This morning was a little crazy around our house. Thankfully we remembered the time change last night, but our stake conference was this weekend, so Ben was gone for the Priesthood session this morning and stayed to save seats.
The kids were really good to get ready by themselves, Carter in particular. He even got his tie on, under his collar, and his collar straightened out. Usually this boy requires multiple reminders to stay on task, but this morning he was awesome!
After I got ready this morning I got Riley ready. A couple of weeks ago he slid on his knees across the cultural hall, which is a bad thing to do at our building because the cultural hall is carpeted. Of course, it tore a huge hole in the knee, and I had to buy him a new pair of pants. When I went to the store that week to buy them, they were out of size 5 pants, so I had to get him a size 6. Last week when Ben helped Riley get dressed, he had to roll up the pants because they were a little big. I did the same thing with his pants when I got Riley ready this morning.
Right before we left the house, I noticed Carter hadn't successfully tucked his shirt in. I helped him tuck it in and noticed his pants were a little snug. This is unusual for my stick-child; seriously, that boy has hardly any body fat! I just figured he was finally hitting a growth spurt.
We parked on the street for stake conference and on the way in, Riley's pants came unrolled. I rolled them back up and continued herding in my little crew.
It wasn't until we were leaving stake conference I noticed how short Carter's pants were. They weren't that short last week. Probably because last week he was wearing his own pants instead of Riley's! Explains a lot of the trouble with pants this morning.
This is what happens when SuperDistractedBoy gets himself dressed!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Marriage and Parenthood
This morning I was reading a friend's blog. She was talking about all the reasons she enjoys being single, and how being single shouldn't be filled with constant complaints about not being married. I agree, and feel that marriage and parenthood should incorporate the same idea. We shouldn't fill our married life with complaints about our spouses and children.
So, using her fun post as a guide, I decided to share with you some of the reasons I enjoy being married and a parent. In no particular order:
#1. I have a close support system, not just in proximity but emotionally as well. Whether I'm happy or sad or tired or sick or just plain worn out, I have someone to cover for me.
#2. With all the different personalities at my house, I'm provided with opportunities to learn how to work with those personalities. That helps me wherever I go.
#3. My friend mentioned she can eat whatever she wants for breakfast, lunch, and dinner without worrying about another person's dietary restrictions or taste preferences. I can do likewise, but if I did, I'd probably end up making something else for the pickier eaters at my house. So I learn to compromise. Sometimes I make what I like and they don't, and they have to eat it anyway. And sometimes they get to choose. And sometimes I make something we all like! Those days are good days!
#4. I have learned that locking both the bedroom door and the bathroom door will ensure some privacy.
#5. Because I'm the one who cleans the bathrooms I have taught the boys to be very clean in the bathroom. I'm sure their future wives will appreciate that.
#6. Not a day goes by where I don't hear "I love you, Mom."
#7. Not a day goes by where I don't hear "I love you, Miss."
#8. Not a day goes by where I tell them "I love you, Mel, I love you, Carter, I love you, Riley, I love you, Ben."
#9. My life is filled with all sizes of hugs. Big bear hugs, gentle side hugs, quick hugs, and hugs around my hips that are usually accompanied by kisses on my cheek.
#10. There is no lack of humor at my house. I have a quick-witted and spunky 12-year-old, who has more common sense than a lot of adults I know, an 8-year-old who can beat me at most video games, and a 5-year-old who is the king of one-liners. For example, the other day he was asked how he would feel if we got rid of some media that was making his older brother uncomfortable because of the animated blood. Riley responded with a shrug of his shoulders and said, "Life is life."
#11. Knowing that a day like today, with the wonderful wet snow, would bring Riley to throw a snowball at me.
#12. We all love Avatar: The Last Airbender cartoon series. I love having Avatar marathons with our whole family.
#13. Ben's treat-making abilities. If I weren't married, I'd still be making the cookies, and although mine aren't bad, Ben's are...addictive. Seriously.
#14. Working on my Personal Progress with Melanie. It has already brought blessings to my life and to my relationship with Melanie.
#15. Having Carter build crazy weapons with his Legos, and then explaining to me the intricacies of how they operate.
#16. Riley telling me he'll give me "thinking hugs and kisses" every time I drop him off somewhere.
#17. Having a human radiator to stick my cold feet on when I get into bed.
Don't get me wrong; it's not all sunshine and roses, and sometimes I want to pull my hair out and scream. And sometimes I lose my temper. I'm working on that every day. But why not look at the good in our situations, find that silver lining on our clouds?
So, using her fun post as a guide, I decided to share with you some of the reasons I enjoy being married and a parent. In no particular order:
#1. I have a close support system, not just in proximity but emotionally as well. Whether I'm happy or sad or tired or sick or just plain worn out, I have someone to cover for me.
#2. With all the different personalities at my house, I'm provided with opportunities to learn how to work with those personalities. That helps me wherever I go.
#3. My friend mentioned she can eat whatever she wants for breakfast, lunch, and dinner without worrying about another person's dietary restrictions or taste preferences. I can do likewise, but if I did, I'd probably end up making something else for the pickier eaters at my house. So I learn to compromise. Sometimes I make what I like and they don't, and they have to eat it anyway. And sometimes they get to choose. And sometimes I make something we all like! Those days are good days!
#4. I have learned that locking both the bedroom door and the bathroom door will ensure some privacy.
#5. Because I'm the one who cleans the bathrooms I have taught the boys to be very clean in the bathroom. I'm sure their future wives will appreciate that.
#6. Not a day goes by where I don't hear "I love you, Mom."
#7. Not a day goes by where I don't hear "I love you, Miss."
#8. Not a day goes by where I tell them "I love you, Mel, I love you, Carter, I love you, Riley, I love you, Ben."
#9. My life is filled with all sizes of hugs. Big bear hugs, gentle side hugs, quick hugs, and hugs around my hips that are usually accompanied by kisses on my cheek.
#10. There is no lack of humor at my house. I have a quick-witted and spunky 12-year-old, who has more common sense than a lot of adults I know, an 8-year-old who can beat me at most video games, and a 5-year-old who is the king of one-liners. For example, the other day he was asked how he would feel if we got rid of some media that was making his older brother uncomfortable because of the animated blood. Riley responded with a shrug of his shoulders and said, "Life is life."
#11. Knowing that a day like today, with the wonderful wet snow, would bring Riley to throw a snowball at me.
#12. We all love Avatar: The Last Airbender cartoon series. I love having Avatar marathons with our whole family.
#13. Ben's treat-making abilities. If I weren't married, I'd still be making the cookies, and although mine aren't bad, Ben's are...addictive. Seriously.
#14. Working on my Personal Progress with Melanie. It has already brought blessings to my life and to my relationship with Melanie.
#15. Having Carter build crazy weapons with his Legos, and then explaining to me the intricacies of how they operate.
#16. Riley telling me he'll give me "thinking hugs and kisses" every time I drop him off somewhere.
#17. Having a human radiator to stick my cold feet on when I get into bed.
Don't get me wrong; it's not all sunshine and roses, and sometimes I want to pull my hair out and scream. And sometimes I lose my temper. I'm working on that every day. But why not look at the good in our situations, find that silver lining on our clouds?
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