Sunday, April 17, 2011
My growing garden
Yes! We are still alive and kicking (some of us screaming as well)! I have been a slacker and not "noted" anything the last two weeks. It has been a little crazy (I dropped a ten-pound weight on my foot!)-but I have found that my children are continually growing -like tender plants in a garden. I hope and pray that I am providing "good soil", enough "sunlight", and enough "water" for them to grow strong and happy!
Nat is getting ready to register for high school next year. I can't believe that I am old enough to have a child that will be attending high school! Yes, I am in complete denial. He also recently turned 15 and is anxious to get his permit so that he can start getting his 40 hours of driving. HE is anxious-Travis and I are not! Oh, the joys!
Lindsay is growing up into an amazing young woman. Last week I was extremely tired after a rough night with Zachary,who had a virus, and slept in (I don't get to do this too often). It was spring break and Lindsay heard Zac and got him out of his crib, fed him, and took care of him until I got up. I am so grateful for her! She had also tried out for the dance company at her junior high for next year and did not make it-she was so disappointed, but was able to quickly get over her sadness. Another sign that she is growing up! It was a lesson that I am afraid will happen at other times in her life-we don't always get what we want and things don't always work out for us the way we think that they will-but somehow things always work out for the best. Whenever my children try out for things, I pray that if it will help them and be good for them, then they will make it. However, if they do not need that experience or if it will not be good for them, I pray that they don't -and obviously, this was not for Lindsay next year.
Ethan is growing up a little bit as well. He is learning that sometimes we have to follow through when we have made a committment, even if something else comes up that we would like to do as well. It is difficult to choose between good, better, and best.
Clarissa is learning that just because we want something, it does not mean that you can just get it when you don't have the money to pay for it. We recently watched "Tangled" and I told her that she looked like Rapunzel at the end of the movie (I won't spoil it for those who have not seen it!). Anyway, when we were at the Disney store, she wanted the Rapunzel doll but did not have enough money to buy it. She was very angry that I just did not buy it for her! However, when we got home, we had a great little talk about not spending money that we don't have and that it is okay to wait for things that we want. When we get them, it makes the object that much more appreciated. This is a hard lesson for a little girl and sometimes even when you are an adult!
Zachary is growing and learning constantly. He came with me to singing time in nursery today at church (just to get him used to coming little by little). The nursery that he will attend in a few months invited him to stay and have snacks. He sat up to the table just like he belonged there! I can't believe how fast they grow! It seemed like Nat was just that age-where does the time go?
My "moment of joy" during this last two weeks came when we finished cleaning out the toy room and reorganizing it! Whew! Spring cleaning is awesome!!! We also cleaned out and reorganized the bedrooms-which is partly why I have been such a slacker in posting this blog. However, the work is well worth it! Learning to work and accomplish goals is just another lesson that I am trying to teach my little garden.
Cathy
Nat is getting ready to register for high school next year. I can't believe that I am old enough to have a child that will be attending high school! Yes, I am in complete denial. He also recently turned 15 and is anxious to get his permit so that he can start getting his 40 hours of driving. HE is anxious-Travis and I are not! Oh, the joys!
Lindsay is growing up into an amazing young woman. Last week I was extremely tired after a rough night with Zachary,who had a virus, and slept in (I don't get to do this too often). It was spring break and Lindsay heard Zac and got him out of his crib, fed him, and took care of him until I got up. I am so grateful for her! She had also tried out for the dance company at her junior high for next year and did not make it-she was so disappointed, but was able to quickly get over her sadness. Another sign that she is growing up! It was a lesson that I am afraid will happen at other times in her life-we don't always get what we want and things don't always work out for us the way we think that they will-but somehow things always work out for the best. Whenever my children try out for things, I pray that if it will help them and be good for them, then they will make it. However, if they do not need that experience or if it will not be good for them, I pray that they don't -and obviously, this was not for Lindsay next year.
Ethan is growing up a little bit as well. He is learning that sometimes we have to follow through when we have made a committment, even if something else comes up that we would like to do as well. It is difficult to choose between good, better, and best.
Clarissa is learning that just because we want something, it does not mean that you can just get it when you don't have the money to pay for it. We recently watched "Tangled" and I told her that she looked like Rapunzel at the end of the movie (I won't spoil it for those who have not seen it!). Anyway, when we were at the Disney store, she wanted the Rapunzel doll but did not have enough money to buy it. She was very angry that I just did not buy it for her! However, when we got home, we had a great little talk about not spending money that we don't have and that it is okay to wait for things that we want. When we get them, it makes the object that much more appreciated. This is a hard lesson for a little girl and sometimes even when you are an adult!
Zachary is growing and learning constantly. He came with me to singing time in nursery today at church (just to get him used to coming little by little). The nursery that he will attend in a few months invited him to stay and have snacks. He sat up to the table just like he belonged there! I can't believe how fast they grow! It seemed like Nat was just that age-where does the time go?
My "moment of joy" during this last two weeks came when we finished cleaning out the toy room and reorganizing it! Whew! Spring cleaning is awesome!!! We also cleaned out and reorganized the bedrooms-which is partly why I have been such a slacker in posting this blog. However, the work is well worth it! Learning to work and accomplish goals is just another lesson that I am trying to teach my little garden.
Cathy
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
warm Sunday dinner
Finally, I have a little time to sit down and write a few "notes" about last week...
Without going into any details, Nathanael has realized that he needs to do his homework even if he can Ace his tests!! Travis and I honed in on his "currency" and we have seen dramatic improvement! Only time will tell...
Lindsay enjoyed the start of the soccer season. Her team won their first game 1-0 and Lindsay was the one that scored the goal. They lost their second game 0-2 but she felt really good about her individual performance! She didn't make the Student Council for next year but I am so pleased that she is confident enough to put herself out there! I regret not having more confidence in myself at her age to try to do more things that I had an interest in-I am pleased that my children all seem to be more confident than I was and that is a great thing!
Ethan asked for and received a mini-doughnut maker for Christmas this last year. This week he has been "The Doughnut Maker" by putting on a Krispy Kream hat and making batches of mini-doughuts! They are especially tasty with a little Nutella on them! Ethan has been telling me lately that he wants to be a chef when he grows up. Why not? He loves to experiment in the kitchen!!
Clarissa has been "practicing mommy" this last week. She has asked me to babysit her dolls several times. When she gets home, she grills me to find out whether or not I have fed her children and taken good care of them!
Zachary has been learning so much lately but he has also tried to give me a heart attack! He has been saying so many new words and also signing to communicate some basic wants. It has been so fun to watch him grow and develop! He says, "hello", "let's go", "I love you", and "thank you" (Sometimes they are a little hard to understand-but most of the time I get it!) I just cannot ask him to do it on demand-he is as stubborn as all my others! However, he is definitely my most wreckless child! Last Saturday he almost made himself pass out throwing a fit, fell down the stairs and cut his mouth, fell off a step stool, and tried to drink some dishwashing rinse! In all cases, I was quite near-I did not just leave him to entertain himself! He is going to make me turn gray and I realized that I need to be right on top of him every minute!!
My "moment of joy" came this week when we were eating dinner at my parents' house just after general conference on Sunday. My mom finally sat down to eat dinner and my dad leaned over to her and whispered, "Very good Dearie!" referring to the dinner of course! Then he told her that he loved her! What a good example! They have been married for 37 years! I felt so grateful to have such great parents and it gives me something to shoot for in my marriage. Thanks Mom and Dad! (Lindsay saw this little exchange as well and said that she thought that it was really cute. She said that it is cute when people are young and when they are older. I then asked her about the middle-age people like her dad and I-she didn't say anything and looked away! There was my answer! Middle-age couples-especially Mom and Dad-are not cute!)
Cathy
Without going into any details, Nathanael has realized that he needs to do his homework even if he can Ace his tests!! Travis and I honed in on his "currency" and we have seen dramatic improvement! Only time will tell...
Lindsay enjoyed the start of the soccer season. Her team won their first game 1-0 and Lindsay was the one that scored the goal. They lost their second game 0-2 but she felt really good about her individual performance! She didn't make the Student Council for next year but I am so pleased that she is confident enough to put herself out there! I regret not having more confidence in myself at her age to try to do more things that I had an interest in-I am pleased that my children all seem to be more confident than I was and that is a great thing!
Ethan asked for and received a mini-doughnut maker for Christmas this last year. This week he has been "The Doughnut Maker" by putting on a Krispy Kream hat and making batches of mini-doughuts! They are especially tasty with a little Nutella on them! Ethan has been telling me lately that he wants to be a chef when he grows up. Why not? He loves to experiment in the kitchen!!
Clarissa has been "practicing mommy" this last week. She has asked me to babysit her dolls several times. When she gets home, she grills me to find out whether or not I have fed her children and taken good care of them!
Zachary has been learning so much lately but he has also tried to give me a heart attack! He has been saying so many new words and also signing to communicate some basic wants. It has been so fun to watch him grow and develop! He says, "hello", "let's go", "I love you", and "thank you" (Sometimes they are a little hard to understand-but most of the time I get it!) I just cannot ask him to do it on demand-he is as stubborn as all my others! However, he is definitely my most wreckless child! Last Saturday he almost made himself pass out throwing a fit, fell down the stairs and cut his mouth, fell off a step stool, and tried to drink some dishwashing rinse! In all cases, I was quite near-I did not just leave him to entertain himself! He is going to make me turn gray and I realized that I need to be right on top of him every minute!!
My "moment of joy" came this week when we were eating dinner at my parents' house just after general conference on Sunday. My mom finally sat down to eat dinner and my dad leaned over to her and whispered, "Very good Dearie!" referring to the dinner of course! Then he told her that he loved her! What a good example! They have been married for 37 years! I felt so grateful to have such great parents and it gives me something to shoot for in my marriage. Thanks Mom and Dad! (Lindsay saw this little exchange as well and said that she thought that it was really cute. She said that it is cute when people are young and when they are older. I then asked her about the middle-age people like her dad and I-she didn't say anything and looked away! There was my answer! Middle-age couples-especially Mom and Dad-are not cute!)
Cathy
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