Relearning the things I already knew...

I'm not putting any pictures in this post. Mostly because I haven't taken very many lately. The latest exciting thing is that Averi is starting to walk. It's so cute. I have a bunch of videos of her, they're all on the trampoline because that's where she feels the most comfortable walking. I'm not sure why but she does. She's been the happiest she's ever been lately. Just sweet and giggly and talking a lot. It's so fun.

Matt's parents came down for our 5Th anniversary this last weekend and Matt and I got to leave overnight. It was my first time away from the girls, possibly Asher too. (Oh, the hospital when I had the girls) Anyway, we didn't have anything planned and when we got in the car I called few full hotels. Then ended up calling the Grand America and got a room there. Our package came with a $100 credit to anywhere in the hotel.

Our date started at Orson Gygi's, then checked into the hotel. From there we went to the Gateway and shopped then watched Iron Man 2. Then we hurried back for our reservations at the Restaurant in the hotel. There were more courses than anything I've ever experienced. It was way over the top. But fun. It was late at this point so we went back and relaxed in the robes provided. (I felt really weird wearing a robe, I have such a long torso that the waist is always too high)

The next day we were still full so we just slept in, got ready and came home. We were gone just under 24 hours but I was so excited to see the kids that it was hard for me to stay gone. It's not that I was so excited to see them, I just feel like this is where I belong and I always feel drawn home when I leave, no matter how long I'm gone.

When we got home I think Asher was tired and a little confused as to whom was in charge. He did a few things that landed him in his room, then right before he got there he called me stupid. That was a first as far as name calling goes. So I dealt with that, then talked to him about it for a while. (I'm sure talking about it was probably worse than the spanking) But since then he has told me he loves me a million times and asks me to do things with him and has done things that I've asked. Usually he can't hear me when I ask him to do something unless I threaten to take away a sticker or something. He has a sticker chart and when it's full he gets a prize. But he's been such a good boy. He rarely gets stickers and today he got 3 in a row, and I don't give out stickers easily. It's so nice and fun when he's good. Maybe he's just ending some phase he was in while he was 3. Maybe 4 years old is a good year for little boys. So I've really been trying to encourage this good behavior.

Last night we went to my parents house and Piper started getting fussy then screaming. She hasn't really stopped today. She even screams in her sleep. So needless to say that just wears me out so fast! Asher and Averi didn't take afternoon naps, but Piper did, so Piper was awake for a few hours longer than everyone else and I was trying to clean up and get things done. She of course just followed me around grabbing my legs to have me hold her. So I'd pick her up until my back hurt then put her down just to have this cycle continue. Finally I stopped and sat down and read a bunch of books to her. She was still and happy and calm.

I guess the point of the day is I need to slow down and spend more time with the kids. Each day is so busy, there are so many things going on, phone calls, emails, people coming over, hair appointments, laundry, dishes, baths, bananas on the floor... and I feel like if I slow down I'll be so bogged down that I'll never be able to get on top of the mess. (Piper just started crying in her sleep just now, she's been asleep for over and hour.) Anyway, all that stuff isn't as important as me spending better time with all the kids. I know a lot of you are thinking, "Really?! That's what your house looks like AFTER you've been cleaning all day?" And yes, it does. I clean all day and look around and every thing's messy!

We had a ward breakfast the other day and we did pancakes, so I was by the griddles flipping pancakes, and I noticed that so many people would come over and talked to us and just kind of hung out even though there wasn't much to say. It made me think that that is why mom's need to be in the kitchen making dinner. There is something about a mom in the kitchen cooking. They're a captive audience, there's no pressure on the conversation and it's just a time to be together and talk. My mom made dinner EVERY single night that I can remember while growing up. And I'm just hoping that I don't hurry over everything and skip the important times I can be with my kids.

Something kind of funny happened to me earlier today. I don't know if I can write it right...
My dad emailed me a copy of my Patriarchal blessing in case I didn't know where my copy was. So just a kind gesture. There was no writing in the email. It just said:

Thank you,

Mark Haehl...(then all his business stuff)

So I replied;

No, thank you.

He read my email and thought he had somehow offended me, thinking that I wrote;
"No thank you."

Then I felt bad, because my email should have read,
"No. Thank YOU!"

Anyway, kind of funny. Makes me wonder how many things I've written that have been misinterpreted.