Wordful Wednesday...A Mother's Role...

That's a tough one. Can you really narrow it down to one role? Maybe a Mother's role in a Child's life? In the Family? I can't be sure, because I'm still discovering it everyday on my own. What exactly is my role in this play called life, where I am cast as 'Mother'.

Its not that I don't enjoy it. I love being a Mom. And I'm blessed enough to have the opportunity to be a Stay at Home Mom. And I really, truly love it...most days. There are those days when tolerance is the best word to describe the day. Or maybe just survival. Those days when the sound barrier had been broken a number of times by a 4 year old who should know not to scream just because his brother took his block...or because its so super fun to fly off the couch. Or those days when that same couch is transformed into a trampoline or a fort, the kitchen into an art studio (including walls and chairs...) and the toilet into a bathtub for dollies. Those days when you can't believe that you are having the same argument with your six year old why we have to go to bed at night...even when they are 'not tired'. Those days when sandwiches and canned soup are a 'great' meal (it was vegetable soup...totally counts as 2 servings there)Those days when the kids do go to bed, I lay back on the chair and wonder what I was thinking....

And I remember that the four year old gave me a great big hug and kiss today, just because he really like the fruit roll-up I unwrapped for him. I remember that the couch doesn't have to stay a fort or a trampoline. I remember the look on the two year olds face when I discovered him playing in the toilet. (Like 'what mom, the babies needed a bath?') And I remember the 6 year old completing her homework quickly and efficiently, by herself! And I remember the big thank you for dinner that night because "I just love ABC soup!"

I remember those little things that are lost in the craziness that is life, and more. About the first time I held each of them. The boo boos I can make disappear with one kiss. Listening to them answer a question in Primary and think "They did listen in family home Evening!" The hugs and cuddles and kisses they give to me, my husband and each other. I remember all the love that we have in our family and I remember that it is all totally worth it. I am helping them grow up, weird as they may get, but growing up loved and nurtured by a woman who chose to stay at home and raise her kids as her full time job. And that woman was me, that choice was mine. And I will never regret it.

Not even when I look up into one of their faces and have to get that hundredth drink of water before bed...

1000 eggs + 100 or so First Graders = Boys and Worms!

So it was the Great Easter Egg Hunt at Gracie's school. I went to help hide eggs. There were over one thousand eggs! The whole play yard looked like a cupcake with sprinkles all over it! Then they turned the First graders loose. Gracie was a little shy at first (can you imagine that?) and I had to convince her to get out there with everyone, but she got into it.

Here are the First Graders waiting to be released.

Gracie Lou Who!

Finding the Eggs.

Digging into the lout!

So, after, I came home to find the boys outside helping Dad in the yard...

and this is what happens with boys and gardens and dirt...

Cooper showing me his worm...

The giant worm they found in the rose bushes...

Brody and his bucket of 'goodies'...

'Cheese!' says the Cooper man. Boys are Gross!

Opening Day...Let the games begin!

Gracie is playing softball again this year...I just love it, its so fun to watch all these little girls playing ball (or picking flowers, or making friends as they round each base). She is doing so much better than last year. She can really wack that ball and she is really gettin' good at stopping the ball as it comes to her. Today only 1 ball got by her, and she didn't even try and 'LOOK" for a four leaf clover! This is a huge step for her! She also got a great hit on a live pitch on her second bat. One of her biggest improvements is her running. She actually runs to the base...last year it was kind of a little prance, which made me wonder if she would keep up with the ball and actually enjoy it because she 'didn't like to run'. But she runs like mad this year. Sometimes she runs in place for a just a second before she takes off! Its so great to watch!

Here she is getting ready to hit that ball! Her hand eye co-ordination is getting so good!

Here's our team 'Da Rock's Girls', giving the other team (Sugarbabies) a big cheer. Only in girls softball do you have names like these (or rainbow dolphins, Cheetahs, team sunshine etc,) !!

Getting ready for the ball...looking slightly bored, don't you think?

Gracie and her Brother. He is pretty good for watching...I kind of feel bad for the kid. Hopefully we can get him into T-ball so he has a chance to play too!

Gracie and I in our uniforms. Don't we look great?!

Wordful Wednesday...Nurturing Love and Friendship in a Marriage...

This week I need to write on the way we nurture our relationship. How do we do that? I know at our house, some people are shocked...we don't go OUT on dates. (Last OFFICIAL date, where you have someone watch the kids and go out was in August...soooo...) I know we are supposed to 'court' each other, but my husband works really weird hours (he's a nurse) and he's really tired after work and on his rare days off, we often have children's activities or even family outings planned. And to really admit the truth, its such a hassle to me to get a babysitter, make plans, go out, etc. etc. So sad I know, but I think when we were poor students and couldn't afford to go OUT alot, we fell into the bad habit, and it just continued.

So how do you 'court' each other, or 'nurture' your love when you don't go out?

I call them home dates. He just calls it being at home. But, I think they are just as great as an 'official' date. Really what do you usually do on a date...go out to eat, go to a show, come home...Well, we do some of the same things...

• I've made 'special' dinners and feed the kids early, get them to bed early and I 'dress up' for our dinner date after my husband gets home from work...
• We rent movies that we want to see, make popcorn and cuddle on the couch...
• Sometimes its just watching tv at night together, talking about our day etc. between commercials and laughing together at sitcoms...
• Lately we started Wii Wednesdays, where every Wednesday we play Wii together for an hour or so...nothing like a little friendly competition to build the love...

My husband is my best friend. I love spending time with him. Even doing silly little things. One of my favorite things is when we drive to a family outing, the kids can watch a movie in the back and we talk. Sometimes about things going on in our life...sometimes I ask him silly questions like "whats you favorite color", to "What would you do if...". But I think that's one of the greatest things that we do for our marriage is spending time together. He recently went to Texas for a conference for work...while he was there he got to do a little site seeing and he said "It was really neat, but a little boring by myself..."

Right now we are planning a "Second Honeymoon" next summer. A trip for just the two of us...I'm really excited about it...first time we have ever done this since we had kids...it will definitely make up for all the 'official' dates we have supposedly missed!

Little Man Coops....

I honestly don't know what I am going to do with this kid! He is so wonderful and happy one minute and the next...LOOK OUT! He's mad and angry and nothing is going to make it better until he gets what he wants! The last couple of months his attitude is getting bigger than his-self, but we love him. He keeps us on our toes, but keeps us laughing too!

This last week, we were at Children's music class and when we went out the door, he took off towards the road. I told him to Stop, Stay on the sidewalk! He stops and then proceeds to shuffle his feet until his toes are hanging over the sidewalk. Then looks back at me as if to say "What?! I'm still on the sidewalk."

He's talking more and more. As a parent of a very early talker (Brody) to have the next one not say much for so long is kind of scary. I mean, you don't want anything to be wrong, and you know there's not, but still...Anywho, he would usually just yell and point to get what he needed, or the kids would get it for him. But the last 2 months, he is learning lots of new words. Granted most people outside the four walls of our home probably wouldn't understand him, but we do! Here's a few things he's learning to say:

• BI! - which is bite. This is one he uses ALOT! I cannot fill the void in my sons stomachs, they are always hungry. This is one reason we cannot have anymore children, we can't afford to feed them! He also likes to yell this during sacrament, because apparently 1 piece of bread is not enough!
• Da-ee - Daddy, which he calls everyone. Including me. Every so often I get Momma. But mostly Da-ee. Sisis is Gracie and Bro is Brody. He likes to look at the pictures and point everyone out.
• He learned a great one this last couple of weeks during the Olympics: Haw-ee. Can you guess what that is? That's right, Hockey! He said it one night in his room as he was pointing to the sports balls all over the room and saying ball. i pointed to the hockey stick and said hockey stick. He says Haw--ee. And then when the games would be on, he would point at he tv and say it again. So cute.
• Des Go! - Let's Go! He likes to walk around the house and say this when we are getting ready. and he brings me his Soos (Shoes) and says Des Go!
• Datoo...now dankoo for thankyou. He won't say please, but I have trained him to give me a kiss if he wants anything.

He is learning so fast and things just come out when we don't expect them to. He is going to be quite a handful. A very delightful and busy handful. I'm not sure what I am going to do!