Conference

Oh how I love this time of year! I love hearing the words of our prophets and leaders. This conference was so wonderful. I can't wait to get my hands on the talks...just so many good ones.

The Switcheroo

In October Mary got her ears pierced (picture below). She asked to get them done. So Nina and I took her to the mall and Mary got really nervous, but she survived the process and came home with darling earrings. (I also pretended to be Nina's mom so I could get her ears re-pierced since they had closed up...I figured Sarah wouldn't mind. But that's another story). Until Christmas we were to clean and twist the earrings three times a day. Then after Christmas she could change them out, but had to make sure to wear them all the time for the following year so the holes wouldn't close up. In anticipation she got some cute earrings in her stocking. However the thought of changing them was too scary and Mary stuck with her original pair. We didn't push it.

As soccer season approached Mary was hesitant about playing. With a little more probing we learned that she was worried about having to take out her earrings for games. We told her we'd cross that bridge when it came time and we tried in little ways to change her mind reassuring her that it would all be okay.

Mary's first soccer game was today. Mary decided we would try and tape her ears, but Aaron and I knew that wouldn't be easy either, so while she was sleeping I snuck into her bed last night and took them out. She woke up. Ate breakfast. And didn't even notice they were missing. I started to tell her that her dad and I decided it would be smart to take them out. She then realized what we had done and felt so ecstatic and relieved.

I knew getting them back in would be a little more difficult and hard to do while she slept, so while Aaron was at Priesthood I talked her through it. She was very scared and refused to let me to do any of it. She felt more comfortable doing it herself. So, we said a few prayers (very sweet), we practiced some breathing, and she twisted and bit her blanket for comfort through the tears. She was scared. After a good 15 minutes she tried and she did it...on the first attempt. She was so happy. But the second earring didn't go so smoothly. After a good half hour of trying everything I could think of I finally told her she had to let me do it. My patience was gone. It became what I like to call, "not my best parenting moment". Reluctantly she gave me the earring and I slipped it right in. It ended up being a very sweet and tender experience on both ends.

So next week she has another game. I am to sneak in to her room again the night before and remove the earrings while she sleeps and she is going to let me put them back in after the game. I am sure the next one will be a lot easier. I just keep reminding her that it didn't hurt, that she is so brave, that the new earrings look beautiful, and that she can do hard and scary things with a little faith and a little trust. And more than anything I remind her that I love her and so does her Heavenly Father and that she can call on Him through His Son for help.

I also learned that I should have either got her ears pierced when she was a baby or I should have just waited until she was older. Lessons learned.

Mary rocked at her soccer game today, by the way. And a happy birthday to our awesome Ben. Love you buddy!

Josh the Great

We are so lucky to have so many amazing babysitters at our fingertips...especially my parents. Tonight I really needed a date night. I needed to get showered and look a little more human-like, a little less slothish. I needed to feel like my feminine self again. The kids got to watch Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and spend some time with their awesome babysitter Josh. Could there be a cuter sight than coming home to Nikki asleep on her cousin's lap? So sweet.

Play Date

We invited Lila and Andrew Higginson over for a play date today. Their ages are such a great match and I was so impressed with how polite the Higginsons are. I started to wonder how many please and thank yous my kiddos use when they aren't home. Maybe a possible family home evening discussion for the future?

Easter Dinner Dreams

I know Easter has come and pass, but I keep thinking about that incredible meal we had on Sunday. I took a picture of my overflowing and partially eaten plate to document it's goodness. So delish!

Jared and my mom made the meats...Cornish game hen and lamb (lamb's my favorite meat). Christine and my mom made potatoes... two different ways (I love potatoes). I made a strawberry salad and carrots with shallots (recipe from Rebecca), Damian made yummy rolls, I made some gross Jell-O. Tanta Henri brought some deviled eggs which I was too full to try, but they looked good. Tiffany made an awesome dessert which I didn't take a picture of unfortunately.

I kept thinking it was so good we could serve it at a restaurant....just as long as it was our only meal and we all made the same items, except the Jell-O. We could have done without that.

Musical Beds

The idea to write this poem came to my mind while I was reading Dr. Seuss to Cameron today. It pretty much sums up our nights lately.

Musical Beds
One by one they make their way
Into our bed where we both lay.

This one's dreams keep him awake.
The other's legs are starting to ache.

That one's cry is for reasons unknown.
A comforting touch quiets the groans.

Up and over.
Scoot and squish.
I'm soon realizing... I just can't fit!

So I head upstairs to an empty bed.
The rhythmic snores have all gone dead.

Then shortly I hear the tip-toeing feet.
The game isn't done, yet I still haven't a seat.

Playing Catch-up and Clean-Up

Today I cleaned the disastrous kitchen from my Easter cooking and Jell-o battle yesterday. Then I tried to straighten up all the toys and Easter basket grass/candies embedded in the carpet. And the rest of my day was spent finishing up some items on my very long to-do list (most of it was church calling related).

Mondays are usually a whirlwind of putting everything back together from the busy and fun-filled weekends. Today took extra long because it marked the end of spring break (just an extended weekend). I was sad to see Mary leave today and it was a little hard for her too. But there is something nice about getting back to the normal routine.

I wasn't even interested in trying to think of something funny for April Fool's Day. I did get a laugh out of what Mary's teacher did to her class. She told them that at the end of the day she was going to give them brownies. They were really excited until she passed out some brown colored paper E's... brown E's. So clever.

Believe it or not, this picture of Cameron is normal---playing around the house with a helmet on. It's a welcomed sight.