Meet My Family

I was sorting through my pictures upstairs, and I totally forgot that Jill is so on top of things and made me a CD of our family pictures. I was so excited! So, I thought that I would introduce you to my family. Thanks, Jill!

Here is a picture of my cute family.


I absolutely love my boys. Aren't they cute? I hope they love me forever.


This is Max. He will be 7 at the end of July and is entering the 2nd grade. He is such a good boy and a big help to me. He is absolutely brilliant -- he won the Kindergarten Spelling Bee, he won a writing contest in 1st grade, and we constantly have to find ways to challenge his brain. He is my child prodigy on the piano. It's exciting to hear him play.




This is Jake. He turned 5 at the end of February. He has always acted older than his age, and I usually forget how young he is. He is going into Kindergarten this year. He is a sports fanatic and was born loving sports. At the age of 1, he had a perfect jump shot. He has an amazing ability of just watching and doing. He can watch a golf tournament, and then go out in the backyard and mimic the moves of the professionals. He is amazing. Jake has the cutest habit of wearing unique outfits. He will change his outfit based on what he is playing. He is the reason why my laundry room is always out of control. He can go from being a football player, to playing a cowboy, to becoming a hunter -- all in the matter of a couple of hours.


This is Devin. He is almost 2 1/2. He just makes me smile. He was born with the cutest curls. His hair has since turned wavy, but he has the coolest hair. He does have a mind of his own and thinks that he is as old as the other two. He also just loves me to hold him. He can melt my heart.


This is Nate. We have been married for 10 years in August. That's crazy! How did I get to be so old? Nate has amazing qualities. He is a little of everything. He is a computer programmer and is absolutely brilliant. He is also an amazing athlete. He flips off the mountain while skiing, he has a great basketball dunk, he is a fabulous football player, a great golf player, and loves to play any and all sports. He is the only boy in his family, so you can imagine how ecstatic he is with our 4 boys. (We have a 4th boy due in October). He loves to read and watch movies. We are really good friends and get along so well.

Why?

Here is my list of "why's" that I just keep thinking about:

1. Why did I refuse the help of a bagger who wanted to help me unload my groceries today at the grocery store?

The consequence of my refusal was the following:

a. I had to hold Devin in my arms because the cart was too full

b. I was steering the cart with my hips because my arms were full

c. My other two boys were desperately trying to help, but they kept turning the cart in the wrong direction from the car, which caused two things to happen: 1) The cart hit the back of Jake's heels and hurt him 2) The milk flew out from the bottom of the cart, hit the road, and started spurting milk.

This could all have been avoided had I accepted the help today.

2. Why do doctors tell you that if you are going to have a miscarriage that there is nothing they can do about it, so you might as well just resume your normal activities?

This just happened to a friend of mine. She went to the doctor because she started bleeding and she is about 16 weeks along. So, he sent her home with the above explanation. Do doctors not understand that women will by nature resume normal activity? Why can't they just tell you to lie down and take it easy for a couple of days?

I know that in my 2 horrible miscarriage incidents last year, that had the hospital told me to lie down and watch for any abnormal activity, that I might not have hemorrhaged on the floor.

3. Why can't parents look in their children's piano notebooks and make sure that they are practicing what they are supposed to practice? Why do they harp on them to practice for 20-30 minutes and don't even know if they are actually doing their lesson? I truly don't understand this. A lot of piano lesson time is spent in practicing what should have been practiced all week! This is extremely frustrating to me.

4. Why did I have a lady's huge $500 mirror sitting in my music room for 3 weeks -- paranoid that one of my piano students, or one of my children, etc. would come in and knock it down? All she wanted me to do was to put mirror hangers and wire on the back of the mirror so that she could hang it up. She brought it over and left. It took me about 10 minutes the next day. She lives around the corner and would never pick it up. Finally she picked it up yesterday with no apology and no offer to even pay for the wire -- not that it was an intense job or anything -- but, why are some people inconsiderate?

5. Why did Devin just color on my couch with a black permanent marker? Probably because Nate assumed that my 6-year-old would watch him while I was at the doctor's office and while he was working downstairs. This one just baffles me. Grateful for all parties involved in this mishap, I was able to get the marker out -- the couch must have good scotch guard, and the couch came with some great cleaners. Can you imagine if I had to make another claim on my furniture!

My list of "why's", I'm sure, will continue to grow everyday. I guess that is what makes life so interesting.

"I Just Want to Play With My Kids"

I went to a Relief Society luncheon today. We sat at the home of our Relief Society president -- a mom with 9 kids -- and talked while all of our kids played. I just find her to be the most fascinating -- yet exhausting-- woman. Her kids are very knowledgeable in the scriptures, they bare their testimonies on Fast Sundays, very kind and helpful kids, very structured household.

Anyway, in the course of our discussion today, she told us that she had decided to home school her 3 grade school children (mind you, she also has 2 or 3 little ones under grade school age) because she just wants time to play with her kids. I was speechless. I know several people who have or who are home schooling their kids for different reasons, but I was just amazed by this woman. Her decision has nothing to do with the schools -- in fact she loves the school and the teachers -- she just wants to spend more time with her children.

I really have not formulated an opinion about her decision, but it has made me wonder how much quality time I am spending with my own children. I've decided that I'm trying and that I'm doing pretty well. So far we have had an OK summer. We haven't yet made it to the public pools or to 7 Peaks, but we have:

1. Played a lot with friends
2. Had a couple of neighborhood parties
3. Been to the park several times
4. Been to numerous baseball games
5. Been golfing
6. Gone to the library
7. Done "mommy and kids school" (that's what my kids call doing school work at home)
8. Done yard work
9. Bought a fun slip & slide
10. Played with cousins and the rest of Nate's family
11. Spent Father's Day in the canyon
12. Practiced a lot of piano
13. We try to go on one "field trip" each day

As she was talking, my mind was doing a few things.
1. I was wondering if she was crazy -- doesn't she need some alone time after all that she has on her plate?
2. I was trying to tell myself, as I've indicated above, that I am a fun mom and that my kids really do like me.
3. My mind was racing with how expensive it could be to home school and to play with your kids all the time.

Well...item number 3 was answered for me as we were leaving. This woman -- a very busy Relief Society President with 9 kids -- was gathering all of her children together so that they could start their 2-hour project. She said that her kids owe her 2-hours of work everyday before they can do fun things. And she's very strict about it. That made me feel a little better. She told me that a lot of her together time with her children was in teaching them how to work and different things like that -- not necessarily expensive field trips that cost money.

So, the coming year will tell. Will she survive with almost no alone time? I don't know. But I've decided that we are all different. I'm one who loves to work hard and to play hard at appropriate times. But I'm also one who enjoys a little alone time from everybody at some point in time everyday.

So...what kind of person are you? Do you need the alone time? Or, do you relish in the company of your children, spouse, etc. and can't get enough?

True Love

Have you ever asked yourself what you would be willing to do for the people that you love?

Nate and I have been talking about this question for several reasons. Nate's aunt recently found out that after 30 years of marriage, her husband has been having an affair for 5 years without her knowing. In this instance, the divorce was inevitable. Of course we don't know everything that went on in those years, but it appears that this husband was finding fault and justifying his actions based on faults.

In contrast, Nate's mother has been caring for his father who is a diabetic for years. She has cared for him through several major operations and major diabetic episodes. She's simply a saint. Her recent act of love is above and beyond the call of duty.

Because of Steve's diabetes, his weight has been fluctuating drastically. He has found in the past that the Jenny Craig program really works well for him. He recently tried to sign up again for this program, but was denied because of his increased health problems. He was so disappointed that he was denied access to the program, that Diane said she would sign up for the program and just give him the food.

It all sounds well and good, but the humiliation starts with the one requirement for the Jenny Craig program -- you have to weigh in weekly. Sadly, Diane's weight -- while being on "normal" food -- is increasing, while Steve's weight is decreasing. Diane is definitely not overweight; but nonetheless, her counselors are baffled with her lack of success and have taken to calling her at home regularly to boost her confidence -- and she must still weigh in weekly. Talk about humiliation!

Of course, this is now the family joke when we see them and we all analyze what Diane's eating because we know the counselors will be calling. But in all seriousness, what a better relationship to be in where you would be willing to suffer humiliation and sacrifice for the one you love rather than the above example where one just dwells on faults and is not willing to sacrifice.

We were just watching the LDS movie "Pride and Prejudice." One of the quotes in that movie says, "Happiness in marriage is just a matter of chance." I don't know about that. I think that happiness takes a lot of work and sacrifice. What do you think?

I won!

As many of you know, I have a very active 2-year-old. In March, I came into the Family Room after finishing getting ready and noticed a black substance all over my new chair and ottoman. Devin had taken the syrup from the breakfast dishes that were not yet cleared and dumped almost an entire bottle of syrup all over the furniture. My furniture is under warranty, so I wasn't really freaking out about it. I called, made a claim, and the upholestry cleaners came out soon after. The next day, after the upholestry had dried, we noticed that the syrup still had not come completely out. So, I called and explained the situation. They said that they would have an appraiser come out within the next 30 days to check it out. Nobody came and nobody called within that time frame. In the meantime, the syrup obviously is imbedded in the furniture. After calling and explaining yet again, they said that my original claim did not include the chair, just the ottoman. Frustration!!!!!!!!!!!! I asked them if I had signed anything that indicated that I approved the claim, I asked why I would only say the ottoman if the chair was the most damaged, I asked why the cleaners cleaned both pieces if the claim only said the ottoman, etc. etc. They said they would get back to me. As of last week and several phone calls, they were still only willing to pay for the ottoman. Meaning, that I was out about $800 for the chair. Earlier this week, I decided to try one more time. I talked to the same person who didn't relent at all, and then I finally just told them that I wanted to make a new claim then. Long story short, I was simply sent to the claims department where they simply said that I couldn't make a new claim because there was a discrepancy with my old claim. She said that someone would call me back the next day. Moral of the story: without any explanation, the same person with whom I have spoken since March called the next day and said that they had made the adjustment to the claim and I now have $1200 worth of store credit at Bassett. I have no idea what changed their mind, but I guess it was just my badgering (is that the right word Jessie & Amie?) that ultimately they were sick of.

Why is it so hard to work with companies -- especially claims adjustors and insurance companies?

I'm sorry that that was a long story, and probably did not make sense, but I feel so relieved and accomplished. (Plus, Nate took the boys golfing, so I have time to write. Yeah!!!)

Am I Deserving?

Amy came over yesterday and absolutely made my day. She not only brought me some scrapbooking magazines, but two absolutely adorable/soft/fuzzy baby blankets in really cute boy colors. I really wanted to cry by such thoughtfulness. Thank you so much, Amy, for being so sweet to me. I don't know if I am deserving of such wonderful friends. I am in awe of how thoughtful so many people are.

Random side note because it happened a couple of hours ago. I was designing some pictures for some friends -- which took about 3 hours. (Frustrating, but necessary for a good design.) Anyway, they brought their kids with them. Their oldest boy is the same age as Max, but about 3 times as big. He could pass for a 4th grader. Anyway, after a couple of hours, Max came inside holding his tooth in his hand. They were playing on the tramp and somehow when they were playing crack the egg, this larger child's knee hit Max's mouth hard enough to knock out a tooth that wasn't even loose. Max didn't seem, too hurt, which is good. I'm just looking at the clock, however, and wondering what the tooth fairy is going to do. We were definitely not prepared for a random tooth loss. Do you think Max will take a check or credit card?

Another random side note -- I have got to find the battery charger for my digital camera, so I can take pictures of all of these funny things that keep happening. Hopefully I will find it soon. I get so jealous of all of your cute pictures that go with your blogs. Cross your fingers that I will find it. I've missed out on documenting the last 3 months of my life. So frustrating.

Music

Yesterday (Sunday), I was given the fabulous opportunity of speaking in church, organizing musical numbers, leading the music, and teaching the Young Women. I definitely felt like people saw a little too much of me yesterday.

My topic for Sacrament meeting was simply, "music". I think that it went well. I incorporated the music that I had chosen for Sacrament meeting and musical numbers and talked about stories relating to these songs, etc. Unfortunately, I chose a lot of songs that really mean a lot to me, which always bring forth a flood emotions, so the tears were inevitable. Have you ever given a talk in church without crying?

Some of the songs that I was talking about were songs that we as a family had sung at funerals -- I Wonder When He Comes Again (sung in Spanish at my Grandpa Willis's funeral), and Oh That I Were an Angel (sung at my Grandpa Barrett's funeral). Believe it or not, but I actually can sing at funerals and other special occassions under the following conditions: I have to totally tune out the speakers before the musical number, I have to look at the clock while singing, those that I'm singing with are absolutely not allowed to touch me or to look at me during the song. Everybody knows my rules by now, so if someone violates these rules, it is serious.

And Renegade girls -- I also had the congregation sing Did You Think to Pray? where it talks about the Balm of Gilead. I was thinking about the book Gilead a lot of the time. :)

How was your Sunday?

Sports -- Forever

Yesterday we spent the evening at Max's coach pitch game and tonight we spent the evening at Jake's t-ball game. We have baseball games four days a week for the next five weeks -- and then soccer starts. Can you imagine what's going to happen in the next few years when I will have four boys playing sports? (oh....make that five. Nate is still a sports freak.) I'm going to be living baseball/soccer/football/golf/basketball.

I really do enjoy watching my boys play, and they enjoy playing. Jake, unfortunately, is too young to play coach pitch, but over-qualified and too big for the t-ball team. What do you do with a five-year-old who is ready to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated? He's really cute with the younger kids and is really good about helping them. He's learning a lot about the purpose of team sports, which is good.

We had a white elephant-style service gift exchange for Enrichment tonight. I won the services of a cake decorator. I am so excited. I'm going to use this service for Max's birthday in July. Sadly, my kids really don't get a decorated cake for their birthdays. I usually do the "make-your-own-cupcake" every year. I just simply don't know how to make birthday cakes, nor do I want to learn. Last year I finally decided to buy a birthday cake for Max's birthday. It was $30!!! I'm not going to do that again. Does anyone else have any hidden talents as a cake decorator, or are you just like me and choose the easy way out with the cupcakes?

Welcome to the 21st century!

One might wonder why I have started a blog. Is it peer-pressure? (I don't think so, otherwise I would have started a long time ago.) Is it the lack of something to do? (Absolutely not. I think that I can keep myself busy for the rest of my life.) All I can say is: Welcome to the 21st century!!! I have several friends who are blog addicts. I think it was Jill who really started this whole blog thing. Embarrassing to admit, but when she emailed and said that she had started a blog, I had no idea what a blog was. I asked Nate who tried not to laugh. Blogs are an industry-standard and have been around for a long time. I'm not one who likes to admit that I'm not technologically savvy. When I was a tech writer, I felt like I understood, or at least could write about anything. It started to occur to me that while, after having kids, I'm still really good at a lot of things, I somehow missed the boat that would totally immerse me in the 21st century.

1. I don't have a cell phone
2. I'm not totally converted to online banking -- I still handwrite a lot of checks
3. I just got a digital camera a few months ago, but still haven't uploaded any of my pictures
4. We just got Tivo a few months ago
5. And like I said -- blog? What's that?

So, I've decided to liberate myself and try something new. We'll see how this works. I've decided that this is good enough for my first post. (What if it doesn't work and I have to write it all again!) So, I'm welcoming myself to the 21st century and hope that while doing this, I'll do some good soul-searching.