Pippi's Baptism Pics

Okay, so I'm really posting this in April. Better late than never, right?

Almost thirty days of gratitude

I say "almost" because I did skip a few days of blogging, when I felt like I was boring everyone, but I assure you, that as the month progressed I automatically thought of some things I was grateful for as my head hit the pillow. It was good to exercise my gratitude muscles, for I enjoy my life so much more when I get to relive my special, treasured moments at the end of an exhausting day. I also loved reading my blogger friends lists, some radically different from my own, and some very similar, just more cleverly written. I love you girls!

Today I'm grateful for The Warlock. I'm grateful he's found himself through running, that he's happy even though he's experiencing the typical fourth quarter busy time at work.

I'm grateful for Noel. I'm grateful for her giggly personality. She makes us all laugh so much. She's so cute as she tries to mimic our sounds, as she walks to Nick as he holds out mini marshmallows, and as she grabs at our hair when she's so tired she doesn't know what else to do.

I'm grateful for Pippi. I'm not sure how so much wisdom got into her little body, but she teaches me so much. Today she begged for me to pull out my sewing machine so she could turn her ripped jeans into a purse. I pulled it out for her. She threaded it herself (I showed her once, a couple of months ago. I was surprised she remembered how.) as I made dinner and Bardo sliced bananas for a side dish with a butter knife. Unfortunately, she cut the jeans (with scissors, not a butter knife) incorrectly. While upset at first, she quickly pushed her disappointment aside, cutting off pockets, redesigning her purse, so that it would be smaller, different. She sewed her seams and then presented me with her finished product. "Well what do you think? Do you like my purse?" Before I could even look at it, she pulled it to her, looking it over. "It's a little crooked, but I am just a kid. It's a good job for a kid, don't you think?" I used to think that Pippi lacked perfectionism, but today, I see that's not true. She sees error, she probably she sees mismatching, but she knows she's a kid and that it's the experience of creating and learning that matters. She is wise. And she is happy just being a kid. I was not like that. But now, I'm just a kid, too, you know, learning to have courage to try from this precious girl sent to me from Heaven, one of my own angels right here on Earth.

Here's little Bardo, reminding us where to set our sights as we grow. "Jesus loves me" is his battle cry these days.

I am grateful for the Book of Mormon. I'm grateful for all the scriptures, but the Book of Mormon really motivates me, empowers me. It has a clarity that the Bible lacks, and it also has forcefulness and urgency that the New Testament lacks. The New Testament says, "Come follow me." The Book of Mormon says, Come Follow me NOW. I will aid you in all the hard things you are going to have to do. I will make those difficult commandments worth your while. I will send angels to you when you need them. When you are on my side, you will win. Always. Okay, so those are not direct quotes, but that is the message of power I receive when I read. I love the Book of Mormon. It is truly a book meant for our time. Read it. It clearly shows and tells that our obedience and devotion will allow the Atonement to bring us close to God, and make us happy--today, and in the eternities. And I'm grateful for a Stake President and a Bishop who direct us to the scriptures.

I'm grateful for Family Home Evening. The Warlock worked late tonight, and instructed us to carry on. Pippi played the opening song, Angels We Have Heard on High, on the piano. Pippi gave the lesson on the restoration of the Gospel while Noel and Bardo played with a jar full of buttons. Bardo made sure Noel only touched the giant buttons. Pippi made sure Bardo at least glanced at each microscopic picture taped to her fingers. It was chaos, but fun. We then decided we were going to fill a jar full of buttons of our kind acts and that we would have a party when it was full. Bardo immediately agreed if the movie Cars could be part of that party. Noel started pulling hair with excitement, so we put her to bed, played animal charades, sang I Am a Child of God (Bardo's pick), and ate Oreos and milk. It was fun. I like my family.

I am Grateful for Bardo

I haven't been blogging lately, but I'm still grateful.

I'm grateful for my little boy, Bardo. I'm grateful he can talk and cry and even use his face to express himself. I'm grateful for the time I have now to help train and channel that inquisitive and busy mind of his. I pray that I'm up for the task. Yesterday I caught him crushing Christmas lights with a pair of needle nose pliers, any excuse to use a tool, I guess. I'm grateful he didn't electrocute himself. I'm grateful when he hugs me and says he's glad I'm home and says that I'm the exception to his policy of not liking girls. I'm grateful he ate something healthy today, because that sure doesn't happen every day. I'm grateful that his nursery teacher said with confidence today that he's going to do great in primary. I'm grateful that I can calm him when he's sad, that he feels safe crawling into bed with me when he wakes in the night. I'm grateful I'm a deep sleeper and don't notice he's there right away because it's a sweet, though uncomfortable, surprise to have him next to me in the wee hours of the morning.

Thanksgiving Grateful

1. My parents--They live far away, and we can't see each other very often, once a year if we're lucky. Nevertheless they show their love for my kids in very special unique ways. A few days ago, Pippi got a package in the mail. She opened it, saw that it was a CD-ROM and immediately wanted to see the pictures on it, pictures of her ancestors from my mom. The CD was accompanied by a geneology chart. What an incredible baptism gift! Pippi loved it.

2. Good Friends who cook good food

3. Family Traditions--new and old, some being carried on without me. Someday I really hope to sing caroles around my own piano on Thanksgiving Day. Instead, I listened to Rock Band.

4. Nice Kids--My own and my guests'

5. A hot bath, waiting for me, soon...

Grateful--

1. I know it's weird, but it brought me so much joy to see the Warlock walk in the door, dripping with sweat after his run. For several weeks he's been fighting an injury, and it looks like he's coming out of it.

2. Pencils with erasers

3. Wild places

4. A cute, squishy, wonderful baby

5. Coconut oil

Saturday Gratefuls

1. The gym--I need to use it more. I get mean if I don't exercise enough, so I'm glad I had a rainy day option.
2. Our piano--I think I get more excited than Pippi does when she brings home new music from piano lessons. I wish I could take lessons all over again!
3. Hot water
4. A good pen
5. Dreams--What would we be without them?

Grateful

I'm grateful the Warlock fits me into his schedule, reads my blog, and makes me laugh.
I'm grateful Pippi thinks I'm important. I think it's cute how she still wants me to come have lunch with her at school.
I'm thankful for refrigerator locks.
I'm thankful for funny kids that sing me songs during bath time when I can't sing to them, and I'm thankful for their giggles. They lighten my heart.

Grateful--Day 19

...a clean room, my testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, my own weaknesses and how they help me love others, my beautiful beautiful children, and the Warlock who is almost as happy to come home in the evening as we are to have him come home...

Gratitude--

And on the eighteenth day I'm thankful for bedtime, conference talks, health insurance, a body that heals, obedient kids...and bed times. Good night.

Laundry in the outdoor dog water, shattered pickle jars, lipstick, baking cookies, and Pippi's wish list

I am grateful for my kids and the stories they create by being themselves

-Laundry in the dog water: Bardo likes to strip all of his clothes off whenever he gets the slightest bit wet. One day I found him in the backyard nude. I didn't see his clothes anywhere. I hurried him back in, put clothes on him, forgot to go back and look for his clothes because...of something...I'm sure it was really important. Later I found his clothes in the dog water. Bardo explained, "My clothes were dirty so I was washing them."

-Shattered pickle jars and honest, fearless confessions

-Baking Cookies--Bardo still loves helping in the kitchen. When getting ready to bake cookies I pulled the ingredients we'd need from the cupboard and put them on the counter. When I pulled out the vanilla, Bardo asked, "Is that the alcohol?"

-Lipstick-Today I sent Pippi into the house to brush her hair. After waiting awhile I ran back into the house to find her putting on my lipstick--with messy hair.

-Pippi's Wishlist:

Grateful--Day 16

1. Chicken noodle soup from a can, when the kids are sick and probably won't eat
2. Peaceful Moments--Tonight I read Bardo a familiar bed time story. His eyes were closed as I read him The Indoor Noisy Book, but a smile was on his face, and he answered all of the questions in the book, trying to open his heavy heavy eyelids, to no avail.
3. Warm blankets
4. Drug stores
5. I'm not grateful Pippi's sick, but I'm grateful that she'll be home tomorrow.

I'm grateful for...--Day 15

1. my mother-in-law and the way the dishes magically remove themselves from the dishwasher into the cupboards and how the piles of dishes disappear when she's here
2. a talking Bardo who can tell me he's in the mood for cottage cheese instead of the dinner I made. I usually don't let this fly, but I'm just happy to see him eating again after having an extremely sore throat.
3. my father-in-law and the fun games he plays with the kids-very cute
4. a Noel who sleeps regularly and requires very little effort to put to bed
5. Sunday walks with Pippi, Noel, and Hunter

Grateful--Day 14

1. Brother Giles--He had a long day of church service today, from the father-son campout to Pippi's baptism with stuff in between. We love him. We love his family too and recognize their great sacrifice.
2. Natalie--The only friend I've ever followed to a new state.
3. Tylenol
4. Insight from Pippi when asked how she felt after she was baptized. She replied, "Well, first I felt wet, and then after I got dressed, I felt big--like I could do more stuff than I could before." Does the Atonement make you feel that way?
5. Amberly--for inviting everyone to do this. It's good to find 5 things each day to prove to myself how great my life is.

Grateful--Day 13

1. My mother-in-law and father-in-law
2. The Father-son campout and the fact that I don't have to go and I don't have to do any of the planning and I get a break from my beautiful boys
3. Freckles-so cute on Bardo's and Pippi's nose that they have helped me appreciate my own
4. Washable paint
5. Online shopping

Grateful-Day12

1. Eggs--What would easter be without them? How could we make cookies or cakes without eggs? And is there a faster dinner on a day when the kids are on the verge of breaking down than a meal that includes eggs?
2. Friends- Today a friend watched my kids while I went to DPS to get my driver's license. I watched half a dozen other mothers manage their children while I was there. I just sat there and did crossword puzzles, knowing that my kids were playing, eating, and if they needed to, sleeping. And then there were friends at the park who don't even bat an eye when they see Noel eating wood and dirt. Love it.
3. The Warlock--I missed his calls when he was busy at work. I love it when he walks through that front door--always with a smile, even after a long day.
4. My steam cleaner that will shortly be used to degooberize my couch. Fun way to spend an evening, eh?
5. Friendly numbers and watching Pippi use them to solve a math problem in a very unique way. The way they teach math nowadays is fascinating. It's kind of like teaching a child to swim by showing them a life jacket, goggles, flippers, and modelling several different strokes. They then throw the child into the water, calling "Which method of swimming would you like to try to use? Are you going to use the flippers this time? What about floaties? Now now, don't panic..." It seems to be working, I just hope it doesn't traumatize some kids.

Grateful-Day 11

1. My car--It gets me where I need to go. It's reliable, as stylish as a minivan can be and can easily haul the kids and the dog AND my bulky double stroller.
2. Clean counters
3. Walking paths
4. Pippi--Today I went out searching for Pippi when she didn't arrive home from school at the usual time. I found her exploring the bushes. She came up to the car, a gentle smile on her face. "Mom, I was okay. I was using my time wisely." She opened her hands to reveal three multicolored fall leaves, a fluffy golden grass plume, and two beautiful pansies, one purple, one yellow. She told me the yellow was her favorite and why. And she wanted to know which one I liked best. Somehow taking her time, savoring her surroundings, and going as slowly as possible is Pippi's definition of "using time wisely." Pippi is my living reminder to stop, look, ponder, enjoy.
5. Good health

Grateful-Day 10

1. Kids who love to read
2. Contact lenses
3. Nice visiting teaching route and companion
4. Brooms
5. Mosquito repellent

Grateful--Day 9

1. Patience--I actually had it today. yay
2. Window blinds--we lived for a year in the house without them in our living areas. now we've had them for awhile, and privacy is good.
3. funny kids--Pippi decided to spend some of her allowance money on a pink scotch tape dispenser. I think I would have chosen candy at that age, but whatever. Bardo spent the whole of family home evening jumping on the couch. Noel, when everyone was done praying, burst out a cheery bouncy "amen" of her own. She seemed pleased with herself and her big girl abilities.
4. Pippi making music. She has almost every song in her head that she's learned on the piano. She's a marvel.
5. The Warlock and his skilz. He's a great teacher. Did you know that? He can teach a gospel message readily, appropriately, easily with little prep. Amazing. This week's FHE was about baptism, complete with practice. Pippi was concerned about her hair floating up and sticking out of the water--a valid concern with her crazy hair.

Grateful-Day 7

1. Guardian angels--Pippi crashed head first today after hitting a pot hole. We pulled her bike off of her, examined her and discovered that she didn't have a scratch.
2. Heartfelt performances of "M" is for Muffin (that's good enough for me) from Bardo
3. Dinners in the freezer
4. Sippy cups
5. Books

Grateful--Day 8

1. Popcorn--Is there a better snack to share on a Sunday?
2. The Conference Ensign
3. A cool Bishop who helped Pippi discover that she had a testimony in her baptism interview today
4. Spackling compound--can you imagine if we had to live forever with dents and nicks in the wall.
5. Mormon Messages on Youtube--I especially like this one.

Grateful-Day 6

1. I'm grateful Noel isn't terribly cranky about her front top teeth trying to burst through her gums.

2. I'm grateful that I had a few years to observe others before having my boy. I would think that I was a terrible mother if I hadn't seen friends struggle with their three-year-old boys before I had my own.

3. I'm grateful for a healthy new baby nephew.

4. I'm grateful for my good in-laws.

5. I'm grateful for my piano.

Grateful-Day 5

1. I'm grateful for the phone.
2. I'm grateful for bed time, both mine and the kiddos. And a comfy bed to sleep in.
3. I'm grateful for my blogger friends who keep me company during the day.
4. I'm grateful for my watch, I'd be lost without it.
5. I'm grateful Pippi rides her bike to and from school--it assures that the little ones get all the sleep I need them to have!

Grateful-Day 4

1. I'm grateful for the weather--again, but when you endure hot humid Houston summers, you really appreciate the rest of the year.

2. I'm grateful for Pippi's great teachers at school, at church, in dance and piano. They love her so much and their dedication helps me immensely.

3. I'm grateful for the public library.

4. I'm grateful for the grocery store. I'm so blessed to be able to get almost anything I want whenever I want it. What a luxury to be able to feed my family so well.

5. I'm grateful for my sisters.

Grateful

1. I'm grateful for my dog. He teaches me about myself and about my children, yet is not even half demanding as a child. I'm also grateful that he takes care of most of the crumbs on the floor. And I'm grateful that I can guiltlessly stick him in the backyard when I don't want him around.
2. I'm grateful for this beautiful Earth. She truly testifies of Christ and Heavenly Father.
3. I'm grateful for my dishwasher.
4. I'm grateful for my mom and dad who provided me with every opportunity they possibly could afford.
5. I'm grateful for the Warlock, my favorite friend.

Halloween 2009

Pippi designed her own jack-o-lantern this year (far right). Mine is on the far left, and Bardo's is the cyclops in the middle. He did some alterations after I finished carving. I guess he wanted to put his own signature on it. The Warlock's pumpkin is uncarved. He was busy making a spooky CD, setting up spider's webs and a fog machine and applying eye liner.

Accepting the Challenge--Grateful November

November 1st--

1. I am grateful for incredible weather.
2. I am grateful for Pippi, who is so incredible and just makes me want to be better every day.
3. I am grateful for First Choice Emergency care who had the Warlock in/out in 30 minutes and took good care of him so he didn't die of dehydration in the middle of the night.
4. I am grateful for Noel, for being such a good baby while my kind friend Penny took care of her so I could substitute in Primary, at the piano.
5. I am grateful for Penny and Amber and anyone else at church who took a turn with Noel. It's so wonderful to have a church family to which I can trust one of my greatest treasures.

November 2nd--Today

1. I am grateful for Deussen park. I love that almost nobody uses it during the week so that Bardo, Hunter, and I can have the run of the park without worrying about Hunter bothering anyone. I like how they have sand for Bardo to play in and swings that go almost high enough to satisfy Bardo. And I like thinking of the time we walked there with my mom-in-law and we discovered a friendly katydid that wanted to crawl all over our shoes producing giggles from both Bardo and Pippi.
2. I'm grateful the Warlock's feeling better today.
3. I'm grateful for Noel and her sweet disposition.
4. I'm grateful that Bardo's honest and openly shares his feelings with me. He's so good at giving me both positive ("I love you.") and negative ("Your mean!!") feedback.
5. I am thankful for the bright morning that came with the time change. The children were much much easier to pull out of bed this morning.