A House of Order

I really try to have a routine in place around here. We do pretty well most of the time through afternoon naps. Then it kind of falls apart in the afternoon and we get ourselves back together in the evening. Routine and order help me to be able to handle life with these 3 wee ones and I notice helps my children, as well. They seem to thrive on routine.
For example, Emma knows that Sunday is the day we go to Church and we don't watch regular DVDs, only Church ones. Monday is Family Home Evening; Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays are the days we have baths; Fridays we have playgroup.

Every morning, after breakfast, I put Grant down for his morning nap and I straightway change into my workout clothes and do my Tae Bo video. Immediately after that I turn on the girls' one DVD for the day and hop into the shower before Grant wakes up again. Emma has begun to say the same thing to me every day before I get in the shower:
"Mom, if someone knocks on the door I will come get you. Is the door locked?"
"Yes" I answer. (It always is)

So, the other morning I got them set up with Sesame Street and Emma must have been so into it that she forgot to say her 'lines'. A minute or so after I started my shower I hear a scream of sorts coming from the family room. They usually do so well during this time, so I was surprised and before I could formulate thoughts as to what the matter could be, Emma runs into my bathroom and asks if the door was locked. She realized she had not kept with the routine and had to make it right! Of course, on her heels was sweet Arianna who has to repeat everything Emma says and came into the bathroom also to ask the same question.

Another funny things Emma does in relation to a routine is at bedtime. She first goes to the bathroom, then brushes her teeth, then gets her pajamas on. Then we read Book of Mormon stories, then another book, then pray, then snuggle, then it's into bed. If you try to change the order at all, she is quite upset. And the last words out of her mouth as you leave her room are, "When I'm done sleeping I want you to come get me". This is so strange because, we never come get her, she always comes into our room and gets US up. (She is my alarm clock) Now, of course, it's not just Emma who says this to us, Arianna joins right in. (At least for her it is appropriate- she is still in her crib and actually needs me to get her.)
Emma even says this to me when I leave the room during her afternoon resting time. She doesn't even nap!! What a silly girl!
Anyway, I think order is a great thing.

We love you, Grandma and Grandpa!

Now, if this isn't a classic shot of Dad, I don't know what is!





We had very nice visit from Grandma and Grandpa this past weekend. They got plenty of reading done while they were here. (Mostly children's Lit. wink, wink) The kids just loved having them! It was funny how well Emma took to Grandpa this visit; From the time she was 6 months old to probably about 2 years old she screamed everytime she even saw him! Glad she is over that! Thanks for coming, Grandma and Grandpa!!!

Six months old!

Grant is 6 months old! I can hardly believe it has been that long. Grant is quite the chunk! At his 6 month check up on Monday he weighed:

18 lbs. 2 oz.

27 inches long

We are just glad he is healthy, albeit LARGE! He is sitting up pretty well for a couple of minutes, but we can't leave him because he will fall over. We have started him on some solids. He'll like it one day, but the next doesn't want much to do with it. He's had rice cereal, pears and peaches.
Mostly he is a smiley, happy boy.

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.