Follow Ups and Odds & Ends

Madison being silly and having a good time doing it!

Aren't I looking lovely?  This is the price of beauty. ;-)  I have a Biore Clear Pore Strip on my chin.  On my head I have a headband with my hair carefully wrapped around it, in an attempt to wake up with pretty curls.  In response to a friend, Gaynelle, this headband technique didn't work for me either!  Oh well. :)

Madison took this photo of Ashton and me.

Little did I know he had picked his nose and from the looks of it put it in his mouth.  I really hope not, that grosses me out!

Madison holding Rooks.  He's a cutie pie and often smiles for us, it's kinda funny when he gets mad too.

Madison is really cute with him.

The robin that was living in our backyard, apparently ate the two other eggs and abandoned this one.  We weren't too thrilled with mama bird.  If the robin's take up residence in our backyard next year, we'll try not to become as emotionally invested, just let nature do it's thing.  Maybe we'll move the nest to a better spot for the robins and us.

A Visit to the Dentist

 

A couple of weeks ago, Madison, Bailee and I had a dentist appointment.  No cavities for any of us, yippy!  I wasn't sure how it would go with Bailee because in the past she's been very uncomfortable with having the dentist or hygienist do anything with her.  She hasn't ever had much of a cleaning or check up until this time.  I wish I had a phone that could take and send pictures because this visit would have been a good time to get a photo.  When it came to Bailee's turn, she was resistant, so I ended up back in the dentist chair with her sitting on my lap.  At first it was okay, but then they hygienist lowered us back.  There I was laying completely underneath Bailee, it seemed like we were tilted back more than normal too.  So, here's healthy, 40 pound Bailee laying on top of me during her cleaning and exam.  She felt comfortable, but did I?  I think not. :)  I asked Bailee if I could get up because I was starting to get a headache and was having a bit of a hard time breathing, she said, "No".  I told her it kind of reminded me of when she was a baby in my tummy. :)  The girls thought it was especially funny when Amy, the hygienist was spraying off Bailee's teeth and Bailee closed her mouth and the water sprayed off of her onto my chest and ran down into my armpit.  They thought this was hilarious!!  The things we have to do as parents, ugh!  All went well though, and we had a good time.  I must say, it was nice to get up off that chair and take a full breath! I'm proud of Bailee for doing much better this time, but I think I'll send Jeff with her next time! ;-)

Here Comes Trouble (but in a good way)

Bailee accidentally left the bathroom door open the other day and guess who took full advantage of it???

Ashton had tp strewn all the way down the hallway.  Madison was quick to the rescue and ran in to help clean up.

She tried her best to rewind it. ;-)

He is our silly, active little boy.  It's fun to have a boy and see the differences between girls and boys, as far as I can tell.  He loves cars, trucks, footballs, basketballs, and wrestling.  We have a little basketball hoop that Ash has been trying to make baskets in, in the playroom.  He tries over and over and has a good time doing it.  It's fun to watch him.  I think we'll get him a little bigger one for Christmas.

He also loves to tease his sisters and pretty much anyone else he's comfortable with.  He often comes up and gives us big slobbery kisses, often on our arms our legs.  It's not uncommon to feel his teeth as he's kissing us, and we always hope it doesn't turn into a bite!

Bailee's 1st Day of K

I can't believe my little big girl is headed off to her first day of Kindergarten.  I know she'll do great!  I'm excited for her, but I'm going to miss her!!  I'm so glad we know her teacher, she's in our ward, and she knows Bailee.

Of course Ashton has to pose for a picture too, just like his big sister!

Bailee and her neighbor friends, Gabby and Clayton, were sitting outside like this, this morning.  They were all chewing gum that Gabby's dad had given them.  It was a good photo op!

Bailee loves mermaids, so she's wearing her new mermaid shirt today.  Her favorite princess is Ariel.

Here's Madison last week when she went to her first day of school.

Doors, Drawers and Drama

It took the cop 4-5 good, hard kicks to break the door down.  I was surprised at how strong the door was!
 

We had an exciting day a couple of weeks ago when two police officers had to come to our house and kick down our bathroom door.  It was so surreal and weird!  Poor Bailee got trapped in the bathroom due to a sticky drawer which is located right by the door.  She tried so hard, but could not get the drawer closed.  I can verify, it is a tough, old drawer.  I've had to give it a good shove or two in the past!  She shouldn't have been in the drawer anyway because it has some of my makeup products in there, all the more enticing. ;-)  One good thing as a result of this, is the drawer got loosened up from the powerful kicks and works much better now!

We had her put soap and lotion on the bottom of it to see if that would help it slide, it didn't.  I tried kicking the door in, but it didn't budge.  I took off the doorknob, which didn't help, but at least we could see her better.  Before that, we could only see her through the tiny crack of the door opening.  Jeff was out of town working and I didn't know who else to call.  Bailee was starting to panic and was crying so I called the police.  It took them longer to get here than I would have liked, it took around 15 minutes.  The female police officer called to ask me what was going on, she didn't understand.  When she got here she was able to see what the problem was.  When I gave them the okay, the male police officer kicked the door in.  Bailee got inside the shower, it's the kind with a door, to stay safe.  It was loud and a little traumatic for all of us.   When the door was finally off, Bailee ran straight into my arms.  She was stuck in there for about 45 minutes, poor girl, it was sooo nice to have her out.

Kids sure do keep us on our toes!



A Good Article

                           I really liked this article out the Ensign, Sept 2012 issue. 

 

 

By Adam C. Olson

Church Magazines

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What Am I Worth?

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After four years without a television and six more living on hand-me-down sets, my wife and I finally decided to buy a new TV. Because of the cost, we carefully compared models, brands, features, and prices before finally making a purchase. Interestingly, I walked away with not only a TV but an important insight into determining self-worth.

 

Our experience teaches us that our worth is measured by comparison—against our siblings, classmates, peers, and co-workers. Yet, while determining value by comparison makes sense when buying a TV, in life we are the TVs.

 

Comparing ourselves to others in order to determine our worth makes as much sense as one TV looking at the others in the store and wishing it were 40 inches (102 cm) instead of 27 (69 cm). It doesn’t make sense, for “which of you by taking thought can add one cubit to his stature” (Matthew 6:27) or one inch to your screen size? The Apostle Paul warned that people “measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12).
 

We should also pay little attention to those who do the comparing for us and tell us what they think we’re worth. Even though the retailer has control over a TV’s price, he or she doesn’t determine its value.

 

Here is the key: it is the customer who looks at the price, evaluates the product, and decides if it is worth the cost. And in this life there is only one Buyer of consequence.

 

Our Savior, Jesus Christ, evaluated “the product”—us, both collectively and individually. He knew of the depth of iniquity that would be connected with the human family.¹ He understood the awful, inestimable price He would be required to pay, “which suffering caused [Him] even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit” (D&C 19:18).

 

And knowing all, He still decided I was worth it.

 

No matter how short I think I fall in comparison to others, no matter how little value others see in me, Jesus felt I was worth the price He had to pay.

 

Attacking our self-worth is one of Satan’s most subtle yet sinister tactics. It is essential for me to believe that the Son of God died not only for the sins of the world but that He died for my sins. If the adversary can lead me to believe otherwise, my doubt may keep me from seeking the Savior’s atoning grace and returning to His presence.

 

If you doubt your value, go to the Buyer to get the only product review that matters. “We can pray with confidence that we can feel the Savior’s love for us,” said President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency. “… He loved us … enough to pay the price of all our sins.”²
 

Having faith in that love allows the Redeemer to change our lives and carry His purchase home.

Love-ly Songs

 

Madison and I are bummed that playlist.com changed it's website and isn't nearly as user friendly.  Thought I'd put a few songs on my post that I like.

 

 

 

Bailee Cecelia

Bailee in the pink and her friend Sophia in the other wig.

We finally found out that Bailee will be in afternoon Kindergarten and she'll have Mrs. Robbin's, whose in our ward, as her teacher, yay!  I know I'm feeling more relieved and excited now with having more information.  It will be fun to see Bailee going to school and being a big girl.  Fun but sad too :-/

We took Bailee to the Otolaryngologist (whoa!) on Monday.  I'd noticed her tonsils were quite large, which runs in the family (from my side) so I thought we'd better get them checked out.  Dr. Catten is so crazy and silly with the kids, he reminds me of myself with his zany ways! ;-)  He told us that her tonsils are currently infected and that we could either try medication to treat them or have them removed.  Initially we thought we'd have them removed, but on second thought I decided we should try medication first and Jeff agreed.  She's taking amoxicillin now and it seems to already be helping, I'm so glad.  Maybe she'll get them removed sometime over the next few years.  Better to have it done when she's younger, I speak from experience!!

"Technically" the First Day of School

Madison all ready for her first day back.  Too bad she wasn't able to go.
 

Today is technically the first day of school, but not for Madison.  She threw up yesterday evening.  We were hoping she would feel well enough this morning, she got all dressed and ready for school, but just felt too queasy.  She seems to be getting better, so hopefully she can go tomorrow.  She was so disappointed and was crying this morning, when we both decided she shouldn't go.  She's so excited to meet her teacher!  I hope all will go well tomorrow.

Madison had her first experience of floating the Green River yesterday.  I haven't even been river rafting!  I hope to go sometime.  They floated the A-section, so it was pretty mellow, especially with the rivers being lower this year. :-(  She had a fun time with her friend and her friends dad.  He's an experienced river guide, but Jeff and I were still apprehensive about her going without us.  He assured us he's been down that river at least 2,000 times and has been going on the river since he was a toddler.  That helped to calm our fears a bit.  She had a great time and a new experience!

Straight to My Heart

This is a bit of a silly photo of Jeff eating a biscuit, be he still looks handsome. :-)

Anyhow, this post is about him and a sweet little girl at church.  Today Jeff went to nursery with Ashton.  Ash still needs our presence to feel comfortable in there.  I came in a few minutes later because I needed a snack and I was checking on them.  When I came in, Jeff told me that Lizzy a sweet and beautiful little girl in our ward, who I believe is four, had run up to him, wrapped her little arms around his legs and gave him a Big hug.  We both thought that was super cute.  A few minutes later, I was walking to the other side of the nursery room toward Jeff, Lizzy was over there talking to him as well.  I overhear Lizzy say, "You look like my Josh."  Jeff replies with, "Oh yeah, thanks, whose Josh?"  Lizzy says, " Josh is my dad.....he died."  I looked at Jeff to reaffirm that she said what I thought she'd said.  I instantly started crying, with her sweet little voice and big innocent eyes and with what she'd said, it was just too much.  The feeling went straight to my heart and I had no willpower.  She was looking at me so funny, like she was bewildered as to why I was crying.  I told her it was because she was just so sweet and asked her to give me a hug, more for my comfort than hers.  Lizzy hung around Jeff a fair amount for the rest of the time she was in nursery, she's actually too old to be in there.  When the nursery children went into the primary room for singing time, I went in there to ask Jeff a quick question and Lizzy was sitting next to him and Ashton, she entertained him with her dancing and talked to him.  I'm so glad to have a husband who is kind and sensitive to others.  He told me he almost started crying as well and he confirmed, that I did instantly start crying, ugh! ;-)

I forgot to mention, that Lizzy's father, Josh, was the Bishop of our ward before we moved here.  He passed away rather quickly after being diagnosed with cancer, I don't know what type it was.  I never met Josh, but from what I've seen and heard from others, he was a great person.  He has an amazing family and my awesome vt partner and I get to visit teach the mother and wife of this family.  They do a 5K run/walk every year to raise money and remember Josh.  It's coming up in a few weeks.