Passing on my weaknesses. . .

Emma says to Dad one morning at breakfast(with tremendous excitement): I saw a special ball cereal up there [in the cereal cupboard] and it's not named KIX!

What is it called? Reese's Puffs. I love that cereal. I know I should only eat good things, but some things just call out to me to eat them!! At least I have taught my girls they have to eat a healthy cereal first and then the Reese's Puffs. Does that count as dessert at breakfast time?

At least I am passing on some good things too. Here's another little episode that happened the other day. . .

Emma: I have to hurry. I have to go to a meeting.
Me: Where is your meeting?
Emma: In the cupboards. (In the kitchen)
Emma: Arianna, will you please watch my monkey while I am gone?
Me: What is your meeting about?
Emma: (without hesitation) Baby Jesus.

At least she knows the church meetings I go to are on an important subject. And she thinks about getting someone to care for her babies while she is gone! So cute.

Could I have endured it?

I am reading the Work and the Glory Series- for the first time. I know, I am a little late. They've been out for what- 15 years or something?! Well, I started the series about 3 years ago when I was pregnant with my second child. I got really into it and spent a lot of time reading and then had a second baby. . .and then read the entire Twilight Series. . .and then had a third child. . .and just in the last couple of weeks I have started reading again. I am completing the 7th book- 2 more to go.
It has been a wonderful experience for me. I have never been good at History. Like in school. I just can't keep all those dates and people and chronology in my head. I end up zoning out because my brain goes on overload. So, these books have really helped me in my quest for understanding Church history a little more. I get so sucked in to the story that I feel like I am there and in a very small way am experiencing what they went through. It was especially fantastic when my reading in the Work and the Glory lined up with what we were studying in Sunday School. I actually knew some answers!!
So today I had been reading about the last days in Nauvoo, or the City of Joseph, as it was technically named then, right before the Saints started leaving for the West. They had planned on leaving in the Spring, but because of Anti-Mormon Violence and further threats of violence, they were forced to leave their beloved homes, city and temple in FEBRUARY. This wasn't just going on a long road trip, this was leaving CIVILIZATION. Going into the cold and not getting out of it for MONTHS.
I went on a walk 3 buildings up from ours today to get something from the Apartment Complex office. I was carrying Grant in the front carrier and had the girls walking near me. We all had coats on, the kids also had hats. I was cold. I worried about my baby being cold. I walked 3 buildings away on clean, smooth sidewalks with sturdy shoes on my feet in February in Maryland. All I wanted to do was return to my nice warm apartment. As I headed back I had tears in my eyes thinking about what it must have been like. How did they ever do it? How did they endure the snow, the cold, the mud, the rancid food, the death of loved ones, the tragedy and sorrow?
They had testimonies burning in their hearts. That's how.
I feel so thankful for their sacrifice so that I can have the gospel in my life. What do I do to show my dedication to this cause?

Three little monkeys

I found this contraption the other day for $4 and thought maybe Grant would get a kick out of it. He is ALREADY tired of his toys. (He is not even 6 months old and bats them away when he is not interested with a disgusted look on his face. ) Little did I know it would bring joy and happiness to all three of my children and in turn to me!!! First of all it is wonderful because I can sit Grant up in a corner, stabilize him with a rolled up blanket and he can play in there contentedly for a good 20 minutes. Next, it is dang cute when they all three get in there and snuggle up together. Finally, when Grant spits up it doesn't go on my carpet! Yeah!

Food of Good Report

Hello dear friends and family! I have decided to combine my two most favorite recent hobbies (besides kissing babies and reading!) and created a food blog! I just started today, so there is only one thing there, but thought I would tell you about it in case you are interested.

It is:
www.foodofgoodreport.blogspot.com.

Record-Breaking Snows!!

Here are more pictures of today's snow adventures. There hasn't been this much snow here since the late 1800's. We got a total of about 3 1/2 feet. It is crazy!! Emma and I ventured out today and had so much fun! It was very windy! There were drifts up to Emma's shoulders.


Looking up our street


Our courtyard
Our picnic table out in the courtyard

The Courtyard


Wading through the snow
Snow, snow everywhere!

Snow adventures

The girls are actually enjoying the snow! Emma has never before been interested in playing in the snow. I was amazed when I first saw her do this!

It is so out of character for her- in a wonderfully adventurous way! So, the totals for the weekend snow, as recorded at the Dulles airport, was 32.4 inches. Now, we have more coming as I write this on Wednesday. They are calling for about another foot this time around! Crazy! There are so many people not able to drive anywhere who haven't been plowed out (mostly people who live deep in neighborhoods or far from main roads). We live near pretty main roads, so have been able to get out. Plus, we have a parking garage, so gratefully don't have to dig out our car! I did go to the grocery store that is a couple blocks from us Monday night and I couldn't believe all the empty shelves! I heard it was even worse yesterday- running out of milk and bread. There were NO potatoes when I was there and hardly any chips and the vegetable sections, bakery and milk cases were very sparse.
Well, now for the good stuff. . .







Here is what Kenneth had to walk through to get home from work last night! He had to walk on the road, as they haven't plowed the sidewalks. Luckily hardly anyone was driving because of the craziness, so only one car passed him. Normally to walk home after work would be suicide on this road!

Here is the 'sidewalk' beside out apartment complex!

Getting Ripped in the Dark Ages

So, I never really set any New Year's Resolutions this year. I don't know why- maybe I still feel like my whole day is taken up with these darling children and I don't want to stress myself out by not meeting goals. (SO not a good excuse, I know) The only goal I did say out loud to Kenneth was to scrapbook one page a week, but here it is almost mid- February and I have yet to have scrapbooked a single page. Just not feeling it right now. (At least that isn't something that affects my eternal welfare or even my physical well-being!)

So, I am goal-less, but still doing some good around here! I have done my workout video 5 times in the last week. I already feel so much better (until I eat a couple of the amazing Homemade Oreo cookies I made for FHE yesterday- thanks, Julia, for the recipe!) But, really, I feel like my clothes are fitting better already. It's probably all in my head at this point.
When we lived in NY we were members of the YMCA and I absolutely LOVED the Kick-boxing classes. I have missed them terribly. Then I remembered I had a few VHSs of Tae Bo (essentially the same thing). (Yes, I still have many VHSs- I know- so dark ages!) So, I pulled the Basic Tae Bo video out last week and really enjoyed doing it until the VCR ate the tape and in order to get it out I ripped the actual tape inside. So. . . by default I have now moved on the the advanced workouts! I had 2 advanced tapes as well and they are awesome. (They are called "Get Ripped") I forgot how great I feel after doing them- almost as great as going to the class and having someone else watch my children for me! In all reality, it would probably be more stressful for me at this point to load these munchkins in the car and be anywhere on time for a class than it is to just do it here in my tiny living room.

The girls are funny, however. Sometimes Emma will join me in doing a couple of kicks. Sometimes Arianna decides she needs to run around me or hang on me, so I have the added mental and physical exercise of avoiding kicking my 2 year old in the head.

I am enjoying it, which is a great motivator to me, so I plan on keeping it up and getting ripped. . .or at least back to my old self after having baby #3!




This next one is Arianna stretching- so hilarious

Sweet Toesies

I absolutely love this stage when they first discover their toes and can't get enough of holding them! Grant is growing so fast! He slept really well last night and I could have sworn he was 3 inches longer when I got him out of his crib this morning. Sure do love him!

That's a very good question!

Emma revisited the baby girl conversation today at lunch. . .

Emma: "I can't wait to meet the baby girl!"

Me: "She's not coming anytime soon, Emma"

Emma: "Why not?"

Me: "I still have a baby right now. I can't handle another one yet."

Emma: "When can you handle another one?"

That's a very good question. . .

Snowstorm!

Emma's new favorite pass time

Emma's has moved on from Starfall.com to perusing blogs! It is her most favorite thing! She loves to look at their cousins' blogs and at ours and a few other friends. I get her to the blog and she knows how to scroll down, press play for videos and then press 'Older posts'. She sometimes spends 45 minutes or so on the computer and I have to tell her it is time to get down and play or read books. Yesterday, she and Arianna got on the chair together to look at our blog. So cute! So, keeps those posts coming- Emma loves them! (Especially videos!)

Wow.

Emma said to me this afternoon, "I can't wait to meet the little baby girl"

"What baby girl?", I replied.

"Our baby girl".

"When is she coming?" I asked, to see what she would say. . .

"Today." Emma said without hesitation.

"I don't think she's coming today, Emma, I don't even have a baby in my belly".

She thought for a minute and then said, "She'll come when Heavenly Father gives her to us."



Wow.

I am in no way ready for another child right now. In fact, I get all sorts of looks when I am out and about with them like "what in the heck were you thinking!" I know- I feel the same way, too, half the time!

Our trips to the library always seem to bring out those looks from people. I go to the library because the books and videos bring us all a measure of sanity here at home, but getting them can be a little hairy at times.
This last trip to the library started off rough because Grant was tired and fussy. I had hoped he would fall asleep in the car seat on the way there and that he would just sleep through it, but no such luck.
So, this is what we look like going in: I have the double stroller with Grant in his car seat clicked in to the back part and the front seat holds our HUGE bag of books and videos to be returned. You'd think it would be wise to strap the 2 year old in, but truthfully, I can't hold that big bag of books for long and she hates being strapped in anyway and the protests bring more looks. So, I have to make both girls grab a hold of the side of the stroller to keep them safe since I can't steer and hold their hands in the parking lot. A motley crew for sure.

So, we make it safely inside (Luckily no one gets hit by the automatic door opening- ya- we did that before- screaming ensued.) Arianna bolts straight for the childrens' section. Emma follows a little more slowly and Grant is still fussing. I am still hoping he might drift off. No such luck. The girls start playing with the Giant Panda bear who sits on a chair next to the Children's librarian's desk. I remind them not to pull him off the chair, but rather just to say hello. Then they move on to the other toys and begin to play. (They don't pick out any books or videos at the library any more- they are more interested in playing.)
I finally pick Grant up to try to calm him a little, but realize I can't pick out books if I am holding him. So, I find a board book to keep him occupied and luckily it works. I quickly pick out the books and try to lure the girls away from the toys by letting Arianna hold my key chain with the library card on it. Emma was jealous, however, so I took the little light I have on my key chain off and let her carry that- reminding her not to shine it in anyone's eyes. We get up to the counter and start the check out process and I turn around to see Emma shining the light in Grant's eyes! So, I swiftly take it away from her and she starts screaming. At this point there are about 3 or 4 people in line behind us as well. Great- more looks.
Arianna, meanwhile is crawling around under a table nearby trying to find a way to swing from a cross-beam. At least she is close by and in sight.
We finish up and I load all the books back in the bag attached to the stroller and try to get out of the way of the next person in line with Emma trying to dig through the books to carry one- of course, she is indecisive and is undoing my packing job. I park where I think I am out of the way to put the books back in and try to keep Emma happy. I am apparently not out of the way because people keep asking me if I am in line to return books! NO! Just trying to pack my stroller!
Meanwhile, Arianna is taking off again. She heads back to the big bear. I can't see her because the childrens' librarian's desk is in the way, but I see an adult looking down at her somewhat amused and kind of trying to figure out how to intervene or at least figure out who the responsible party is. Yup, she has dragged the bear out of the chair and it is making its way out of the children's area into the main part of the library with Arianna yanking on it's arm. So, I try to move Emma out of the way so I can get to Arianna and the bear.

I finally get them out to the car after a small battle over putting the coats back on. Phew! It's a little exhausting, but we all survived and we have a new stash of entertainment for the next few weeks.

Last time we went to the library for story time Arianna pressed the call button in the elevator and got the fire department on the intercom. Lovely. We were only going one floor, so by the time the operator came over the intercom for me to explain what is happening, the elevator door is mad at me for keeping it open for so long and starts to make that horrible noise and starts shutting, not before I can get the long double stroller out and the front wheels got stuck. A couple of Nannies came to my rescue and we finally got it loose. (There are very few moms with the kids in the library and at the parks around here. Usually it is me and the nannies!) What an entrance! I think the girls liked story time at least and amazingly that time Grant slept through the whole thing!
The other day at play group one of the other mom's with only one child said to me, "Wow, you get a workout simply going from point A to point B."

So, WOW is right! I am definitely not ready to have another baby anytime soon. Sorry, Emma!

Arianna's Birthday Celebration

Arianna asked for a Winnie-the-Pooh cake for her birthday this year. I was not up for creating Pooh with frosting tips, so I decided to buy a figurine to place on top of the cake and then she could have it to play with afterwards, too. (You'll notice in the "Emma's favorite pass time post Arianna has it on the desk next to her-it's her new favorite toy.) We saved Pooh until the very last minute, but had told her he was going to come. She was so excited when she saw him!

This video cracks us up. Kenneth and I watched it over and over again that night just to hear her talk about Winnie-the-Pooh coming to sit on her birthday cake. What a funny girl!
Also, thanks to our dear friends who came to share in the celebration!