Zekey milestones!

Zeke is so much fun to have at home.  I have taken note that literally every time the other kids were 3 years old, I already had an infant to take care of too!  So having Zeke at 3yo with no one else helps me to realize his milestones more. I love it!   We enjoy our time together so much.
Zeke is officially potty trained!  He still wears a diaper to bed but is potty trained wearing undies all day. He still pees in the training potty in the middle of the living room floor so my next goal is to get him to use the big potty and get the ridiculous little potty out of my living room!
He loves to read books.  He points to the pictures, tells you all about the book and then says "Say 'The End' and we're done!"  I'll make a big production of saying The End! which makes him super happy.  He follows the dog everywhere and wants to know "where Oren?" all the time.  Poor dog can't escape him.
He loves his desk and works at it every day while Daddy is at work. He tells me it is his work!  He loves when everyone comes home from school/work and has time for him.  He is a cuddlebug and will ask me to "sit down me" each day.  Today he asked me to rub his belly!
I love his giggles and his constant on the go.  He is a happy guy!

Isabel wisdom

Tonight while practicing spelling, Daddy asked Izzy to spell Dr. King (for MLK, Jr Day).
Isabel replied "d r . and everyone should know how to spell KING!  Anyone can spell that word."
Apparently it's very obvious to her that king is an easy word.

out with the old, in with the new

So 2015 fizzled out for me.  I haven't been as diligent on my blog as I would like.  I was hoping to spend some time working on a quilt while the kids were on break but alas, I stink at time management.  so that's okay!  While listening to a conference talk the other day, Pres. Uchtdorf said "start where you are" and move on from there.  So here I am, starting where I am!
Over break, we were very excited to get Zeke potty-trained!  He still wears a diaper at night but for the most part, the kid knows what to do and where to go!  For the first time in over 10 yrs, I am not daily changing diapers!  That is enough to make a girl whoop for joy.....now on to our next adventure.
In November, Kal was diagnosed with ADHD.  It was not something that surprised me but I also know this will not be an easy road.  We decided over Christmas break to begin his medication so I could monitor how his behavior changed.  After 2 weeks of no change we knew we needed to up the dosage.  Unfortunately, that was also when school started up again.  So far he has had great days at school.  The ordeal comes each morning when I attempt to help a 6yo swallow a pill.  It is a small pill and some days, it's a cakewalk.  On days like today where I spent 45 minutes fighting with him to stop spitting it out, only to have him wallow only half of the pill, well, I feel like a failure. 
Being a mom is hard.  You love these little things with all your heart and doeverything you can to help them thrive, succeed, and be happy.  But sometimes, you just can't do it for them and it is so hard to watch them struggle.  Today is a rough day, where I am reminded of my limitations and must move forward from where I am and try to be better in the moments to come.  I know that Kalen will grow to be an amazing man and what limits he has now will not dictate who he becomes but boy, do I wish today had been an easier start.

my kid-isms for December

From the back of the van on the way to school:
Kalen: "Mom, wanna hear a joke?  Why did the cow cross the road?"
Mom: "Why?"
Kalen: "To see Santa Claus!"
(insert loud laughter from Kal and Zeke)
Mom: "What do you think the cow asked Santa to bring him?"
Kalen: "I don't know."
Zeke: "PANCAKES!"
(insert more laughter!)

Last night Sam played the drums while Penny sang "Little Drummer Boy" at the church music fireside.  I told him it was his drumming debut.  I asked Kal "didn't Sammy do a good job playing the drum?"
Kalen: "Not really!"
Geez, brothers!

While at the fireside last night, a trio sang the song "Baby in a Manger". 
Sam: "What is this song called?"
Kal: "Baby in a Manger."
Sam: "Who is the baby?"
Kal: "I think they mean Jesus"
Sam: "Oh, I thought they meant maybe like when a dad calls a mom his baby."

Also, last night we were out late at a Music Fireside at church. We hurried home and rushed the kids through the bedtime routine. Sam begged me to give him a few minutes b/c he had an idea and wanted to write it down before he forgot. Kurtis and I kinda hollered at him but told him to go ahead. This afternoon I looked over what he wrote as his "budget report" for the money he has asked for Christmas: 20% goes to savings, 10% goes to buying, 20% goes to helping (friends) and 55% goes to Missionary savings" I asked him when he got home what he meant, he said "I want to start saving for my mission so I can go someday." Those moments don't happen when we're looking for them or even when we're trying to teach them. They get it and they will demonstrate how they get it when you least expect it!

Izzy and the purple cast

Izzy got her cast off two weeks ago and I need to post pics.  She's been so brave through this whole process and I'm so proud of her!  My favorite picture is of Daddy holding her ear as the saw came close to where she was laying down.  They argue a lot but he is so protective of her in his own way.

Kal's growing older and wiser too.....

Last week was Thanksgiving and the birthday of two special little boys.  First off, Kal turned 6 years old and we had a "GI Joe party" for him, complete with grenades that would tick down and then "explode".  It was a small party but there was a lot of fun had.  But perhaps, the special moments that happened for me were one-on-one times with my sweet boy.
The night of his birthday party Kal was curled up in bed with me and said "Mom, thanks for making me birthday cupcakes and letting my friends come and play."  This is huge coming from Kalen b/c he never acts like this or thanks us for anything.
A few nights later, he was throwing a fit before bed and after arguing a ton I said "Kalen, I can't take it anymore!  I can't do this!"  After a few minutes, he meekly came to me and said "Momma, what can't you do anymore?  Can you not do 'me' anymore?  B/c I love you."  It melted my heart and I had to stop and speak softly to him.  I had to remind myself that he is listening and taking in everything I say.
We're going through some stuff with Kal and learning how to help him.  The child psychologist did diagnose him the ADD recently and we now have to start the next process of seeing how to have him treated medically.  Also, we're starting counseling for anger management.  All of these things makes the tender, sweet moments with Kalen that much sweeter and more tender.  I'm so thankful for him and the joy he brings us.  No one makes me laugh the way Kal does.  He's just his own special little guy and I'm really glad he's my boy!

a Zeke moment

Okay, so I just had one of those moments! You know, those moments where you're busy doing your Monday thing...laundry, paying bills, cleaning house, and overall just doing the mundane things in life and THEN that little 2yo comes toddling into my room with his empty bowl asking for "Mo' chips, Mom, pees!" And I say "yes, I'll get you more chips." but instead I stop and I look at this little blonde, blue-eyed boy that is MY CHILD and I thank God for allowing me to be his mother. I thank God for loaning him to me on this earth. I thank God for letting me hear that little voice call me Mom and ask to fulfill his needs. Yeah, one of those moments. Those moments that they don't tell you about in health class. Those moments where you realize your worth through the voice of your child.