He's a real ham!

An interesting thing about Cooper - he is a very picky eater at dinner time. Breakfast and lunch he usually does great, but come dinner time he rarely likes to eat much of anything. Often we have to bribe the child with any number of tricks and it is comical watching him force himself to eat those few bites. He grabs his cup of water like it is his lifeline and gulps the lifesaving liquid like it is the only way he can actually swallow anything. BUT - my boy loves ham! Preparing Easter dinner was great because I knew he was really going to enjoy dinner. He was so happy when dinner was finally on the table. He was going to feast! And feast he did! I finally had to put a stop to his protein consumption - but was he ever happy. At dinner on Monday, he opted out of the fajitas I had prepared and asked for ham. Okay, I said sure! I knew he would eat well. This afternoon when I asked what kind of sandwich I could make him for lunch, he again requested ham. I told him to make another choice as we would be having "clean out the fridge/left over Easter dinner" for our meal tonight. I told him he would get tired of ham over and over again. He said, "Oh there's no way that could happen Mom." Now you have to get the drama right. He smiles out from under his ballcap and says "cuz I'm a haaaam maaaan!!" Needless to say he got ham for lunch. : )

a tug on the ol' heartstrings

Cooper to Maddie, after I had tucked him in bed more than once:

"Sis, could you please come tuck me in?"

"Sure, let me finish washing my face and then I will."

"Okay Sissy."

Maddie goes into his bedroom and finds him kneeling on top of his bed.

"Okay Cooper. Are you ready to be tucked in?"

"Just a minute Sis. I'm praying to my Heavenly Father."

These little ones sure can tug on the heartstrings, can't they!!

Girl's day out!

While the boys went to a spring training game, me and Maddison decided it was a perfect chance to spend the afternoon together.

Lunch at Maddie's favorite dive: $16

Shopping at a vareity of stores: $180

Pedicures: $60 (plus a raw heel that is bleeding)

Spending the day with your almost 13 year old daughter and loving every minute of it . . .

PRICELESS!

Gotcha!!

I just happened to catch these sweet moments while we were at the Ward Easter Egg Hunt.

Almost Perfect!

Here is Davis just six days after the accident at the ball field. I finally took a picture today because it was the first day that I could actually see my son under the wound. I knew all would be well. You are a warrior my boy!!

I Recommend

I thought I had read every Dr. Seuss story out there. Then Cooper received a book from his book-giving aunt upon his 5th birthday. This is a big birthday in our home and the first one that our kids get to have a real, full blown, all the bells and whistles, send out the invitations, etc. birthday party. We had a great time at Cooper's bike themed party "Trick My Trike!" We did a five year old take on Pimp My Ride or Trick My Truck - depending on what channel you watch. Fun times!! And did I mention turning five means Kindergarten in the Fall, then high school, college, a mission and WHOA!! Okay, back to Dr. Seuss. This story was new for me and when I opened it for the first time to read it to Cooper, there was the inscription from his aunt, "Dear Cooper, How exciting to be five. You will get to go on lots of new adventures! We love you lots." Those words struck a deep cord and then I began to read. Here is how it begins:

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to great places!
You're off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

The story goes on and on about living life and the ups and downs and conquering "Goliaths" all in the most delightful Dr. Seuss style. And here is the ending:

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 3/4 percent guaranteed.)
KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!
So. . .
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
you're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So. . . get on your way!

Cooper loved the story! I did too! We read it often and each time I do I remind myself this promise: That each of my children will have their own copy of this story with an inscription from mom tucked in their suitcase when they are off to their own GREAT PLACES!!

Creative outlet

After a blog tutorial from an ice cream delivering friend, I am finding a whole new dimension to this creative outlet (that's what I call the time I spend on my blog and I'm okay with that!). You are just going to have to tune in every few days to see what I've done with all these great papers. I'm liking this one for now. It's different, I love the colors and I can change it anytime I want! Yipee!! Thanks Rachel!

Everyone has to be a comedian!

Brent was helping Maddie review her science notes for her test this morning before he left for work. It's all about rocks, minerals, etc. I heard them talking back and forth - a question, an answer. It had a strange rhythm to it. Anyway, after a lengthy review about every possible rock fact, Brent got up, grabbed his work bag and said, "You'll do great Sis. ROCK on!" Okay, we laughed. Then as he's heading out the door, "I'll be here all week! Don't forget to tip your waitress!" Laughter is a good way to start the day.

Okay Mauri - no tears here! This one's for you! Love ya lady.

Birthday blessings!

Count your many blessings, name them one by one (in no particular order but in about a 14 hour time frame).
1. muffins and a memory book
2. ice cream (3 varieties) and precious, uninterrupted conversation
3. gifts galore
4. Williams-Sonoma
5. Doritos
6. Brent's cheesecake w/ strawberries (OH MY!!)
7. opportunity to give service surrounded by my beautiful Beehives and awesome leaders
8. thoughtful phone calls
9. Hoops & YoYo email cards
10. enough lung power to blow out 41 birthday candles that almost set off the smoke alarm at the church
11. ears to hear my children say "Happy Birthday Mom" at least 1,000 times and hear Brent whisper that we have plans on Friday
12. arms to feel my children's happy birthday hugs
13. cheeks to feel Cooper's repeated birthday kisses (I think we counted 41)
14. the birthday card from my husband
15. eyes to read the words he wrote in my card
16. and a heart that pounds with gratitude for my forever family, faithful friends and a loving Heavenly Father who have given me all these reasons and more for happiness.

Free speech!

Cooper and I had about 10 minutes to ourselves snuggled up in my bed early this morning. He begged for me to turn on cartoons for just a minute. I said, "Okay, but only until Sis is done blow drying her hair." And what do you think came on?? A commercial for Cookie Crisp cereal. After oohhing and aahhing he turned to me and said, "Mom, how come you don't buy that cereol. It's the best cereol in the wood." Translated that would be "the best cereal in the world." All of my kids have had this same speech - what should I call it? I won't call it an impediment because it has not hindered or delayed them in any way. How about a speech pattern. Okay - I'm good with that. Anyway, they have all had this speech pattern and once they enter elementary school and go through a year of the speech program, it melts away. It is quite an accomplishment for them but it is a little sad for me. I actually love to hear Cooper talk. It makes me smile to hear the less than perfect pronunciation. I often repeat it to myself or pretend I didn't hear so he will have to repeat it. I love it - it's the best sound in the "wood."

Self Portrait by Davis

Davis decided he wanted to document this experience in one of his favorite forms of expression - art. The news from the ENT this morning is totally positive. The break is small and will heal completely on its own. Priesthood blessings, prayers and the positive attitude of Davis has seen us through this one. I look upon D's face and I'm grateful beyond words.

And a little child shall lead them...

It scares me sometimes how good and sweet my Davis is. I wonder at times if he will be taken from me because of this. I know it sounds ridiculous but it is a real feeling of mine. Yesterday's incident is just one example of his absolute goodness. This may get lengthy but I want to remember this. So here is one glimpse of my Davis:
After a long day (about 6 1/2 hours) at the school carnival, I was just taking off my shoes to get off my feet for a bit. The phone rang and it was Brent. He and Davis were at Little League practice. Brent tells me to hurry to the ball park, Davis needs to be taken to the ER. He has a cut on his nose that looks like it needs stitches. I panic a bit but tell myself while I'm driving to the park that it's just a cut and he'll probably have a bloody nose. Well, I was not prepared for what I saw when I got to him. My heart fell to my stomach when I looked at his face. He was covered in blood and the left side of his face and nose were swollen beyond recognition. I was sick. Brent explained that while he was helping one of the boys with his swing (he was using a batting tee to demonstrate the proper form) the sleeve on the tee flew off and hit Davis squarely in the face. Need I say how absolutely horrible Brent feels for causing this injury to his son? Nobody feels worse than he does or is kicking themselves more than he is. I took him straight to the ER and Brent was right behind us. The nurse takes him right to a bed and puts an ice pack on his face. Then the wait begins. During this painful wait, my mind goes to every possible thing that we could be facing - the worst being a shattered face that would have to be reconstructed. I was holding the ice pack on for Davis because he had dosed off. Soon my head was swimming with awful and ugly thoughts. I hung my head and was screaming inside "WHY did this have to happen to Davis!" Just when I thought my screaming would escape for everyone to hear, I felt a soft touch on my arm that was holding the ice pack. Davis was gently stroking my arm, back and forth, giving me sweet comfort that washed away those awful thoughts. He amazes me! The outcome is good - glue for the cut and only a broken nose. The CAT scan showed no other face injury. Later that night back at home and while he was getting cleaned up in the tub he said to me, "Mom, do you know what day Thursday is?" I scrambled for a minute and then it dawned on me. I said, "It's picture day at school." He just looked at me with his broken little face and some silent tears fell down his cheeks. He said, "They will go in the yearbook." My heart is breaking at his realization of this. I just nod my head and let my tears fall too. Then he shrugged his shoulders and said, "But it's okay really."
My son has much to teach me and I am determined to pay better attention!

Tagged!

Here are the rules:
1. Link to the person that tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
4. Tag at least three people at the end of your post and link to their blogs.
5. Let each person know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
6. Let the fun begin!

1. Above all things, I hate to dust.
2. I think soggy bread is disgusting BUT I love to dunk my toast in hot chocolate.
3. If there were a chip or a cookie to choose from, I would choose the chip.
4. I want to be "The Next Foodwork Star" - but only after I go to culinary school in Italy, lose 50 pounds, and write a children's book.
5. I love to watch wedding videos - even complete strangers.
6. I would love to start a business where people hire me to name their babies.

I don't know many people that have a blog that haven't been tagged already, so I'll tag my sweet niece and she if she responds. Tag - Kami!

Orthopedic Update

We visited the Orthopedic doc yesterday morning. The news was good - Davis won't have to have a cast or sling on his arm. Although he did say that had we brought Davis in the day of the injury he probably would have cast it so that the elbow would have remained totally immobile and the healing could have begun immediately. After a week of parent diagnosis (just take it easy - keep in mind there was no swelling, ever and he did not complain of pain) we have now learned that the extent of the soft tissue damage and not restricting use of the arm has likely contributed to the limited range of motion. Remember my post (2/29) about carrying enough guilt? Well, here ya go! So the doc says some physical therapy and a regular ibuprofen schedule would do the trick. Looks like Davis will still be able to play baseball this season. Happy day!

I get by with a little help from my friends!

A huge thanks to Collette for saving my ipod. I thought it was a goner!
A huge thanks to Rachel for creating the new look for my blog. I LOVE IT!

Friends: I have the best - handsdown!

Priceless!

Just as I posted yesterday, Cooper and I went outside to enjoy this gorgeous Arizona weather. It was a PERFECT afternoon! Cooper immediately jumped on his bike and began soaking up the yummy sunshine.

I put a blanket down on the cool, green grass and brought out something to read, my camera, a refreshing drink (I had to take a picture of that glistening beverage!), and I left the phone inside the house.

Cooper soon wanted in on the action - even suggesting some poses. As he put it - "Mom, I've got some awesome moves you might want to get a picture of." He would look at each shot and then let me know which ones were blog worthy. These are the few that made the cut:



YES! A priceless afternoon!

Something to think about:

I was reading a fun blog a moment ago (while I'm eating my baked potato and Cherrycoke Zero for lunch) and came across this:

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER by Erma Bombeck
I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day. I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage. I would have talked less and listened more. I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded. I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace. I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband. I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. I would have sat on the lawn! With my grass stains. I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life. I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime. Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle. When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.' There would have been more 'I love you's'; more 'I'm sorry's.' But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it.. live it and never give it back.

So with that thought, I'm listening to Cooper's request and we are going outside to ride bikes. Make today a great one!

'Nuff said

After dealing with Cooper during Sacrament meeting yesterday, taking him out once to explain that his behavior was totally unacceptable and that sitting with the family in the chapel was a privilege, we sang "I Need Thee Every Hour" for the closing song.

It was the perfect song.

Music moves me.

The Lord knows.

I wept.

ALL POINT BULLETIN!!!

I just want to put everyone on high alert! Keep your children indoors next week! Do not let them do anything that could possibly cause a broken bone or even a fracture! Climbing, jumping, biking, whatever. There will NOT BE A SINGLE Orthopedic doctor available in the entire East Valley next week. I know because I have spent 7 hours with a phone glued to my ear, trying to schedule my son for an appointment - upon our PCP's recommendation after seeing the x-rays. SEVEN hours!! I don't want to bore you with the details, and believe me - there are plenty, but finally at the point of extreme frustration I finally ask this question to the lady answering phones at some random office, "How is it that every doctor known to man won't be in the office next week?" She says that there is an Orthopedic Convention going on next week. Ohhhhh! So even though every office I talked with says that "yes, your son's injury should definately be looked at but we just can't do it" means it literally just isn't going to happen. At hour 7 I call our PCP and he can't believe it either. He makes a personal phone call to a friend in Phoenix who agrees to see Davis Tuesday of next week. What?!?!? One phone call?!?!? I can't decide if I'm mad or grateful. Sigh. . . It takes too much energy to be mad and I'm exhausted!!

Open a Book!

I just listed my 10 most recent reads. Some I LOVED, others I simply enjoyed. But no matter what, I am so glad to be able to pick up a book and fall into it!

Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~Author Unknown

A good book should leave you... slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading it. ~William Styron, interview, Writers at Work, 1958

This is exactly how I read!! I love to finish a book and feel like I have lived the story right along with the characters. My joy of reading comes in many forms. I read for fun and entertainment which is where my list comes from. I read to fill me spiritually. Although I've read a few LDS published books I find my best reading in the scriptures. I also enjoy reading through the Ensign and New Era (this is a great insite for me into my daughters world). I don't read self-help books. I carry enough guilt without someone confirming it all for me. I love to read illustrated childrens books. My sweet mom has given that to me. She has a great collection that all the grandkids love to peruse when they visit. But not just any childrens book will do. She pays close attention to the illustrations. Well done art was important to her and I feel the same. As far as thing I don't read -- that would be the newpaper! So let's hear it for a great read!!

The love of learning, the sequestered nooks, And all the sweet serenity of books. ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Once upon a day:

I read a fun blog awhile ago where she tracked her entire day. She wrote the time and what she did from the moment she woke up until she went to bed. She challenged her viewers to try it sometime. So I decided I would give it a shot on Monday. It was interesting to see what fills a day. My Monday was a fairly full day - I've had busier and less busy. So here is how it went:
4:47 a.m. - alarm
5:00 a.m. - leave for gym
5:15 a.m. - step class
6:30 a.m. - get home and help Maddie with some last minute school prep.
6:50 a.m. - wake Davis up
6:52 a.m. - remind Sis to get on piano
7:00 a.m. - pack lunches for school (Maddie's piano is nice background music)
7:10 a.m. - gather the kids for morning prayer
7:15 a.m. - hug and kiss Maddie and send her out the door
7:30 a.m. - remind Davis to get on piano
7:31 a.m. - tidy up in the kitchen standing ready for any signs of "I need you" from Davis
7:40 a.m. - my redhead wakes up and climbs into my lap for his "I'm still waking up" snuggle
7:42 a.m. - hug and kiss Davis and send him out the door
7:50 a.m. - get "brett-fest" for Cooper.
8:00 a.m. - make posters for our school Carnival wristband sales
8:30 a.m. - a phone call from a sweet friend asking if Cooper and I would like to join her and her little ones for a hike (sadly have to decline due to other obligations)
9:00 a.m. - work on YW's activity (this seems never ending!)
10:00 a.m. - shower (FINALLY!!) and get ready for day
10:30 a.m. - help Cooper get ready (he can do this by himself just sometimes he insists he can't)
10:45 a.m. - leave for the school for my shift to sell Carnival wristbands
12:15 p.m. - I'm back from the school (sold $100 in wristbands - not bad for day 1) now it's lunchtime! My Cherrycoke Zero is a welcomed weakness!
1:00 p.m. - take Cooper to the park around the corner from our house while I talk with a dear friend about raising kids. How does she do it?!?!
2:15 p.m. - stop in at the school to drop off clicker to Davis
2:30 p.m. - arrive at Doctor and begin our wait
wait
wait
wait and wait
3:20 p.m. - called back, kindergarten check went very well until the dreaded SHOTS!! Four in total and so hard to watch (and hold down) my little man. He was in fight/flight mode!
4:15 p.m. - home from Doctor. Give Cooper all the milk and cookies he wants - which he eats whimpering.
4:30 p.m. - put a second bandaid on top of the first one because this one "hurts the most"
4:45 p.m. - check and return emails and check DING for a flight to Sacramento
5:00 p.m. - Brent is home. We catch each other up on our day and then Dad hears the Cooper version of our trip to the Doctor.
5:20 p.m. - leave to pick up Maddison from basketball
5:30 p.m. - while waiting for Maddie, I finally talk to Collette - we played phone tag all day
5:45 p.m. - came home, Brent is gone to the Little League fields for the night so we had "whatever you can find" for dinner
6:30 p.m. - help Davis with spelling words and Sis with Language
6:45 p.m. - clean up the kitchen
7:15 p.m. - help Davis with a multiplication and division problem solving worksheet. I don't care what they call them now or what grade you are in but WORD PROBLEMS stink!!
8:10 p.m. - bedtime routine, prayers and kids tucked in bed
8:20 p.m. - work on YW's activity
8:21 p.m. - ask Cooper to please get back in bed, I tuck him again
8:23 p.m. - ask Cooper to please get back in bed, no tucking in
8:25 p.m. - tell Cooper to get back in bed or I close his bedroom door. He stays!!
8:30 p.m. - bag working on the YW's activity and go get my comfy clothes on
The rest of the evening was calm & uneventful.
I tuck Maddie in bed about 9 p.m.
Brent calls about 9:30 while he is driving home from the ball fields. We chat until he pulls into the driveway.
I was ready for sleep before 10:00 p.m.

You should try tracking your day sometime. It is self validation if nothing else.

Is Forever Enough

Before you read this post - please click on "Lullaby" on my playlist at the bottom of my blog. Ready?? Okay - Cooper came stumbling into my room at 5:13 a.m. this morning. A very rare occurance. I can count on him sleeping until 7:30 or 8 every morning. So he comes to my bedside and whispers "can I get in bed by you?" I lift up the covers and he climbs right in. He is restless for a bit and can't seem to hold still. Maddie comes in at 5:45 to shower and Brent gets up to get ready for work. Now it's just me and Coop. I notice that he is perfectly still and sleeping again. I look at him across the pillow - he is rolled onto his side, mouth slightly open, breathing soft and steady and his hand has fallen against my cheek. I can easily place a little kiss on his five year old pinky, which I do. My thoughts turn to yesterday afternoon when he was given four shots (required for kindergarten registration) and his uncontrollable fit of resistance. I somehow want to throw a fit just like that - right inside my heart! Ever so quietly, time is whisking my kids away from me. Knowing Cooper to be the raucous redhead that he is, I don't know when I'll get another moment like this one with him, so I take a deep breath and place another small kiss on that perfect pinky. A phrase from "Lullaby" plays through my mind and I wonder if a mother's heart is strong enough for this. Sighhhh. . . I love you little man!

Photo Update!

Neapolitan Treasures have grown in leaps in bounds. I thought a recent picture of these gems would be in order as the last one posted was taken almost a year ago! Here they are as of December 2007. WOW!! Where does the time go??

A Day of Rest

A good Sunday! Which I want to document because often when Sunday rolls around I wonder where the "rest" part comes into play. Brent is now home in the mornings (which I am sooo loving!!) and we had pancakes and laughter for breakfast. A good start! Then we got ready for church but left a little behind schedule. It was Ward Conference, so I thought for sure we would be back in the overflow which is NOT good for my kids. But no - plenty of room in the pews and even on "our side". Ahhh! I sat down and enjoyed the meeting with only a few disruptions from the kiddos. Gospel Doctrine was spent cuddled up to Brent (which I am sooo loving!!) and then YW's was a spent sitting next to my sweet daughter and listening to our Stake YW leaders. They are wonderful and so was their message. Came home to a major 12 year old meltdown over "stupid language homework!!" but then turned it into a family project and ended up laughing and enjoying the assignment. Had a nice visit with our home teachers then feasted on roast, potatoes & gravy and my best friend's rolls (mrs. rhodes) for dinner. Maddison and I went to a youth fireside and listened to an amazing sister tell about her escape from Vietnam and her new life here. So inspiring and both Sis and I came away extremely humbled and grateful for our blessings. Came home to warm chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk. I spent a few moments getting some YW stuff organized, went through the bedtime routine with the kids and after prayers I was in bed and ready for sleep before 10 p.m. Oh beautiful day of peace and rest!

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!

After five months of letting this blog sit, I've decided that it's time to do as the Little Engine did - JUST DO IT!! (or was that NIKE??) Anyway, I'm going to turn my blog around and make it come alive for myself and my family. I decided that documenting the little things, big things and all the inbetween things that occur in any given family is history being made. All that wonderful stuff deserves a special place of record. So for all who pass this way - I hope you read, see, feel, laugh and cry right along with me!

ALL ABOARD!!

Special thanks to my rock star friend who inspired me to make this fun!

Not just the name of an ice cream!

So here are my treasures.
A darling brunette with brown eyes and "where'd you get that tan!" skin.
A beautiful blonde with blue/gray eyes and a heart as big as he is.
And my raucous redhead who is so fair that he burns like a piece of toast and has kisses from the sun all over his adorable face!
The biological parents:
Mom: brunette, hazel green eyes, lots of freckles (kisses from the sun just doesn't sound so cute on a 40 year old woman!)
Dad: brunette, brown eyes, farmers tan