Very helpful

My super-husband finished framing our basement last Saturday, yay! He did it in less than three weeks and it looks awesome. We are SO excited. I was also excited to have him take a little time off this week so I could have him do some upstairs repairs I've been waiting on. (While Jeff never fails to rise above and beyond my expectations with home-repair, I continue to get worse and worse at it because I just end up saving that kind of thing for him, knowing his perfectionist self will do a MUCH better and faster job than impatient ol' me. Very similar to my outlook on computer issues. It's a cycle I do NOT recommend starting!)

We bought some new faucets to try and refresh our bathrooms to a less rental-looking state. Jeff decided to not waste our post-bedtime time together and do it while the kids were still awake. Brave man, he is. This is what I found.

I couldn't have replaced the faucets with an instructional DVD and all the time in the world. Here he is doing it in no time with two very curious helpers. Can you even find him?

And, here's a little bonus of Jane after making her self extra beautiful with my make-up. She felt so darn pretty I couldn't possibly wash it off, so it remained until it rubbed itself off on who-knows-how-many things throughout the day.

Pardon the poor pictures. Until just a few minutes ago, I was unaware of where the new place I picked for the camera was, so these were taken with my phone. Thank you, Jeff, and your very un-pregnant mind that remembers things like that.

Too fast

Jack started back to school today. Unlike me, he felt extremely ready. I started really feeling it yesterday when we had some nice, quiet time in our home while Jane napped and Jeff was at Choir practice. We pulled out a deck of cards and I taught him how to play "war" (he clobbered me). We proceeded to read the comics together on the couch, which is a favorite Sunday activity in our home. It's fun to see which ones Jack thinks will be cool (spiderman), and the ones that actually get him laughing out loud (this week, Family Circus, did you see it?). I started feeling like I wanted MORE time with my boy, when in reality, I'll have two to three hours less each day, once again.

I started remembering the week he turned four. It was a big week for a mother. Jack started school, then had his fourth birthday the next day. I was SO excited for him to go to school, something he'd been talking about for at least a year. He had already done a trial day, and we both felt very confident he would have a fantastic experience and meet many friends.

I rode the bus with him in the morning, although I got the impression I was cramping his style more than he wished. The next day (his birthday), I took in cupcakes that he could share with his friends. It hit me that night that my boy was growing up too fast. Even though Jack had been been in bed for hours already, as I lay in bed, I couldn't stop thinking about the day's events. I let myself remember when Jack first joined our family and how absolutely welcome that change was. I loved his big, bald, softball-shaped head, his ever-increasing chub, and as he got older, how he would hold onto Jeff's ears as he traveled on his Daddy's shoulders.

I couldn't help myself. I sneaked out of my bed, and slipped myself into Jack's, just to look at him. He was, and still is, just too perfect. In his sleep, he cuddled right into me and I got to hold my big baby boy once more before accepting that he has to grow up sometime. I still haven't accepted it completely. As much as I love watching his personality develop, his independence increase, and his experience with the influence of the outside world, there will always be a part of me that wants him all to myself. His poor future wife, who's going to have to deal with a mother-in-law who has tendencies to pull her boy in closer, rather than let go.


Knowing that I was going to have to share him once again with school, I felt I needed some extra time together again last night. This time I crawled (or whatever would be not graceful in my very pregnant state) into bed with him while he was awake so we could have a little chat. It was fun to lay with him and talk about our day, something we used to do nightly, but has somehow gotten lost in the shuffle of the last few months. We talked about the baby and how fun it will be to care for her together. He asked me if I was comfortable on his pillow (how nice is that?), and we discussed the latest books he is listening to. We listened a little more to his current book and he recited the funny parts. I tell you, this boy has my heart. He's a little crazy, very independent, and gives me a heart attack whenever he acts surprised that I don't want him playing with Daddy's BIG tools, but I love him. So, why is it so hard to let him go?

To you experienced mothers, is it ALWAYS going to feel this way? All it was this time was him going back on track. I dropped him off across the street, for heaven's sake! What is going to happen to me when he leaves for college? Or a mission? Or, honestly, when he gets married? Does it get easier to just let him keep growing up?

So, you'd think I was sending him off to boarding school or something, wouldn't you? I tend to go about my business and don't feel too emotional about things, but once I take a step back, I can hardly contain my emotions. Poor Jack is going to have to deal with me for years to come.


I can't even imagine what it will be like when my Jane is ready to date! Can anything prepare a mother for that?

My kids

So, I love my kids. And by my kids, I also mean my sister's kids. Because honestly, the more time we all spend together (since we're now so close to one another) the more the lines between cousins and siblings seems to fade. I love having my nieces and nephews over to play, or sitting with my darling sisters (sisters-in-law included) and visiting while the little ones run around and happily pull out every toy out of each sorted bin in the house. Of course, there are more sorted bins in my sisters' houses than mine, but I do have a few.

This last week could be titled a cousin marathon. We spent almost everyday with one cousin or another. One day even going from my sister's house in Draper up to my Aunt Fay's home in Layton where I got to visit with MY cousins, aunts, and grandma while those cousins played. (Jack informed me that this day was just like Disneyland. We got to go right from one fun thing to another!) What would my cousins' kids and my kids even be... second cousins? First cousins, once removed? Who knows? The point is, they sure enjoyed being together.

So, here's where my regret comes in... I have been terrible at taking pictures. Did I get burned out in Bangkok since I never left home without my camera? It was more in fear that I'd miss something I'd never see again, and I probably did. But, I don't remember what I missed because I don't have a picture of it to remind me. So, maybe ignorance really is bliss?

I DID have my camera on Thursday when I stole Vanessa's two boys for the day, while she filled her time with all kinds of productive things. Most importantly, spending time adoring her three week old baby, Drew. And that boy is worth every bit of adoring.

So, I got to take Clark and John home with me to be my numbers three and four for the day. We played at home, played at our favorite park (who could resist the sunshine?), and played outside with the neighbor kids on everything we own that has wheels, which unfortunately isn't much.

John and Jane loved sitting together in the van, and requested I take a picture of them being happy and holding hands. John was loving that he was "in charge" of the soccer ball on the way to the park. (Are built-in car seats the best or what?)

Unfortunately, after all that anticipation Johnny never quite made it to play soccer at the park since he fell asleep in the car five minutes before we pulled in. He had a nice two hour nap while the other kids played and played, and woke up happy (this kid is always happy) as we loaded ourselves back in the car to head home. Luckily, cousins also distract from missed opportunities so he didn't even complain about not playing on the very cool toys.

It was still cool, but did you notice that gorgeous sky?

Jack and Clark loved our simple picnic and gobbled up their sandwiches and crackers so they could enjoy the main event... gummy worms. It WAS a special day!

Jane would have stayed on these swings forever and was happy as a clam.

Another exciting thing from the week was having Jack home from school. He gets two weeks off (year around school) and I am loving having him home. I signed both the kids up for swim class at a local indoor pool and they've been loving them. (I discovered that my lens was all foggy, hence the blurry picture)

They go MWF mornings for their 40 minute class. The best part is, even though they're in different levels, they can have their classes in the same pool at the same time! Yay! One trip, two lessons, and I get to watch them both without having to worry about entertaining (or containing) anyone. It's a great system.

Jane has found a friend in her class, and it's hilarious to watch them together. He's a bit more hesitant, but she doesn't hold back. Whenever they all sit along the wall, she squeezes herself in so she can sit beside him. She encouragingly pats him on the back just before he jumps in, and I overheard her inviting him on her "adventure" today, which I'm afraid might mean to venture past their set boundaries. She's had to sit on the side by herself twice for swimming too far. She has no fear, but is still learning she has to listen to the teacher, so I think this is good for her.

I love seeing my kids all dressed up in Sunday attire, but I have to admit, my favorite is seeing them in their swimsuits. Do you just want to gobble Jane up, or what?

And look at this kid's muscles! How handsome is he?

Jack and Jane are always FREEZING when they get out of the pool. Luckily, they think it's hilarious to chatter their teeth and laugh at each other's purple lips. This is them showing me just how freezing they are before they jump in the shower.

It's been a good week, although quite exhausting! I decided we'll take it a little slower this week and just enjoy NOT having too much of a schedule while Jack's out of school. Do I really have to send him back? Sometimes I know exactly how my kids feel when they have something they don't want to share. In my case, it's my Jack I don't want to share!

I'll leave you with two things: A) a picture of Jane with her friend, Lilly, at our ward talent show on Saturday night. This little Lilly is so independent and has been key to Jane being able to separate from us each Sunday as she goes to her own little primary class. Thank goodness for good friends! Notice the nutritious refreshments. Jane was in heaven.

and B) a video of Jack performing "Allegro" for the talent show. He was really hesitant to do it at first, but he did a GREAT job. More than anything, I'm realizing the reason I keep teaching Jack violin. It's not because he loves it, because, let's be honest, what child loves to practice every day? It's because he is SO proud of himself when he does it. He realizes it's a lot of work, and performing is such a great opportunity for him to succeed and feel pleased with all that he's done. Every day is an accomplishment when we get our practicing in and have fun doing it. I'm so proud of him for keeping it up. Enjoy!