6 Things I have Learned to Appreciate at College

1- A big family that has taught me how to get along with/live with all sorts of people.

2- Little kids. They're the best

3- The obvious. Feeling hunger and knowing that there is nothing in my half shelf of food that sounds even remotely appetizing definitely makes me appreciate a home cooked meal, left overs, and just food in the cupboard.

4- Technology. Skype rocks! Also, having a cell phone makes life pretty easy too.

5- Good grades. It isn't a lie. Good grades help when it comes to money.

6-Prayer. Sometimes when I read a chapter of my physics book, I realize that my brain is not big enough to understand it all. Thankfully, it can grow :)

Tangled/Rapunzel hair

Today we decided to do a project that was recommended by my neighbor Tricia. We made Rapunzel hair!  First we took an old headband that the princess crown had broken off of. (We have gone through many Dollar Store princess headbands)  Then we got some yellow yarn and cut it twice as long as we wanted the hair.  Then we folded it in half, placed it around the headband, and slipped the loose ends through the loop.  It was so easy and Hannah loved helping with it.   If you want better pictures :)  here's a link to Tricia's blog and her tutorial.  It didn't take hardly any yarn at all!

Dino Easter Eggs

I don't think I have dyed Easter eggs since before I left for college.  But I found this darling idea and am now dying (ha) to try it!

Easter Traditions?

The best part of having your own small family (and not living very close to extended family) is deciding what traditions you want to carry on, leave behind, or start.

For Easter, growing up, I loved making Easter Bread (which comes from my grandma), making cream puffs with my mother, watching Easter Parade (starring Judy Garland and Fred Astaire), and watching Easter Dream. 

Since I have been married, some of these things haven't happened during the Easter season especially with small children. This year, I want to find some new traditions that are a little more kid friendly, and I want your ideas. I want to hear them all from egg hunts to talking about Christ's resurrection.

What are some of your favorite traditions for Easter?

They Lied to Me about Life- Life is What You Are

I got this article a long time ago in college, and I loved it, so I thought I would share.  It is by Jaroldeen Edwards and was printed in the LDS Church News, March 10, 1990.  Here's a link directly to the article.

"I'd like to share an experience I had that helped me understand the importance of my role as a mother. Right after my first novel was published I was interviewed by a large East Coast newspaper for a feature article. The reporters came to my home in Connecticut on a Saturday morning. They were two attractive and sophisticated New York women who had graduated from a prestigious Ivy League school. Both had achieved considerable success in journalism.The lead reporter was about 30, had been an editor of Seventeen magazine, had worked for several major publications, and was now a sought-after feature writer. She was dressed in the latest fashion and seemed the ultimately successful career woman.

I must confess that I was a little chagrined as the morning progressed. I was trying so hard to give the appearance of a professional writer, but every few minutes one of my children would pop into the living room with a problem or a question. My boys were playing a noisy game in the family room, the stereo was on in the basement play room, and the phone would not stop ringing. Neighborhood friends ran in and out the doors, and finally, my 5-year-old (who had had enough of having to "stay out of the living room") came bouncing in with a smile and plunked herself down on my lap.

We finished the interview, which had taken about two hours, and the reporters got up to leave. The younger one asked if she could use my phone. As she left, the cool and sophisticated senior reporter walked over and sat down on the couch next to me.

"There's something I want to tell you," she said intensely.

I looked at her in surprise. Very slowly, she said, "I just want you to know that we were sold a lie."

"What do you mean?" I asked, totally puzzled.

"I mean, when I went to college they lied to us," she replied. "They told us we were brilliant, and that we had the obligation to seek success. We were told not to throw our lives away on husbands and children, but to go out into the world and to succeed. We were told that only through a professional career could we `find ourselves' or live a worthwhile life.

"I just want you to know that this morning I have realized it was all a lie. I have come to know that a career is not a life - it is only something you do until you find a life. Life is what you are.

"I would like to tell you I would trade all my so-called worldly success for one day of living your life."

Although it may be necessary for mother to work out of the home, I have always been thankful that our mother was able to stay home.  It has made a huge difference in my life.  Love you MOM!

-Heather

Weddings...

I am a traditionalist. Through and through. It always comes out when there's a wedding coming up and I get rolled eyes when I request outdated things like; "Could you please dress UP for your announcement pictures? "Could we use Mrs. and Mrs. Keith Eddington instead of Keith and Diana?" or " I don't care if it takes days, I want to hand write every address on every envelope, whether I get help or not! (That's a lie, because I really couldn't do it myself) So, tonight we had an invitation party. Angie made brownies. Kiana, Angie, Lana and I hand wrote hundreds of addresses, Matt stuffed and Emily filed them in alphabetical order (to ensure no duplicates) We had a great time. Children running, phones ringing, people coming in and out. Wonderful bedlam!

So what IS the big deal? Why do I want things "just so" for my children's weddings? Why can I just not bring myself to use stickers? Well, you see, Matt's getting married. I have prayed and hoped and taught and loved him all his life. He was my miracle baby. The only one that didn't cause me the normal pains of childbirth. He has brought joy to my soul and laughter to our home. I will soon entrust sweet Kim to love and care for him. But I will miss him at my breakfast table. I miss you all at my table. I am so happy you are all coming home. So, what about the handwritten envelopes? I answer to that one lies deep in my heart.

MOM

How to keep a 10-month-old entertained in the Doctor's office

1.  Read a book.  Several times.

2.  Let him crawl on the waiting room floor until his name is called.

3.  Give him your cell phone to play with.

4.  Bounce him up and down, throw him around, look out the window and up at the fluorescent lights.

5.  Show him all the instruments in the examination room.  (Don't mess with them too much!  The doctor will notice.)

6.  Change his diaper.

7.  Grab a tongue depressor out of the jar; use it as a drumstick/sword/chew toy.

8.  Set him on the doctor's swivel stool and spin him around.  Back and forth, back and forth.

9.  Feed him little snacks.

10.  Put him BACK on the swivel stool, this time on his stomach.  Then he can watch the wheels as he spins.

11. Pull out the cell phone and start taking pictures.

(Hopefully the Doctor has come by now.)

Kids are Funny

Yesterday Mom and I were talking at her house when the phone rang. It was Kiana, who had been in the room talking with us just two minutes before. Mom immediately started laughing and told Kiana we would be there in a minute.

Well, my son Sam had apparently locked his sister Bella in the chicken coop when she was playing in there (don't worry  -there are no chickens in there currently...it's just being used for storage). Kiana and Lily had gone in to rescue Bella, and Sam locked them ALL in the chicken coop. Luckily, Kiana had her cell phone in her pocket and called us to let them out.

When we got out into the backyard, Sam was giggling like a little girl and couldn't stop. He thought he was so clever and got quite a kick out of the whole thing. I have to agree with him that it was pretty funny.

Right after that, I took him home to feed him lunch to get him ready for school, and he still giggled through the whole meal.

Thank heaven for children and laughter.

-Angie

Hypnobirthing

I have been studying about hypnobirthing. Angie has asked me to be her labor coach (doula) during her "birthing time." I am fascinated by the notion that you can actually anesthetize yourself using the power of your willl. It just takes the "mind over matter" principle to the max. I have studied the manuals and am learning the cues, words and other parts of the hypno birthing plan and have found them to be fascinating. I am excited to put it all together and help Angie have a wonderful birthing experience. If you know of anyone who has used this program, I would surely like to hear your thoughts, suggestions, helps, anyone???

My mom always told me that giving birth was like going to hell and back.

I have found just the opposite to be true. I have visited heaven and found those visits most sweet. Not all visits do you get to come home with a prize, but there is an element of sweetness in even with the pain, just being near heaven, the place of life.

And when Angie and I work to bring her new little one home, we will definitely be looking for angels.

-MOM

Dad really wouldn't have killed us.

For some reason, the parents keep bringing up the fact that all these years, Dad wouldn't have killed us - even if we got bad grades, or wrecked the car, or went to hair school, or pierced our ears. Does that surprise me?? Not really. I really never thought dad would kill me. No, instead I dreaded even worse: he would be disappointed in me. It is interesting to me how Mom and Dad's opinions and beliefs were very apparent whether or not they wanted them to be. :)

After hearing what a waste it was for someone to use scholarship money to go to hair school, and the importance of good grades so I could go to college one day, I guess I just assumed that it was looked down on to go to trade school and not get a degree. Turns out, Dad wouldn't have killed me if I chose that route, but I still felt like I would've let him down in some way. He thought I could do harder things, and if he thought so, then it must have been true.

Mom and Dad didn't really make a rule about piercing ears, wearing two piece swimming suits, going to college, failing classes, and I haven't ever heard a rule that we can't wreck the cars; but I always knew what they expected. We tend to follow rules or guidelines that were never "set" because we all felt/feel the need to make Mom and Dad proud. Why is that? How do we raise our own kids so they know what is expected of them? I, for one, am glad to have some idea of what Mom and Dad expect of me. It is through those expectations that I can also feel how much they believe in me. I feel like they see a potential in me that I often can't see myself. Love you mom and dad!

Bedtime Stories

There is nothing quite as fun as Daddy reading bedtime stories.  With our daddy gone so much the kids really love when he sits down to read them stories.  We've been on the hunt for good "chapter books" that a 6,5,3, and 1 year old would like.  Tricky.   However, our current reading is this:   

Who hasn't read this series and loved it?  I bet very few. It is a classic. Matt even named his childhood dog "Boone" after one of the characters. It has been around for a long time and it's perfect for bedtime because the chapters are short, but lots of fun. 

Any other suggestions you may have for bedtime stories for older children?

-Heather

April Fools

I don't recall April Fool's Day being much-observed in our house.  Aside from my annual short-sheeting and a few small pranks, we kept things pretty mellow, didn't we?

Which is not to say we didn't do our fair share of pranks throughout the rest of the year.  (Jordan!)
Between the garbage bagging, ding-dong lying, toilet papering, and prank-calling (I'm sure I'm the only one who did this...), we certainly spread the mischief around.

However, I was just remembering the April Fool's Day when somebody saran wrapped two of our cars together.  Not just any cars, either - the 15-passenger van and the Lebaron!  They did an amazing job, too; I've never seen such good saran wrapping, before or since.
The best part was that they must have done it after we did the paper route, but before we left for school.  That was so awesome.

It's really a shame we never figured out who did it.  I would still like to congratulate them on a job well-done.

(What pranks do you remember?  Was Angie the only one who got "caught?")