So, Gracie is six and talks non-stop. She can make me crazy in 30 seconds or less. She always wants to be right next to me, doing EVERYTHING I do. Some days I can handle it, others NOT SO GOOD. I think I have mentioned this several times before (sorry to repeat), but I have a HUGE personal space. I want space. I need space. I love space. I need to feel like I can breathe. Gracie is in MY space all of the time. It is not that I don't love her to death. I think she is darling and fun to be around... as long as it is not too close.
Last night I was stressed out! I had to get 100 CD's burned for church this morning and one of our computers was out of commission. The other computer was so slow at burning the CD's. I could only burn 6-7 CD's each hour... that equates to a lot of hours. Well there was Gracie, trying to sit on the same chair I was sitting on, talking non-stop, wanting to touch every CD I put in or took out of the computer. It was taking everything in me not to lose my temper and scream at her. By 8:00 pm I had burned less than 20 of the CD's. My boys were crying that they were starving and needed to eat. I left the table and started making dinner. I tried to get a load of laundry started while dinner was cooking. When I was finished, I came back over to the table to find 3 more CD's burned and another on it's way. There sat Little Lou putting labels on the CD's she had burned and putting them in their jackets. I asked her if she even knew what she was doing. She walked me through the process. It was perfect. She said, "I watched you do it mom, and I know what to do". She sat at the table until midnight last night burning CD's. At one point Garrett came over to help. She told him he could put the labels on the CD's. After his first attempt she fired him. He had not taken his time to put the label on straight! She was so careful to do everything right. I just let her take over and she was so proud of the work she was doing. And I was able to get a couple of other projects finished that had been pushed aside all weekend.
I really am so grateful for this little girl. She is very smart. She is very helpful (if I will let her be). She loves unconditionally. She is witty and fun. After watching her last night, and seeing how much she wants to be a part of what I am doing... I have realized I need to focus on her good qualities more and be grateful I have her to share my space with.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Let the adventures begin...
Well we are just a couple of weeks into the new year. There is already so much going on.
Ginger- the hamster that lived
Meet Ginger, Grant's pet hamster. She has become quite entertaining. She runs around like crazy now. She lets the kids hold her without biting them. She loves the wheel in her cage (especially at 3:30 am). And she goes absolutely wild in her ball (thanks Lunds- that was an awesome Christmas gift!!!) She will get that thing moving so fast and then try and stop. She does a complete flip. It is quite funny to watch. Grant is in love with her. We are thrilled that he has a new friend.
The Caveman
Russ' scouting adventures continue. He started off the new year taking his scouts to the Klondike Derby. He had four hours before the boys had to go to bed and wanted to have something to pass the time by. So he built a huge snow cave. Three of his scouts slept in it that night (not Russ, he slept in his red snow cave - A.K.A. his car). The boys that slept in the snow cave said they stayed so warm. Anyway, they survived another campout. Russ really does enjoy his callings. He stays extremely busy and makes many sacrafices, but he loves those boys.
The Wise-r Man
Garrett started baseball and basketball this past week. He has already learned something new... where NOT to stand at 2nd base when a boy is sliding into the plate!
This is after 5 days of healing. Hopefully, we won't have too many more of these this season. His coach said he was just lucky Kyle wasn't wearing his metal cleats yet- OUCH! His coach said he was tough and only shed one BIG tear. Good job Garrett- I would have been crying like a baby for days!
Ginger- the hamster that lived
Meet Ginger, Grant's pet hamster. She has become quite entertaining. She runs around like crazy now. She lets the kids hold her without biting them. She loves the wheel in her cage (especially at 3:30 am). And she goes absolutely wild in her ball (thanks Lunds- that was an awesome Christmas gift!!!) She will get that thing moving so fast and then try and stop. She does a complete flip. It is quite funny to watch. Grant is in love with her. We are thrilled that he has a new friend.
The Caveman
Russ' scouting adventures continue. He started off the new year taking his scouts to the Klondike Derby. He had four hours before the boys had to go to bed and wanted to have something to pass the time by. So he built a huge snow cave. Three of his scouts slept in it that night (not Russ, he slept in his red snow cave - A.K.A. his car). The boys that slept in the snow cave said they stayed so warm. Anyway, they survived another campout. Russ really does enjoy his callings. He stays extremely busy and makes many sacrafices, but he loves those boys.
The Wise-r Man
Garrett started baseball and basketball this past week. He has already learned something new... where NOT to stand at 2nd base when a boy is sliding into the plate!
This is after 5 days of healing. Hopefully, we won't have too many more of these this season. His coach said he was just lucky Kyle wasn't wearing his metal cleats yet- OUCH! His coach said he was tough and only shed one BIG tear. Good job Garrett- I would have been crying like a baby for days!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Gone in the twinkling of an eye...
What happened to 2009? I swear I was just writing New Year Resolutions a couple of weeks ago! I was reading back through our blog about our 2009 events. We truly are a blessed family. I am so grateful for all that we have, all that we are able to do, and all of the wonderful people we are surrounded with. I am sometimes disappointed when I look back and see all of the things I didn't accomplish in the past year. There is always so much more I could have or should have done. But to dwell on those things would take away from the many things that we were able to do. It does help me see things that I would like to improve on this coming year.
We are SOOOO excited for 2010. We have many adventures planned. We have new challenges to face. And so much fun to be had. Here is a glimpse at what is PLANNED for 2010 (we reserve the right to change our minds at any time during the year):
Russ- This year he is taking our family to Puerta Vallarta in February. A little sun, a little tan, a little 80 degree weather- can't wait! Russ will also be travelling to Guatemala in April on a fly-fishing excursion. We are excited to see those sailfish photos. He will be taking his annual trips to the Henry's Fork and Yellowstone and probably one more big trip- to where? Heaven only knows. I will find out about one week before he departs. It will go something like this, "Oh, by the way, did I tell you I am going to ______ this Monday to fish for _______? I will be gone for about ten days. You cool with that?" He is a fly by the seat of his pants kinda guy, and I have grown to love it. Russ is also planning to run the St. George Marathon this year with Uncle Brent (This is where the "reserve the right to change our minds" comes into play).
Garrett- Is turning 12 and will be receiving the Aaronic Preisthood in February. I cannot believe he is already that old. He is excited to enter the Young Men's program and have his dad as his Scout Master and Young Men's leader. This year Garrett is playing on a tournament baseball team and will be playing all over the state. We are excited to see him improve. He has great, enthusiastic, devoted coaches. We are grateful they are willing to share their time and talents with Garrett. He will again play basketball and football as well. Rah-Rah-Rah every week filled with sports!
Grant- Is starting basketball this week with his cousin, Gavin. We love basketball season as it is short and sweet. Grant started in braces and has a mouth FULL of metal and rubber bands. We are anxious to see the results of his first phase. He has also entered into the blissful experience of pet ownership as he got a new hamster (after our terrible Christmas day experience). Ginger is his new hamster and she is very boring thus far. She stays buried in her wood chips ALL day and comes out at night to eat her food, drink a little water and then hide once again. She hisses if you stick your hand in her cage and tries to bite if you pick her up. She had a near death experience tonight when Garrett tried to hold her. She bit, he dropped her, she went back into the cage- under the wood chips. (We are not good pet owners!!!) But Grant loves her. He says she is a "cutie pie". If she ever comes out of the wood chips again, we might snap a few pictures.
Gracie- The poor little girly has been supporting her big brothers and their numerous activites for years. She cheers for them. She travels for them. She endures weather of all types for them. Well it is her turn. She will enter some sort of activity of her choice this year. I think she is wanting to try gymnastics. I would like her to begin piano as well... we will see. It will be entertaining I am sure. She is so enthusiastic about everything.
Happy 2010 to everyone!
We are SOOOO excited for 2010. We have many adventures planned. We have new challenges to face. And so much fun to be had. Here is a glimpse at what is PLANNED for 2010 (we reserve the right to change our minds at any time during the year):
Russ- This year he is taking our family to Puerta Vallarta in February. A little sun, a little tan, a little 80 degree weather- can't wait! Russ will also be travelling to Guatemala in April on a fly-fishing excursion. We are excited to see those sailfish photos. He will be taking his annual trips to the Henry's Fork and Yellowstone and probably one more big trip- to where? Heaven only knows. I will find out about one week before he departs. It will go something like this, "Oh, by the way, did I tell you I am going to ______ this Monday to fish for _______? I will be gone for about ten days. You cool with that?" He is a fly by the seat of his pants kinda guy, and I have grown to love it. Russ is also planning to run the St. George Marathon this year with Uncle Brent (This is where the "reserve the right to change our minds" comes into play).
Garrett- Is turning 12 and will be receiving the Aaronic Preisthood in February. I cannot believe he is already that old. He is excited to enter the Young Men's program and have his dad as his Scout Master and Young Men's leader. This year Garrett is playing on a tournament baseball team and will be playing all over the state. We are excited to see him improve. He has great, enthusiastic, devoted coaches. We are grateful they are willing to share their time and talents with Garrett. He will again play basketball and football as well. Rah-Rah-Rah every week filled with sports!
Grant- Is starting basketball this week with his cousin, Gavin. We love basketball season as it is short and sweet. Grant started in braces and has a mouth FULL of metal and rubber bands. We are anxious to see the results of his first phase. He has also entered into the blissful experience of pet ownership as he got a new hamster (after our terrible Christmas day experience). Ginger is his new hamster and she is very boring thus far. She stays buried in her wood chips ALL day and comes out at night to eat her food, drink a little water and then hide once again. She hisses if you stick your hand in her cage and tries to bite if you pick her up. She had a near death experience tonight when Garrett tried to hold her. She bit, he dropped her, she went back into the cage- under the wood chips. (We are not good pet owners!!!) But Grant loves her. He says she is a "cutie pie". If she ever comes out of the wood chips again, we might snap a few pictures.
Gracie- The poor little girly has been supporting her big brothers and their numerous activites for years. She cheers for them. She travels for them. She endures weather of all types for them. Well it is her turn. She will enter some sort of activity of her choice this year. I think she is wanting to try gymnastics. I would like her to begin piano as well... we will see. It will be entertaining I am sure. She is so enthusiastic about everything.
Happy 2010 to everyone!
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