Go Ahead, Make My Day

Almost every morning it's the same thing, only the time is different. Joshua comes sliding down the stairs, one at a time, on his bum. He then runs over to me, sitting at the computer, climbs up on my lap, throws his arms around my neck, then as he pulls away, asks for "Disney channel and a poptart". He is so nice and warm, so cuddly. I just can't imagine my day starting any better.

I Need to Find Me Some Spare Time

I guess Techno isn't this guy's happy music

It's the Little Things

I don't ask for much, I really don't. Throw me a Snickers and a Dr. Pepper every so often and I'm a happy momma. The icing on the cake for me is finding typos in books, magazines, newspapers, that kind of thing. I came across this today: scary hyenas/parties, same difference.

Another little thing that makes my day a little better is Joshua and his love of Blockbusters, or "Bustards".

I figure I can do a little blatant comment whoring, now that Perry has used the term and I won't be accused of corrupting her baby if his mom ever sees this: What little things make your day?

Pathetic, Thy Name Is Jamie

Hmm, maybe if I busy myself with writing the Great American Novel I'll have an excuse to why I missed my one year anniversary of this blog, even though I was going to check that date early in January when another blog I read had their one year anniversary...

It was a long and dreary month. The cold wind whipped through the barren trees, which howled back their protests.

Whew, Great American Novels aren't all they're cracked up to be. Guess I'd better busy myself searching for a Procrastinator's Anonymous online...

The internet is too quick

Hmm, should I pull out the four kids card? Kristine would probably just laugh at me. But then she'd be distracted! Jamie, you're a genius!! But that's only one person.What about the other 2 or 3 out there? I'm a goner. Yep. Bye-bye. I can't procrastinate any more. I'm lame, I admit it. The even sadder thing is that it probably took just as long to get this post written than it would be to reread all of my posts in the past year. Oh well, Happy Anniversary to Me anyway!

My Vacation

Apparently I went on vacation not too long ago. I wish I would've remembered to send post cards to myself to jog my memory of this event, because I have no memory of this vacation. Here's how I found out about this: I was asking Joshua what he wanted for lunch yesterday. I gave him a few choices and he picked something we didn't have, and hadn't had for awhile. I told him we didn't have it, when did he have it? "My robot mommy gave it to me", he replied. "Your robot mommy?" I had to make sure I had this right. "Yes, my robot mommy came and made it for me". I wonder how long I was replaced by the robot mommy. Maybe I went to the beach. That would be nice.

Lovin' on My Kids

It seems that every age is my "favourite". From the sweet little slugs they start out as, to the smiley and personality-emerging cherubs around 6 months, to the talking, walking beings they grow into. I realize these years are probably coming to an end for Caleb in the next 4-5 years, but maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised and love the teenage years, too.

Caleb decided the other day that he wanted his training wheels taken off. Unfortunately, he assumed that he would be able to hop on his bike and pedal off into the sunset. Gravity is such a hard teacher. After about 30 seconds, he fell. Which prompted cries of, "I'll never be able to do this!". After an hour, and a jillion falls later, we've decided to go back to the training wheels, but to raise them up a little so he has a little safety net. He was leaning so far to the left I was surprised he was still on his bike at all. I'm so proud of him, though, for trying and sticking to it for about an hour.

Mischa is turning out to be a mini-me when it comes to reading. I'm so jealous of the time that she has to just pick up book after book. She probably likes the nonfiction books more than fiction.

Joshua has been really whiny lately. I realize this just goes along with the territory for being 4, but he has turned into such a good big brother. Almost too good of a brother. Anneliese was chewing on a strap of her car seat (the part where you pull to tighten it). He was so insistent that it was dangerous and it had to stop. We had to endure 5 minutes of it, but it was nice to see him caring so much about his little sister.

Anneliese has been slow with her talking. Her understanding of words, however, is right up there. If you mention the word "go" in a sentence, she's off to the closet to get her shoes. And if mentioned going, isn't occuring, she'll tell you "go". She gets so excited over things. Bringing Ranch dressing to the table gets me a "Yay Mama!". If she sees food she likes, she points and says, "There it is!". She has a funny little "ooh" face that she pulls out several times a day.

Everyone is in different stages, and I'm loving them all. I miss the little baby stages, but seeing them all grow up is so exciting and fun.

Growing Up

The first Sunday of the new year is always a shock to me, it seems, when it comes to my kids. Last year it was Caleb moving up to CTR 8 and his impending baptism, and Joshua being a Sunbeam. This year, Caleb is now officially in senior Primary; Mischa, a CTR 7, is the highest in junior Primary in our ward (they had to move CTR 8 to senior Primary last year because of the size of junior Primary); and Joshua came home with his first CTR ring- he is now a CTR 5. Anneliese is having a blast in nursery and no longer cries when we leave (I guess she would have to look back to watch us leave to know that we were leaving, lol).

I am sad to leave the study of the Old Testament in Sunday School. We have an awesome teacher that made everything make sense, even some of Isaiah! He did a really neat slideshow on the life of Christ today before the start of the lesson, with him playing appropriate hymns on the piano in the background. Our ward is really blessed by him.

This is a really neat thing that was posted on a board I go to:
www.sugardoodle.net/Prophet/Prophets%20and%20Apostles%20share%20testimonies%20of%20Christ.shtml


I tried prettying it up, but lately inanimate objects have it out for me. Sorry to bring you into my battles, lol.

Joy to the World

One of my callings in Church is Relief Society chorister. I get to pick the music for the lessons. Two of the lessons of the month I know in advance, the other two I usually find out on Saturday, or on Sunday when I see the teacher for that lesson. The 17th of December was one of those Sundays that I knew in advance. I decided at the last minute to check with the teacher to see if the songs I had picked out would be okay. She told me that she had changed the lesson, so it would be okay if I picked out some Christmas songs instead. I asked her if she had a favourite, and she picked Joy to the World. I decided to do it after her lesson. All of my life, this song has been just a Christmas song. After her lesson, though, I've seen it in a new light. Her lesson was on the Second Coming of Christ, and this song fits so well, almost even better than as a Christmas song.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King!
Let ev'ry heart prepare him room,
And Saints and angels (heaven and nature) sing, and Saints and angels sing,
And Saints, and Saints and angels sing.

Rejoice! Rejoice when Jesus reigns,
And Saints, their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more will sin and sorrow grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He'll come and make the blessings flow
Far as the curse was found, far as the curse was found,
Far as, far as, the curse was found.

Rejoice! Rejoice in the Most High,
While Israel spreads abroad
Like stars that glitter in the sky,
And ever worship God, and ever worship God,
And ever, and ever, worship God.

Yearly Update

I decided I had better do something with my hands, or I was going to be snacking on chicken wontons all night long. I am still behind a couple of ideas for posts, but I can't guarantee full attention on my writing, since I'm home with the baby while Perry is out getting my present (hopefully he can find it, lol), so I'll have to do something that won't suffer from getting up every 2 minutes.


***For some odd reason, I can't upload our family picture, even though Perry was able to. I have tried every way imaginable to get it and am left with this as the only option: this

2006 for the Perry John Family

Caleb- Caleb turned 8 this year and was baptized. He also started Cub Scouts, which he really likes. He's excited for his first pine wood derby next month (Perry's bugging me for some power tools for that one). School is going pretty good. He's in the gifted class once a week. He hates finishing the worksheets in class, though. I can tell he's going to be one of those "aces the tests but are still failing the class because he won't do the homework" types. He loves video games and all things Star Wars. He tries to be a big helper most of the time, even if he isn't very appreciated all of the time by his youngest sibiling.

Mischa- Mischa turned 6 and is the biggest reader. If it's a book, she's reading it (we caught her reading about diaper rash in my What to Expect the First Year book). She is in the gifted class, too, and is a "perfect" student, according to her teacher. She loves being cute and tries to be her best always.

Joshua- Our 4-year-old clown. He is just so fun to be around. He loves to count things. He's also really into video games and Star Wars, too (I think his brother is responsible for that). He's a real love bug, and I always get a quick cuddle first thing in the morning before his "pop-tarts and Disney channel please".

Anneliese- Well on her way to turning 2 in March, she's had quite the year. She loves being a helper. And she is a HUGE cuddle bug. Not as much as last year, since she has things to do now, but I think she'd rather be held most of the time. She isnt' talking too much, so we're teaching her a little sign language here and there. She's up to 9 teeth and 20 lbs. She's eating a lot better now (she wouldn't do textures until 18 months old). She loves chocolate and strawberry milk. She likes to imitate her brothers and sister. Josh Josh is her favourite right now. She loves it when she wakes up before him and gets to climb into bed with him to wake him up.

Me- Busy as ever. Both Cub Scouts and Brownies are going well. Room parent and PTA stuff is going well. I'm babysitting after school for the neighbours on both sides of us. It's been kind of crazy for me, and I'm really missing "me" time to unwind. I think when Anneliese starts playing more by herself and doesn't want up on my lap everytime I sit down, it'll get better. I'm enjoying living close to my dad and the opportunity we have for the kids to know their "Oompah" better. I'm enjoying my sewing lessons, too.

Perry- Working hard, traveling a lot. Losing weight like crazy (totally jealous about that one). He's teaching the 17-18 year-old Sunday School class at church. I won't say much more and make him blog about it.

Overall, it's been a good year. Some things I wouldn't want to go through again, some things I'm sad won't happen again, some things to look forward to. Now bring on those wontons!

The Most Awesome Husband in the World

To say things have been crazy around here lately would be an understatement. A lot has fallen by the wayside as I get things done by their deadlines. Housework would be one of those things. On his day off yesterday, while I was getting things finalized for the class party that afternoon, Perry worked his butt off cleaning. I had more than a twinge of guilt when Michaela walked into the house after school and said, "Wow, it's clean in here!". Thank you so much for your hard work, honey.

An Eye for Detail

Michaela coloured this Christmas tree last night. The very top of the tree is light green because the star was glowing onto the tree.

Life Is Too Busy

I've been wanting to blog since Sunday, but everything has been coming at me fast and furious. I was hoping for a slow down, but there are cookies that need to be baked on Thursday, which hopefully will all be delivered by Friday or Saturday. I had a class party today and a Cub Scout party tomorrow, so I'm dead. I just thought I'd share the little funny that Joshua told us at dinner.

"Remember, mommy, don't eat the spicy round hot dogs."
"Okay, Josh. Why not?"
"Because the wind comes."
I don't think I want to know where this wind comes from, do you?
Ah, the mind of a four year-old.

For My Sister

I would probably post more if you commented more, lol! And you need to start a blog or you suck. Plus, you get to share cute pictures of your kids.

Or..........

You get to embarass your sister with her 7th grade picture. Love ya!!

Rudolph's Nose Isn't the Only Red Thing This Time of Year

Silent night,
Holy night.
All is calm,
All is bright.
Round yon virgin,
Mother and child...

"Mom," a little voice in the back of the car pipes up, "what's a virgin?".
"This one's yours, " my ever so helpful husband tells me. Thanks. Thanks a lot. As I mull over how to explain to my 6 year old daughter this little Christmas lesson that wasn't exactly in my holiday to do list for this year, we see something out the window and mama gets a pass. Until last night.
I had seen pictures of a show on the National Geographic Channel called In the Womb, about animal development. Once we sat down and watched it, even I, a pre-vet student, learned some really cool things. But the fun of how we discovered it was on. I was flipping through the channels, trying to find a Christmas special for the kids. Michaela was the main driving force on this, so she was watching the screen intently. We pass a shot of white squiggly things swimming. I instantly recognize the little guys and keep flipping, making a mental note to come back after the Amazing Race and watch the show. "No, no, mommy, go back to the white things. I want to watch that!". I flip back, and have to do a little sperm and egg talk real quick. I am spared the embarrassment of explaining how the sperm gets there, however, as the show does a little "flashback" of that very thing with Golden Retrievers. The act itself was very brief, but in dogs, the male is "tied" to the female from 5 to 20 minutes. Fortunately, seeing two dogs standing end to end was too funny for Mischa to ask further questions. My nightmare was that she was going to go to school and share her new found knowledge with everyone. I'm sure that would be a phone call that was just as awkward to make as to receive, lol.

Really Neat Website

For the most beautiful pictures of snowflakes, check out Dr. Kenneth Libbrecht's website. Better Homes and Gardens has a bunch of ideas for using his pictures- either printed out onto cards, or onto sticker paper to stick onto your presents. Chances are you'll see his photography this Christmas in your mail- four of his designs were chosen by the Post Office for their holiday stamps.

Third Times a Charm

I went to bed Saturday night with the thoughts of hot dogs going through my head. Thought I would share my yummiest hot dog recipe ( broiled Ball Park franks on a toasted buttered bun, topped with melted sharp cheddar cheese and sour cream), how I absolutely can't stand boiled hot dogs but how, when I was younger, would eat uncooked Oscar Meyer hot dogs (the texture finally did me in), and how I can practically eat a whole package of hot dogs (including buns) in one sitting if they're done on a campfire.
I never had a chance to post on Sunday, and went to bed Sunday night with a whole different post in my head. It's too much to get into right now, since I don't have time to do it justice.
Leave it to Caleb (who lost his 3rd tooth last night) and Mischa, though, to give me something. We were finally (their impatience, not mine) getting around to putting ornaments on the tree. Anneliese was starting to get into it, too. She would get mad when the other kids would take her ornaments away from her to hang on the tree. Anyway, Caleb and Mischa were having a great planning session how they were going to be missionaries and go up to the North Pole and teach Santa the Gospel. I hope they remember their parkas, lol!

Opposite Day (Cuz I Got Nuthin')

Today and yesterday were all grey and yucky. I went out to the bus stop yesterday afternoon and got rained on. It was raining this morning, too. I'm glad I took this picture to remind me how pretty the day can be. I don't know if it's the weather, or what, but I've been a little down lately. Even the nonstop Christmas carols on the radio have been able to get me in the spirit of the season. We're putting our tree up tonight (we'll probably do the ornaments tomorrow, but a bare tree with lights is one of the prettiest things). This ought to be a fun Christmas this year, though, since this is really the first Christmas that Anneliese will be able to get some of the things going on. Caleb has now declared it the best Christmas ever. All based on a half put together tree. Glad to see there aren't any high expectations for decorations around here, lol!

Bad Mama Moments

Poor little Liese. She has been such a pill lately. Wanting up, wanting down, all that fun stuff. She wants to nurse, I let her, she then decides to switch sides, kick her legs while I'm trying to type, or falls asleep and starts biting down (which causes me to pry her mouth open really quick, thereby waking her up and starting the whole thing over again). Perry discovered the answer to the mystery of why she was such a grump- in addition to the eye tooth that was starting to peek through, and the other eye tooth that might be breaking through in the next few weeks, she was getting two molars coming in. I feel like such a bad mama for being short with her. Poor little baby!

Locks of Love

I have donated my hair twice to Locks of Love. The first time, I came home and Caleb burst into tears. I showed him the website and where mommy's hair was going to go and he thought it was pretty cool. Today my daughter, Michaela, joined me in my donations. She has had the longest, prettiest, blonde hair forever. She got it trimmed once, but that's been it in all of her 6 years. I was going in for to get a few inches off and asked if she wanted to go. She went and thought it was the neatest thing. She got just over 10 inches cut off.

Before


After

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