Hopper the Bird

Every day is an adventure when you are a kid. There are so many things out there in that wide open world. There are potato bugs and worms and grasshoppers... and there are also birds!

The day before yesterday I was in my kitchen and I heard a bunch of birds making a huge fuss; they were making all kinds of noise and kept swooping to the ground. I went outside to see what it was about, but didn't find anything. About 15 minutes later Reagan came inside and told me there was a baby bird in our yard. From what I figure, this bird fell out of its nest a bit too early.

The kids watched over it and fed it potato bugs and worms and water. They made a little nest and a little shelter for this bird. They decided to name the little guy "Hopper" because that is how he got around.

I had to work that night and I just hoped and prayed that the bird would make it through the night. I figured I would have a talk with the kids the next day about calling animal control to come and pick up the bird so it could get proper care.

Well, it made it through the night and it was doing quite well. Until... until I took a nap and found Oakley outside alone with the bird. I am not sure what happened, but after her little visit with the bird, it died. It was devestating for Reagan. I told her he just missed his Mommy and died of a broken heart. So sad.

We had a good day with Hopper though and at the funeral after I buried that cute little bird, Reagan said, "Hopper, you were a good little bird and I will never forget you." And then she sobbed. Life's lessons can sometimes be harsh.

I am so grateful for a little girl with such a tender heart. She is so nurturing and kind!

Oakley's Hoard

So, my littlest girl loves hoarding things around the house. All kinds of random things... toys, clothes, paper; you name it, she hides it. She has had a "special hiding place" under the crib for quite some time now. I know if I can't find something to look under the baby's crib first.

Well, about 6 weeks ago (or so) Oakley decided to hide my makeup. No big deal, right? I'll just look under the crib. Well, she had found a new spot and she would not tell me where she put my make up. I knew she had it because she had decided to paint her face before it all went missing.

So, I haven't worn make up for the length of time it has been missing... not even to special events or out on dates, or anything. I wasn't going to buy all new make up when I knew it was somewhere in the house.

Today, a beautiful thing happened. Oakley was in my bedroom and she had just applied mascara all around her eyes... so I knew the make up was somewhere near. I asked her to show me where she had it and she finally caved! The funny thing is she had put it right next to my slippers under my bed. If only I had looked by my slippers I would have seen it! I also found some missing jewelry under there. Now I know two of her spots, I hope there is not a third! But at least I can start wearing make up again... Mike won't be too happy, but I will!

Glitter Galore

So I had a great time cleaning out my garage on Wednesday.  I pulled stuff out, moved things around and swept the entire garage.  I was pretty satisfied with the results and decided to call it a day (I had to work that evening).  I went to work and my allergies started acting up.  I was sneezing all over the place and my eyes were on fire!!!

I was exhausted Thursday, being as I had worked all night long the night before (and my allergies always wipe me out anyway).  I stayed in the living room with the kids, but to my dismay, I fell asleep after I laid the baby down for a nap.  I was watching Hook with the kids.  

Well, my dear, sweet Dakota decided to make me something special "because she loves me".  When I woke up I found glitter everywhere.  Glitter all over in the basement bathroom.  She dumped most of the contents from 4 containers of glitter.  There was a HUGE pile of glitter on the floor; it was all over the sink and on the rugs.  Lucky for me the glitter managed to get tracked to the upstairs as well.

I thought I had it all cleaned up (as well as glitter will clean up) when I walked into the girls room.  I had no idea we had so much stinkin' glitter in the house.  It was all over the desk and the floor.  By the way, glitter doesn't vacuum off carpet very well.  Though, on the upside, they now have a beautiful sparkling bedroom floor!

And now I am a proud owner of a very beautiful glitter masterpiece made by my sweet little 5-year-old.  Life just doesn't get better than that.  I know i am truly loved.  She spent a lot of time making that for me.  She is ever so thoughtful!

St. George

We had such a great time in St. George. We decided to go there for spring break. We stayed at my grandpa's house and had a blast. The house is stocked with food. There is a pool and hot tub and there is a Wii there too. We just bounced back and forth between the Wii and the pool. We didn't even leave the house.

It was good to be away together, as a family, and just enjoy one another. The weather was PERFECT! It did rain one day, but the kids just stayed inside and played Mario Kart on the Wii. There is a covered patio, so we ate outside every night but one. We even roasted marshmallows over the fire pit and made S'mores.

The only bummer was coming home! We got so used to the weather there! Reagan says she wants to live there.

On the drive there and back we listened to the Fablehaven books on CD. I have read them all, but Mike hasn't had a chance yet... so now I have him hooked as well. For any of you who haven't read that series, I would highly recommend it. It is one that I will read over and over. It was just as enjoyable listening to the CD as it was to read it.

Anyway, it's good to be home. I am just anxious to get back to St. George!

Ice Cream

Hello all! It's been a while. Life has been crazy busy with the new job and all. But we are surviving. I just thought I would add a little entry about my little ones. Saturday morning after I finished working a 12-hour shift I went to sleep. During that time, Mike took care of the kids for me. After he laid Jackson down for a nap, he went to the store to buy some groceries. Mind you, I was sound asleep and was unaware that he had even left.

He turned on a movie and asked the girls to keep it down while he was gone because Mommy and the baby were asleep.

And they were all nice and quiet.

Mike came home after his little shopping excursion only to find the girls sitting on the living room floor eating root beer floats. Mike didn't make those for them... Reagan did! She even cleaned up after herself and everything. We both thought that was so cute. I realized just how grown up she is.

We thought it was cute and wonderful until the next morning, when Reagan and Dakota woke up bright and early on that Sunday morning. They decided to make their own breakfast. And guess what they had... ice cream. Bubble gum ice cream from Leatherby's. We had a little talk after that.

Oh, I love those kids. I love how their little minds work. Why not have ice cream for breakfast? In all actuality, that ice cream is probably more healthy than half of the cereal we buy for the kids anyway ;)

lazer eyes

Okay, so when you go to the fabric store, apparantly there is a certain protocol. Since I have not sewed much in the past, I was completely unaware... until now. The other day I went to the fabric store because I have decided it is high time I actually USE the sewing machine I have. There wasn't a single person at the counter and I thought, "Wow, am I in luck!" Normally there are a ton of ladies waiting to have their fabric cut.

I walked right up to the counter and asked for 2 yards of this and 3 yards of that... and the associate didn't bat an eye and began measuring and cutting. During this process I look around and all of a sudden the women start coming out of the wood works. Again I was amazed at my luck. How did I miss this rush... I AM AWESOME, right?

Then I notice a lady come up to the counter and go to the side and PICK A NUMBER. It was shortly after that the other associate called out a number. Oh, I wanted to crawl and hide. Here was the dilemma; she had already scanned my fabric and was in the process of measuring and cutting it when I realized my mistake. I felt so foolish. I actually felt like quite the jerk. What would you have done though? Should I have told her to stop what she was doing and help the other people? I didn't realize my error until she was about 3/4 the way finished with the process. So I stuck it out.

When I turned around I smiled at a woman standing there. And I am telling you now, I swear she had lazers charging up to zap me dead on the spot. I can't say I blame her. I didn't have my children with me and here she had her 3 little ones who were getting antsy and whiny. So I booked it to the front and went straight for the cashier to pay for it and leave as quickly as possible. I didn't want to get mobbed by a swarm of angry sewing women!

So, the lesson of the story for me is to be more aware at what is going on around me. Believe me, I will NEVER make that mistake again. Now I know... always pick a number first! (And now you know too)

Kisses

Last night was pretty eventful for us. As Reagan was sitting on one couch reading to Mike, Dakota and I were sitting on another couch reading. I was working with Dakota on teaching her how to read... the sparkle in those big brown eyes was indescribable when she caught on to each word. Meanwhile, Reagan finishes reading and then Mike read to Oakley. All the while Jackson is crawling all around us. So I am so wrapped up with reading with Dakota that I am completely unaware of the little miracle happening right before me.

Mike looked at me and said, "Did you see that?" I didn't even know what he was talking about. Apparantly Jackson took eight steps AND I MISSED IT! How could that happen when I was sitting right there? I was excited anyway. And I got thinking... how much my children have grown. Here Reagan is reading to Mike, Dakota is learning to read with me, Oakley knows her letters and sounds, and now my baby is learning to walk. How precious time is. They are growing before my eyes and a lot of times it's like it was last night... right before my eyes and I miss out on it. It was a gentle reminder of how much I want to just enjoy my children.

I am going to enjoy this period of time when they are small and still think I am superwoman and I know anything about everything. When they have this perception that Daddy can fix or build anything. When they say the funniest things and act in the silliest ways. When they call me "fathead" or leave sweet little love notes. Sure it's a busy time and it can be downright stressful; but I am savoring this moment in time for I am beginning to realize how quickly this short time is slipping through my fingers.

I love being a mom... it is the greatest adventure of my life. What a blessing it is to have these darling little people in my life to teach me and love me unconditionally. I have learned so very much from them and I am positive I have much more to learn!

The icing on the cake for me last night was this. After I was contemplating it all I was going through the house preparing for bedtime. I was turning out lights, putting blankets away... and then I went to my shutters and closed them. Lo and behold, there were red kiss marks all over them that I couldn't see until they were closed. I just laughed and wondered who did it. I also wondered when it was done. Kids sure are tricky!