Schedules

I was bad!  I should have posted yesterday, but after getting home from my in-law's house, I fell asleep.  This has been quite a week for our little family.  We have done so much and really feel like we are constantly busy, but I think busy is okay, as long as it doesn't become too much.  Our weeks start out bright and early Monday morning.  Monday is always grocery shopping day, and anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE to grocery shop!  I get such a feeling of accomplishment that it gives me my confidence boost for the week (I know weird, huh?).  That's exactly what this Monday was like.  I went shopping.  I was so pleased though as I went to CVS this week.  They were currently out of an item that I figured they would be and then I became frustrated as I talked to a manager about an item, that was supposed the be on sale.  This item was very specific, and as I went down the aisle, they had every other form of the product except that specific one!  When I asked the manager, he kinda shrugged me off and said that they didn't carry it...whatever!  I gathered my other items and went to checkout.  Poor kid that was working the register!  When he asked, "Did you find everything you were looking for?"  I answered with an exasperated, "No!"  then proceeded to tell this poor boy how frustrated I was.  Then he simply asked me to please wait a moment and he picked up the phone and dialed another store.  He explained my situation and asked them to hold the two products I was looking for!  I couldn't believe it!  The MANAGER wouldn't help me, but this teenager was determined to help me out!  Needless to say, I called CVS on the corporate level and complimented him and his wonderful customer service!

Tuesday was such an awesome day!  Eric had his very first tumbling class!  Even though he was a bit upset that Alex wasn't coming with us, he loved it!  The class is a Mommy-and-Me class and allows the kids to play and jump in a safe environment and teach them some coordination and skills at the same time.  I loved it and so did he!  He keeps asking me if he can go to "Tumbing!"  Alex was able to go play with a friend while we went.  The good things is that when Alex starts school, he will be at school when we are at tumbling.  Poor Alex was bitten by three ants while he was playing.  When he gets a bite it reminds me of how allergic he is!  Those little bites swelled up into a huge purple mass on his foot that took five days to return to normal.  The poor guy was having a hard time with his shoe.

Wednesday is story time day at the library.  Amazingly, the kids were better this week and I was ready to pull my hair out!  Alex's story time was a blast!  We talked about odd animals and of course...the platypus.  Anyone who knows my kids, knows that they love the platypus.  We sang songs and made a paper bag platypus.  The whole thing was a blast!

Thursday we went to see the dinosaur exhibit at the Houston Zoo.  I cannot explain how awesome this was.  Dinosaurs are a hot topic in our home and actually getting to see some was beyond cool!  We had a lot of fun seeing all the animals and playing.  We went through the dinosaur exhibit three times before I finally said that it was time to go home.  Alex was able to see how big the dinosaurs really were and Eric, was a bit scared of them and much rather just play with the toy ones.  We had lots of fun and enjoyed the time together. 

Friday was the day that we took Uncle James home to Waco.  My boys LOVE their "Unc Games" as Eric says and they love spending time with him.  The drive o and from Waco is LONG, but my boys handle it pretty well and I didn't even get lost this time!

Saturday was great as I took the boys to Lowe's to build their school buses.  We go to Lowe's regularly for their activities, but this school bus was stinking tough!  After I had been whacked by a hammer hard enough to draw blood (lots of it), we asked to helper if we could have another kit to take home and do right.  I messed it up in the beginning, but didn't notice until the end.  After we got home, we built the school buses and bandaged my finger.  The boys friend came over to play for the afternoon.  Usually when they get together there is at least one argument, but I guess since they hadn't seen each other in a while, there was peace, even after Alex got a shovelful of dirt in the mouth!  That evening the boys went to Grandma and Grandpa's house so that James and I could go to the temple.  We went and apparently once a month they have a session in Mandarin Chinese!  So with our little headsets on we went through the session with some friends.  Afterwards we were treated to dinner at Perry's (very fancy schmancy for us!).  The food was great and the company was even greater.  We had a blast. 

Sunday was pretty typical.  We went to church, and then we proceeded to our classes.  I missed my Primary kids and they had tons of fun.  Eric went to Nursery without too much trouble and Alex went to Sunbeams and only had to be told to be have once.  I guess that is somewhat of a disadvantage to have your mom teach singing time in Primary, because I see everything!  I was so happy to see my friends, I felt like it had been forever since I had seen them, but it had only been two weeks!  after church, we went to the in-law's for dinner and a movie.  The boys love Grandma and Grandpa so much!  We got home late and I clipped coupons, then passed out!

Now, I know I just gave the rundown of a very busy week, and maybe you are wondering why the title is schedules.  Through this whole week we have been working to get the boys on a schedule, specifically for Alex so that he will be ready to start school.  We have a night time routine and a strict bedtime.  We have also started chorew charts (this was Alex's idea) and learning time.  With all of these things starting, this week went great.  The boys behaved better, I wasn't as stressed, and I feel a sense of accomplishment.  We are not perfect at it and we definitely flubbed up some things, but we are working on it together as a family.  I feel like we are now "of one mind and one purpose."  I love my life!  I love being a momy and a wife and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.  I am finally starting to feel a bit more comforatable in my own skin and I thank my Heavenly Father for reminding me of who I am and what I stand for.  This next week looks like it is gonna be a busy one, so until next week...

Tons of Fun and Tons of Sun

This has been a CRAZY but fun week!  My week was filled with a lot of the normal stuff, but lots of fun things too.  I started my week pretty normal...grocery shopping, laundry, etc.  I had the opportunity to babysit some really great kids on Wednesday.  I love these girls and baby boy!  They always keep me laughing and on my toes.  I must admit that when the day was done I was so grateful that I don't regularly care for five children under the age of five.  Later in the week I spent a lot of time in the kitchen baking.  My newly offered cake balls have become a huge hit with friends and James' coworkers!  I love preparing yummy treats for friends and family and seeing that something I made can make them happy and feel good.  I find it all so gratifying.  We did have an opportunity to go to story time at the library this week.  I had not gone because the last time I went, Eric tore through the children's section like a little tornado and I didn't have the guts or the energy to try it again on my own.  However, I got brave and we went on Wednesday for toddler time and then preschool time.  Eric really seemed to enjoy toddler time and Alex didn't think it was too babyish.  We then took a break and checked out nine books!  I love that my kids love books.  Then we went to preschool story time.  Eric lasted through most of it and Alex was a bit bored.  I hope once school starts up the kids will be less restless and maybe there won't be as many.  They really seemed to enjoy themselves and both of them took good naps afterwards.

Eric has been nothing but full of mischief lately!  He is into everything.  Heavenly Father definitely knew what he was doing by giving us Eric second!  Had we had Eric first, I don't think my kids would be so close together in age.  And now I wonder if that is why we haven't been able to have another child is because Heavenly Father knew that Eric would be my totally typical, but crazy two year old.  I do love his little mischievous grin and that little twinkle he gets in his eyes.  This week he dumped an entire container of fish food into the fish tank in the amount of time it took me to go to the bathroom!  Poor Golfie, he didn't know what to do with all that food.  Of course, Moroni wanted to help by licking all the fish food that didn't make it into the tank (YUCK!).  Alex is super excited about school starting and asks me every single day, "How many days until school?"  The countdown is now to 16 days!  We decided to enroll Eric in Tumbling classes once a week while Alex is in school so maybe he can channel his craziness into something constructive and takes place in a padded room! 

This weekend we have been able o enjoy some good times in League City with GiGi.  On Friday we went to Bayou Wildlife Park and had a BLAST!  Alex loves animals so much!  Eric was a bit hesitant about those BIG animals, but he did enjoy himself and loved playing in the puddles after we got caught in the rain.  The boys were able to feed the animals and see some animals they had never seen before.  I loved going to this park when I was little and the last time I had visited, I was pregnant with Alex.  I was glad they enjoyed it so much.

On Saturday, Our family and Aunt Elissa went to the beach!  I had been feeling so guilty that the boys had never even seen the beach and we don't even live that far from it.  We rode the ferry over to Bolivar and played in the sand and waves for hours!  We had so much fun!  Eric was a little scared of the water and then by the time we left we were fighting to keep him out of it!  Alex loved finding shells and jumping in the waves.  We even found a little hermit crab!  We all got some sun!  The boys are only burned in a few spots that we missed with the sunblock but the rest of us are CRISPY!  I even put on sunblock!  I am sore today, hopefully tomorrow most of the sting will be gone.

Later on Saturday evening James and I dashed around to find some Church clothes.  He had forgotten our church clothes at home and we needed something to wear!  I found an adorable dress and James found a nice outfit.  With coupons, clearance racks, and sales we did pretty darn good.  That evening James and I went to one of my best friends wedding reception.  Congratulations to Stephen and Leslie!   They are such a sweet couple!  I enjoyed visiting with friends and sharing laughs and stories. 

Church came WAY to early this morning!  I can't believe they start at 8:30 here!  We all went sleepily to church.  Alex loved Sunbeams, Eric went through half of nursery and then started fussing.  James and I attended Gospel Doctrine that GiGi teaches.  I must admit that some of the stories of Job make me chuckle.  Some of it seems so far fetched and I feel bad for the guy.  I actually got to go to Relief Society!  Eric fell asleep in GiGi's lap and we enjoyed a wonderful lesson.  Now it is time to start packing things up and prepare to go home.  I wonder what next week will bring...

Blessed to be me

This week has been such a roller coaster of emotions but filled with more blessings than I could even imagine.  The week started with Eric going back to the doctor for tests to try and figure out what is going on with his poor little tummy.  This cancelled out our plans to got to the water park with some friends, but Eric had to come first.  Then after a few days of an under-the-weather two year old, I was getting some pretty serious cabin fever. 

Wednesday we got to go play with Alex's best friend and her baby sister while their mommy went to work.  I love watching Alex and his friends play, but oh the things they say to each other crack me up.  At one point in the afternoon the two of them were building "robots' with blocks.  Alex's was tall and mighty and stomped around.  Alex's friend (a girl) made a cute little robot.  She slid hers over to his, Alex took one look at her little robot and rammed his into hers, popping its head right off, along with lots of sound effects!  She then looked at him straight in the eye and said, "I just wanted to talk!"  Oh the difference between boys and girls!  Alex always tells me he is going to marry her in he big temple :)  Well, this week he told me he wasn't sure if she would marry him because, "she knows rock stars."  The two of them keep me laughing.

Later in the week we continued to get Alex ready to start preschool with a new backpack and lunchbox!  I can't believe my baby is growing up so fast!  Eric really wanted a backpack too, so I dug one out of the closet for him.  I hope he copes with not having his brother around for a few hours a week when school starts.  Eric has to do everything Alex does and more.  Lately Eric wants to climb EVERYTHING!  The kid has gotten more bumps, bruises, and bloody lips in the last few days than in the last two years.

Saturday night was a blast!  We had some friends over to play.  Some played the Wii, some played board games, and the kids played with every single toy we own!  The house was filled with laughter, smiles, food, and tons of fun!  Hopefully one day we will have a slightly larger living room where everyone can fit and we aren't tripping over each other.  I was able to experiment with cake balls and they seemed to be a hit!  Yay for new ideas!

Earlier in the day on Saturday the boys and I went to Lowes to make a craft together!  Eric sure does love hammers!  Afterwards we were driving home and came to a stoplight.  There on the side of the road were some demonstrators supporting the new Arizona law about proof of citizenship.  The people were peacefully holding signs and American flags.  Alex saw these people and asked me what they were doing.  I then explained that in another state there was a law trying to be made that makes people prove that they belong in this country.  There are some people who do not have permission to be here and some people believe that they need to leave and get permission to be here.  Those people are standing up for what they believe and supporting those people who are making this law.  Alex then amazed me when he said, "Just like the Nephites and the Lamenites."  I then asked what he meant, and this was his answer..."Captain Moroni made a flag that said what he believed.  Then he told everyone he saw what he believed and he wanted them to believe the same thing.  Then the Nephites made a law that said that if you lived in their land you had to follow the laws and believe in Heavenly Father, and if you didn't follow the laws in the land you went to jail or died."  This brought tears to my eyes as I realized the blessings I have to raise a child, teach him, and learn from him.  This also helped me know that our little morning scripture studies pay off and he does hear me and understand, even if I feel like he is just playing with his Cheerios.  I love being a mommy so much!  I love the opportunity my children have to see people express their freedoms and liberties peacefully and for them to see that it is okay to stand up for what you believe and to stand firm in your decisions and opinions.

Today was a typical Sunday.  Pretty peaceful morning, crazy Primary, and a quiet drive after church.  I also did the happy dance this morning as I stepped on the scale and realized that I have now lost 20 pounds and I am down one size!  Hooray!  I knew that going into this diet it would be difficult and there was a chance it wouldn't work.  I approached it in prayer, received a blessing, and adapted it to the Word of Wisdom.  I knew that if I followed the Lord's commands and relied on Him for strength, then I would be blessed.  I am now halfway through and I am ready to face the next 20 days with a firm conviction and testimony of the Word of Wisdom.  That I "shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint." (D&C 89:20)

I feel so blessed and I am excited for the next week.  On the agenda we have shopping, laundry, cake balls, story time, doctor's appointment, car inspected, Waco, then to League City to see GiGi, friends, a wedding reception, the beach, and whatever else I can!  Until next week...

My little children sing and they talk...and talk, and talk, and talk!

Another week has passed and the things that stick out most in my mind are things that my children (especially Alex) say every day.  Today, Alex gave his first talk in Primary.  He is getting so big!  He was so excited this whole week.  Together we wrote his talk, practiced, practiced, and practiced.  He was ready to stand behind the podium the moment we walked into the Primary room, but he had to wait until the very end, which to a four year old is an eternity.  He did such a good job.  I decided that today I would post some famous Alex quotes...

"Mary had a little lamb, and Jesus Christ is snow."

"I like green, because green means go.  Eric likes red and that means stop, which is what I want him to do because he is BUGGING ME!"

When the hairdresser asked Alex if he likes race cars he replied, "Well that's why I get my haircut here and not at the other place with the football stuff, DUH!"  (we had to have a discussion about respect after this one)

"I think having only one birthday a year is not enough, that's why I should get presents at your birthday too."

"MOM, Eric is being a turkey pot pie!"

And finally, when I asked him why he talks so much he answered, "Because Heavenly Father told me I need to talk a lot."

I do love my Alex so much and our lives would be so dull without him.  I think about him starting Preschool this year and hope he doesn't drive his teacher up the wall too much, but it will be nice for him to have another person to talk to for a few hours a week.  My parents always tell me that the house became alot quieter when I moved out, so I guess he comes by it honestly. 

Where to start...

Well, I am going to give this whole blog thing a try.  I figure I will set a goal to post our family happenings, random thoughts, silly stories, recipes, or whatever comes to mind once a week.  I am learning as I go, so please be patient as I play with formats, "gadgets" and other weird options on this thing...I guess you could call it an adventure, you never know what you will get.

Today was a pretty typical Sunday for our family.  We went to church as usual.  I taught singing time, James substituted in Primary, Alex went to Sunbeams, and Eric actually went to Nursery the whole time :).  After church we drove around a little bit, we love to explore and look at neighborhoods, homes, parks, whatever and the boys usually fall asleep so its just a quiet time for James and me to talk and enjoy each other's company.  We found a really neat old house today and we dreamed about all the fun things that could be done with it and how we would make it if it was ours.  Then we came home to make dinner for us and a friend and her son, but at the last minute they couldn't make it, so lots of leftovers.  We had homemade taco salad...I am learning to be a creative cook on this new diet.  Life is good!  This week doesn't have too much on the agenda, shopping, cleaning, laundry, temple, and a Primary activity.  I am learning to watch my boys and enjoyevery little moment and thing they do because they are growing too fast and I don't want to miss a thing. Well, I guess that is pretty much it for now, who knows, maybe I will enjoy this and post more than once a week.  Now, let's see if I can now actually post this thing :)