On Sunday, I love…

- a bishop who listens carefully to the spirit and isn’t afraid to be bold. he encourages vulnerability and courage and I trust that Heavenly Father has shaped him to be the leader of our ward for this particular time.

- a ward who brings a wide variety of life experience, talents and strengths into one large and close family. especially when family isn’t close, it’s nice to feel that many people would have my back if needed.

- primary kids who are attentive and engaged and who know their songs! as I spent four weeks teaching “choose the right,” today it paid off listening to them sing with strength and conviction. they are so eager to learn and while I know they don’t understand everything they are singing, hearing them sing down the hall at church or in the parking lot makes me believe something is sticking.

- ward choir. our choir gives me the opportunity to associate and build relationships with people who I don’t otherwise come into contact with during my week. they are in different stages of life and our paths don’t often cross, but that one hour a week is so fun as we struggle through new music, work it over and make it into something that brings a spirit none of us can deny. I am grateful for this time to develop a talent that I enjoy and that does not get any of my time otherwise. I am grateful for Denten who handles lunch with the kids each Sunday without complaining so I can fill my cup in this way.

- sunday afternoons. I value my sunday nap, no doubt. but I also value the time spent lounging in the family room together, or in the backyard. sunday is when D has time to put on his mitt and play catch with cooper, or shoot hoops with beckham and senny. sunday is when we hang out the kitchen and catch up and make treats and recharge. we have fhe sunday nights and the kids keep us on track as they know exactly what part they are responsible for.

- the scent of orange blossoms. Oh, heavenly.

- D is home to help with bedtime. need I say more?

Heavenly Father knew what he was doing when He gave us sundays.

the week in bullets.

- had a hot date to see Wicked last night. he surprised me with tickets for christmas and we finally cashed in. fun story, great music. I told him the only thing that would make it better is if it were followed by a hotel room that included no puppies or children.

- fischer proved tough this week as he didn't make a peep when he got his shots. he is also proving a smarty-pants, knowing just how to act for a reward. he's also a puppy and is testing his limits but is learning quickly I mean business. he's got limited time to get his act together before I need to move onto other projects!

- I've decided that if your pregnancy happens to be moving slowly and it feels like you're going to be pregnant forever, just get yourself a puppy. promise you'll forget you're even pregnant for like a whole week. really, a whole week, just gone and if it weren't for looking down occasionally and seeing my protruding belly and the occasional hunger pain reminding me to eat, I would have forgotten completely.

- I accompanied seneca on her desert hike for preschool yesterday. those kids knew the names of every blasted desert plant and cactus on the trail. they also knew what kinds of animals lived in the holes they saw- I learned several new things hanging out with four-year-olds in the desert.

- fischer slept through the night last night. if it takes less than a week for that to happen with my baby, that would be brilliant.

- cooper got in the car after school yesterday and after I asked him how his day was he replied, "well, it was almost delightful." why almost? "because I don't think I did my absolute very best today." what do you mean? apparently they had some sort of standardized test and he had to ask his teacher to repeat two of the questions. I reassured him that didn't mean he wasn't trying his best, unless it was because he wasn't paying attention. I'm glad to know that on every other day he feels satisfied that he's doing his absolute very best.

- I'm sure there are more remarkable things that occurred this week, but my time sitting here is limited. I'll tell you what else a puppy does for you. it makes your productivity and time management skills shoot through the roof. not kidding.

things I have learned today

teaching children not to zoom their bikes around a new puppy is harder than teaching the puppy to go to the bathroom outside.  in fact, wouldn’t it be terrific if potty-training children were as easy as potty-training puppies?!  yes, it would.

fischer likes soccer.  he’s already a pretty good dribbler.

he is a smarty-pants and knows that a treat is possible if he sits, stays and looks at me with his cute little face.  good thing treats are sporadic or I would run out quickly!

eight weeks is long enough to get used to not wearing a collar.  we tried the slip lead today and he did not appreciate that.

adding a puppy to the household is the best method yet I have found to inspire children to keep their shoes and toys picked up. 

throwing a blanket over fischer’s crate makes it more cave-like and eliminates much of his whining. 

I am new at this dog business, but we are learning slowly and having lots of fun!

It is now my pleasure…

… to introduce you to

Sir Fischer Penn Robinson

aka “Fischer”

If you thought I was kidding about this being the year of transitions, I assure you I was not!  Here is the latest, and so far, the cutest.

It all started quite a long time ago when Denten thought our family needed a dog.  I let that thought sit for 10 whole seconds in my head before I pushed it out the other side.  Are you kidding me?  No.  And I several very valid reasons why not. 

I was a little more open to the idea when I thought perhaps we could steal Lewis from my brother.  Lou is a British Lab who was acquired in London and who we all revere quite highly, not only because he saved Boogs, but because he is the calmest, most gentle dog I have ever come across.  I have pics of Coop climbing all over Lou in London when Cooper was just a baby.  He really seemed the ideal family dog and seeing as he was just sitting around being a lazy bump on a log at my parents house, I thought we could persuade the powers that be to let him come live in Arizona.

Tried as I might, I was denied, and therefore Denten was back at square one, because I only agreed to a dog if it was that one.  No, I was not being open-minded.  But, D figured out that if this was the only breed I would consider, he’d find me another one.  And so his research began.  Do you know my husband?  He does his research.  He developed a relationship with Wildwind months and months ago and began corresponding with them about buying a puppy.  He researched which sire and dam he wanted and was very particular.  All through this I still had not agreed, not even a little bit.  After I found out I was pregnant and that he was moving to partner at work, there was no way a dog was entering the picture right now.  I didn’t have an issue with the breeder, or the dog- it was all timing.  This was not good timing.  And so D waited and was patient and kept mentioning it now and then, and then… the right litter was upon us.  The perfect sire and dam were going to mate and if we were ever going to have a puppy, this was the litter we needed.  Oh good grief.  I drug my feet and expressed all the reasons why this was not a good idea- my sanity first and foremost.  But I couldn’t just say no, not when he wanted it so stinkin’ badly.  So I left it to him but made clear how I felt about the situation.  He was smart and dropped it. 

Then I had an epiphany.  I don’t know how or why or what happened really, but one day it just wasn’t so impossible anymore.  It was being considered and I didn’t feel nearly as emotionally opposed as I had before.  So I asked if there were any pups left from the coveted litter, assuming there wouldn’t be.  But D and that long-established relationship got us first pick and we were officially on the list.  I had a few moments of panic the day I had to send in our deposit, knowing this was commitment and was I ready for this??  But the more time passed, the more the anxiety was replaced with calm and eventually excitement.  We have high expectations for this dog.  Friends who heard we were considering a lab thought we were crazy.  They are hyper and out of control, they’d say.  And inside I’d think, “not this one.  British labs are different.”  And I’m right, they are, but he is still a puppy. 

But the first 24 hours haven’t been terrible.  He didn’t love his crate last night, but he’s been much better with it today and we have had complete potty training success.  The family room hasn’t been kept so clean ever as the kids have been threatened with the idea that they’ll lose everything they leave out as a potential chew toy.  It actually hasn’t been a problem, but I like the threat.  I walk laps around the back yard watching him romp around, waiting for him to do his business and praise the little guy like crazy.  The kids are protective and curious and completely in love.  Cooper cried in bed last night because he was just so happy. 

So, so far we like Fischer. 

a sister

I wish I had a picture for you.  I don’t, so close your eyes.  She’s about two, a cute little blond bob with wispy bangs and a round face.  Round glasses sit on her nose above her all-knowing smile.  She has donned a purple swimming suit which you can’t miss because it covers her very round tummy which pokes out prominently.  She was chubby and adorable to look at.  She was a bossy, sassy-pants when she opened her mouth.  She carried a purse with her wherever she went and it inevitably contained a notebook and writing utensil as she was constantly writing notes.  They were usually about how mean her mom was, although she was the only one who could read them.  My dad told us it was not nice to call people fat, or chubby, so he told us we could use the term, “pleasantly plump,” when referring to our youngest sister. 

That was then. 

Today she is still blond, but the hair is longer and her face is thinner.  Her smile is still holds some unknown secrets as she rarely spills her whole heart.  Her chub morphed into strength, both physical and emotional and she has gorgeous curves my body will never know.  Her sense of fashion has stayed with her and is manifested in the zillion pair of shoes she owns and she has deemed entire shelves for the purses she still carries with her wherever she goes.  She can rock a ski parka, a bike jersey, a classy cardi or a hoodie all with ease.  She was independent then and is today.  She is not afraid of work and she has dreams.  She understands that to make them come true, she has to go get them.  She may appear reserved but she loves with her whole heart.  She has left pieces of her heart in several countries as she has served and given to numerous children whose lives are better because of her and her dreams.  She has also loved boys, a decent number of them, and learned about herself through each relationship, I believe.  She is better than she has ever been, more balanced, more practical and perhaps kinder.  She doesn’t judge.  Well, that’s not true.  Let’s say she’s honest.  She’ll usually give it to you straight but she’ll also love you for just being you.  She’s ok with flaws and doesn’t let them define a person.  She is thoughtful and was meant to be an aunt before a mother.  She is the person my husband chose to leave our children to if we happen to leave this earth prematurely.  We have lot of people, so that’s saying something. 

I think she has found her happy.  She has found a little happy in each of her adventures, and I think she’ll continue to do so, but a big piece of her happy has finally slipped into place and I think his heart is as big as hers.  He radiates and together they are going to be unstoppable.  Together they are going to make amazing things happen, assuming she can keep that bossy, sassy-pants girl at bay and stay focused on her dreams, which she has proven is possible.  She is reliable and hilarious.  She is organized and beautiful.  She holds her passport as a dear possession and her nieces and nephews just as close.  She is the loveliest youngest sister a girl could ask for and I hope her happy lasts forever and ever.

content.

I was thinking that nothing remarkable happened today but when I was cleaning my kitchen after dinner I just felt happy.  I smiled and thought, ‘I love my life.’  I have had that same thought several times the past few days.  While all is not perfect, things are in order, I feel at peace.  I am content in my current role and have angels remind me daily how blessed I am to be doing what I’m doing.  I love watching my children create.  I love seeing things click as they work hard at the piano or with their reading or handwriting.  I love seeing them love each other and laugh without any care.  I love that they are each other’s best friends and that they look for each other when they need a playmate.  I love that they give hugs and kisses freely.  I love to hear them sing and watch them dance.  There are several tasks that being a mother entails that I do not love, but they are worth it.  I’m grateful Heavenly Father gave me this responsibility and keeps allowing me to try over and over again to get it right.  I’m also grateful he gave me good subjects to work with- they usually make my job pretty easy.  They have healthy, strong little bodies and happy, bright spirits and I just get to be in their light every day.  I live in a fantastic place and am married to a dream.  I know it’s cliché, but I really do love my life.

project: valentine’s box

killing time before tumbling.  I get to kiss them every day.  Try to not be jealous.

My grandparents came to visit this weekend.  Grandpa kept Beckham occupied and quiet all through sacrament meeting, which was blessing number one.  We enjoyed church and lunch with them and then they played with Seneca and Bex while D and I took Coop to a special fireside to learn about baptism and scouting, which all happens this year!  Love these two and am so glad they had time to spend with us.  Retirement looks good on them!

Sooo many valentines were created today. Soooooooo many. I think we love too many people. I think Beckham wrote his name 30+ times, which is a lot considering he isn't even in school. It was fantastic practice and he is better at ever at forming his letters correctly. I know because I sat next to him for every letter and we didn't allow any lazy letters! Seneca's valentine hearts are decked out with all sorts of patterns, designs and stickers. She is very meticulous. Coop is giving bouncy balls away with his sports-themed cards and had each organized by ball type and color. I like projects where my kids take the lead. Followed by a bike ride in this delightful 80-degrees and a new shrimp curry dish... a lovely friday afternoon.

do your boys have good aim??

The house is clean, but if I may explore a quandary with you for a moment... so on pinterest there was a proposed solution to rid your bathroom of that "boy" smell. Coop, he's not a problem. that I know of. but the other day I entered the bathroom just as Beckham was leaving and found much more than the toilet bowl had been used as his target. Gross, but reality. I feel as though I can ajax the heck out of the toilet and wipe the surrounding floor and the smell returns all too quickly, so I thought I'd give this idea a try. Holy smokes, I needed a gas mask. The first part wasn't so bad- baking soda and lemon juice, cover all of the toilet, floor, nearby walls and cabinets and let it soak for a few. Then spray with vinegar. Gag me. It was like the smells of vinegar and urine magnified ten-fold in that tiny room and I was ready to die. I let it fizz and then scrubbed away, hoping the fumes didn't leave my unborn baby maimed for life. I feel as though I washed every possible surface thoroughly and yet that vinegar smell just lingered- in fact I think it grew. Like all the way down the hall. Ugh. I was so grateful Denten wasn't home- he can not stand the smell of vinegar and while I don't usually mind it so much, it was too much today. I wanted it to smell nice and fresh when I was done with this so-called solution, and yet I avoided that particular toilet all day, even after it was sparkling. Does that mean I had an inordinate amount of "spray" hiding in the bathroom unseen? which is completely disgusting, or does cleaning with vinegar always stink to high heaven? either way, I do not plan on repeating the process in the other bathroom.

So, now that we have that pleasant antidote out of the way, the rest of the day was quite lovely. Lots of laundry got folded, each room got a proper pick-up, children rode their bikes to their hearts' content and and snug in their beds. I did not sleep through the night last night due to a little miss and three separate occasions, but it gave me cause to go to the bathroom before crawling back in my beloved bed. Oh, too much bathroom talk, I do apologize. I'll quit now.

One more thing- it's time for a vacuum. I said this before, ages ago, but now it's really time. There are two in this house and neither work properly. If you love yours, tell me what it is and why. Thank you, and good night.

Tonight I am choosing to be positive! See my exclamation point! That is my voice being positive. Are you buying it?

I was so incredibly grateful that we had soccer practice tonight. Usually I'm impartial- sometimes it's a pain, sometimes I don't mind, but tonight these children needed to get out of my house and go run for a solid hour. Their energy was bouncing off all of the walls in here and I was ready to find a hole to crawl into. Thank you coaches for wearing them clean out- straight home to bed!

I was also grateful for the thought today to try rosemary essential oil for my headaches. They went away for a while and this week they are back with a vengeance and combine that with the ever-lurking tired and heaven bless those within earshot. I had not used rosemary for my headaches before but it did the trick today and bought us all a little patience this afternoon.

I am grateful to have a house to clean. I mean, without a house, where on earth would this mess live?? I mean, really. Books and trains and princess things- they seem to multiply on their own and I think they may actually come alive when no one is watching because somehow they make it out of the toy closet and roam all over the house and not a soul knows how they got there. Maybe I have a magic house. If only I could get the magic to reverse the process...

I am grateful that I am going to sleep all night long without any interruptions from children, husband or bladder. I am grateful that I will sleep peacefully, have pleasant dreams and wake up in the morning feeling fully rested and have enough energy and motivation to complete all I desire to do tomorrow. I am grateful my children will be great listeners, obedient and helpful and that we will have a great day together. Amen.

monday, elastic waistbands and football

I kind of like Mondays. Aside from chess, there is nothing scheduled after school which means once we're home, we're home. I love uninterrupted time for music and homework and then play to your heart's content. Our backyard has been used and abused the past few weeks. I may think it's chilly, but they could live out there.

I need clothes. I am in the awkward stage where not one pair of jeans will both fit over my ever-expanding hips and button up and I own two pair of lulu elastic waistband pants that don't look like jammies. Those two are getting a.lot. of use. I pulled out the maternity bin this weekend in desperation for something to wear on my hot date and forgot that Katelyn altered my jeans to fit her short legs...grrr, sister! I know, I can fix them, but not in time for my date! It's ok, I'm not really ready to embrace maternity clothes yet, but I really do need options. Where do you find great maternity clothes? 'Cause what I do have is from years ago and let's be honest- it is all very ugly.

Coop thought he was 'it' last night because he got to sneak out of bed and watch the end of the super bowl with his dad and I, and eat hot chocolate chip cookies. oh, would the others be mad if they knew! Cooper has victory dances down and was all for the giants ripping it up seeing as he was born in NY and all. it was hilarious listening to cooper and cole discuss the game this morning on the way to school. he actually comprehended more than I realized and remembered what were said to be the vital plays of the game. Although he commented after a hard hit that he didn't ever need to play football. Ok with me!

I was grateful for our oils today when Bex woke up with a fever and a cough. Not on Monday! Thanks to intuition, wisdom and the right oils, he is almost back to healthy and ready to resume his regularly scheduled week, which includes precious time with Elsie- can't be sick for that! I'm so grateful I don't need to run to the doctor or lose a week when someone isn't feeling well- doTerra has saved me time, money and worry and those are major for me.

We are preparing for more transition around here. I told you it was the year for it! Seems we can't keep them away... this one will be fun!

being crafty

yeah, you read that right.  coming from the girl who might not have owned her own glue gun until she was 30 years old.  the one who has a reputation for paying someone to do something rather than doing it myself.  the one who promptly scrolls right past anything labeled “DIY” on pinterest.  eek.  see, I lived enough years down the street from shellie who had anything and everything I needed, and the skills to make it all happen.  then I moved across from emily, who is quite similar, except she might actually believe that I can do stuff on my own.  shellie knew better.

  anyway, this little project was born last week when grandma robinson was in town and went in the bathroom to help senny do her hair.  as soon as they opened the “hair drawer,” I ducked my head in shame.  it’s a maddening mess of hair bows and ribbons.  there were baskets attempting organization in there at one time, but now?  no.  so when I saw this idea online a little voice inside me said, “I can do that.”  I know, you get those little voices all the time.  I do not.  I push them out and find it already done or someone to do it for me.  But this?  It didn’t even require the sewing machine.  a glue gun and at the very most a staple gun (which I didn’t end up needing).  seemed reasonable and I already had a corkboard sitting in the laundry room closet.  so I called shellie to talk through my game plan, ‘cause she’ll always tell me when I’m forgetting some major component, and showed emily my plan so I would have moral support close by.  denten saw fabric and ribbon and thought, ‘what in the world is happening here?’ 

well, voila.  it only took me three trips to the ribbon store- I grossly under-measured, apparently.  seriously, my brain is not fully functioning.  I was sick of the fabric before I got 10 minutes into the project, but I was committed!  I persevered!  so senny now has a lovely little bow board… a place from which to hang ribbons and clip bows.  and check the spunk of color it will add to her room!  bathroom?  I haven’t decided. 

shall I point out the flaws? nah.  I texted Dent a picture while I was in progress and I got this: 

“what the?  our craft table is being used.  nicely done.” 

see?  give me simple, and a whole day, and you just never know the possibilities.

this week

It has been a week.  It went too slowly, I wanted every day to be Friday already, and yet today I wished it were already Saturday.  But I better not wish Friday away.  I feel a little crummy today which is a bummer because the weekend is not the time to feel crummy.  Ok, there is never a good time to feel crummy but I have a hot date tomorrow night and I do not want to feel sick. 

We celebrated D’s birthday this week with surprises in the morning, a visit to his office to share cake and balloons and trifle last night with the Malinkas.  We’ll cap it off with our hot date tomorrow.  Can you tell I’m excited for that?  I am.  First I must coach a soccer game, which is a one-time thing… they wanted more volunteer coaches and I couldn’t see me and my ever-growing belly managing that all season, but I’m happy to sub this week. 

We also have the little miss all registered for Kindergarten. Didn’t we just bring her home?!  Her dynamics are so different from her older brother, school could be a whole new experience with this one.  She has already decided who she is going to marry, you know.  And she looks forward to seeing him every day.  She is shy around him and bats her eyelashes- it’s ridiculous and hilarious at the same time.  She talks about him way more than one should and I keep waiting for it to pass.  Bummer is, said little boy has a darling twin sister… can’t Senny be friends with her?!  No, he is way more handsome.  Her words, not mine. 

How long do mylar balloons last?  They are the prime objects of affection around here and therefore my collateral.  “your balloon can stay right here with  me until you are dressed with your bed made.”  and off they go.  as annoying as these balloons may be, they seem to help get things done.  Right now Beckham’s is attached to the back of his pants as he has assumed the role of the princess’ dog and is crawling around on all fours.  Yesterday it was the target as he practiced with his new bow and arrows.  post edit:  a pencil just went through the balloon.  I repeat:  a pencil just went through the balloon.  one down!

Today I have children to read with, laundry to do, projects to work on and a couple of naps to take.  Tonight is movie night at the school.  It sounds completely disgusting to me to take blankets and pillows and lay on the school gym floor and watch a movie, but I have left the possibility open.  If it ended up being movie night at home, I would be great with that.  Let’s bless my headache goes away, that the laundry does itself and that these two crazies stay as happy all day as they are right now.