Let 'Em Struggle

Remember that story about how you have to let a butterfly struggle out of the cocoon so it's wings will be strong enough to survive?
Apparently Eric never heard that one. As we have been fascinated with the growth of our tomato seeds, we've learned a few things.
First, they take longer than expected and will only pop up after consistent heat (aka: heat lamp) is applied.
Secondly, once one seed comes up, a lot will, so planting 3 seeds per slot in the egg carton is a little over-doing it (and, since the first one "didn't" work, we planted another one, making a total of 24 slots...and now that the first container showed life, we have a TON...you do the math). Now we'll have to slim down the slots to one plant per space.
Thirdly, if you try to "help" the little buggers grow by trying to remove a stubborn seed pod, you will most likely kill the poor plant. Thus the need for Eric to revisit the story of the butterfly.

I've been thinking about the second point. We know we are supposed to thin out the plants and choose the strongest plant. However, how do you know which one is strongest? Just because it arrived first? Because it is tallest? I can see flaws to these options and have just been thinking about it. So, in the mean time, we'll just let 'em struggle. But, I guess I also shouldn't let the Wilbur complex get to me, either (we are reading Charlotte's Web to Emily right now).

Latches, Please

If you haven't heard, Gianna finally gave in and started walking the day after my birthday. It was funny since she basically went from seeming so baby with her crawling around to zooming around the house on two legs.
With her new ability to walk, she also quickly mastered the use of the doors. Since we have the lever-handled doors, it was easy for her to walk up and flip it to open doors in the house when going into a room. I thought it might take her a bit to figure out how to pull open the doors, but, no. She mastered that the very next day. Now she is constantly yelling at me in her baby babble to unlock the back door to make her escape to her love, the outside.
So, if you come over to visit, it may sound like Fort Knoxs, but it is really to keep the children in more than keeping others out.

Best Doctor, EVER!

Since I got married, I've gone through several OB/GYN's. Why? Because apparently, finding a good one isn't as easy as randomly selecting from the list of providers on the insurance sheet. Gratefully, nearly 3 years ago, I was blessed to find not only a great doctor, but one who has an amazing staff, too!
I've taken recommendations from others, only to discover (after having an issue with the doctor) that that person ALSO had issues with the doctor.
Well, I found THE BEST one here. Seriously. He's amazing. I can ask or tell him anything and he listens and answers my questions, get this: like I'm an intelligent human being!! He loves seeing my kids and the entire staff is welcoming and accommodating (yes, I usually take my kids with me).
He also is incredibly gentle and I don't have to abhor the annual visit. It's actually nice to go in and chat with my doctor and it is never uncomfortable or painful as we go through the check-up.
So, here is my big shout out to the best OB/GYN ever!! (Oh, and did I mention that when we called him at midnight on Christmas, that he showed up immediately and stayed for the delivery...no having to go track him down or anything!!) Seriously, Dr. John T. Slocumb is amazing and his entire practice gets two thumbs up, five stars, and the highest points for whatever other scale/rating system you want to use.

Quickly I'll Obey

It's interesting to see the way that the Lord prepares me for my lessons each Sunday. Without knowing it, Emily demonstrated the purpose of this week's lesson (I only just now was able to prepare for it). "Obey your parents" is such a simplistic idea with very complex applications.
As children, we learn to not question our parents when they give a directive. We just go and do. Eventually we understand the purpose for these requests and start doing them on our own. The same goes for obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. At first we do things because we are told, but eventually, through inspiration and testimony gained through the application, we learn to do things because we see the benefit ourselves.
Emily, at the age of three, has had chores that she is responsible for. Basically, anything she is capable of getting out, she has to put away (toys, clothes, etc.). She also is required to feed her dog and is given other assignments as she masters skills (such as watering the flower beds and garden).
Two days ago, as I started cleaning up the kitchen, Emily, unasked, ran off to her room. A few minutes later she returned, triumphant. "Mommy!" she exclaimed, "My room is all clean. You can vacuum!" She took me by the hand and showed me her good work. She was so proud of herself and I was very proud of her efforts and independence in this matter. As I went to get the vacuum cleaner, drama erupted. Emily came running out, throwing her hands up in the air, "Don't, Mommy! Don't! My room not clean anymore!!" The child was so distraught, she could barely breathe. Her face was red and her lips were purple. Gianna had found the clean room, which, to her means she can see "new" toys to grab and play with.
I took Emily by the hand and we cleaned it back up together, reassuring her the whole time that it was okay and how much I appreciated her cleaning her room in the first place.
Later, when I was cleaning the toilet in her bathroom, she questioned me on what I was doing and the purpose for such. I answered (I really believe kids understand a lot, so I explain all about germs and cleanliness). She immediately asked me, "What can I do?" I was about to burst with love for this child! I gave her another small task, which she completed quickly.
I don't know if Emily will continue in this manner, but we are all striving to help her learn her responsibilities and the necessity of doing things without complaining. When she asks why, I try to do my best to give her the purpose for the task so she can grow to understand and then do things on her own as she has her epiphanies over chores, tasks and requests from her parents.
In a similar vein, she will learn to do the things God requires of her and will approach them in like manner: first out of obedience, then out of understanding.

Fire and Kids

Sounds like a good recipe for disaster, right? WRONG! We had so much fun last night with our "camp out". We got a burn permit to take care of the brush and wood we cleared out from our property. Sadly, it included some good firewood, but, since we don't have a fireplace or need for wood, we needed it removed. This sparked the idea that we should have a cook out and roast hot dogs and marshmallows.
The girls had a blast. Gianna looked like an Amazon woman with her cooking spear and, like our fearless child, was much more comfortable around the fire than her big sister. Emily is a bit more cautious and careful around things, which is an added blessing.
We made a table out of our debris cart (it's like the super duper wheelbarrel but rectangular and metal with four wheels and a pull handle). I laughed at how redneck we probably looked, but enjoyed it so much!


We talked about fire and how dangerous and how beneficial it can be, depending on the situation. Emily is great at presenting us with the opportunities to explain things since she is so curious and asks tons of questions and then repeats what she has learned (to anyone willing to listen to her recitation).

Would You or Have You Hitchhiked?

I was listening to the radio the other day and they shared some statistics. Back in the '70's, around 68% of people were willing to hitchhike. Today, that figure is closer to 18% (my hands were in dishwater, so I couldn't get the exact figures). The radio commentary really ragged on people for hitchhiking or picking up hitchhikers.
Although I don't recommend picking up hitchhikers, I must admit, I've been a hitchhiker before.
Back in the days when I lived in Hawaii, I had no job, very little "extra" cash to pay for The Bus, and frequently traveled between Hauula and Laie...around 3-4 miles each way. So, what do people do when they see a blond, fair skinned girl walking on the highway? Well, they pull over and generously offer her a ride.
Let me tell you, I never got into a vehicle unless I felt completely safe. No scary music playing and no hairs standing on the back of my neck. However, I know, as a parent, that it would be terrifying to know that one of my children was sometimes taking rides from strangers.
There were some seriously generous people out there! The people who pulled over were sometimes male and sometimes female. There was one guy who passed me, pulled over, turned around, picked me up and took me in the opposite direction just to be nice. One van load of Samoans pulled over and gave me a lift and there was never anything scary about the situation. Just truly Christian service from these people.
I'm not saying that we shouldn't be careful. I am saying that we should use the Spirit more often in our lives to know when and how to help people; whether they are on the street, in the grocery store, or our neighbors.

Let the Pampering Begin!

I previously posted a brag session on my husband for attending an award weekend for work held this year at Callaway Gardens. We left early Friday morning and drove across the state to check in at the beautiful Lodge.
It was extremely relaxing and refreshing to spend some one-on-one time with my wonderful husband. We checked in, ran an errand (our GPS broke on the way, so we got a brand new one for the difference in taxes...and the new one is AWESOME...and I think we could watch a movie on it: the screen is that big), got back and ate a wonderful lunch, had time to digest, went to our scheduled appointment for our hour massage (AMAZING!!), more time to hang out, got ready for the luau, rode the crazy bus (our driver seriously got lost along the way) down to the beach front, enjoyed dinner and entertainment (I'm still in love with Polynesian cultures!!), chatted with the Regional Director, rode back to the lodge, and fell asleep watching TV. Did I mention there wasn't a single diaper to change, no clothes to wash, no beds to make, no dishes to do, and not to pay a dime for it?
It was so much fun. The only things I would have changed would be no alcohol served (they had an open bar, so I'm pretty sure we were the only sober attendants at the awards), and to be able to figure out how to have my kids with me. I had an upset tummy from the time we left them until we came home, but that's okay. I know that I just love my kids that much to make me sick when I'm not with them!
Funniest story of the event: when we returned from the awards, along with the whole bus load of people, we entered the elevator and when the doors opened and the bell rang, we got off. We went to our room (we were like the third room from the elevator) and Eric inserted his card. Red light. "What?!" he exclaims. He inserts the card again, no dice. We then looked at the room number. Whoops! We got off on the wrong floor! We were such lemmings!! We got back on the elevator and went up the last floor. A guy saw us and laughingly said, "I know what you guys have been doing!" (referencing the consumption of alcohol). It's a good thing we DON'T drink! We are confused enough staying out "late" (it was about 10pm...but we are NEVER out that late) that we never need the added confusion alcohol can give. Anyway, we laughed thinking about the people whose room we were trying to get into.
I'm still super proud of the hard work my husband does as well as the Lord blessing him to be so successful. The event honored those who represented the top 1/2 percent of all the (retail) employees in the region. This was Eric's third qualifying year and the third time he has earned the award. I just love this hard working man!

3-D Children's Art

I have a lot to say about our most recent General Conference, but it's going to have to be commented on slowly. One of the first things is how important it is to utilize our talents in raising and teaching children. With that in mind, I created this:

I've been the Nursery leader for our ward since August. I've had it in my mind what I wanted to do with the board since that time but hadn't gotten around to fixing it. I even purchased most of the items I used at the beginning of the year. Last week I kidnapped Susan and she helped me put this together. I didn't have it planned out on paper, so it took awhile to get things to work in reality space.
I've never made something so large and it was really fun to create this 3-D version of a child's drawing (really, this is probably better than I could draw on paper myself!). It isn't finished yet...I'll be adding the children in our Nursery to the board as well as a title in blocks on the bottom, but at least I can share this with you as well as encouragement to seek to develop your talents and make your world a happier and joyous place.

If I Could...

If I could, I would have a little shop to sell my reconstructions of old shirts. It's my new favorite gift to give at baby showers. Of course, I'd probably just want to give them away because it's interesting to think about where the dress may end up. AND, there's the fact that I'm still a novice seamstress (everything I make is basically on the fly...I can't get the guts to do something from a "real" pattern), so it's always a "hmmm, how do I fix that?" kind of gig.
But, I love doing it and it is so fun to watch these shirts become little dresses. This one is actually a shirt I purchased just after returning from my mission. It's shrunk a little over the past few years and now is just a tad too short in the torso for me to wear. So, into the recycle pile for dresses to be made and voila! just in time for the baby shower this weekend!!

General Conference, The Sequel

While explaining to Emily that we are going to church today to watch General Conference, she asked, "The Prophet Movie?" I laughed and said yes. She ran to the DVD's and pulled out the most recent copy of General Conference and showed it to me. I laughed again and got to tell her "yes, but we are going to see the new one!"
So, as you enjoy Conference weekend, remember, you are getting to watch the Prophet movie and it's the newest one, so it's going to be great and more relevant to your life than the last one! These are the best "sequels" you can watch!!

She's Reading!!

Well, reading words, at least. I think the technicality of "reading" is multiple words together in sentences, but I'll use her ability to sound out words and read them as reading.
Emily has been passionate about letters for awhile now. Then she wanted to read. It's been rough because although she could sound things out phonetically, she wasn't getting the actual words. She's getting it now, though!
Her favorite book to read is The Rhyming Dust Bunnies. Don't be deceived. I know what is memorized versus what she is reading. If you could see her sounding out the words and then saying them, you'd understand that this is real. It's so cute and has lessened her frustration at trying to read. Now, if she'll just let us continue to read the Scriptures to her! (There are just too many difficult words there for a 3.5 year old.)