THE FARM and HARDWORK

We woke up early and put on our farm clothes. The clothes in the bottom of the drawers that you never let your children wear in public. We headed over to Kay's Farm. It is the first time I have taken the girls to work on the farm since James was born. Oh, we have come to visit and soak up a beautiful day, but not to work. Today, I told the girls they were going to give me twenty minutes of hard work and the rest of the time they could play. I shoveled weeds. Sierra raked them into a pile. Madison scooped them up between her tiny fingers and put them into the wagon. I told my sweet girls, "Heavenly Father gave us hard work because it strengthens our bodies and souls. It is Satan that tells us that hard work is bad. He will try to tell you that lie your whole life, but hard work is the best thing you can do with your time." They whined and bargained to get out of it. I told them if they wouldn't whine or bargain. I wouldn't make them do another row of weeds. After that, I didn't hear a lot of whining.

 

The best part about working on the farm today for MJ was that she found three ginormous radishes. She giggled so much. She was so excited. The best part for CC was going to be feeding all of her delicious weeds to the five fat, squealing, baby pigs. She loves feeding them. She loves all creatures, especially little ones. As CC was headed over to reap her reward for all her hard work, Brother Bob pulled in on his bike. He told her to follow him because, "They was going to plant some corn." I tried to tell Brother Bob that she was first going to feed the pigs and then she would be over. He didn't hear me. He is in his 80's. He said to Sierra, "Well, come on now." She didn't even hesitate, she turned the wagon over to MJ and followed him to the corn field and started planting. I was proud of her.

 

We found MJ's flip flops that she left at the farm on Memorial Day. She was so excited. She went to put them on and I got caught in a conversation with Brother Bob. The next thing I knew she was crying and clinging to her my legs. I asked her what was wrong. Treasure, CC's chicken she raised, which didn't end up being a chicken but an ornery rooster, was pecking her. Brother Bob picked her up in her arms and chased that rooster from the yard. CC helped. Treasure ran from them for a bit and then turned and squawked and pounced toward CC. She backed away scared. Brother Bob said, "Don't back away from him girl, get him." CC lunged forward and the rooster turned tail and ran.

 

While Brother Bob and Sierra were planting corn. I held James and listened to the sounds of the birds in the trees. Brother Bob said, "Grab a bucket and pull weeds." I picked up the bucket and bent and pulled with James over my shoulder until he fell asleep. I thought of all the women through the ages that must have done the same thing, gardened with a child on their shoulder. He fell asleep and I tucked him into this car seat and placed him under a shade tree. He looked so peaceful.

 

RAINY DAY

 

Monday was Memorial Day. Kay invited us up to the farm for a Memorial Day BBQ. (We were so grateful for the invite, without it Memorial Day might have gone uncelebrated. Nate had plans with one of the young men, Daniel, to go fishing. They spent the whole day until late in the evening fishing.) I committed to bring pies and a salad to the picnic. I first had to run to the store. I got a call from Kay asking if I would stop by the farm and pick up eggs, so I could boil them for her. I said I would love to, knowing I had to run to the store anyway. I gathered my little chicks and got them all put in the car. Then we headed out.

 

When we got to the farm Kay walked with me to gather eggs. Then on the way back to the car she suggested I leave MJ and CC with her, so I could run my errands and make my dishes. I didn't even hesitate. I thanked her, and speed away before she could change her mind.

 

I went home and cooked my dishes while James napped. I went back to the farm when I was done, about two hours later. I found my girls laying down in the grass drying under the sun. They had taken a dip, fully clothed, in Kay's inflatable swimming pool. They were so happy.

 

I helped Kay put the last of the BBQ together. We had two other families from the church over. The food was delicious. The company was good. I was flattered that Chuck was first in line for my banana cream pie. I made them for him.

 

James was done after a full day of busy mom. We didn't stay long. When James escalated to scream, I put him in his car seat and hurried the girls into the car. MJ was at the ditch with her little friend making mud pies. They were covered in mud from head to toe. I threw her in the car with mud all over here. Luckily, I have a car I don't care a thing about. I threw her in the shower when we got home. She was leery about the idea, but when I started singing, Singing in Rain to her, she relaxed. (Wish I had pictures. It is hard to carry around a camera and a baby.)

 

It was a beautiful day and my children had so much fun.

 

Tuesday was overcast all day. I kept expecting it to rain but it didn't. The girls played Barbie's in their bedroom all morning. Sierra has discovered Hailey Mills. She loves her. She watched Pollyanna, Parent Trap, That Darn Cat, and (not a Hailey Mills but from the same time period) Swiss Family Robinson. She has watched them all at least twice since Friday. A little too much television but good television, so I don't mind. I thought about why these movies were so good. The thought came to me, because they celebrate the Family. While CC was distracted with her movies, MJ created this wonderful trail of Barbie's, Barbie's clothes, and pillows, from the pillow fight bag Jenny made us for Christmas.

 

Wednesday, today, we went to the Thrift store and bought a bunch of board games and books for the summer. We had fun searching through our little thrift store, one of my girls favorite activities.

 



LIBRARY

 The library is always a favorite place of ours.

It was the first place that came to mind after a two really crazy days of Summer Break.

Don't you love Sierra's outfit. She dressed herself. I try not to stress the small stuff when it is summer.

I told them they had to keep their hair out of their face, but I wouldn't even make them do their hair all summer, except for Sundays of course.

They were pretty excited about that.

After collecting as many books as their arms could carry, we headed home.

All the excitement and conversation, after we got home, was about a book on sharks.

Go figure.

My girls.

Funny story:
I picked up Sierra from a birthday party last Saturday.
I had left Madison and James with my friend Barbara.
Sierra said, "Where is Madison and James?"
I said, "I gave them to a French couple."
"Mom?"
"They were really nice and they live in a castle and they said that they would be able to give them everything they ever wanted."
"Mom?"
"What?"
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, Dad and I thought it would be best if the couple came and got them while you were away at the birthday party. You know good byes are so tough."
"Great! NOW YOU MADE IT A REAL DUMB LIFE!"
"What do you mean?"
"I don't have any friends now."
"You have friends. What about that girl at church? You like her."
"MOM, THAT IS NOT THE SAME! Why would you do that, you love James!"

Yeah, she gets her teasing from both her parents.
Don't worry princess, I would never make it a DUMB life. I am glad I have all three of you.

When I pulled up in front of Barbara's house she jumped out really quick and said, "I knew you were teasing."

SIERRA IS FUNNY

 Today was another lazy Sunday.

We were all piled on the couch watching Finding Nemo.

All of our toes were touching and I told Sierra to run grab the camera.

I had painted our toes earlier in the week and I thought they were cute all piled up.

 

Sierra was in the bathroom with me earlier this week. I was doing her hair. She is never happy when I am doing her hair. She said, "I don't like it when you come in to my room in the morning singing. I don't like it when you sing." I said, "Well, you could change your attitude and like that I sing to you in the morning. I could come in your room all fired up and angry, would you like that instead?" She said, "No, but I don't like your singing." I said, "Well, you could choose to like my singing." She said, "I can't change what I don't like." I said, "Yes you can, that is the best part of life. We get to choose whether we want to like something or not. We can change how we feel by making a different choice."

 

She must have been listening.

 

This morning we were getting ready to head to stake conference. The cat got into the house from the garage. Nate wasn't happy. He told Sierra to get her cat out of the house. He then explained again how frustrated he is when she lets her cat into the garage at night because he climbs into the four-runner and sleeps on his seat. Then he climbs into the car with cat hair everywhere. It gets on him and he can't go to work with cat hair on his clothes. (True!)

 

She said, "Dad, I think you need to just choose to like the cat in the garage."

He didn't like that all.

But, she was listening.... and I was one proud mommy. 

BABY BOY ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES THIS AFTERNOON

 Madison shouted excitedly when James rolled over for the first time today, "My baby brother is learning how to roll over and I am learning how to..... rollarblade!" Then she smiled really big.

She was wearing my rollarblades when James rolled over and had been rollarblading around the house all morning. She wasn't rollarblading in a fluid motion just a really stiff mummy roll. However, I think she is amazing in those wheels.

RICE CEREAL

 Madison took these awesome pictures.

Thank you sweet girl.

He likes rice cereal. He is getting bigger.

He his so beautiful.

I love this little boy.

He brings me so much joy.

MY SWEET AMAZING HUSBAND

Nate always remembers to get me something for Mother's Day.

This year he didn't disappoint.

Aren't they beautiful?

I smile every time I look at them.

The vase is amazing too, it is three feet tall.

My grandma loved orchids and could keep them alive for a long time, at least six months.

I am really excited to take care of them.

 

Nate has bought me flowers a lot in our married life.

At first it was cut flowers but they were expensive and died fast.

Then he bought me planted flowers, he thought it was a better use of our money.

I hated it.

I knew it was rude to not just love his plants, but it was just one more thing I felt responsible for. I didn't want to water the plant every day. I didn't want to feel guilty when I couldn't manage to keep it alive. Nate has a knack for picking out not-hardy indoor plants and I have a knack for killing them fast, like within a week. So, why not just buy a cut flower?

I have mentioned it. I hope not too often because it is really rude and I know I just need to change my attitude but.... I am ridiculous, someone should just spank my bottom.

 

I told him yesterday how much I loved the orchids he bought me for Mother's Day. I told him that my sister said you can keep them alive for at least six months. He thought it was hilarious that he bought me a cut flower on purpose, so I wouldn't stress over keeping it alive. He was wondering why I was happy about the fact that I could keep it alive. He asked why I wanted the responsibility of taking care of this cut flower, when I was so frustrated with all the plants he had ever bought me.

 

He is right, I am crazy, but I am really glad he loves me.

 

I guess the difference is that less than a month ago my sweet grandmother passed away and she would have loved these beautiful orchids. They are something she would have in her home. Nate has never bought me orchids. I like to think she was there helping him pick them out.

 

Nate, someday if you ever read this, although I am pretty sure you never will. I want to take care of the orchids, because they are gorgeous. They aren't ordinary. They aren't just a house plant. They are so lovely and it breaks my heart to think of that gorgeous vase empty. Thank you for buying them for me. I will love you forever. Thank you for all you do for me and our babies.

Eternally yours, Lisa.



 A rare picture. Love you, Nate.

SO HOT!!!

 Last week was busy and wonderful. I am sad I didn't blog about it.

 

Thursday, I took the girls and James to the park and we ordered a pizza and played on the merry-go-round and ate.

 

Friday, we went on an early morning hike with all my friends. I made an infant carrier with three t-shirts. Using this tutorial.

(It worked well. My friend Barbara doubted its safety, especially after I told her about the woman's rebuttal video, but it worked amazingly well. I just needed smaller t-shirts. Next time. He actually really liked it too. My children have never liked infant carriers. Plus, it was super easy to make, no sewing involved. I did use a belly-band from my pregnancy instead of the third t-shirt and I think that made it better.) We hiked nearby and the kids played in the bowl and all through the red sandstone rock. I wish I had of had my camera but it is hard to pack a three month old and large camera. I need one of those pocket cameras for those days.

Then all my friends came over for whole-wheat pancakes and honey-butter afterwards.

 

Saturday, we went as a family to the park and had a picnic with Nate's Assistant Samantha, AKA Sam and her husband and three darling children. James fussed most of the time. He hates his car seat and being outside but we are trying to adjust. We can't be hermits for ever.

I spoke in church on Mother's Day. I used Elder Bednar's talk In the Strength of the Lord as the bases of my talk. It really is a life changing talk. Read it, if you haven't. It has changed the way I live motherhood.

Nate bought me a beautiful three foot orchid. I love it.

 

Yesterday and this morning I spent scrubbing the house. The owners are selling it and I needed to prepare it to be videoed and photographed. Yes, that means we will have to move again. I am having a really rough time with the idea. I am praying they never sale the home. I just don't want to move ever again. Sadly, we won't be ready to buy for two more years. SIGH. I am praying something amazing works out.

This afternoon I taught the Art Heritage class at Sierra's school.

Afterwards, the girls said it was so hot they needed to run in the sprinklers. I searched the shed for a sprinkler head but came up with a bucket, PVC pipe, and a head to a water can instead. It worked.

HABITS of a 4 MONTH OLD

He has to have his face covered while he is sleeping.

I layed him down and he grabbed the blanket and covered his eyes.

Yes, I have too many blankets in his crib.Yes, he is sleeping on his stomach.

He drools so much I just keep adding blankets because I don't want him to be face down in drool and he won't sleep on his back.

At the end of the day, I clear out his bed and we are down to the sheet again.

I had a sweet cousin die at 6 months and 3 days of crib death.

I am afraid he is going to smother himself, which is different than crib death, but it all makes me nervous sometimes.

I check on him a lot more than I ever checked on my girls.



I'LL LOVE YOU FOREVER.

 This little one brings me so much joy!

He is cooing like crazy. He jabbers about everything.

He is starting to use his little hands to grab onto things.

He is all smiles when he is awake.

He loves to give open mouth kisses.

We have found two tickle spots, on his collar bones and on his ribs.

He will giggle and then jerk and look at you like, "I don't know if I liked that."

He sleeps well! Yeah.

He is a little angel.

I think I will have twenty more babies, at least that is how I feel when I look into these precious eyes.

JUST HANGIN'

My kids all piled on my bed and watched Barbie movies this afternoon.

Usually the television is off limits on Sunday but today I was tired of contending with bordem and caved in.

It was peaceful.

I was grateful.

WAKE UP

 This picture was taken Thursday. I am surprised it has taken me this long to upload them.

Surprised and not surprised.

It has been a really long week.

Sierra hates going to bed at night, which was fine (not really) before she had school.

Funny, when she was little no matter how late she got to bed she was always up at 7:00am.

Now that she is in school, she still won't fall asleep before 10:00pm despite the fact that I put her in bed at 8:00pm, but she can't get up in the morning.

Barbara comes by to pick her up at 8:30. (Thankfully, because I don't know how I would do it with baby James.)

She was still asleep at 8:18. I had woken her up several times.

And yes, she is sleeping in my bed...... ahhhh.

What am I going to do with that girl?

My week has been crazy, embarassing, and hard.

We get to move again, yeah!

We were looking at buying the perfect little house.

It wasn't meant to be and broke my heart a little, although I am over it now.

So, we are looking to rent again.

Everything I look at costs way more than our mortgage would have been, and is half the size. 

I pray something works out soon.

I am a little nervous about it, but I am trying to trust in my Father-in-Heaven again.

He has never let me down. 

phoningsister.blogspot.com

 

This video was taken over Spring Break. I wanted to share.

 

I and my sister Emily started blogging together about all things Mommy. We have conversations over the phone that crack us up and we thought we would share them. We will also write some MIPs, Mommy tips, some funny and some really funny, but most of them useful. We would like to give you some suggestions for Food Funk Fridays. (My sister and I never know what to cook on Friday, so you will get our simple suggestions for meals on those days.) There will most likely be some simple sewing projects too and our favorite media suggestion. You can follow our conversations at www.phoningsister.blogspot.com.

 

I have wanted to do something like this for a while. This blog is more or less a journal of my family's life, which is something I have never wanted to publicly promote. However I have always thought it would be fun to have a wider audience blogging and so we are going to give it a shot. You can come join us, I would love to see you there.