Month: March 2018

On Tuesday we took the kids to the Thanksgiving Point Farm! Clark took all of the pictures and I have none. 🙁

First the kids rode the ponies. That was a big hit. Then they examined the cows, the goats, and were especially impressed by the turkeys. Some of the turkeys had received the presidential pardon. We couldn’t figure out which one(s?).

Then we dropped Mary off at school before heading home and having quiet time.

I think I cooked dinner, but it’s all a blur since I am back-blogging and I can’t really remember the rest of the evening. I think that was the night my mom, Clark, and I sat around and discussed the excellent Atlantic article by Michael Gerson entitled How the Evangelicals Lost Their Way.

I would definitely lump Mormons into that article for a lot of it. 61% of Mormons support Trump. I can’t wrap my mind around the hypocrisy. I literally screamed while reading the article. It was such a good article, but unfortunately I don’t think any of the Evangelicals or Mormons who voted for Trump will read it.

This morning we had a play date with Maddie, who is moving soon. I learned a lot yesterday when I talked to her mom, Amelia, for the first time ever. I casually asked Amelia if I could help with the move–and she said yes! I was honestly shocked and so instructed by her answer.

Normally if someone who I didn’t know asked me if I needed help, I would probably say “No, I’m fine,” even if I could use the help. The fact that Amelia so graciously and humbly said, “Yes! Could  you please watch Maddie tomorrow?” made me rethink my own response to offers of service. I was thrilled that Amelia said yes and allowed me to help out. Babysitting was literally the easiest thing she could have asked for, but it made me feel happy and useful. I think I will always reference this exchange when people offer to help in the future.

Maddie and Mary hit it off.

Meanwhile, Clark and my mom took Soren and Ammon to Cookie Cutters to get haircuts. Ammon was in desperate need.

In the afternoon Clark and my mom took the boys to Qualtrics. Someone asked if Ammon and Soren were twins! That made me so happy.

Meanwhile, because Clark had Ammon, I got to watch the girls at ballet for the first time all year. I didn’t even know the name of their teacher until today, and they’ve been in ballet since September.

Then I brought Clarissa home and finished making corned beef and cabbage for dinner. We were a little late to the St. Patrick’s day dinner theme, but better late than never, right?

On Sunday morning I spent the whole morning planning my lesson and helping the kids get ready for church. Abe was really supportive and let me shut myself in my room for hours to get ready.

Thanks to Abe’s support and God’s grace, the lesson went well. It was on President Nelson’s talk on the Book of Mormon, and I felt my testimony grow while preparing and teaching.

Then I came home and made shepherd’s pie for dinner.

After dinner we ate the rainbow cake that Mary and Ammon made on Saturday.

Abe did Elder’s Quorum visits with Josh, and during their hour and a half long visit, they covered the following topics: the flesh eating bacteria that’s in marijuana coming from Chicago, marijuana from different parts of the country, how to make homemade bombs from coke cans, how to replace metal piercings with rocks so ear lobes don’t swell in the summer, and how some gifted people can talk to rocks. The topics of these visits are, I think, supposed to be sort of spiritual, but Abe found the conversation very amusing. I laughed a lot when he recounted it all upon returning home.

Those sneaky leprechauns visited our house for St. Patrick’s Day! The kids were beside themselves with excitement and declared St. Patrick’s Day was more fun than Christmas. Their favorite part was the green pee and poop in the potty. Ammon literally ran back and forth to the potty gleefully shrieking “That’s gross!” probably twenty times. It was hilarious.

Then Lydia ran to Eli’s house to go to a birthday party before returning home and heading straight to Shen Yun. We dropped off my mom, Lydia, and Mary at the show to meet up with Suzanne. It was my mom’s birthday present to Lydia, and it sounded amazing.

While they were at the show, Abe, Ammon, Clarissa and I went to the zoo. It was cold at the zoo and I was in sandals, so I stayed at the gift shop with Clarissa while Abe took Ammon to see the lions.

Then we picked up the girls and my mom and headed home.

We let the kids stay up late to greet Clark and Soren when they arrived from Pittsburgh. The kids were so excited to see their uncle and cousin.

It was a full and very fun St. Patrick’s Day!

Lydia was a munchkin in her school play, The Wizard of Oz. I enjoyed the play so much on Thursday that we went again on Friday and took Eli with us. Abby, Lydia’s favorite babysitter, also came.

I really can’t overstate how enjoyable it was to watch Lydia and all of the other kids in this play. I enjoyed it every bit as much as a Broadway play and felt like I could watch it every night for the rest of the month. The kids were all so delightful!

Earlier in the day it was nice enough to play outside for the first time in a LONG time, so I took Ammon and Clarissa outside after dropping the girls off at school. They enjoyed it.

On Thursday we went to Lydia’s evening performance of The Wizard of Oz.  I literally couldn’t even recognize Lydia when she came on stage. I stared at all of the munchkins until their song was almost done, at which point I turned in desperation to Abe and whispered, “Which one’s Lydia???”

He pointed. Can you figure out which one she is?

Abe had to leave half way through with Clarissa, but Ammon sat on my lap riveted for the whole play. We all LOVED it. I love my little Munchkin!

One of my absolute favorite things about Facebook is my Mom to Mom group. It’s a group of Temple Square returned missionaries who are now moms, and it is an incredible forum. In the group, we all just ask honest questions about anything and everything and give each other honest feedback. As far as I can tell, everyone is very authentic and open, and there is no posturing at all. Even as we are exchanging advice, the tone is one of sharing and not knowing-it-all-because-we-are-perfect.

Another cool thing about this group is that it is very international. Temple Square sisters come from around the world, so when we ask questions, we can get feedback from sisters in Japan, Denmark, and Brazil, as well as from around the country. Did I say I love it? I love it.

Anyway, when my mastitis was killing me, I messaged my group and asked for help. I got LOTS of great advice, but one surprising piece of advice came from a Ukrainian sister. She said she always eats fresh pineapple throughout the day for several days and that helps. Then a sister from Japan chipped in and said, “I do this too!”

I figure if both Ukraine and Japan suggest it, they must be on to something.

So: Pineapple for mastitis. It works!

Also, Swathi, my amazing SIL who is also a doctor, researched mastitis on her doctor forums and sent me not only her sympathy (which I LOVE), but also a bottle of sunflower lecithin. I love it.

Mastitis, I hate you and I fear you. You make me want to use formula. You are scary! BUT thanks to the amazing sisters in my life, I will survive you!!!!

Lydia’s birthday party was a success! She invited the other first grade girls in her class over for donuts and Disney on Ice.

There are only four other first grade girls in her class, and since only three could come, they all fit in the van with Abe, my mom, and Mary.

We were a little worried that Ammon wouldn’t have the attention span necessary for Disney on Ice, but it turns out he was riveted. Abe even put cotton candy in front of him and he completely, uncharacteristically ignored it.

I stayed home with Clarissa and had a peaceful couple hours while everyone was at Disney on Ice.

It was a lovely day, and we were thrilled to celebrate the beautiful girl who is our Lydia!

 

Today Lydia turned SEVEN. Can you believe it? I can’t! It seems like just yesterday I was lying in bed staring at the picture of the baby on our bassinet wondering what Lydia would look like when she was born.

Now it’s seven FAST years later, and Lydia is so happy–all the time! She runs around the house singing, shouting, and stomping for joy. Every day at school is a “GREAT!” day, and she loves everyone and everything in her life. She expresses enthusiasm for everything from simple pleasures (such as buying school lunches, learning new German words, and attempting the splits) to celebrations (she recently declared St. Patrick’s Day as her favorite holiday) to people (I can’t think of a person Lydia doesn’t actively love). In her free time, Lydia can most often be found drawing, coloring, and writing love notes to family members and friends. She loves cuddles and hugs, and she is one of the most reliably affectionate people on the planet.

Lydia is an exceptional friend and always kind to everyone (except for, occasionally, Mary…). She has also earned our trust by having never told us a lie, ever. In seven years, Lydia has managed to literally tell the truth consistently in every life circumstance, and Abe and I rely unquestioningly on her word.

Also, Lydia is forgiving. I have done a LOT of learning on her, and she has been the most patient, forgiving, loving child. She still loves me, even after all of the mistakes I’ve made.

I always tell Lydia that I have wanted a daughter Lydia since I was old enough to think. She is my happiest imaginings incarnate–my dream come true. I love her and am so grateful she is my daughter!

I wish I had been feeling better on her birthday because I would have taken more pictures. I spent most of my energy making her two birthday cakes, one for breakfast and one for after dinner. My mastitis was killing me and it was a battle to prepare and celebrate for this special day. At the end of the day what I most want is for Lydia to know she is loved for who she is, right now in this moment.

Her little seven-year-old heartbeat is so cherished. I love you, Lydia. Happy birthday, sweet girl!

I lay in bed all day dying from mastitis and viruses and all the germs.

Abe and my mom were heroes and did everything while I lay around doing nothing.

Abe and Mary did have an amusing argument at dinner, which I shall transcribe:

Abe: Mary, you are not in charge, I am charge!

Mary: Yes, but I am in charge of this argument! This is my food that we are arguing about so this is my argument and I am in charge of it!

Abe: Mary, it is not your food. It is my food. Who bought the food?

Mary: You did.

Abe: Who made the food?

Mary: You did. (Actually, most of the food was made by Chelsea, who generously made us dinner, but the food in question was soup microwaved by Abe.)

Abe: Who gave you the food?

Mary: You did.

Abe: It’s not your food, Mary. It’s my food, and I’m just trying to help you be healthy.

Mary: You’re just trying to be bossy.

Abe: No I’m trying to help you be healthy and if you don’t want dessert (pineapple–we are trying to eliminate sugar )that’s fine, you don’t have to eat your food. I’m not arguing with you anymore.

Mary: HUMPH!

Mary is the only person I know who actually, truly “humphs.” I had never heard a “humph” until I met five-year-old Mary. She accompanies her “humph” with a toss of her hair and an indignant lift of her chin. It’s astonishing.

It’s the eve of Lydia’s birthday. We have discovered that birthdays are hard on the sister not having a birthday. When Abe tried to get Mary to do her homework this afternoon, she screamed, “ALL YOU CARE ABOUT IS LYDIA’S BIRTHDAY!!!” Sigh. Hopefully we all survive tomorrow.