Random Thoughts

I have been avoiding writing ever since I started this blog since I feel paralyzed by not having the perfect thing to expound about and the perfect way to express it. I am a much better reader than writer, but I figure that there is no point of having a blog if you never use it. So, I am going to just ramble a little bit this time and see if after a few more blogs my perfectionism will die down and this will get easier!

I was thinking as I washed the dishes this evening that I love my kids. Not that I have never come to this realization before, but today I was able to enjoy them a little bit more and the fights were minimal so I could really feel a lot of happiness when contemplating them and some of their cute, sweet ways. I think I will record a few of these now so that I can remember them.

First I thought about my youngest daughter. She is 3 and we are still trying to get the whole using the toilet thing into her head. Well, this Sunday at church she decided that she wanted to use the toilet so my husband took her to the bathroom. She came back all proud for having accomplished this and pleasing mom and dad. At the end of Primary she was at the front waiting to give the closing prayer and the Primary President was talking to the kids about not getting up and down so much to use the bathroom and get drinks. Well, Emma went around the podium up to our Primary President and informed the whole primary that "I went to the bathroom." She was so proud. I hope that she didn't realize all the chuckling was from what she said.

Also, that same day, my oldest son told the whole primary that as a way that he would follow the Savior's example would be to "not hide when he was supposed to be cleaning" Now I thought that was so cute, but it would be even better if I believed that it was actually going to happen. At least I can now always bring that up when he hides and maybe his better nature will exert itself!

My daughter Hannah was in her Primary class and they were learning about the Word of Wisdom. Her teacher explained that candy wasn't that good for us but that we could eat a little bit each day and it wouldn't hurt us. Hannah gave the closing prayer in her class and told Heavenly Father that they would try to eat one piece of candy every day! She is also getting ready to go to Kindergarten next year and I took her to get her Kindergarten shots yesterday. My mom had promised to give her a dollar for every time she got a shot and didn't cry. It was great! I never had a kid so excited to get shots before. The doctor was running late and she kept asking me when it was going to be her turn. In the examining room she would keep looking over at me and whispering or mouthing "I am being so brave." It was too cute. She figured that 4 shots would be perfect because combined with the finger prick that she had earlier that would be five dollars! Well, she got her wish. 4 shots! And she was very brave. She had a little break down just before her fourth shot--said she was too hot and that made her too uncomfortable--but she quickly pulled herself together and got that last shot with no more fuss.

And there are so many other great stories that I prize, but I won't bore any one with more right now. I know that mothers find their children a lot more entertaining and sweet than anyone else can.

This last week we went to Utah for the week to go to my brother's graduation. That is a big part of the reason that I haven't written before now. Trying to pack a small minivan with the stuff that would be needed for 6 people to stay away from home for one week and all the necessary snacking and entertaining things we would need for such a long trip was a little overwhelming at first, but we managed to do it and even made it there and back without wanting to lock ourselves in our rooms and pretend to be alone when we got back. I think that it really helped to break the journey up into two stages and have a halfway point. Thanks again to Stephen and Jen if you ever read this! It was a great vacation and we got to see so many family members and friends that we haven't seen in a while. We were so glad that we went. A side note: Paul and I read the Five Love Languages on the way there and absolutely loved it. I recommend it to anyone who hasn't read it.

Friends are marvelous creatures. I was able to see one of my old roomies from BYU days while in Utah and it was still so easy to talk to her and be with her. That is what I think makes good friends--the ones that are going to be your friends your whole lives. And then when I got back I saw my friend Ashley and she told me she had missed me when I was gone! It feels so good to have friends. I would go and list all those that I count as true friends but I would be sure to overlook someone so I won't attempt it. I don't know what I would do without friends. To be able to get together and visit or chat on the phone or receive an e-mail or letter can just brighten the whole day for you, especially if your day consists of cooking food that no one seems to like and cleaning up messes that will never stay clean and trying to solve problems and fights for rather irrational small children and dealing with a fussy baby and not really be able to have a lot of adult conversation because your husband is gone or when he is home he doesn't really want to talk about everything and . . . you get the idea. We need friends.

Well I think that is enough random (and possibly very boring) thoughts for now. In summary: My kids are ADORABLE (don't you forget it!), Long trips with your family don't necessarily have to turn out badly, and Friends help keep the smiles on our faces. Tune in next time for more amazingly boring thoughts from Amazing Mommy! : )