Random Life Moments
Sometimes the best way to update our friends and family far away on life and the kids is to just share the random tidbits that don't justify a blog post in and of themselves, but come together to create the image of what real like is actually life from day to day and week to week. So...here goes...
We have crossed that bridge! Last night Todd and I were doing some planning for the week and the upcoming month, and Todd had a question for Brenden about an upcoming camp out. Instead of going to find him or even calling out to have him come to where we were, he just called him on the cell phone. I just had to laugh. We have become those people. Todd had another question for Brooke later, who was on the couch right next to us reading a book on the iPad. Todd joked that he would just face-time her and ask her. He didn't really do it, but it was a funny commentary on technology and communicating with teenagers!
Brett loves his blanket...his "B." When it came time to wash it this past week he was very distraught. It took two days of negotiating and a distraction by fruit snacks to get it in the washer. I love this picture of how he puts it in the bucket and was rides it around on his scooter. This scooter was a Christmas present so he can ride around inside without scratching the wood floor. It was a great investment and he has put a lot of miles on it!
We must apologize to the state of Ohio, and Springboro Community Schools in particular. Todd just realized Saturday that Brinnley has been sleeping with a spoon under her pillow constantly since early January. That is a likely explanation for why we have had such an insane amount of snow days and delayed starts this year. She learned at school that if you sleep with a spoon under your pillow then it dramatically increases the likelihood of having a snow day. Evidently that is true. We have removed the spoon and hopefully Spring can come now.
Todd is leaving today for a business trip to Utah for a week. He has been wanting a haircut before he goes, but we just didn't get to it on Saturday. Last night he told me that if it could work out he would like to do one before he flies out this afternoon. After looking at the schedule for the day I told him I was happy to do it would be best for our schedule to just wake up 15 minutes early and do it in the morning. He hesitated for a moment and then said, "Um...yes, but would it be best for my hair?!?" LOL! Yes, my husband knows well that I am not a morning person and am not really awake for the first hour after I roll out of bed. No hair clippers allowed in my hands at 4:30am!
About two weeks ago the kids identified that the prints in the snow around our house as belonging to this little furry friend. He has been coming to drink from the water that comes out of the ground through our sump pump this winter. We have had quite a few rabbit sightings since then. With the rain and the melting snow this week our sump pump has been running almost constantly some days. It literally makes a little stream in the backyard (at the bottom of the picture).
While taking Brett upstairs for his nap on Friday, he suddenly turned to me and asked, "What is that guy's name?" It was so random. I had no idea what he was talking about. I asked "What?" and tried to get more clarification about what he meant. He repeated the question two or three times before his eyes lit up and he said, "Oh...I know! It's Gandalf!" Then he was content to snuggle in for his nap. I laughed. The older kids talked about Barney were two and he talks about Gandalf.
Recently we rearranged some children...and their associated furniture. For the sake of brotherly love, it was time to give Brenden his own room and have Bryce share with Brett. We have always felt strongly that the older boys need to learn to get along and share the space, but after many nights of bickering and way too much of this mom raising her voice telling them to stop fighting (one of the amusing paradoxes of parenting), we decided that it was time to make a change. So far it has been great, and hopefully this will help with some of those ways that we are just surviving and not thriving. Brenden (the tidy one of the two) has a very organized room now with everything hung up and in its place and all his Mormonads hung on the wall. Bryce still has piles everywhere, accented by Mega Blocks and Hotwheels cars. He and Brett have spent more time playing together than cleaning up, though the Corvette posters acquired on the recent road trip did get put up. It works, and things have been more peaceful. We will keep our fingers crossed!
Last night I was in Brenden's room while he was hanging up some things. Brett climbed up to lay on the second shelf of Brenden's book shelf, which was still empty. It was something Brett had done a number of times in the past few days, though never while Brenden was present. In true big brother form, Brenden immediately went over and pulled him off the shelf, much to Brett's dismay. Brenden tried to explain that it wasn't safe, but that meant nothing to Brett, who was almost in tears. The little guy--2 1/2 feet tall--pointed his finger right up at the big brother--over six feet tall--and shook it emphatically to punctuate his words, "You...don't...do...that...to...me!" He's only two, but he can hold his own with these big kids!
Brooke got to go to New Beginnings last week. In 33 days she officially becomes a Young Woman. She is excited that the YW General Broadcast is the night of her birthday. How perfect. If you know Brooke, you can imagine her clapping and jumping up and down about what a party that will be for this growing up girl. She wore heals to church yesterday because she loves how it makes her be as tall as me (though she would say it makes her taller, I'm the one writing the post so I get to say it my way). Where did the years go?!!?
The kids love Studio C--especially the girls--and they watch it online whenever they have the chance. This is their reenactment of the shoulder angel. I love it!
I could share a dozen more nap shots of Layton home life and the random moments that make me smile (and keep from going crazy), but the diaper won't change itself and this little guy is not the least bit interested in potty training yet :-).
Grace be with you!
We have crossed that bridge! Last night Todd and I were doing some planning for the week and the upcoming month, and Todd had a question for Brenden about an upcoming camp out. Instead of going to find him or even calling out to have him come to where we were, he just called him on the cell phone. I just had to laugh. We have become those people. Todd had another question for Brooke later, who was on the couch right next to us reading a book on the iPad. Todd joked that he would just face-time her and ask her. He didn't really do it, but it was a funny commentary on technology and communicating with teenagers!
Brett loves his blanket...his "B." When it came time to wash it this past week he was very distraught. It took two days of negotiating and a distraction by fruit snacks to get it in the washer. I love this picture of how he puts it in the bucket and was rides it around on his scooter. This scooter was a Christmas present so he can ride around inside without scratching the wood floor. It was a great investment and he has put a lot of miles on it!We must apologize to the state of Ohio, and Springboro Community Schools in particular. Todd just realized Saturday that Brinnley has been sleeping with a spoon under her pillow constantly since early January. That is a likely explanation for why we have had such an insane amount of snow days and delayed starts this year. She learned at school that if you sleep with a spoon under your pillow then it dramatically increases the likelihood of having a snow day. Evidently that is true. We have removed the spoon and hopefully Spring can come now.
Todd is leaving today for a business trip to Utah for a week. He has been wanting a haircut before he goes, but we just didn't get to it on Saturday. Last night he told me that if it could work out he would like to do one before he flies out this afternoon. After looking at the schedule for the day I told him I was happy to do it would be best for our schedule to just wake up 15 minutes early and do it in the morning. He hesitated for a moment and then said, "Um...yes, but would it be best for my hair?!?" LOL! Yes, my husband knows well that I am not a morning person and am not really awake for the first hour after I roll out of bed. No hair clippers allowed in my hands at 4:30am!
While taking Brett upstairs for his nap on Friday, he suddenly turned to me and asked, "What is that guy's name?" It was so random. I had no idea what he was talking about. I asked "What?" and tried to get more clarification about what he meant. He repeated the question two or three times before his eyes lit up and he said, "Oh...I know! It's Gandalf!" Then he was content to snuggle in for his nap. I laughed. The older kids talked about Barney were two and he talks about Gandalf.
Recently we rearranged some children...and their associated furniture. For the sake of brotherly love, it was time to give Brenden his own room and have Bryce share with Brett. We have always felt strongly that the older boys need to learn to get along and share the space, but after many nights of bickering and way too much of this mom raising her voice telling them to stop fighting (one of the amusing paradoxes of parenting), we decided that it was time to make a change. So far it has been great, and hopefully this will help with some of those ways that we are just surviving and not thriving. Brenden (the tidy one of the two) has a very organized room now with everything hung up and in its place and all his Mormonads hung on the wall. Bryce still has piles everywhere, accented by Mega Blocks and Hotwheels cars. He and Brett have spent more time playing together than cleaning up, though the Corvette posters acquired on the recent road trip did get put up. It works, and things have been more peaceful. We will keep our fingers crossed!
Last night I was in Brenden's room while he was hanging up some things. Brett climbed up to lay on the second shelf of Brenden's book shelf, which was still empty. It was something Brett had done a number of times in the past few days, though never while Brenden was present. In true big brother form, Brenden immediately went over and pulled him off the shelf, much to Brett's dismay. Brenden tried to explain that it wasn't safe, but that meant nothing to Brett, who was almost in tears. The little guy--2 1/2 feet tall--pointed his finger right up at the big brother--over six feet tall--and shook it emphatically to punctuate his words, "You...don't...do...that...to...me!" He's only two, but he can hold his own with these big kids!
Brooke got to go to New Beginnings last week. In 33 days she officially becomes a Young Woman. She is excited that the YW General Broadcast is the night of her birthday. How perfect. If you know Brooke, you can imagine her clapping and jumping up and down about what a party that will be for this growing up girl. She wore heals to church yesterday because she loves how it makes her be as tall as me (though she would say it makes her taller, I'm the one writing the post so I get to say it my way). Where did the years go?!!?I could share a dozen more nap shots of Layton home life and the random moments that make me smile (and keep from going crazy), but the diaper won't change itself and this little guy is not the least bit interested in potty training yet :-).
Grace be with you!
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