Hot Peppers

This picture has nothing to do with the following story, except that Jane is the main character...


It was a perfect autumn day. The sky was clear and blue, the air chilly but the sun was warm. Wes came home and suggested that we throw all caution to the wind and enjoy the beautiful weather. We ditched Ivie's choir practice and headed up the canyon for a hike, which was wonderful even though Jane screamed much of the time.

Since we were throwing all caution to the wind, we decided to try out a new pizza place in town. Jack's Wood-Fired Pizza. Wes and I ordered "The Chuckwagon" topped with bbq pork, fresh pineapple and jalapenos. I'm not a jalpeno kind of gal so I picked them off and left them on my plate. Well, when I didn't notice, 9 month old Jane snatched one of those hot peppers off my plate and popped it in her mouth. She promptly started crying and crying and when I finally looked down at her, I saw that her face was bright red. "That's weird," I thought. After trying to console her for a few minutes Ivie finally noticed that there was something in her mouth. After fingering the jalapeno out, I figured why she was screaming and bright red! I immediately gave her lots and lots of rootbeer to douse her flaming mouth, all the while laughing at such a funny series of events! Poor baby.

I'm Such a Good Mom

You know the saying, "Don't cry over spilt milk?" Well, I didn't cry, I threw an outright fit. When Norah knocked over her cup of milk with her elbow yesterday, I grabbed my hair in my hands and jumped and stomped all over the kitchen. I had wiped up one too many milk spills in the last few days. Look at the example my children have to follow! Scary.

Well, I did spend a good amount of time with Norah rescuing worms on our patio after a big rainstorm. She would point them out to me and I'd pick them up and chuck them onto the grass where they could resume their existence eating dirt. Doesn't that make me a good mom? Does the worm rescue make up for the fit I threw over spilt milk?

HUMMM. Here's to hoping my children turn out.

8 Months

Jane is almost 8 months. What in the world? But I'm always happy when my babies reach this age because this age is SO STINKIN' CUTE! Jane is a humming, grabbing, kicking, arm- flapping, kissable, stationary chubby package of absolute yumminess.

I've decided that babies create a safe, peaceful haven in my life. Much of the day I have my to-do list on my mind and get ansy to check things off, but I'm always able to put the to-do's aside during the minutes and hours spent rocking and cuddling with my babies. It is theraputic to let everything else go for a moment (many times a day) while I nurture my baby and myself in the rocking chair. I love it and will miss it when it's gone. I wonder if I'll be one of those mothers that rocks their last baby until age 10...

Blessed Jane

Babies all in white are extra beautiful.
Jane was given a special blessing by her father on June 6. We were surrounded by loving family that came to celebrate Jane. It was a wonderful day.

Each of my girls have a special blessing gown. Ivie wore my blessing dress and I made both Norah and Jane's gowns. It is delightful to create something meaningful and beautiful.

To the father of my children,

Happy Father's Day! I love you so much. I love you for the father you are to our children, I love you for the husband you are to me. You have embraced each of these callings with all of your heart, even when your back is aching or you had a hard day at work. You keep up a smile and rarely complain.

I love how you often read poetry before drifting off to sleep, how you make me laugh at your silly little sayings. You have sound judgement, a strong work ethic and a boisterous sense of humor. I love your smarts that you have worked so hard to gain. I feel well cared-for in your capable arms.

Thank you for building a home with me and for the constant dedication you show for me and our children. Thank you for working long and hard to provide for us. You sacrificed many years to get us to this point. Thank you for loving me.

Love,
Your dutiful wife and mother of your children

Dear Caleb

I absolutely adore you! What a strong young person you are full of life, ideas and energy. I appreciate how you try new things, even when those new things are scary or intimidating. You completed the soccer season, even though you were nervous for all the games. You knew that Dad and I weren't pushing you into it; you decided to see it through to the end all on your own. Remember performing your violin for recitals and the nursing home, singing "Calypso", and reciting "The Crocodile went to the Dentist" for various talent shows?

You have such a tender heart. Each morning before school, we give one another a 'kissing hand', then I watch you run off to the bus stop with your huge backpack bouncing up and down. You are so kind to me and Dad, and are a fun big brother to your sisters.

You are a grateful person and often say thanks for the most simple things that others overlook. Last week, you were so anxious for your new summer sandals to arrive in the mail and so grateful to us for getting them for you. You are a voracious learner and have become an expert in so many things (rocks, dragons, machines, animals, money).

I love your sense of humor and your contagious laugh. You laugh so easily and love to be silly. I'm proud of the person you are becoming. I'm thankful you are mine.

Love, Mom

My kitchen was raining....

Yep, at 2 am, I wander into the kitchen to make Jane a bottle only to find water pouring from the ceiling making huge puddles on my HARDWOOD floor. We all know that wood and water aren't particularly good friends, so I threw down some towels and put out some buckets to catch the rain before I ran to see what exactly was causing it. The toilet upstairs was the culprit...the kid's toilet. It became plugged, then the stupid thing continued to run spilling water onto the bathroom floor that leaked through causing the rain in my kitchen.

The hardwood is warped. I have to wear shoes or I stub my toes on all the edges popping up. But, we discovered today that when it dries out, it can be sanded down and will look fine AND the insurance will probably pay for it.

From now on, my children are allowed to use only a certain amount of TP. We will NOT have any more flooded toilets that cause rain in my kitchen.