dropped them off at my SIL. Aha, time to enjoy the silence. I was able to go to Target all by MYSELF to exchange a shirt I had previously purchased for my daughter. It was so nice not to worry about what was being placed unbeknowst to me in my cart, or Laney trying to practice her surfing stance. Good thing because I was faced with a delima when I went to search for the new shirt. There was only one left, and it was a the next size up that I needed. But, the bigger size actually seemed smaller. I must have vacillated a dozen times before I made a decision.

My dear husband came home from his business trip a day early, yeah; unfortunately, I already had plans to go scrapping with my visiting teacher. So, I rescheduled my sitter for Saturday instead of Friday, so I could go on a date with my husband. I went and scrapped for the rest of the evening. Actually, it wasn't so productive, but I was able to talk with women after being home with no adult company for 4 days. AWESOME!!

5. Snacks I enjoy: anything chocolate and sweet!

6. Things I would do if I suddenly had $100 million dollars: After being resuscitated, I would plan a Mediterranean cruise with my hubby. I would buy a brand new car - my ever practical husband would have no reason to deny me that luxury with that many zeros in our checking account. Then, reason would set in and I would invest and plan for our retirement.

7. Locations I would run away too: any place with perfect 75-80 degree weather, a blue ocean, and a bar to provide pinacoladas (virgin, of course.)

8. Bad habits I have: I love to take my shoes off as soon as I enter the house and find some corner to put them in. I don't know if it's considered a bad habit, but I am way too emotional for my own good. I get misty eyed at everything. My goal is to get through one Sunday without getting misty eyed during Young Women's.

9. Things I like doing: I love spending time with my husband, scrapbooking, reading good books, reading Harry Potter books with Tyler, cuddling with Ethan, playing with Laney, talking and spending time with good friends and family.

10. TV shows I like: I am a reality TV addict: So You Think You can Dance, Survivor, Amazing Race, American Idol, and The Bachelor. I love dramas: Traveler, Brothers and Sisters, Alias (still lamenting that this show is no longer on) House, 24, Lost. I also love the news shows: GMA, Glenn Beck, Nancy Grace, and Showbiz Tonight. I watch way too much TV.

11. Things I don't like doing: I HATE needles, so getting shots (for me or my children) are up there as public enemy number 1, changing other people's children's messy diapers (I do it, but dread it the whole time), cleaning up throw-up, and mailing things from the post office (they should have a drive-up window).

12. Biggest joys of the moment: When I catch my children being nice to each other, working with the Young Women at church, a completed scrapbook page that I love, and talking with my sisters.

Now I am going to tag 4 people to continue this along:

1. Paige
2. Emilie
3. Lindsey
4. Aberjaber

Debbie, thanks for the tag. I am really getting the blog experience. I love it! This was fun to do.

What's Driving This Conversation?

So here is a conversation that took place between Tyler and me on the way home from dropping Ethan off at soccer practice.

Ty: Mom, is it more important for me to learn right from wrong or to learn reading and math?

Me: Well, I think they are both good things to learn in our lives.

Ty: But which one is more important?

Me: They are all good. Learning to choose right from wrong is will help make your life easier and making good choices is what Heavenly Father wants us to do. Reading and math enrich our lives and offer enjoyment to us.

Ty: But which one is better?

Me: (wondering what is driving this conversation) Well, if I had to choose, I would say learning right from wrong.

Ty: Then, when we get home, I think I should watch The Brady Bunch (his favorite show) because it teaches us right from wrong.

Aha, I was trapped (n0t really). I informed him that The Brady Bunch was a repeat and he already knew the lesson from tonight's episode. Luckily for me he buckled down to do his reading and math homework. Too funny. Tyler LOVES tv.

Sweet Dreams, Wake Up Happy, Remember Who Loves You...

Sweet dreams, wake up happy, remember who loves you...Mommy, Daddy, names of siblings is a quip that we have been saying with our children at bedtime for a few years now. (Putting my kids to bed is a special time, getting them to stay there is the hardest thing ever.) At a season in my life, when I am dreading what happens after bedtime, this quip makes me stop to pause for a moment, and to remember what a really special, bonding time this can be with my children. For some reason, bedtime is always the best time to talk about fears, proper behavior, school, church, or any other thing that might be on their minds or ours. Bedtime is also a time to "steal" a few extra hugs now that they are in school and away from me most of the day.

Tyler always ready to play, even in his jammies.

Ethan ready for bed.

I don't know how Alayna could sleep like this, and yet, not sleep through the night.

Remembering

How can today be normal...eating breakfast, the pre-school business of showers, lunches made and backpacks placed on the door, the hugs and kisses of goodbye? How (and luckily so) can my children be so blissfully unaware of what today is: the anniversary of 9/11?

Yes, I admit, I was glued to the news channels for updates on any of the stories that touched my heart from that day. First and foremost, Todd Beamer on United Flight 93, with Jeremy Glick (and his wife Liz and new baby Emmy), Tom Burnett, and Mark Bingham along with the rest of the people on the plane. And, who can forget the images from the World Trade Centers? And the Pentagon?

So, how can we remember these fallen patriots? I would speculate that they would want us to be kinder to each other, to have more patience, to show our love, and to be more faithful.

Why Is It?

Today as I watched my husband drive off in his car with our two boys headed for school, and he on a 5 day business trip, I was struck by how poignant this moment always is for me. When ever this happens, I always watch the car drive off and think, "There is my life in that car. I love (fill in name of the person or people in the car) so much." Why Is It? Does this happen to you?

A Final Farwell to Our Southern Belle

In August, Tyler, Ethan, Alayna, and I went on a trip to the East Coast. We stayed in both Maryland and North Carolina. The purpose of this trip was to say a final farewell to our beloved grandmother who died in November 2006. When she passed away in a Vermont care center, one of the staff said, "We lost our southern belle." I miss her.

Both boys were able to place a shovel full of dirt in the ground. I hope I can pass on to them how special Grandmother was to our family. She has an indelible place in my heart and in my memories.

Every summer as a child, my family would spend a week at Oak Island, North Carolina. Because we were laying my Grandmother's ashes to rest in Kinston, NC, we all decided the best thing would be to revisit Oak Island. The first day there, I tried to innundate my children with memories from my childhood. To my dismay they hardly seemed interested. I realized they had to discover the fun things about the beach for themselves, at their own pace. We had a great time and the boys learned the joys of boogie boarding, walking on the piers, and searching for crabs at night by flashlight.

1st Day of School

The first day of school has come and past. Yeah! Although it was a momentous occassion, Ethan started Kindergarten and Tyler started 1st grade, I am glad to be in the routine that school brings. Both boys catch the school bus at 8:45 a.m. I pick Ethan up at school at noon (if Ethan took the bus he would be on it for 1 hour) and Tyler arrives home on the bus about 3:45 p.m.

So far both boys are loving their classes and teachers. Tyler loves buying lunch at school and has the process down-pat. He also loves to bring lunch in his Spiderman lunchbox. I placed a note in his lunch today, and am curious about his reaction. And Ethan, I can tell the moment he spots me when I am at school to pick him up. He gets a big smile and he starts running full blast until he jumps into my outstretched arms.

As for me and Alayna, it's pretty quiet at our house. She misses the her brothers when they are gone and will go search in their rooms for them. She is very happy to see Ethan at noon. She usually smiles, waves, and says "hi" in her cute little voice. I use my time to play with Alayna, clean, blog, exercise (gotta do something to loose these extra lbs) and to scrapbook.

Soccer Sensations

Soccer has finally started in the valley and both Tyler and Ethan are signed up to play.

Ethan loves soccer. Ethan is such a good sport and really loves playing. The number on his jersey is his mom's favorite number: 3. He is also, always, in the middle of any group. Ethan has no fear about infiltrating a group to get the ball. He also loves to be on the ground. After his first game, I realized that I would have no problem telling his soccer socks apart from Ty's because Ethan's would definitely have stains. Although at his age group there is technically no "score keeping" Ethan made 3 goals. The smile on his face after each one is adorable. To the team is doesn't matter who scores, because they are just excited that someone did so that means they can go and give their coach a high five. It's darling.

Tyler loves the games. Tyler loves participating in the games, but the practices, not so much. Maybe because he is trying to exert his independance, which he gets from his dad, who incidentally is the coach. Tyler wears lucky number 7. He too is a good player and chases the ball. Tyler has learned the strategy of the game and his favorite thing to do is kick the ball out of bonds to stop the other team from scoring.