Easter

Being just over this whole sickness-thing, we kept Easter on the down-low, but we still did a couple of fun kid-friendly things.
#1 We went to the zoo, where they had tables set up with people giving out candy. By the time we left the zoo, the kids had eaten all of the candy that was in their baskets.
#2 We visited the Easter Bunny at the Mall, and although Kendall didn't want to sit on his lap or hug him, she did give him a high five.
#3 They each got an Easter baskets with some goodies inside, but no candy!
#4 We went to an Easter Egg Hunt organized by some church friends. It was a great turnout, with 20-and-some kids. The kids totally got it!
#5 We had our own little Easter Egg Hunt in the back yard, and the kids were super excited to open each and every egg that they picked up.
#6 We dyed and decorated some hard-boiled eggs.
#7 We watched The Bible on the History Channel

Winter sickness

At any point in the last 2 months, we've had 1, 2, or 3 sick kids.
It all started when Kendall started caughing, sometimes just a little, but other times until she literally threw up. She still acted normal, playing and eating like usual, so I decided not to bring her in to see the doctor. But after 10 days of this, I knew I had to do something, so I brought her in, where the doctor diagnosed her with the start of a pneumonia. She prescribed her antibiotics and it seemed like her coughing fits decreased, but they didn't disappear. Still, I couldn't bring her to the gym, playgroup, or church for 5 weeks.
Once she was better, we went to church, but that week, Taylor got hand-foot-mouth and a fever that went up to 102.6 a few times. Being an extra contagious disease, we were lucky Kendall only got a mild case of it while Logan didn't get it at all.
The next week, however, we noticed that Taylor's lymph nodes were enormous, so I took him in to see the doctor. Since Kendall still coughed, I brought all 3 kids with me. The doctor checked for strep and mono, but Taylor's tests came back negative. So she referred him to an ENT, who prescribed him some antibiotics.
Well, the poor boy who was already sick must have caught another bug while we were at the doctor's office because he started another fever and he also started throwing up. This time he was not feeling well at all, because he laid in the couch all day for 3 days and refused to eat anything during that time. All I could do was hydrate him. To make things worse, Kendall and Taylor got the same thing on day 2. They, however, got over it after 2 days. It took Taylor a little longer to start eating again and even longer to be active. As if he wasn't super skinny already...
We had even planned a trip to Maryland that we had to cancel because the kids were squirting stuff from the front and back. Anyway, we've rescheduled that trip in a couple of weeks, now that the kids seem to be doing better. I just hope that they are done for the season. It makes me nervous to go back to church, playgroup, and the gym. But I can't shelter them all year around. We've gotta get out of the house, do things, and see people. I just cross my fingers that people out there are being smart about keeping their sicks kids at home, like I did for 2 months.

Kendall is 23 months

Woaw, I can't believe Kendall is almost 2! She has her own little personality, and a big attitude to go with it.

This month, Kendall:
- knows her colors (blue, green, yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, and brown)
- knows her body parts, and has for a while now (mouth, lips, tongue, nose, eyes, eyebrows, hair, cheeks, chin, neck, tummy, belly button, bum, vagina, arm, elbow, hand, fingers, legs, feet, toes)
- knows animals and their sounds (doggy, cat, fishy, sheep, ducky, cow, horse, monkey, elephant, and pig)
- knows how to count from 1 to 13, then 17 to 20
- continues to form sentences, although some are still fragments, like "Mommy, (he) hurt me," which might sound more like "Mommy hurt me." But I swear I don't beat her.
- is getting really into girly things, like dresses, shoes, and jewelry
- still loves playing with babies
- likes to sing, and often hums until she can say the last word of a phrase, like "(It's ok if you) giggle. (It will only tickle) a little. (Time for a) check-up. (Time for a) check-up."
- still enjoys dancing to music
- likes to observe, or stare at, other children playing
- throws stuff on the ground when she doesn't get her way
- drops on the ground and kicks when she wants to walk and not be carried

My favorite part of the day: nighttime, when I get to cuddle with her, one-on-one, in the rocker, while she sits on my lap, facing me, with her head laid down on my chest
My second favorite part of the day: morning time, when I come to her room to get her and she says, "Mommy!" in her happiest little voice
My third favorite part of the day:nighttime, when I put her down into her crib, and she says, "Night night, Mommy," then blows me a million kisses (If I'm lucky I also get a "I love you.")

The story behind Taylor's hair

My thoughts:
~ I want Logan and Taylor's hair to be different, so that they can develop their own individuality.
~ Taylor's hair falls down nicely.
~ Taylor is carefree, like his hair.

Billy's thoughts:
~ Taylor's hair defines him - if he has long hair, he will hang out with people with long hair - people with long hair are, generally, but not always, troublemakers.

My thoughts:
~ It's ridiculous to hang out with someone just because they have the same hair style.
~ Hair doesn't define who a person is, it's just hair.

At this point, I think we just agreed to disagree. But then...

I was looking at the Facebook profile of this girl I know from church. I'm not going to say what her name is or which ward I know her from. But she's in middle school and she's dating this guy... who has long hair... and only wears black clothes... and whose friends look exactly like him... I don't like to pass judgment on people that I don't know and who I've never even met, but I have to admit that if Kendall was dating a guy like that, I'd have some serious concerns. And that's when I called Cookie Cutters and scheduled an appointment to get Taylor's hair cut. It's not a dramatic change, but it's a good start. Maybe this summer, I'll have it cut even shorter.

30 things I want my children to know about Me

As I was browsing Pinterest, I came across an article named “30 Things My Kids Should Know About Me.” It looked interesting, so I figured I’d give it a try. PS I’ve been working on this list for a while… It has taken me a lot longer than I expected…


1. List 25 random facts about yourself.

• I was born a redhead.
• I have over 90 moles.
• I play the piano, but very few people know.
• I’ve always wanted to play the violin.
• I used to be a dancer and a gymnast.
• I want to learn Chinese.
• I want to take a self-defense class.
• I like to watch MMA (jiu-jitsu stuff).
• I cry watching movies.
• My favorite food is Chinese.
• I don’t eat spicy food, ever.
• I’ve never broken a bone.
• I had 6 wisdom teeth pulled out.
• I want to run a 5K, but I hate running.
• My favorite subject is Math.
• I want to own a Chevy Suburban someday.
• I love to swim and rock climb.
• I have obsessed with symmetry.
• Sometimes I want to dye my hair really dark, but I never have the guts to do it.
• I didn’t color my hair until I was in my mid-twenties.
• I’ve kissed too many boys, half of which I wish I hadn’t kissed.
• I was fearless as a child.
• If I don’t eat chocolate regularly, I get migraines.
• I am self-conscious about a lot of things.
` I want to live in a warm, tropical place, near the beach

2. Describe 6 legitimate fears you have.

• I fear that the house will catch on fire or flood or something, and that I’ll have to make choices as to which of my children to save.
• I have a fear of heights, which is really strange considering that I lived on the 7th floor of an apartment building for 15 years.
• I fear that my children will make poor choices that will affect the rest of their lives, worse even, their exhaltation.
` I have a fear of losing loved ones in a random, horrific accident.
` I fear someone is going to break into my house, again.
` I am claustrophobic. I get panic attacks when I’m in small and closed spaces- I feel like I can’t breathe and I’m about to pass out.

3. Describe your relationship with your spouse.

I feel like we were a match made in Heaven. We are very different in some aspects and totally the same in others. It’s that combination that works for us. I am structured and organized- daddy is laidback. Daddy is persistent and strong-minded- I am flexible. But we both agree on how to raise our children as far as what’s acceptable and what’s not. We enjoy doing the same things and we often think the same thoughts.

4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.

• Be more outgoing, it can’t hurt you.
• Say what you want to say, or you’ll miss your chance.
• Speak up, someone might benefit from your thoughts.
• Give it a chance, you might not be as bad as you think you are.
• Don’t lower your standards just to fit in.
• You need to be there for your friends, even if you don’t agree with what they’re doing.
• Only your true friends will accept you for who you are.
• This guy isn’t worth crying over.
• You won't feel better about yourself by kissing this guy, on the contrary.
• Pray, Heavenly Father will listen.

5. What are 5 things that make you most happy right now.

• When my children say positive things about me or to me.
• When I see my children playing together, helping one another, and getting along.
• When I get to spend quality time with daddy.
• When I get pampered, even if I’m just getting my hair cut.
• When I see family I haven’t seen in a while.

6. If you could have 3 wishes, what would you wish for?

• I would wish for my children to make important choices that daddy and I would be proud of.
• I would wish for my children to find happiness in their family, education, and career.
• I would wish for my children to always have a close relationship with me, their daddy, and Heavenly Father.

7. What is your dream job, and why?

Stay-at-home mom. I have the best job in the world. It’s not always the easiest, but it’s worth it. I am teaching my children everything I want them to learn. I am showing them everything I want them to become. I also get to watch them grow up into their own little person, learning and developing more every day. There is nothing else I’d rather do or anywhere else I’d rather be.

8. What are 5 passions you have?

• my family
• learning new things
• the outdoors
• creating new things
• serving others

9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.

• Jesus Christ – He is the ultimate example of perfection; atoning for our sins and making it possible for me to return to live with Him, Heavenly Father, and my loved ones
• Heavenly Father – He sent His Only Begotten Son to die for us; I can’t ever imagine doing the same for anyone
• Daddy – he is fun, diligent, confident, intelligent, ambitious, and loving. He makes me want to be better every day and is the perfect example of that.
• My children – they have changed my life for the better. I have never cared for anyone as much as I care for them. They are my most precious possession and I cherish them
• My mom – she is sweet, generous, selfless, caring, hard-working, and patient
• My dad – he is smart, giving, humble, and determined
• Fred – he is motivated, family-oriented, self-sacrificing, and charitable
• Tonton – he was like a Father-figure to me, loving me like his own daughter
• Taty – she is like a Mother-figure to me, taking care of me like her own daughter
• Noelle – she is like a sister to me, teaching me everything she knows

10. Describe your most embarrassing moment.

I was newly married to daddy, so I had met a few of his friends, but I didn’t know them very well. I knew of one, specifically, whose name was Scott. I had seen him a few months before, and he had announced that his wife was expecting their third child. One night, I ran into them at the store. I had no idea when Malinda was due, so I asked her when her due date was. She looked at her husband, then back and me, and said that their son, Cooper, had been born two weeks ago. Scott then said that Malinda was still carrying some of the baby weight. I think he was trying to make me feel better, but I was super embarrassed for basically telling her that she still looked pregnant.

11. Describe 7 pet peeves you have.

• Extremely cocky people
• People who only care about themselves
• People who think the world owes them
• People who plainly ignore me
• Bad drivers
` Slow people
` People who are always late

12. Describe a typical day in your current life.

I stay in bed until I hear the kids waking up. I get up and put my work-out clothes on. I get the kids downstairs to watch some TV while I get breakfast ready. We eat breakfast together at the table. I get the kids dressed and ready to go. We go to the gym where I exercise while the kids play. If we need to, we run errands. We come home and I let the kids play while I take a quick shower. I get lunch ready while the kids continue to play. We eat lunch together at the table. I put Kendall down for a nap then play with Logan and Taylor. Or I get a few things done around the house while they entertain themselves. When Kendall wakes up, the kids all eat a snack. We play some more and, if the weather allows it, we go outside. The kids continue to play while I get dinner ready. Daddy comes home and we all eat dinner together at the table. Daddy plays with the kids while I clean up the kitchen. If I get done quickly, we all play together for a little while or go on a walk. Daddy goes up to the office to study while I give the kids a bath. We come down and watch some TV to relax. We get ready for bedtime by brushing our teeth, reading a story, and saying a prayer. The kids go to bed and daddy and I spend some quality time together. Daddy goes to sleep while mommy folds laundry, pays bills, and whatever else needs to get done.

13. What’s the hardest part of growing up?

Being “too little” for certain things while being “too big” for others. It seems like there’s never a right age to do whatever you feel like doing.

14. Describe 5 weaknesses and 5 strengths you have.

• I am organized
• I am selfless
• I am nurturing
• I am a good listener
• I can “read” people (I know when someone’s feeling down or whatever)
• I run out of patience easily
• I let my emotions get the best of me
• I let my circumstances control my feelings
• I am insecure with myself
• I am mistrustful of others’ feelings toward me

15. Describe when you knew your spouse was the one or how you fell in love.

The day I met daddy, I knew he had a lot of the qualities I was looking for in a husband. But it wasn’t until Thanksgiving, nearly 6 weeks after we started dating, that I knew I was in love with him. I had just met his entire family, and I knew I fit right in. I was in love with him and with his family. That was also the night I told him I loved him (a few weeks after he told me he loved me, to which I had replied, “Thank you.”)

16. What are your 3 greatest accomplishments?

• Graduating with a Bachelor in Elementary Education
• Marrying my Perfect Man for Eternity
• Raising 3 wonderful children (with hopefully more to come, later)

17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?

Being crafty, sewing especially.

18. What do you think your spouse loves most about you?

We just “get” each other. We have the same sense of humor, we have the same brilliant ideas, we enjoy the same activities, etc.

19. How did you feel the moment you became a parent?

I was excited but nervous. I knew that every decision that I would make from that moment on would not only affect me, but it would also affect my children. I wanted to be the best mom that I could be, someone that the children could look up to and learn from.

20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.

• I remember Christmas, when I was 10 years old or so. Bon-Papa and Bonne-Maman had asked Tonton if he would stop by our apartment on Christmas Day, dressed up as Santa, and deliver Christmas presents to all of the children. Of course, I knew it was Tonton, but all my cousins were in awe to see Santa. It was wonderful to see the look of their faces, but I also appreciated that Tonton had taken time away from his own family, on Christmas Day, to make a few kids happy.

• I remember the day we adopted Gipsy. She had been rejected by three families before she joined ours. I had been begging Bon-Papa and Bonne-Maman for a dog for years. Finally, when I was 10, they agreed. Everything just fell into place and worked out. I told her everything I felt I couldn’t tell anyone else. She was my best friend!

• I remember the day I was baptized. I felt like a new person. I was cleansed from all my sins and I knew that I never wanted to sin again. I remember telling myself that I wouldn’t make any mistakes from that day on. Of course, I made many more mistakes, but thankfully, by partaking of the Sacrament each week, I can feel that way every Sunday.

21. Describe your relationship with your parents.

Our relationship wasn’t always easy. I confided in her a lot when I was a kid. But then I went through some rebellious years as a teenager, especially after we moved to Maryland, and I didn’t open up to her like I should have or like I had been. Once I moved away from home and got married, our relationship got better. And once I had children of my own, it got even better. Now I walk with Bonne-Maman multiple times a week. She’s the person I call when I’m bored or when I want to talk to someone who is an adult.

My relationship with Bon-Papa is… good. It’s probably the best it has ever been, in my opinion. I guess I was a daddy’s girl growing up, but I don’t remember ever being that way. Bon-Papa and I are very much alike, which basically means that we butt heads a lot. We both like to be right, and we don’t like to admit that maybe the other person was right. It’s something that Bon-Papa has improved a lot on recently. I’m still working on it.

22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?

• In 5 years, I see myself having all the kids I want to have. I see our family living in a nice and big house, somewhere warm and fairly close to family.

• In 10 years, I see myself doing a lot of driving, taking the children to this and that. I see our family taking vacations that are more enjoyable than stressful.

• In 15 years, I see myself spending more time on myself, learning new things and regaining hobbies. I see our family enjoying time together doing small and simple things.

23. What’s your favorite holiday and why?

My favorite holiday is Christmas because it is a time to remember the birth of Our Savior. It is also a time to serve those in needs and spoil those we love. I enjoy spending the whole day at home, in the warmth and coziness of our house, with my family.

24. What’s your favorite thing about parenthood?

I love watching my children learn. I can almost see the wheels spinning inside their little heads. I love to hear the funny and insightful things they say every day. But I also love the snuggles, hugs, and kisses 

25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?

It’s a toss with Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith. I’d pick Jesus because he’s… well, awesome! I would love to be around him, to be with him. But I feel like I know him, which is a good thing, right? However I feel like I don’t really know Joseph. I thought I did by reading the Doctrine & Covenants and The Pearl of Great Price. But then I read The Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and I was confused. He almost seemed like a different person. I guess I’d pick him because I’d have a lot of questions for him.

26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?

There are so many… It’s hard to pick just one. I guess it’d have to be the saying “Everybody’s doing it,” meaning, “It’s okay, just do it.” Everybody tries drugs, everybody drinks, everybody has sex before marriage, etc. Just because a lot of people do it, it doesn’t make it right. People have turned sins into normality, something that is supposedly acceptable. And if someone doesn't go along with it, they are supposedly judgmental. WRONG.

27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?

10 years ago, I would have said my abs or my butt. But I’ve had kids since, so neither one of those things is the way it was then. Now, I’d probably say my ears. Weird, I know. But they’re small and cute and don’t take over my whole head. Ha. Or maybe my feet. They’re soft and always taken care of.

28. What’s your favorite quality in your husband and why?

Daddy is very ambitious. It’s the first thing I noticed about him and immediately attracted me to him. He’s a go-getter, a red personality, a hard-worker. He sets goals and he accomplishes them.

29. What are your hopes and dreams for your prosperity?

I hope my children grow up having a close relationship with all of our family members and with God. And I hope they allow Him to guide them in their choices, big and small.

I hope they always follow their hearts and the promptings of the Spirit. I hope they become an example to those around them and always lead the way.

I hope they serve a mission, if that is what God wants for them. While on their mission, I hope their testimony grows as well as their relationship with God.

I hope they get an education that will serve them well and choose a career that will make them happy and satisfied.

I hope my children will find a mate that makes them happy and fulfills all their hopes and dreams. I hope this person will marry them in the temple for time and eternity.

And I hope that no matter what, we will always rely on one another. I hope that our family members become our best friends in good times and in bad times. I hope we will laugh and cry together. I hope we will pray and play together. Because our Family is Eternal.

30. List 10 things you hope to be remembered for.

• My service to others
• My parenting skills
• My devotion to my family
• My devotion to the Lord
• My devotion to my church callings
• My good listening skills
• My lack of judgment toward others
• My talents
• How I could get along with everyone
• How I could cheer up those around me

At Home Vacation

Well, these pictures are a few weeks old... But we did enjoy some family time while Billy had a week off. Yes, a whole week. It only happens 3 times a year. Since Kendall was sick, we decided to stay in Columbus and enjoy some activities around the city.

First off, we went bowling. Logan LOVED it. Like, he was pretty upset when we told him we had to leave. Taylor had fun for a while, then he got bored. And Kendall was more interested in running down the bolwing lane than actually throwing the ball. And yes, I did have to chase her down a couple of times. And yes, the workers did have to get some balls unstuck because the boys had thrown the balls too soon. It was a little hectic, but overall pretty fun.

For Day 2, we went to World of Bounce. The boys had a blast, and I'm sure we could have spend the whole day there. They even went down the big slide head first. Of course they got in trouble. And we had to remind them to go feet first every time after that. I think Kendall was a little nervous because of the big kids, but she still enjoyed it. Just not as much as Logan and Taylor.

On Day 3, we went to the Mall, but I didn't take any pictures. Oh well.
On Day 4, we went out for ice cream at Cold Stone and went to the toy store to check stuff out.

For Day 5, we went to Chuck E Cheese's. It was like going to Disneyland. The kids wanted to touch everything, play with everything, and get on everything. But there was so much that they didn't know where to go or what to do. This was our first time going there with the kids, and I think we'll definitely do it again soon. It was a hit.

On Day 6, we went to the pet store to check out the puppies. The lab we played with was very playful and loved to chew on the kids shoes and coats, which they didn't like very much. Needless to say, I don't think they're ready for a dog, at least not a puppy. Not that we ever considered it.

And that was our vaca. It was a lot of fun, and it made me wish that Billy had more time off so that we could do these things more often, as a family. But I'll take what I can get.

Meaningful Teaching at Home

The other day, I was reading an article about parenting in the Ensign. It was called “Meaningful Teaching at Home.” I want to write down a few things I learned so that I can look back at them and apply them to my own life.


Taking advantage of teaching moments with our 3 children ages 3 and under has been both challenging and rewarding. But knowing that “the home is the first and most effective place for children to learn the lessons of life,” we’ve tried to do all we can to help our children learn those lessons.

Elder Dallin H.Oaks has reminded is that “just because something is good is not a sufficient reason for doing it… Some things are better than good, and these are the things that should command priority attention in our lives.” Then he went on to say, ”Parents should act to preserve time for family prayer, family scripture study, family home evening, and the other precious togetherness and individual one-on-one time that binds a family together and fixes children’s values on things of eternal worth. Parents should teach gospel priorities through what they do with their children.”

Over the years, I have learned that when we allow our children (although still young) to be involved and help make some of the family decisions, they are more likely to be active participants. They also develop a sense of ownership and accountability and learn to do many things of their own free will. Some things we can do right now and in the years to come include:

• For FHE, help them prepare a lesson, scripture, or talent of their choice.
• Allow them to choose a hymn to sing together during family scripture study and then invite a child to say the prayer.
• Let them help plan and be responsible for a portion of a family trip.
• Teach them how to do a particular job and put them in charge of that job for a week.
• Let them take turns picking someone to visit on a given Sunday.
• Do a monthly service project and let them decide whom the family will help.
• Allow them to pick a family activity for a particular evening during the month

Elder Richard L. Evans taught, “One of our urgent opportunities is to respond to a child when he earnestly asks, remembering that they don’t always ask, that they aren’t always teachable, and that they won’t always listen. Often we have to take them on their terms, at their times, and not always on our terms, and at our times… If they find they can trust us with their trivial questions, they may later trust us with the more weighty ones.”

I hope that I can establish trust in my children, so that they always feel comfortable coming to me with concerns that are weighing on their minds and hearts. I want them to always feel close to me, but most importantly to Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.