Bring on Summer

I think it's official - summer may now come.














We enjoyed our first baseball game on Saturday and the boys got their first Slurpee of the season too! Until just recently they referred to Slurpees as "special drinks," as we only got to have them on "special" occasions.

Hello sunshine, I'm loving having you around!!

The Lord's Tender Mercies

I loved Elder Bednar's talk about the Lord's tender mercies the first time I heard it, but tonight it has so much more meaning. "...Some may count this experience as simply a nice coincidence, but I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are real and that they do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence. Often, the Lord’s timing of His tender mercies helps us to both discern and acknowledge them."

I also loved President Eyring's talk about seeing the Lord's hand in our everyday lives and taking the time to recognize it. "...Before I would write, I would ponder this question: “Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?” As I kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done." Again, I need to recognize that the Lord certainly is mindful of my little family.

Tonight in our hurry to get out to Erda for our subdivision meeting, Mark and I rushed around the house and outside trying to get everything we would need for the evening. We would be dropping the boys off at Mark's brother's and his wife's so he and I could attend the township meeting. In our rush, Alex found his way out the door and started crawling down the stairs. He made his way out to the car port and was cruising along the Civic. I saw him there in my mad dash around the house. I was inside when I heard Mark yell my name and Alex screaming. I ran out thinking he must have fallen down the stairs. I threw my bag and phone down and looking for him on the stairs, he wasn't there.

It's strange now to think back of how my mind was working and thinking. I knew he wasn't on the stairs and I immediately looked a the car. Mind you, I am screaming. Crying. Then I started yelling, "Where is he?" I could tell that Mark had started pulling the car back out of the car port, and my stomach started to ache. I ran to the car looking behind the car, then under. Alex was screaming and trying to get out from under the car. He was crawling out from the driver's side next to the back wheel. I grabbed him and held him close, not knowing what to do.

Luckily, Mark was there to try and calm me down. My mother always told me I could never be a nurse. I've held up pretty good so far when it's come to cuts and blood, but this was totally different!!!

We truly don't know where Alex was when the car started pulling out in reverse or what happened to him. My only assumption is that he was standing behind the car, and was placed directly between the back wheels where he was protected in a sense as the car drove over him.

He has a bruise on his cheeks and some scratches along one arm, but other than that, he seems to be alright. We took him to see a doctor for an exam and she said he looked well. All I know is that he is here, he was protected.

Once we got in the car we realized we hadn't thanked the Lord for his hand in watching over our family. I made Mark pray, there was no way I was going to be getting any words out without more tears.

It's interesting how and when things happen. I just took Alex to his 18-month well-child-check up today. That's a whole other story, but basically the pediatrician we saw told me that children like Alex may have disabilities in some areas, but that they are blessed in others and that I needed to find that special gift of his. Today, HE is my gift.

His 18-month stats:
Height: 32 1/4" -- 50%
Weight: 23 lbs. 10 oz. - 20%
Head: 46 3/4 cm. -- 20%

I even took some pictures of him this morning with his hair all curly - he's my baby!
He was certainly looking pretty cute!

Good Thinkin'

Found this on a website while checking out some movie information, not that I get to see movies all that often. But, it sure made me chuckle.

Note: No Children Under Age 6 Will Be Admitted To Any R-Rated Feature After 6:00 PM.

Great policy there, huh!? I'll have to remember that the boys will just have to see their rated-R movies BEFORE 6:00 p.m. Really, who takes their kids to a rated-R movie AFTER 6:00 p.m. anyway?!

Who makes up these rules!!!

Primary Jitters and Cheerleaders

Each Fast Sunday Mark finds himself either teaching the YM's quorum, giving a talk in Primary, or conducting Fast and Testimony meeting. Yesterday he was on his first rotation in the Primary.

He had worked on putting together a cute little talk for the kids, complete with visual aids and everything. I was teasing him that I needed to come in and listen to him give his talk.

He stood up and told the Primary children that he was a little nervous because he hadn't given a talk in Primary since he was a little boy. Then from a few rows back, Ethan yelled out, "You can do it, Dad!"

I'm sure there were a few chuckles from the teachers and leaders, not to mention the smile it brought to Mark's face. But this got me thinking. Wouldn't it be nice to have a cheerleader for life's little trials? Someone there just giving you the encouragement you need to stand up and face the world.

I think that's what I need right now! My own personal cheerleader!

Tryouts start tomorrow!

Glitter Head

So yesterday I walked into Target and stopped by the $1 section. I had to try on the bright green St. Patrick's Day hat for Alex. He of course thought I was funny. He wanted a turn too, so on went the hat on his head.

Then for the next 30 - 45 minutes we walked around the store, saying hello to all the other shoppers we met. I might also add that I found the perfect pillows for couches in the living room. At one point I noticed that Alex had some green glitter on his forehead, but didn't think much of it.

It wasn't until I got home and looked in the mirror that I saw what surprise the St. Patty's hat left for me. My forehead was covered in glitter, and I'm not exaggerating. I looked like some three-year-old had applied their green glitter make-up on me. I had to laugh that no one in the whole store said anything to me. Maybe they thought it was part of my outfit, I was wearing a shamrock green cardigan.

Mommy 101

I seemed to have missed class the day moms were taught they must ALWAYS know where EVERY item in the house is located. Why? Why? Why should I ALWAYS KNOW where everything is?

Now if it's Mark's keys he's looking for, that MAY be my fault. I may or may not have been know for not putting his keys back in the drawer every time I use them.

But hey, give mom a break and just go look for that lost Lego yourself. Try and actually search for that lost shoe just once. Your mom would be proud, and hey, give the poor lady a break, she's tired and had a long day.

Man I'm Old!

Today I turned 35. When my mom called to wish me a happy birthday, she asked me if I felt older. Today I do. I certainly do.

Case in point: I went to my exercise class - praying that I wouldn't pee my pants the whole time we did jumping jacks.

I finally got the chance to do my hair and there they are again...those stinky grays. Didn't I just dye my hair? It never ends.

When Mark asked what I wanted to do for my birthday, I seriously thought about telling him how about we get take-out and rent a movie.

Look at the numbers. I know. I've helped Ethan do his math homework - Four or less, just ignore. Five plus, add one more. Let's face it, baby! I'm basically 40! And that is just too much to handle.