Sunday Antics

On the Sunday’s that Corbet works I take the kids to church all by myself. This has proven a worthy challenge. I start mentally preparing by Wednesday. I start to envision getting the kids and myself ready and getting there on time which is at 9:00. Though, I have yet to make it on time on these Sunday’s it gives me something to work for. I try to be as prepared as possible. I pack the diaper bag the night before. I try to anticipate what Dylan will need; toy cars, a Sippy cup, a book and cookies for when I need something to bribe him with. I see the other mom’s bring healthy snacks and I try to do the same when Corbet is with me because his influence is enough to keep Dylan behaved, but when I am a lone reed I resort to bribery. (I’m not ashamed) Besides from packing the diaper bag, I lay out our clothes, bathe the kids the night before and prepare for a very simple breakfast.

Managing a two year old and infant at church for three hours has taught me to wear flats (yuck), tie my hair my back (not cute) and wear a long enough skirt so that when I bend over church goes don’t see London or France. Why flats you ask? Well I am no athlete, but I have learned that chasing a runaway Cub down the halls of the Lord’s house while holding Plum my catching time is best in flats!

The most challenging part of the whole day is getting the kids in and out of the car in one piece. Dylan loves to see me freak out when he puts his hands on dirty cars and wipes them on his clean slacks. Once we are in Church I can breathe a little. Today, we got to church at about 9:10 (our time in improving!) and we sat down in the very back row. That is another thing; I don’t try to a hero and sit close to the front. So anyway, we got there and things were going really good. Noel was content in her car seat and Dylan was sitting on my lap. Just as I was started to feel proud of myself (never a good idea) Noel burst into tears and Dylan takes off. I fumble to get Noel out of her car seat while I see the back of Dylan’s head getting smaller and smaller. By the time I get a hold of Noel, Dylan is up on the stand with the Bishop. When I go get him he starts laughing as do some of the congregation. I put on my patient mother face (which is all show), grab his hand and begin the long trek back to the nose bleed section where we belong. The rest of the first hour was a little fuzzy. I got the cookies out, took Dylan to the foyer for a little time out (so he could play with the water fountain) and managed to keep Noel from wanting to eat (which really is a modern day miracle). By the time Sacrament meeting was over, I was ready to pack the kids up and call it a day. I leaned to the mom sitting next to me, who also has a two year old and said, “I get why some churches send the kids to nursery even during the service, I think they are on to something.”

After the first meeting I take Dylan to Nursery for two hours so I can go to Sunday school and Relief Society. Usually he causes a big scene when I leave, which is pay back from my days of Pre-School (sorry Mrs. Pots and Mrs. Mole), but today he found a friend and trains and I was out the door. I still take Plum to both of my classes, but she is cake compared to Cub. Today she has unusually loud gas, which is uncomfortable for both of us. I don’t want to throw her under the bus and point to her when she relieves herself, but I don’t want to take the blame either! Between class and a few trips to the mothers lounge to feed and change Noel time went pretty fast. By the time I got Dylan from Nursery and got to the car, I was so exhausted! This may not sound like much and believe me a lot of women do it with more kids, but I am a big baby and for me taking my ankle biters to church wears me out.

Today when we got home I fed them both and put them down for a nap. I couldn’t decide if I wanted a nap or to just enjoy the quiet … so I sat on the couch and pondered the reasons I take my kids to church when for the most part it seems like a big chore. As always I found more reasons to go than to stay home. I am trusting that the Lord knows my struggle and that he will bless me. I have faith that though my children are small, little seeds of faith are being planted in their heart. I also can’t lie, I pretend that Nursery is free babysitting and that the mothers lounge is a club where Mom’s can hang out and exchange tips (which is true). I also learn something every Sunday. Even with my noisy offspring I never go home empty. If there is one place where I feel understood, it is church because most of the women have done just what I have done and most times with more kids and then there is The Lord who never forgets our sacrifice, even if sometimes we forget his.

For more information where you can take your noisy kids to church go to http://www.mormon.org/
 
Gratitude:
• My parents and Grandma came to visit! They brought Dylan a Cars Table & Toy Box! He is one happy kid!


• We had a great weekend that involved the farmers market, a wiener dog race, a BBQ with the rents and Church of course!

• The weather has been beautiful!

• The flowers I got at the farmers market are holding up beautifully.

• Our neighbor’s party (huge party) only lasted until 12:30 last night. We thought it would be until at least 3:00. I saw him after church and though I was exhausted; I know I felt better than him today!

A Good Man

In my teen years I would be described as sassy at best or high maintenance as my dad would say (and still does). I think about the things I put my dad through and yet his patience was everlasting. For instance when I was fourteen/ fifteen my Dad took me to seminary (an early morning church class) every morning at 6:00 AM. He didn’t have to be into work that early, but he took me anyway because that is just the kinda Dad he is. Not only did he do this happily, but he would give me ten wake-up calls to get me there on time. Every morning resulted in me running to the car in a frenzied rush pom poms flying and the whole bit. I used his (Police) car visor mirror as my personal vanity. I was always amazed that by the time he dropped me off I hadn’t ruined his morning. In just a twenty minute ride many demands came from my glossed lips. “Dad, take the corners easy… I’m applying my mascara; do you have to tap on the steering wheel like that? Can you go faster, I’m gonna be late (like it’s his fault) I forgot my lunch, can I have lunch money… oh yeah and its picture day.” What can I say even coming from two (very) morning persons; I am not in the slightest a morning person. By the end of the car ride I was always expecting my dad to throw me out of the car while peeling out, blaring his oldies and yet everyday it went a little more like this “Have a good day kid.”

In a world of missing Fathers I am so grateful to report that mine was home every night for dinner and many nights helped prepare the dinner and clean the kitchen. I don’t think I ever stopped being sixteen in my Dads eyes and that’s okay with me. I have seen the same look in his eyes when I went away to college, went on a mission for my church, got married and had my babies… proud and yet shocked that I am in fact not sixteen anymore. He still doesn’t want me to be cold, hungry, drive in the dark or rain (or at all), climb ladders, lift heavy objects, or cry. My Dad taught me lessons that no one else could have, but the most important lesson he taught me was what to expect from a man. I am the cliché (and happy to be) of the girl who married a man like her Father. How grateful I am to be my Father’s daughter.

Gratitude

• For my Dad, he really is the best.

• For my husband and the wonderful (really wonderful) Dad that he is to our children.

• For my Father in-law. He really is like a Father to me.

• For Father’s day, a day to reflect the good men in our lives.

Cubs don’t take sick days!

This last week Corbet, Dylan, Noel and I all got colds, the kind of cold that allows the whole family to stay in their pajamas and watch court T.V guilt free. (Side note I love “In Session”, always have. The Casey Anthony trail is gripping and I am sucker for justice) The saying that Mom’s don’t get a sick day is true but it should also be noted that two year olds work right on through their sick day. I have had no energy and though Dylan has had the same cold as me his energy in more than intact. Somehow in my declining state I missed; him throwing a whole box of infant q-tips down the heater, pumping and pumping and pumping hand sanitizer on his little hands then wiping it in his hair. (Corby thinks I had this one coming with my “so called” excessive use of the best invention ever!) I have also had to stop the dishwasher 3 or 4 times today. If there is a button he will press it. In fact I woke up this morning to the TV blaring and an enthusiastic shout for cars the movie, which is his new obsession. I sure am glad he is sleeping in a toddler bed so he can get out whenever he pleases. It never fails when I go to check on him before I go to bed; I have to remove the twenty trucks he got out of bed to get while he should have been sleeping. It is also really convenient to have my 5 month old and 2 year old sharing a room, especially when he wants to turn the light on and play trucks at 11:00 pm. That and him throwing his blocks in his sister’s crib has made me consider hollowing out a closest and putting his big boy bed in there.


I had to run to the store today even in my broken down state. It was one of those times when you just pray no one you know is there, but everyone you know is there. Every time I saw someone I knew, I wanted to shout “OH hi, I look like I’m dead because I feel like it and my whole family is sick, oh and I have this two year old at home… oh and a baby that woke up all night, Yeah, good to see you too!” Anyway, when I got home from my head hanging shopping experience I noticed that Dylan had specks of black on his lips. I asked Corbet what had happened and it turns out that Dylan was using my mascara as a sucker. Corbet tried to put me at ease by saying “he thinks I will still be able to use it.” Um… have you ever heard of pink eye? No thanks! Dylan loves to get into my make-up (my tools as Corbet calls it) because everything has a lid and he loves to open and close things. Lucky for me my make-up table (my station as Corbet calls it) is just the right size for a two year old.



I have never understood that children’s cold medicine commercial that claims it won’t make your kids drowsy. Am I the only one that is looking for cold meds that in fact make my kid drowsy? All the good medicine your kid has to be four anyway… so instead I gave him a real fruit popsicle and let him play (make a mess) until he grabs his blanket, which is his little white flag that declares “I give up, I need a nap.” Some day’s the terrible two’s are in fact terrible, but I have tried to look at them through our Cub’s eyes. I don’t know what he was thinking with the q-tips or the mascara, but I can see his thought process with the sanitizer and starting the dishwasher and I know when he turned the TV on he expected to see Cars. It is pretty amazing to see our little boy trying to figure things out for himself. I try really hard (really hard) to stand back and allow him to figure things out. Here is what he has figured out recently.

• If he has done something wrong he will come give me a hug because he knows that is my weakness. I’m trying to be strong though.

• If he wants pretty much anything he just has to say please or in his case peez. For now it works, but this won’t last forever.

• He likes to throw trash ( and that is a broad term to him) in the garbage

• If he brings me his shoes and say’s shoes I will put them on him.

• That sister can’t have a bite of his cracker or a drink from his Sippy cup.

• He is doing so well with a fork and spoon!

• He can climb on his toy box and turn on the light. (We are moving the toy box)

• His crayons color more than just paper. (GREAT)

• He knows what side of the car his car seat is on and runs to it.

• If he throws water out of the bath tub, his tub time is OVER!



Gratitude

• I got to see Jessica Jean and her beautiful kids last week!

• Dylan and Noel are over their colds

• Noel has two bottom teeth coming in and she is not even fussy!

• When the kids and I stayed at my mother in-laws she took the kids so I could sleep in!

• Dylan loves brushing his teeth almost as much as I do!

Ode To My Big Sister

Today is my big sister’s Birthday and I just can’t help, but be sentimental about it. There is nothing like having a big sister and as my sister can tell you there is nothing like having a little sister/biggest fan. I was a pest there is no denying that, but only because to me she hung the moon. Happy Birthday Jennifer Jean, I am so grateful you were born and so grateful it was before me, so you could be my big sister. I love you.




Ode To My Big Sister,

Some kids have security blankets, stuffed animals or even a night light…I had a big sister. For the first six years of my life we shared a room, which was AMAZING (for me). J.J. and I would go to sleep listening to KLSY our favorite radio station. Well, it was my sister’s favorite and any favorite of Jenn’s was a favorite of mine. The nightly program was “lights out love songs” and boy were they ever. J.J. would sing to me until I fell into my little slumber and let me tell you, no one could sing the “Karate Kid” sound track like my sister.

Unfortunately those days came to a close. The worst news of my life was that my parents were building a four bedroom house, a room for each of us. WHAT? Are they trying to ruin my life? I tried to convince the big sis that having our own bedrooms was just a formality and that we could still sleep in the same room. But no can do, she was on board with my parents plan. Finally, she was getting her own room and even my subtle persuasions were not working on her. By subtle I mean… camping outside her door sitting in a mini lawn chair knocking incessantly in hope that she would warmly welcome me to sleep in her full sized bed (which was so cool!). Hours later, just when I thought my bruised knuckles couldn’t take another knock the door opened. With strict obedience I could come in for a snooze, which was great because I was exhausted! The rules were as followed, no talking, coughing or snuggling. It was a tall order, but I was going to do my best. I could refrain from talking and for the snuggling part… well she had to fall asleep sometime… I mean who doesn’t want to snuggle with their little sister anyway? The coughing was a little tricky, I mean geeze I had a cold. So there I was not talking, not snuggling, but my throat had an itch and my little seven year old strength could not keep that cough away. I prayed J. would take mercy which most of the time she did, but there were times when I was exiled, back at square one.

It seemed my parents would always get word of my attempts to have a roommate and they would send me back to my room. There was one thing I learned at a very young age which was that everyone falls asleep eventually. It was tough, but like a good soldier does I would wait until the hour were everyone was in their REM cycle and then ambush. There were many a mornings my sister would wake up to my smiling face and I must say I was always surprised she wasn’t as stoked to see me!

As my sister and I grew up I continued to pester her out of true loyalty. She was my best friend and I was her biggest fan! I will never forget the day my ship came in. We were school clothes shopping, just my sister, my mom and I. It was the 90’s so fashion was in its prime. J spotted the raddest outfit we both had ever seen. If only I were fifteen I would have picked it out for myself. It was official, the outfit would be in her fall line-up for school, “boy is she lucky” I thought. Then it was on to my size. There were the usual stretchy pants and spumoni sweatshirts. (They had scenes with animals doing everyday things such as gymnastics; my favorite was Noah’s arch on an airplane) Just as my line-up was looking very elementary, I laid my eyes on my future. There it was a mini version of the RAD outfit my sister had picked out. Could it be? Where my eyes playing ticks? I was thrilled, to say the least, and it got better, I was getting approval nods from my mom. This was happening; we were finally getting the chance to be twins!!! I tried to lay out the scene for my sister. We could wear them on the same day and take pictures and she could come see me at lunch so all my friends could see how cool, close and twin like we were. For some reason my sister was not buying it… and back on the rack her awesome outfit went. That is when I had to use my secret weapon… the tears. I told her that I wouldn’t wear it on the same day as her (yeah right) and that no one had to know (once again, yeah right). After my mom promised her that we would not have to wear them on the same day she and I both got our matching fashion statement, which by the way were checkered coo lots and a white blouse with a red collar and a checkered pocket. I know what you are thinking, and yes it really was stunning.

The night before school started I started doing my research. What would be J.J.’s premier outfit? Would it be the twin, oh I sure hoped. Day’s went by with no coo lots in sight and just when I was about to lose hope she appeared, looking like a teenage beauty in checks. It was the day; I had been saving my twin outfit for just this time. I ran to my room and put on the mini version, hoping for at least a photo op., but my plan was foiled and she insisted that I change. Though I was sad, I knew I had one more trick up my sleeve. In a little over three months I was going to have a Birthday and surely she could not deny me my one Birthday wish. I started early… say mid October. I put in my Birthday request. As true to Peterson fashion she said “We’ll see”. It was a long wait, but oh so worth it. On my 9th Birthday she and I wore the twin. Sure it was snowing and we were wearing coo lots, but we looked great and fashion will not wait for good weather.

It is true that imitation is the best form of flattery. Whatever my sister did I wanted to do. Wherever my sister went I wanted to go and whatever my sister wore I wanted to wear. More often than not she let me do what she did and go where she went. She drew the line with fashion, but I can’t blame her there. We are adults now and friends, but she will always be my big sister and I will always think she hung the moon (most likely while singing “Lights out love songs”).



Gratitude

• For my RAD big sister!

• I have been able to nurse Noel for five months now.

• My kids love taking baths.

• The cookies that I forgot to put vanilla in are still edible. (in the eyes and mouth of Corbet)

• Many of Dylan’s toys are dishwasher safe!

• It’s summer…finally!

My sister with Plum.  If I had a picture of us as twins on my Birthday you know I would post it and frame it for that matter.  My photo Op. was missed, but the memory is Oh so clear!