Backaches

(I had a lot back in these days)

The other night as I brushed my teeth, my back just ached.

My mind wandered back through the happenings of the day, searching for the source of the night's pain.

Fed Tucker. Got Russel out of bed. Made waffles. Made Ben's lunch. Ate waffles. Fed Tucker. Changed diapers. Put boys' clothes on. Rocked Tucker to sleep. Everybody clean up! Took Russel outside. Ran fast. Rode fire trucks. Crashed. Ran fast. Made lunch. Fed Tucker. Did dishes. Did laundry. Fed Tucker. Hi Mom! Put car-seat in Grandma's car. Put boys in Grandma's car. Talked. Ate ice cream. Took boys out of the car. Fed Tucker. Honey, you're home! Took out trash. Bye Grandma, thank you. Made dinner. Don't touch that! Ate dinner. Fed Tucker. Put Tucker to bed. Went outside. Ran fast. Talked to neighbors. Ran fast. Bathed Russel. Did dishes. Put PJ's on Russel. Put Russel to bed.

A smile took over my mouth as I realized why I love backaches.

To Grandmother's House We Go

A lovely weekend at Grandma and Grandpa's full of lounging, the beach and love.
While everyone else went to the store, I stumbled upon the perfect opportunity to capture the love between mother and baby. A wonderful way to spend an hour!

Adored. Met a bear.

Swung in the air. Smiled abundantly.


Walked, ran, and loved.



The end.

I See You

Easter Week

If you recall, Easter came at the end of hell week.

I had nothing for my Russel except some eggs he had gotten at a grocery store Easter egg hunt which he happened upon with his Grandma while out letting me get some sleep.

Then my wonderful mother called and asked if I had a basket for my boy. "No" I said, surrendering myself to the demands of the week.

Later that night, my mother and father drove 1/2 hour to my home bearing an abundant Easter bounty. We are surrounded by so much love. I hid the few eggs from the grocery store around the house.



Russel amazingly awoke cheerful after a day of poking and prodding at the Emergency Room
It didn't take him long to find the first egg, and thankfully it was like the first time he found that egg.
Fortunately, the season's showers postponed the egg hunt we planned on participating to the next week. This wonderful Sister in Ben's parents' ward holds an annual hunt for friends and neighbors. There were 1,000 eggs hidden throughout their property! Russel scored.


It was a wonderful 70 degree day and totally made up for the previous Saturday. It was equally wonderful to be reminded that our Savior lives for three weeks in a row.

Motherhood Monologues

In the background plays...

"Then we put it in our notebook 'cuz they're who's clues? Blue's clues...."

"I wonder whatever happened to him"

"He's so much better than that guy"

Suddenly, the computer in my lap, I am looking at Wikipedia - the page about Blue's Clues.

"Ah, I see... Steve went on to pursue a music career? (good luck with that)... and this dorky Joe guy was the best they could do? Hold auditions again, I could do better. Then I could make some money too."

I read that many mothers had expressed their love, appreciation, even fanaticism about Steve online and over the phone.

"Haha!... Who would actually get on the computer and....

OH. MY. GOSH.

You would and you are.

You are one step away from writing a comment about how much more you love Steve than Joe. What are you doing? Do you really let your child watch that much TV? Have you really wasted that much time watching it as well? Do you have a meaningful life?!?!

Breath, breath

Oh man, ha... so pathetic, haha... ha"

Ben arrives home and we begin preparing dinner.

"I was reading online today that Steve from Blue's Clues left the show to pursue a music career"

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, and he used to have long hair and an earing, can you even picture that? Haha, yeah but isn't he so much better than.... whoa, whoa don't say that. Ben doesn't care about any of that, so restrain yourself woman!.. maybe you can join a Steve's Fans forum online instead...

AHHH!"

Make that 4 new molars AND a massive ear infection.

Yeah, the poor kid. Judging by the amount of gunk coming from his ear, it's likely that he ruptured his eardrum. I feel so bad, but he never once tugged on his ear and I had no way of knowing until I saw a puddle of fluid in his ear.

Ben says, "Great, now he's going to associate me leaving with pain and traumatic trips to the doctor".

I'm waiting to see what happens when Ben goes back to work next Monday. He's gonna freak out!

April 4-12

This week shall be forever remembered in infamy as:

H-E-double-hockey-sticks week.

We found out a couple of weeks ago that Ben would have to fly out to Utah for a week to work on and defend the first part of his thesis.

Grrreeat.

It was going to be nice however to get that first part done all at once.

I'd never been alone with the kids for more than an overnighter though and I was feeling a little scared, so I had Ben give me a blessing (nevermind the demands on him for the week). Heavenly Father told me to let all the family I have around help me. It was a good reminder because I tend to feel like I have to prove myself by surviving alone during tough times.

So April 4th came.

Russel was acting a little weird and a lot clingy to Ben. I figured he could just sense something was goin' down.

Once my father slyly whisked Ben away, and once Russel noticed, his condition deteriorated.

To make a long story short, he was and STILL IS cutting 4 new molars at the same time, and rebelling against every moment of it.

It's been a loooooooooooooooooooong week of crying, whining, overly demanding-ness, and sleep deprivation. I haven't even known which child I was looking at most of the week.

It's like I told my mom,
"I really want to punch myself in the head"

To which she replied,
"Well just make sure you clock yourself hard enough to knock yourself out"

"Of course" I say.

And so Ben and I have both been tested this week. Ben passed with flying colors and as for me... thanks to all that family around, I'm still conscious and the kids are still alive.

So maybe I get a D+ if I'm lucky.

Create

Anyone who's been reading my blog over the past few months has probably noticed a shift.

A shift in style.

A shift in focus.

A shift in spirit.

Any gift I had for expressing myself was lost until just a few short weeks ago. The Lord is taking my spirit on an unimaginable, unforgettable, awesome journey. I am putty in His hands and he is shaping me into a better woman, wife and mother.

He has used many of you as tools in His hands.

A product of this journey has been an ability to better express my self through the written word and through photos.

A product of this journey has been a desire to create.

Now, I know that desire comes from drawing closer to God.

Please watch this video. You all are so beautiful.
Thanks NieNie!