MY LITTLE SUPER HEROS

Ashton insisted we make popcorn together on the stove. He loves popcorn. After they ate all the popcorn they could handle they threw the remaining popcorn all over my bedroom. I made them vacuum it up. They loved it. They thought vacuuming up popcorn was the best thing they did all day. Sigh. I don't think I discouraged them from throwing popcorn all over my room.

They dressed up like superheros half way through the day and spent a good hour jumping off of everything they could. They challenge each  other to jump from a higher step on the stairs everyday. Ashton never shies away from a challenge. One of theses days they are going to break a leg. 

Sierra is really ill. She has gone from bad to worse. What is going on? I don't think she is ever going back to school and that we will ever be back on our routine. I have an appointment with our doctor today. We will see how that goes! Sight. I think she has strep or the flu. Either is very miserable. She keeps saying she hurts all over. 

MOM and DAD came to VISIT

 They showed up at my doorstep unannounced. I was exhausted and had been having back labor all day. I was a bit angry, "Who could be knocking at my door at this time of night. When I saw it was my mom, I almost started to cry." They came because they had an appointment with Dr. McKnight. Dad needed a tooth pulled and one put in and mom needed one ground down and a cleaning. We got them taken care and dad bought us ice cream. We are so happy they came. They will be missed. They only stayed two nights but we will take what we can get.

WEIRDY BROTHER

James drew this picture the other day. He said, "Do you want our baby brother to look like this?" I didn't know whether he was wanting his brother to look like his picture or not. I said, "Sure buddy!" He said, "No you don't! He is a weirdy brother, but that is what he is going to look like if you name him Frank!" He is not a huge fan of naming his brother Frank, it is okay neither is his father, but I think it is adorable. My two top names are Logan Michael and Benson Spencer, but Nate won't talk about it, so I guess we will decide in a few weeks.

TWO WEEKS 5 DAYS

Everything's hurting! Everything! I am going to be very happy to have this pregnancy over. I hurt everytime I move.  I can't believe how much a few weeks can do to your overall well being.  A few weeks ago I was exercising everyday and now I feel like I can hardly  bend or turn without being in extreme pain! I am so happy to meet this little boy. I know my children are too. James and Ashton give him kisses everyday. I love that they love him already. 

I am sending the girls back to school tomorrow.   I am happy to finally be able to have a clean house. I hate that I care so much but I do.  When everyone is laying around sick and one mess is a dozen in five minutes, it works on your nerves. Everyone tells me I am so lucky to live in a small house because it doesn't take that long to clean, which is true, but trust me it doesn't take that long to make a mess especially when all four of your children are home and sick and can't go outside. 

Ashton has to get better. He cries ever time his nose runs. I can't handle it. I won't let him wear long sleeve shirts anymore because he uses his sleeve to wipe his nose and his whole face is raw. I have tried teaching him not to use his sleeve but he insists. Luckily he won't rub his boogers on his bare arm, short sleeves are my answer.

I gave the lesson in young women's today. I haven't had the ability to focus on preparing a lesson. I hate it, but I had to wing it today. Funny enough the 2nd counselor had spent time preparing a lesson for the Beehives. The Laurel advisor's children were sick. She wasn't there. (Mine were too, but...) The YW president insisted we all combine and I give the lesson. I freely admitted I was going to wing it. She said that will be great. I guess I should take that as a compliment, but it would have been easier to let the second counselor do it. It went well. It was in the Savior Jesus Christ and I can't think of a more easy topic to wing it on. I do love the Savior and the influence his life has had on my life. I would not be who I am without his words and his atonement. 

James did say the other day, "You love Jesus, huh, mom!" I said, "Yes, I do!" I am glad he can tell by the music I listen to and the way I live. I have never told him that, at least I don't think I have. I do love Jesus.

JUST ANOTHER SATURDAY

 

This morning I woke up with no energy. I got to bed late last night. I am not sleeping well, it is to be expected, I only have a little over two weeks till I am due. I am not sure where all the time has gone. I remember using markers to help James understand when his brother was going to be born. First Halloween, then Thanksgiving, the Christmas, then Ashton's Birthday, then your birthday, then your new baby brother's birthday. We have passsed all of our markers and there is just one more left. How is that possible? 

We took Ashton to Walmart and let him pick out an extra special poop treat. I was willing to buy him a ride on quad, or anything he wanted. He wanted paw patrol bubbles. I bought them. He hasn't pooped in the potty yet, but he hasn't pooped his pants either. We are waiting. He will probably poop during nursery tomorrow. I wish I didn't have to contend with that tomorrow, maybe I will keep him with me. 

My friend Barbara invited me over for Pho. It was delicious and just what I needed. I left the kids with Sierra, so Ashton had his first accident in two days. Still, the break may have been worth it. 

Nate got back from Denver this evening. He is happy to be home and we are happy to have him home. He has been gone since Wednesday.  The girls have been out of school all week sick and I have been potty training and pregnant, talk about hell week. We made it.  We may have not faired well but we faired and that has to count for something. 

POTTY TRAINING

Potty training this boy has been an adventure. I started six months ago and gave up. I told my mother I was done till after the baby was born. She insisted that he is three and he can do it and if he wasn't all the way there she would take over while I was in the hospital and the days following. Armed with that promise I decided to move forward. I told him he was a big boy now and had to throw away his diapers. Then for two straight days he peed himself. Then he would run and tell me he needed to be changed. I was at my wits end and cursing my mom a bit, sorry mom you know I love you. I called my sister Michelle she said, "Lisa, this is what you are going to do. Go to Walmart, not the dollar store, buy him prizes he will love and he gets a prize for ever success no matter what." I was desperate and listened. Within an hour that kid stopped having accidents, he hasn't had an accident since... except poop. He won't poop on the potty. I have a plan and I pray it works. Pray for me.

Sierra and I went on a date tonight. Nate's in Denver and I felt like she needed a little Mommy Daughter Time. We went to Munchies a hamburger and fry place and ate and then we went to a play at the High School. She sat up and watched the whole thing intently. You could tell she was getting a bit uncomfortable near the end and she wanted to go. I didn't blame her those auditorium chairs were not comfortable, especially for my pregnant belly. We knew one of the girls preforming, Carly Orr. She is one of our Laurels. She is not that active and we really wanted to support her. We gave her the flowers we brought and took off for home. Sierra suggested we beeline it to the movies but ten o'clock is late for me. We headed home.

James loves Lindsay to babysit. I think having her come over was a better gift than anything he got for his birthday.

LONGEST WINTER BREAK

She is begging me to home school her again. I think I might do it for 8th grade. She gets really emotional every time I tell her she has to go back to school. She isn't an emotional child. Christmas break was two weeks. Then she went to school for four days. Then it was MLK day. Then she got sick. Everyday I want to send her to school and every night she looks so bad and sounds so bad I can't bear to send her.

She got her hair cut. She looks like Cleopatra. She insisted on cutting her hair to her shoulder and cutting thick bangs, against my will. However, it is growing on me. She looks younger and I am glad. I see too many twelve year olds looking sixteen. Her hair cut reminds me of me when I was her age.

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY JAMES!

POTTY PRIZES

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY ASHTON MAX