Over the school vacation Aaron replaced some plumbing and had to remove some rotten shelves from the basement. The wood was not reusable so we had a winter bonfire. The kids kept getting too close to it so Aaron built them a couch to kick back on.

Apparently it was pretty comfy.

I took a couple of shots of the fire because it was so beautiful.

Paparazzi

I take care of a friend's daughter on Mondays and Fridays and during vacation that meant that her older sister who is good friends with Sophie got to come too.

The three of them got all dolled up and then came strolling out into the living room. I pretended to be the paparazzi, snapping as many photos as I could. This one is the only one that came out decent. I guess I need one of those fancy fast cameras to really be the paparazzi.

The Pirate

The time has come for Ben to wear an eye patch. These pictures are from the very first time I out one on him, and I put it on wrong.

He has to wear it all day and our goal is to make it until dinner time. We usually make it, but every once in awhile he takes it off mid day. We have learned a few tricks to make it successful.

1. He gets to pick the patch and open the package
2. I cut little wedges out of the patch from around his cheek area. It changes nothing, but helps him to feel in control
3. I give him personal 1 on 1 time or a movie or computer game for the first 10 minutes he is wearing the patch. After that he mostly forgets he is wearing it

He does have this fabric one that goes over his glasses, but it is very easy to cheat and peek around the edges or move it. The first week we couldn't use it at all. Now that he is used to patching we use it when he takes the sticky patch off too early.

I always kiss his sweet brown eye goodbye in the morning and kiss it back at night when he takes the patch off.

I also tell him that people will think he is so adorable with the patch that they will pinch his cheeks and give him candy. So far I am the only one who has done this so he doesn't believe me anymore. If any of you locals want to support me on this, Ben would love it.

Ben goes back in April to see if there is any progress. If there is than there are eye drops that can blur his vision and he won't have to wear the patch any more, though sometimes I think it would be easier to put a patch on then put eye drops in!

When Regular Sledding Gets Boring

Kindness

One week at Sophie's dance class I saw a lady with a cool basket and commented on it saying that it was exactly what I was looking for for my "travel" knitting basket. I asked her where she had gotten it so that I could go get one for myself.

Then a couple of weeks later at dance lessons she gave it to me. She said I was a beautiful knitter and that I deserved to have the basket. She was so kind. It made me feel special.

In the background you can see my valentine flowers that I picked out myself. Flowers in the winter are a real pleasure! They brighten things up and make me feel hopeful for spring.

New Fodder

I couldn't find the camera cord so we were a little low on posts. However what was once lost is now found.

I am not sure if Ben and Jacob were upset with Sophie or if it was just a coincidence, but I came home one day and found this outside Sophie's bedroom door.

Sewing

Sophie loves to sew. Unfortunately she was born to a mother who feels like sewing is a duty, a labor...not fun. While I am learning to like sewing, my accomplishments basically include successfully sewing in a straight line.

Anyway I hemmed some maternity pants and Sophie asked if she could have the scraps. I reluctantly said yes, thinking I was probably encouraging pack rat behaviors. However she pulled out her sewing kit and made up a very cute and fun crown.

She obviously gets her sewing skills from Aaron's side of the family.

Time For a Bigger Bed

Jacob's bed is crammed full of toys. They are all "special," and if you try to clean them out he knows which ones are missing. The problem with this is that sometimes there isn't much room left for sleeping.

Caged In

Last week Aaron went on a school field trip where, among others things, they went to a hardware store. (No redneck jokes please!) They had a slightly damaged dog kennel for $30. Aaron called home about it and I just couldn't picture what he was talking about and whether or not we had a real use for it.

About an hour later a school bus stopped in front of the house and off came Aaron with a dog kennel.

Jacob begged me to put it together so I carefully un-bent the damaged bars (the damage was VERY slight.)

Then Jacob begged me to let him inside. I thought it was weird, but he REALLY wanted to get in.

Then he begged me to lock him in. Now I am thinking, "if someone walks in on this I am going to be reported to child protective services!"

He giggled a squealed and laid down. Then reported, "I love this so much, I think I should sleep in it tonight!"

Of course when Ben got home he had to try it too. They loaded it up with blankets and books and had a grand old time for the rest of the night.

Sophie was too big for it, that is why she does not make an appearance.

The next morning the first thing Jacob asked for was the cage so I pulled it in off the porch and he played in it all day.

Now my question is...if he wants to be locked in a cage, would I get in trouble for doing it when I need it?

Oh and I am still not exactly sure what we will use it for, but it was only $30...

Love Hate Relationship

In our church we are encouraged to store a years supply of food in case of emergency. Aaron and I strive to uphold this counsel, not only because it is peaceful knowing that we always have something on hand to eat, but because we find home production and storage to be extremely satisfying.

However I have discovered a little trick to making your food storage last longer. That trick is home production. Here is what happens when you process your own food....

You make a huge mess on every possible surface in the kitchen...

You create piles of waste and garbage...

No surface, high or low, is spared...

You spend copious amounts of time on your feet running from point A to point B etc...

And in the end you have an extremely satisfying product that has cost you dearly in resources, time and labor. There are 2 natural reactions.

1. It is so precious that you don't dare touch it for at least 6 months.

2. You are so sick of the sight, smell and feel of the food you processed that you can't bear the thought of eating it for at least 6 months.

Either way, your food storage lasts longer.

Hard at Work

Each year the elementary school sells seeds as a fund raiser. Sophie takes this business very seriously. Here are a couple of photos of her hard at work. She is on the phone, but it is on speaker phone.


Filling out the forms...

Snowy Day

Just some winter play photos.

Jacob was petrified of sledding last year, but this year all on his own he has embraced it as a fun thing to do.

Sophie always has something fun and original going on.

Not a great one of Ben, but I couldn't leave him out, he was there sledding too.

Don't ask me why, but Bo like to gnaw on the brussel sprout stalks that I never got out of the ground. They are tough little buggers!

The next three photos are from a day when all of the sudden great big huge snowflakes began falling. They were the kind the are great big clusters of individual flakes. It came down fast and thick. It was so pretty and peaceful. I was trying to capture it on "film" and these are my attempts.

Birds

I have an awful confession to make. I stopped feeding the wild birds this fall. I had guilty feelings of poor birds starving because I had ended their food supply. Thankfully my bird magazine assured me they just retreat into the woods and do just fine.

I wasn't being wildly neglectful...my bird feeder was broken and the seed would just dump onto the ground and for some reason the birds ignored the other feeder.

Anyway I got a new feeder and it took one day for my faithful chickadees to return, two days later the red squirrel, by the end of the week a week later a pair of goldfinches was filling up at the feeder. Then another week later a sweet little dark eyes junco. We have yet to have anything exotic, but all my favorites (minus the squirrel) are here, and they make me so happy.

Yesterday I stood at the feeder and a chickadee landed inches from my hand. Soon one will eat from my hand.

I love standing there and listening to the flit flit of their wings as they approach and then realize I am there and retreat.

I love my birds...may they never go hungry again on my watch.

Oh and sorry there are no birds on the feeder and I have since gotten some suet for the feeder.

Mommy Daughter Date

I have been trying all week to make a new post, but it keeps rejecting my video, so that is why I have no now updates. I guess I am just going to have to go out of sequence and eventually I will get that other one up.

A couple of weekends ago Sophie and I went on a mommy daughter date. We went to dance lessons, then out to lunch, then to the salon. We both just got trims, but Sophie got her hair curled.


It was so much fun to be with Sophie and I highly recommend some alone time with each child. I left that day feeling immensely proud that that was my daughter. Full of beauty, strength, courage, and part of me forever.

Dance Lessons

Sophie decided that she wanted to give Ben some dance lessons. I took a video of it, and it was very informational.

In these videos you see the two very different personalities of my children. First there is Sophie. She IS the instructor. She KNOWS the dance positions (when she first does 2nd position she does it incorrectly...) she EXPECTS Ben to be alert, attentive and precise. She is in charge.

Then there is Ben. He jovially flings himself around the living room with complete disregard for what he is expected to do. Never once does he get frustrated, he just pleasantly plays along, even amidst put downs. Then he reaches his max and simply states, "We're done now."







After the dance instruction Sophie and Ben decided that Ben need the complete dance outfit so Sophie lent him her leotard and ballet slippers. Ben wears boxer briefs so they stuck out below the leotard.

Ben only wore this get up for about 2.5 minutes. Aaron said he wants the photos destroyed. But then what would I put on my blog!

The T.V.

We are now proud to announce that we are a T.V. free family!! The T.V. is being packed up and shipped off to Aaron's parents as we speak (packed that is, not shipped.)

Does it still count to be T.V. free when you have a 24 in computer screen, DVD player, unlimited online viewing with Netflix and a computer device that allows you to play VHS tapes on your computer...?

A minor detail really...

My Blog

As I reviewed the photos I have in line for the blog, I realized that my life may not be as interesting to others as it is to me. For example in this next photo we have Ben who somehow...once again...got the camera. The satisfied look on his face is perhaps one that only I, as his mother, recognize. To others it probably just looks like a kid.

But guess what...he is my kid and I sure love him. Those brown eyes and that smile...I am forever connected to this handsome fellow, and I love watching and recording his growth for posterity!

This is a Ben creation. He has really been into scissors lately. Can you see all the paper scraps on top of the lego trunk? Anyway...this is a mouse city. Sophie and Ben and Jacob to a smaller degree, had loads of fun for 2 days with the mouse city. And then we burned it. Does that make us bad parents?

Forward

Normally I detest forwards, but this one made me laugh. Especially #5

AMAZING SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES:

1. AVOID CUTTING YOURSELF WHEN SLICING VEGETABLES BY GETTING SOMEONE ELSE TO HOLD THE VEGETABLES WHILE YOU CHOP.


2. AVOID ARGUMENTS WITH THE FEMALES ABOUT LIFTING THE TOILET SEAT BY USING THE SINK.


3. FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE SUFFERERS ~ SIMPLY CUT YOURSELF AND BLEED FOR A FEW MINUTES, THUS REDUCING THE PRESSURE ON YOUR VEINS. REMEMBER TO USE A TIMER.


4. A MOUSE TRAP PLACED ON TOP OF YOUR ALARM CLOCK WILL PREVENT YOU FROM ROLLING OVER AND GOING BACK TO SLEEP AFTER YOU HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON.


5. IF YOU HAVE A BAD COUGH, TAKE A LARGE DOSE OF LAXATIVES. THEN YOU'LL BE AFRAID TO COUGH.


6. YOU ONLY NEED TWO TOOLS IN LIFE - WD-40 AND DUCT TAPE. IF IT DOESN'T MOVE AND SHOULD, USE THE WD-40. IF IT SHOULDN'T MOVE AND DOES, USE THE DUCT TAPE.


7. IF YOU CAN'T FIX IT WITH A HAMMER, YOU'VE GOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.

Star Wars

Ben has been into Star Wars lately. It may have something to do with the fact that Aaron let the kids watch one of the older movies...

Anyway, Ben built a "Luke Skywalker" ship. Call me a mom, but I am always amazed with his spatial intelligence.

True Confessions of Lauren

I wear makeup on Sundays. It makes me feel extra pretty.

I can’t stand taking naps, I detest the groggy feeling of waking up. This however does not apply to this pregnancy. I take naps all the time and bounce right up from them.

I have mild ADD, but will never medicate for it. There Aaron…I admitted it.

I went to counseling for awhile and loved it. Everyone should go, even just for a while.

Sometimes I clean the bathroom with diaper wipes.

I can’t stand the term “Foodie” because aren’t we all “foodies” in some way? Some are “fast foodies” some are “dessert foodies” some are “comfort foodies” some are “gourmet foodies” some are “organic foodies”…”local foodies”…”health foodies” I could go on. In some way or another, we are all obsessed with food. It is good for survival.

I love donating money to my church. I know they don’t misuse the funds. They are doing AMAZING things with my money in Haiti (and other places) for everyone regardless of religious affiliation. Whenever someone calls and asks for my money I can honestly say that I already donated to a worthy cause.

I go out to the bus in my pajamas every morning.

I might be minorly obsessive about plucking hairs off my face

I am horrible about returning phone calls and e-mails

I enter drawings to win airline tickets at every possible opportunity. I really want to go to Utah. I even pray that I will win, even though I am pretty sure Heavenly Father can’t control raffles.

I like crafting, but have no follow through so I don’t get much done.

No matter how much I try to convince myself they are not healthy, I love Pop-Tarts, Nutter Butter Bars and Oreos

It usually takes me 3-4 days to wash fold and put away the laundry. By then it is time to do laundry again.

I used to be a neat freak (college, mission and early marriage months) but I gave it up for 2 reasons. 1. Sanity 2.I realized with kids it is an act of futility

I think I will be done for now…

Another Random One

As titled...this is another random one...

Sophie was (breaking rules) climbing in the bathroom and something about it looked vaguely dancer like. Maybe her dance classes are paying off.

I'll use this photo to tell a story about Sophie...
She had a lump under her tongue that the dentist was keeping an eye on. Last week it became red, inflamed and very painful so the dentist sent us on to the oral surgeon for a consultation.

Wednesday Sophie, Jacob and I arrived at the appt and the Dr. said that she had a calcium deposit and it was clearly visible so he wanted to remove it right then.

They gave Sophie some laughing gas. Sure enough she became all giggly. Then three shots of novocain. Jacob and I were asked to leave the room at this point. Had I known they were going to do it that day I would have arranged for child care so that I could have stayed with Sophie, but oh well...A little nick and a scoop later they had a very large calcium stone (the Dr and nurses were all impressed) that had been blocking Sophie's salivary gland under her tongue.

The interesting thing is that the flow of saliva will keep the wound open, so basically they redirected Sophie's salivary gland.

Sophie saved the stone to share with everyone, but it got lost. Sophie was devastated. Luckily I had noticed that it was about the size of a pearled barley grain. She now totes around a barley grain that looks almost identical to the original stone.

Totally Random

This is totally random and not that exciting, but I'll put it on here for the sake of maintaining the blog.

Jacob hurt his toe and used his Christmas silly putty to make a magic toe. Here he is extracting the magic toe because the toe under it is all better.

The Art of Illustration

I put this on Facebook, but for the sake of posterity and for those who are not on Facebook I add this here. Shortly after we announced to the children that we were going to have another baby, Ben drew this picture of me.

He had drawn the baby he gasped and said, "I forgot the tail!" After he drew the tail, he laughed and said, "It looks like a chipmonk!"

Getting Dressed

Jacob finally has a desire to dress himself (thank goodness!) but I guess there are some challenges that need to be overcome.

You will notice that the underwear is on backward, so are the pajamas and his leg is through the arm hole. But still, he did it all by himself!

A Wealth of Knowledge

Ben got a book about sharks out of the library. In this video he reads some of the "facts" he has learned about sharks. Sophie is the manning the camera.

In case you can't hear, this is what Ben said...
"Sharks can eat 1000 milligrams in one day. They eat brush and corncobs and fish."

For those not on Facebook, I will share a story that I think may have had something to do with this book.

We had fish for dinner one night and Jacob, very skeptically asked, "Is this lobstah?" "No Jacob it's fish." "Is it cwab (crab)?" "No Jacob, it's tilapia." "Then why does it look like a hammah head shawk (hammer head shark)?"

My transcription of course does no justice to Jacob's sweet little tone of voice and accent, but hopefully you get the gist of it.

Someone Got the Camera

At some point Jacob got the camera and took these photos. I found them as I was scrolling through the pictures on the camera. On that tiny little screen I couldn't see what they were of, but they were mildly compelling. Now that I can see them better it is clear that Jacob took a picture of his legs with his finger over the flash. If a baby could see out of the womb, I imagine this is what it would look like.

Everything Christmas

Here is every photo from the last month that has anything to do with Christmas.

Getting the tree. It was a gorgeous day, but bitterly cold. Luckily the perfect tree was just a few rows in right on the edge.

Decorating the tree. All the photos were taken by me, from the couch as I was ill.

Playing a little game with the ornaments.

I realized that if I took a picture while moving the camera up and down the Christmas lights looked like candles.

Sophie's turn to top the tree with the construction paper star we have been using every Christmas since we got married.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...or placed on the couch...somehow it just isn't as nostalgic.

All set and ready for Christmas morning.

Surveying the loot. It was a good Christmas!