We all have it now....

I joke with Scott that when we are on vacation he has A.D.D. (Activity During the Day), we always have to be doing something. The joke was made clear to me today that we all have it. Every Saturday morning when the kids wake up around 6:30am, they come in and ask, "What fun are we doing today?". Are you kidding me, we need to do something fun every Saturday. So I always answer with, "Saturday is a special day, it's the day we get ready for Sunday. We do our...." They always stop me and say, "Mom stop singing, we are tired of doing chores." I say, "me too, but somebody has to do them".

Well today, we decided to forego the chores and take the kids sledding up at Bogus Basin. So we dug out the snow clothes, packed snacks and headed up to the mountains. It was a great day! Probably not for Emmett. Here is were you can judge me for being a bad mom (cause I probably am). the poor kid has an ear and sinus infection, but we took him up to the snow anyway. He wasn't able to go down the mountain, so he and I hung out in the "warm house", then Scott and Emmett hung out while I rode down the mountain with the kids. It was great fun.

Milestones

What a great day today was! Haven't had one of those in a little while. Before dance, while I was finishing getting ready and Paige was finding her dance shoes. I lost track of Emmett for a minute )well 7 to be exact) which isn't a good thing because that means something is destroyed and needs clean up. So I panic a little and start to yell out "where is Emmett", "Paige have you seen Emmett". I hear a faint "Mama Mama". There he is......Emmett is playing in the play closet downstairs all by himself. AMAZING!!! Of course I just ruined it by calling out his name and distracting him, but a milestone for Emmett to stay focused long enough to play by himself in a room by himself.  What a start to a great day!

At dance today, Emmett was his usual terror, but the great thing (a tender mercy) I didn't lose patience. I actually held it together, even with the other parents and grandparents asking me if he ever stops or sits down. I laughed it off saying only when he sleeps. Then the under the breath comments came, which I have heard them all before. I get it from people at church all the time. But today I laugh in your face and say WHATEVER!!!!

After dance, we rush home for therapy with Joan. I love Joan! She is one of Emmett's many therapists. Joan comes into our home and works on occupational therapy. Today I asked Joan to help me work with Emmett on his feeding and putting things in his mouth to help get him to work on the movement of his tongue. I have tried but haven't been very successful. Emmett usually bites me or spits the food out.

Today a milestone (and probably a tender mercy), Emmett climbed up into his chair and was ready for snack time. Emmett let Joan and I both put snacks into his cheeks without biting us. He moved his tongue a little side to side (which is progress) and was able to move the food out of his cheek to chew. AMAZING!!!

Later in the day, I was trying to get somethings put away and decided to try something new with Emmett. Paige was playing on the computer upstairs so no distraction there. Not thinking that Emmett was listening to me, I said, "Do you want to watch cartoons?" Emmett looked at me, nodded his head, and then went and sat on the couch. WHAT??!! Oh my, you were listening and you want to watch cartoons. So I quickly grabbed the controller and went into the DVR and put on a pre-recorded Backyardigans.

Yet again, another milestone (and most likely a tender mercy). Emmett sat on the couch and didn't move for 10 minutes. He sat and watched the show. He even did a little dancing and humming along to the music. How blessed I feel today!!!!!

So as if it couldn't get better, I let Emmett help Paige and I make cookies and it was an enjoyable experience. See the post "Making Cookies".

What a great day today was!!!!  I am so happy with Emmett's milestones that he has reached. He is getting better. It is a slow process, but with days like today it makes it all better. Emmett's attention span was able to stretch a little, Emmett stayed focus a little longer, and Emmett was able to play by himself for a little bit. Huge milestones and blessed tender mercies.

Making Cookies

Homemade cookies sound good to me today. Well okay homemade, but not from scratch (the main ingredients come from a bag - that I spent 35 cents for after using coupons). I love oatmeal cookies, but my kids aren't a real big fan of them. We decided to make oatmeal, peanut butter, and chocolate chip w/walnuts. I know - crazy huh?

So I get started. I pull the baking sheets out (which Emmett was so excited about). As I get the bowl out to mix up the cookies, Paige comes running into the kitchen wanting to help. Wow! I must be feeling good today or something. Cause I decided to let everyone help, yes, even Emmett! I know what a crazy person I am today. I am figuring that it will be easier to manage Emmett if I have him on a chair next to Paige and I while we mix the cookies and put them on the baking sheets. HERE WE GO!!!!!

Everything actually went smooth. I was able to capture some adorable pictures of Paige and Emmett. I guess be glad that we aren't sharing these cookies with friends, cause we put our fingers in the dough and in our mouths and then in the dough and back into our mouths. FUN TIMES!!!!


















Paige mixing up the cookie dough. Emmett contemplating what he should do to help out with the cookie making process.

















Oh yea, Emmett could help by put his mark in each cookie as it is placed on the baking sheet.

















Oh but the even better thing to do would be to taste the cookie dough. Um Um Good!!














Here is the final product. A lot of Oatmeal, some Peanut Butter, and a little Chocolate Chip w/Walnuts. Great job Paige and Emmett!!!!

UFO disguised as a Cloud

The kids and I went to my parents house Sunday and Monday. The kids were out of school for Martin Luther King Day (or in Idaho we affectionately refer to it as "Human Rights Day"). Scott had to work due to the end of his Boise book. So off we went.

Mom and dad bought a new computer, and dad asked me to come hook it up and transfer files over. The kids love to go to my parents house because there are no rules, and they get the run of the house. You know what I am okay with that. Cause I feel a little pressure off of me to be the mom. HaHaHa!!!

After a morning of working on the computer, I was ready for lunch. We headed to town to grab a bite to eat. Article Circle here we come. What can I say, Kimberly doesn't have a lot of places to choose from (well kid friendly ones anyway).

As we were making the drive back to my parents house (7 miles outside of town), we came over the hill and there was this cloud.

Garhett said,  "Mom, we should take a picture of the cloud and blog about it. We should say UFO disguised as a cloud". Ooh very clever Garhett. So as I was driving, my dad snapped a picture.  As made a couple more turns closer to my parents house, we were able to get a better closer view of the cloud.

Here is a UFO disguised as a cloud. I have to say, the cloud disappeared an hour after taking the picture. (imagine the sound doo.doo.doo.doo (twilight zone).

First Haircut

Today after getting my hair done, I decided to have Lynda give Emmett his first haircut or trim. I love his curls on the top of his head, but they are getting a little out of control. The hair hanging over his ears is a little crazy as well. So it is time.

Part way through the hair cut, I remembered that I need to take pictures. So I grabbed my phone and snapped a couple. Here is Emmett getting his hair cut.



















Here is the end result! Great job Lynda. But where did my baby go? All I see is a little boy or a big 2 year old boy!

Feeling Better

Today in our Presidency meeting, Jenn (the President) asked for our spiritual thought to be our favorite scripture. This is easy, I flip right to it, and then the most amazing thing happened.

Here is my favorite scripture: Alma 26:27 . This is my favorite scripture because I feel it applies to everything. This scripture got me through my mission, it has helped me in my marriage, with my kids, with my friends, pretty much everything. I replace some of the words to the current situation that I am in. Then as I began reading out loud to the ladies, "Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success."

I had this overwhelming feeling of the spirit. At that moment, I remembered why I love this scripture. Why I love this gospel. Why I love the Lord.

So many times, I tend to forget. Not for long, because thankfully I have this wonderful experiences (tender mercies) for me to remember that the Lord knows who I am and the things that I am suffering from. And if I would just remember to "bear with patience my afflictions" HE WILL BLESS ME!!

Amazing!! So I am out of my pitty pot. Is life still hard? Is life still a struggle? Sure it is and it will be. But I am not in my pitty pot anymore because today I am feeling the Love and the Spirit. Not because the Lord has done anything different, but because Cindi has moved herself back on the path.

Again referring to my Dec. post of the Lord's plan is the only plan. I am thankful for my calling and for having an inspired President have us share our favorite scriptures today of all days. She helped me without even knowing that she helped me.