Thinking about parenthood

This is a quote I read recently on Pinterest:

I've been striving to live by it over the last few weeks. Meaning, I've been striving to see the ups and downs of life as normal, especially the downs. When I have to strap my screaming kid into the car while the other two complain that they don't want to go and crying that a shoe fell off and they are hungry and begging me to go get a toy or take them somewhere fun, I try to remember that life isn't supposed to be bliss all the time. It's supposed to be hard so that I can learn and grow.It helps me to be less angry with my kids for "ruining the moment." It helps me be happier when I get to eat a quiet lunch, even though the explosion of food and dishes that came from feeding my kids lunch is still sitting all around me. So it has helped me to feel less "robbed" of peace and prosperity. And the crazy thing is, it takes it from a negative and turns it into a positive. I feel more peaceful and prosperous simply because I don't feel like my balance is somehow negative.

I am still not great at it, but I am getting better. And therefore happier.

I also read this articles this week: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/meg-conley/5-things-i-learned-when-i-said-yes-to-my-daughter-for-24-hours_b_6858718.html

I thought, "Wow, that's a great idea! I want to try that." But then when I thought about it more, I didn't know how I would work the logistics of it with Emilia and Mira. I think Emilia's requests would have been fun and interesting, but I'm pretty sure Mira would have picked "play with [whatever set of toys I'm interested in at the moment]" every time. And then how do you define when that is "over?" So it would have turned into a Mira "yes day" or a "Mira is going to cry every time it's not her turn anymore" day. On Friday, Emilia had a day off of school, and I didn't have anything planned. So I decided to try having a "yes day" in my own head, but not tell them about it. It turned out really great. They had a dental appointment at 8:30 in the morning. I miraculously got us all there in time. So they got a treat from the dentist and a free ice cream cone certificate for not having cavities. They wanted to eat it as soon as we finished at the dentist's which was around 9:45am. I thought that sounded gross, but they were sure, so I said yes and took them for ice cream. We also took the car through the car wash, rented Big Hero 6, had pizza for dinner and finished gluing rocks to their fairy house. We had fun together.

Mira used to hate going to the dentist's office. She would kick and scream until I had to hold her down so they could clean her teeth. I hated doing it, but she would get calcium build-ups that made her teeth look black. But about a year ago, I decided to practice with her for a few days before. I would have her lie down on the couch and pretend I was the dentist and brush her teeth. I also let her bring her blankie and a stuffed animal to the office with us. She still doesn't love going, but no more fits.

Last Sunday, the girls decided to put on a concert at Grandma and Grandpa Watts'. They got up on the hearth and sang songs. Cecily had to get in on the action, too. She was especially excited about the clapping. :) Cecily also loves the marble run that Gma and Gpa have. She concentrates so hard on getting marbles into the starting gate. It's adorable.

Lots of projects and a bad-guy-shooting flamingo. :)

Recently, I decided that I didn't want my bedroom to be the dumping grounds anymore. It has been for a while because it's the only room upstairs that has no hope of being as put together as I would like. So since it won't look good even if I keep it totally clean, I tend to think, "What's the point?"

Because of this decision, I started a lot of projects. However, my main focus lately has been my book. Since I'm pitching it to an agent in May, I need to get it totally polished. But last Sunday, Steve expressed despair at how many projects we have sitting around.

This week was writing group, so after Steve told me that, I decided that this week instead of writing in my free time, I would read submissions and work on projects.

I accidentally took this when I went to take a picture of the headboard.

Monday, I built a headboard.

It really didn't take me more than a couple hours. I found the plans online and bought the wood a few weeks ago. Borrowed my dad's brad nailer and voila! New head board. I was pretty awesome that day, though. I also volunteered in Emilia's classroom, did five loads of laundry (AND folded it), made dinner, exercised, and painted one of the closet doors three times so I could rehang Steve's tie rack (when the door dried, of course).

Tuesday was a crazy day. Had to grocery shop and had a presidency meeting and a counseling appointment. Steve's new health insurance pays for counseling and I love going. It's a nice perk.

Wednesday and Thursday I put a coat of stain on the headboard each day.

We also had a pony spa day and Steve played LOTR on Wednesday.

Friday, I was supposed to babysit, have my mom come down to help reupholster our couch, and the girls were invited to a birthday party. Of course, Cecily woke up with a rash.

So my crazy day went something like this: I took Cecily to the doctor, found out she was probably not contagious, brought her home, got lunch for the kiddos, my mom arrived, got lunch for the two of us, stripped 300 staples (give or take) from my couch, used the old fabric as a guide to cut my new vinyl, helped sew it back together, picked up Emilia from school, got her and Mira off to a birthday party, made dinner, finished fitting the new fabric to the couch in order to find out that we didn't have the right size staples, put the girls to bed (with Steve's help) and then watched Leap Year with him.

Before

About this point in the project, I tried to put tufts in the back of the couch without buttons. It didn't work. I succeeded in putting holes in my material. So the girls and I took a trip to Joanne's with a detour at Krispy Kreme. The donuts were "Hot Now" so we had to go in and get our free sample.

During

After

Last Sunday Mira was telling Steve about her stuffed flamingo. "Look Daddy! This blue one (the tail feather in the middle) is for shooting bad guys. But it can break. So the purple ones protect the blue one so it doesn't shatter." She is such a hoot!

A new post, a new car, a new roommate

I feel sometimes like our lives are so routine that it's really not worth telling all of you about it. But I do anyway. So sorry if we're boring. :)

Nana reading to all the girls when she came to bring Alison's stuff.

Alison did move in last Sunday. So we are squishing 6 of us plus a dog into our 4-bedroom house. Steve feels like we need to get rid of more stuff so he doesn't feel cramped. It's probably not a bad idea, but I mentally went through all the stuff we have and I feel like we use most of it. Or we need to occasionally. For example. We have a closet full of blankets and sheets. Ones we don't use on our beds or for picnics. BUT, when we have people visit, and stay over night, we use almost the entire closet getting beds made. I'm not sure what we would do if we didn't have those waiting. See what I mean? Would you keep all those blankets for a once-a-year occasion? If not, what would you do for the visitor's beds when they do come?

This week was rough because all of us were in terrible moods. Cecily is determined to get what she wants at all costs. Usually it is food or an electronic device. She can figure out a way to climb onto pretty much any surface if it has one of those two things on it. She's also big enough now that containing tantrums is nigh unto impossible. I have nearly dropped her a couple times because she has flung herself backward hard enough to loosen my grip on her. Stinkerpants McGee. That's her nickname.

Also, I think I missed telling you about Steve getting rear-ended on the interstate. That happened on the 24th of February. He was going 65 when a kid missed that people were slowing down and smashed Steve's bumper. He got hit hard enough to break the bolts on the driver's seat and cause $3000 damage to the rear of the car. We didn't care about the car--it was on it's last legs anyway. Burning/leaking oil, clutch going out, paint peeling off everywhere, pieces of the interior falling apart. So the $1800 the insurance decided to give us was a LOT. But I'm very grateful that Steve was fine. He had some whiplash and soreness the day of the accident, but no lasting problems it seems. Yesterday he spent about 8 hours looking at used cars. He ended up buying an old Toyota. Hopefully it will be as good a car for us as our Saturn was. That thing almost never needed repairs and we've had it for our entire marriage.

Mira and Emilia being rock stars.

Mira set these four books out the other day and told me they were titled from top left to bottom right: "The Witch's Explore, Buildings Go Down, Mountain's Believe, and The Pink Page." I should letnher title all the books in the house. ;)

Below is a picture of Cloudsdale (from My Little Ponies) that Emilia looked at the draw the picture below it. I was impressed with her skill.

normal stuffs

This last week was a busy one. I had something going on every day. I know this because I remember saying that to my parents last week. But I honestly can't remember what I was supposed to do on Monday.

Tuesday I had a presidency meeting, Wednesday Emilia got out at noon and I had visiting teaching appointments. Thursday Steve was supposed to have game night, but he ended up just having a friend over to play LOTR when D&D got canceled. Friday, Megan had a Pampered Chef party at her house around lunch time. And Saturday, we finished cleaning out the room in the basement so Alison could move in today. We hadn't planned on it, but we got to see Nick and Wilda Saturday night when they took us out to Cracker Barrel where I ate too many corn muffins and biscuits. Okay, who am I kidding? Can you really eat too many of those things? :D

Wednesday was pretty fun. I packed a picnic lunch before we left to get Emilia and we immediately went to the park after picking her up. We ate with our coats on, but it was a fun picnic. Then the girls played for an hour on the slides and swings and building "cakes" with the wood chips.

Emilia picked out this outfit yesterday. I love her sense of style.

She just looked so cute brushing her teeth, I had to take a picture.

I found some glow-in-the-dark assembly-needed dinosaur skeletons at the $1 Store around Christmas. It was fun putting them together yesterday.

Mira found a metal hanger and was playing with it the other day.

Emilia's spelling test. She got 100%. She has gotten 100% every week except one. She is amazing.

Mira did a goober smile the other day at lunch and insisted I take a picture. Cecily is naked in the background because she doesn't get to wear clothes when she eats a Nutella and peanut butter sandwich. (affectionately called a "chocolate sandwich")

Hairs and Cecily selfies

This week had its ups and downs. I got to go to writing group, so that was a highlight. My kids were pretty good, and we're all healthy, which I'm thankful for. My moods were a little extreme this week, so maybe the ups and downs were all in my head. But that's where they always are, isn't it?

Steve got to play LOTR card game this week and I had a Relief Society activity where we got a bread-making demonstration and then got to eat it with flavored butters. Mmm...

Yesterday Haylee threw a surprise 30th birthday party for Ben that we got to go to. It was fun playing Ben Jeopardy. My team won. :D

Do you remember a while back when I was freaking out because my hair was falling out? Well, it stopped a few months ago. Finally. And now it's growing back, which I am totally grateful for. Some days I can't win in the hair department with all these tiny hairs, though.

This was the sunset from my front window on Valentines Day. Pretty, huh?

Mira colored these Equestria Girls pictures this week. She was very proud.

Cecily had been feeling clingy recently. Some days I just can't do anything except sit down with her and play on my phone. These pictures are ones she took of herself on two of these occasions. Love that face!

Normal stuff

I felt like we were getting better this week. Mira is taking antibiotics for an ear infection, but she doesn't seem affected by it anymore. Cecily is still cranky, which I can't figure out, but at least it's not all three of them.

What did we do this week? Hmm...Yesterday Steve gave me the evening and I went shopping. I bought some new jewelry at Charming Charlie and some new slacks.

Lazy Sunday couch picture. But it's new jewelry. Cute huh?

Our attempts to do projects on Saturdays is always such a stunning failure. Part of the problem is we wait until after the girls are awake Saturday morning to discuss it. And we always give baths Saturday morning so we don't have to do it before church on Sunday. So with the baths and the demanding of breakfast and attention, we don't make a decision until 10:30 or 11, and by then it's time to feed them again. We did officially decide to make a headboard for now. And to put a little money toward fixing up the master bathroom.

Here is a before picture. It's rather atrocious. We'll see if $100 worth of supplies will make any difference. I hope so.

Steve has always played video games with the girls. But with Emilia's recent foray into Harvest Moon, Steve had to download an N64 simulator. And with it, he downloaded Mario 64. Cecily LOVES watching him play the "Guy."

We also made some valentines this week, the kids played outside a ton, Emilia and Mira both played with friends, and Steve visited some friends, too.

Still sick....and Facebook Funnies

I feel like I have been sick forever. Ugh. I only exercised once this week because I keep thinking, "If I get enough sleep tonight, then I'll feel better faster." False assumption.

We had a couple of play dates this week. I'm still working on my story for the conference. I feel like I'll be working on that forever, too. Yesterday, we went to IKEA and one other furniture store as a family. It was an hour long drive up to Salt Lake and the only convincing Emilia needed was that we could have dinner at Wendy's. Mira adamantly did not want to go, but we convinced her to anyway. We payed for it with her being cranky for most of the trip. She was fine after we got to IKEA, so that was nice.

Last Sunday we had a Frohlich family dinner to celebrate January birthdays. This is Febe after Megan took her ponytail out. Naturally curly hair is amazing. :)

Mira wanted me to help her put this dress on this week. It's like a size 10, so the waist hits around her knees and it's about three feet too long for her. But it's so fancy she just has to wear it. (Thanks, Heather!) After we put it on, she was talking to herself and I asked what she was doing. "I'm having a wedding," she says. "Who are you marrying?" I asked, thinking she would say Daddy or a boy she knows. Instead she said, "Robot!" This kid cracks me up all the time.

Emilia's school had media week. They taught them about dangers of media and what media is. For some reason, on Friday, they all got mustaches. Emilia was pretty super excited.

1/31/15
We went to IKEA tonight as a family. As we were heading toward the kids section IKEA had a sign over a tunnel that read "Home is a playground." Emilia read it as she went through the tunnel. "Home is a playground. That's the spirit! Home is a playground!"

1/29/15
Mira: She can't marry him because he's not handsome enough.
Emilia: Yes he is.
Mira: No. He wears glasses.
Emilia: She likes glasses guys.
Mira: He's not a glasses guy. He's a shoe guy.
Emilia: Ugh!
I sympathize with Emilia. I am often frustrated by arguing against a complete lack of logic. Also, it's nice to know that only 20/20 will be good enough for a discriminating daughter.

1/26/15
On Sunday, Mira walked up to Steve with a toy blow dryer that actually blows air--while he was eating his dinner.
Mira: (Pointing the air at Steve's head) Look, Daddy!
Steve: Not right now, Mira. I'm trying to eat my dinner.
Mira: Okay. (like she's selling something:) I can blow refreshing air on you any time!

1/24/15
I've taken to saying "Okay Google" to my phone when starting a Google search. Emilia came up to me just now talking about how cool it is.
Emilia: I can't believe you can just say, "Okay, Google."
Me: It's pretty cool, huh?
Emilia: Yeah. "Okay, Google. Walmart." "Okay, Google. Zion's Bank." "Okay, Google. Inflatable cat horns."
Me: <> Inflatable cat horns?
Emilia: Yeah! They exist. They really have them!

1/22/15
Cecily falls down so much that she's taken to asking "okay?" before I can.

1/18/15
Deciding what to do after dinner last night, I said we could play regular Legos or Lego Marvel Superheros (among other options).
Emilia: Regleear Legos!
Me: It's reg-u-lar. Can you say it that way?
Emilia: Reglar. Reg-a-ler. Reg-ler. I can't say it. Especially with this carrot in my mouth.
Mira: I can! Leg-lee-lar. ((Beaming proudly))

1/11/15
Mira: Daddy, you are the bad guy who always takes over the world. I am the bad girl who never takes over the world.
Steve: You don't take over the world?
Mira: No, I stay home. And take care of the dragon.

1/9/15
Me: Mira, get your shoes on.
Mira: ((ignores me, pretending to paint the walls))
Me: Mira, we're going to the library. You need shoes.
Mira: But I'm painting!
Me: But you need shoes! Go put them on.
Mira goes back in the bedroom and puts on her ballet slippers which she knows she can't wear outside.
Me: You can't wear those shoes.
Mira: But they're my painting shoes!

12/28/14
I just realized how appropriate the never-ending song is when applied to housework. "It's the laundry that never ends, it just goes on and on my friends. Somebody started cleaning it, not knowing what it was and they'll continue cleaning it forever just because..."

9/27/14
Mira at breakfast: Daddy, I have a joke. It's not poop.
Steve: A joke that's not about poop? Okay.
Mira: Why did the grapes cross the road alone?
Steve: I don't know.
Mira: Because they didn't have any friends!

9/23/14
Dinner table conversation--
Mira: I have a crush on somebody.
Steve: No you don't.
Emilia: *I* have a crush on somebody.
Mira: What does crush mean?
Emilia: It means you love them.
Mira: Oh! I have a crush on.... Nana!