December 2010

I know that you were all so impressed with my more frequent blogs, but it couldn't last too long, could it?! I just wanted to do a quick run down of December. We had some fun game nights with friends, movies, and some great goodies and food. School was out the week before our "official" Christmas break--so the kids have had a L-O-N-G break. It has mostly been good with a healthy dose of contention--just to keep us all humble. I've gotten lots of cleaning and working hours out of the kids in trade for electronics time. They have all discovered that Dad is definitely more generous than Mom in most accounts. David has also been off work for two weeks--that has been fun and he has totally spoiled the little kids--they are in for an awakening when Monday hits and fun Daddy-O is back at work and not here to cater to their every need!

We also had a quick get-away trip to Washington D.C. We hit several impressive museums--Natural History, American History and the Air and Space Museum at the Dulles Airport. The kids held up quite well. We did decide on this trip though that we are going to start doing more outings with just the older kids--more enjoyable for all. The museums are amazing. I was intrigued with one exhibit "America at War"--it has pretty much bee war since the nation began--Revolutionary, War of 1812, Mexican-American War, Civil, Spanish-American War, WWI, WWII, Korean, Vietnam, Desert Storm, 9/11--all the Middle East Terrorism. Anyway, it was interesting to see the displays and the time frames of the wars. It was quite sobering. I could have spent hours reading about the details if there weren't hungry kids with rubber bones at my side. By the way, the museums are all free which is nice--because you need the money to pay for the $50 snacks that were our lunch.

We also went to the temple and looked at the lights, trees and the nativity collection from around the world. It was beautiful, but once again the kids were hungry. We finally found a Wendy's after "following" the GPS. The next day we went back to the temple I did baptisms with Parker and Eliza and David was in the Visitor's Center with the little kids. They watched the Joseph Smith movie. David said that Katherine asked "why" the whole time. When I asked her about the movie she said they got sick from bugs in their food. (Also, just yesterday Peter was pretending to be Joseph Smith--I have a big, flat Rubbermaid container full of dry beans that I let the kids play in--to measure and pour and bury little toys in. They love it and if unsupervised it can turn into a big mess. Anyway, Peter had a lunch box with a Book of Mormon in it, he was concealing the Book of Mormon with the beans as he packed the lunch box full of beans. I asked what he was doing--he said, "I am Jospeh Smith and I am hiding the Gold Plates!" It was great! Thank goodness that some good is getting through!)

We had some great snow for Christmas--it started snowing on Christmas Eve and all day on Christmas--it was a great present. We spent Christmas Eve at the Ernst's and had some great food and company. On Christmas Day we went to Veechs and had dinner and games. Then just more days of relaxing and playing with our fun loot. I got "Beekeeping For Dummies"--thanks Lorie and read through most of it. Very enlightening and interesting.

The latest has been a "PaintBall Party". Darren has a paintball gun and let everyone shoot it when we were up there last week. Well, since then David got a full arsenal on Craigslist, they've had battles in full camo in the woods behind the Ernst's house. It is a perfect place. We can watch from above while they battle down in the ravine. Right now, David is headed out to refill the CO2 cartridges, and Parker is getting all the gear set-up and ready to go again. I'll have to get a picture of everyone today.

Happy 2011!

Scripture Power

I love to sew and have been making bags for the kids for church. This one was for a little girl at church. She requested "pink and orange". Then David was going through has clothes and had a bunch to give away. I pulled out some pants, a white shirt an old tie--then added a belt--cut into pieces for handles, a zipper--and came up with these. The boys love to take them to church--that is if they can locate them before we leave.

Selfish

Sometimes I just want to be selfish and do something for myself like..........

EAT, SLEEP, SHOWER,



I had a few more things to put on the list, but William just bit Katherine........

House Elves

The little kids are such great entertainment. So easy to please--most of the time. Katherine found this silky piece of fabric (something that Grandma Rita sent years ago) and wanted a dress--well, I sewed up the sides and cut arm holes and a spot for her head--she couldn't have been more delighted. Peter saw the excitement and also wanted one--so a few minutes later we had "house elf" costumes for the group. Now if they would obey my every command!

Oh, What a Beautiful Morning

I am a morning person and have recently rediscovered how good I feel when I get up early. When I was living at home I had a permanent note made that I would leave on the bathroom mirror for my Dad--it said, "Get me up at 5:45 AM". I used this in Junior High and through High School. I'd get up and study, jog (it used to be called "jogging" now it is "running"), or just enjoy the quite mornings. I remember when I was probably 14 or 15 that Halley's comet made a pass close to earth and that you could see it. I was fascinated with the night sky and convinced myself that I saw it several times on my solo morning jaunts. In high school we often practiced basketball before school so we got up early for that. It never bothered me, in fact, I liked getting it out of the way. In college I signed up for early classes and loved to get on campus before the sun came up to study. Night owl roommates did hamper this on occasion. (If I had only known about the benefits of ear plugs back then.) Things changed when we got married. David stayed up later, so then I did too. We'd even watch the news--before I could rarely stay up 'til the news came on, because I was ready for bed. Then the kids came with that many sleepless nights--I just felt like I was barely scraping by--I still feel like that sometimes now. When the new school year started, Eliza had Seminary at 6AM--so she and David would get up at 5AM and then he would drop her off on his way to work. I generally get up and get moving just before they leave the house. It is SO quite, calm and peaceful. I love sitting in the quiet house. I can hear the fridge running. I have about 30-45 minutes of solitude. This personal time has made a huge difference in my day. It is sometimes the ONLY time that I get for myself and I relish it.



The only draw-back is at 8PM, I totally lose it. Everyone has to be in bed or it gets UGLY.

The Cry It Out Method

There are several different parenting methods when it comes to discipline, sleep habits, potty training, etc. They are endless books, theories, and plans with promises. I think my personal favorite is the "Cry it Out" method. This is generally associated with putting babies to sleep, but can apply to any situation. I just go in my room, close the door, lay on my bed and simply "cry it all out". It really helps and seems to work with all ages and in most situations.

Record Players and Sewing Machines

One of my sewing projects. This is Grace in her baptism dress. I made Eliza one and just figured that Grace could wear it. Well, Grace talked me into making her own and it was finished at midnight the night before the big day. It was a fun project and Grace looked amazing. She is such a sweet girl and a great help to me with the little kids.

William LOVES to sew. He'll turn the light on and off (it's burned out now, so I've got to get another one). Then he'll put fabric, paper or whatever he can find under the needle and "sew". Then he pulls the thread through and gets it all tangled up. It keeps him busy for quite a while.

Here is Katherine playing on the sewing room floor with her doll. These are all picyures from the summer and the kids already look different.

I had a great childhood. Some of my best and earliest memories (from the Salt Lake house--so I was about 5) were being in the room with my Mom while she sewed and we listened to records--Mother Goose, Little Black Sambo, and of course, the Cannibal Counting song. I can still sing that song as I'm sure several of my siblings can, too. I remember standing in front of a full-length mirror on back of the door of the room where my Mom sewed and "eating myself all up" just like the cannibal in the song. Pretty crazy, I know. (I"d love to find that record somewhere). Anyway, at the Cannon Junk Jamboree we all got to pick several things from our childhood to take home. An old record player was my first pick--David didn't quite see the logic in my choice, but I use that record player almost every day when I listen to wonderful memories as I sew. I even found the Mother Goose record at a garage sale. I then picked out a few from Grandma Pieper's basement. Talk about pure listening satisfaction. My kids play with buttons and spools of thread as the sound of the sewing machine whirs in the background and the vinyl memories go round and round.