The Best of the day

I think I've mentioned the Best of the day tradition I got from a family in our old ward. We don't always do it everyday it is more of one of those things that when we remember the kids seem to really enjoy. We haven't done it in a while but I wanted to do a blog of my best of the day. The following two items have brought me great joy and much laughter and a little sadness:

Drum roll please: This is the hairstyle Andrew will be sporting to school tomorrow, ikes

I know the eyes are not helping the look but this was the best shot I got before sending him BACK to bed, where you could see the damage. I had put the kids to bed and was upstairs having a moment to myself. I knew they were talking and playing but I thought they were staying in their room and being quiet so I didn't care. Then Andrew came up with his hands over his head. For some reason I didn't think anything of it till he took them off and said," Do you like it?" No, not really, was my thought. I went from anger, to sadness, to this is hilarious in a nano second. The real humor hit when he and Lexie realized it wasn't a good look. I had sent them to bed as I was texting the photo to my fam, and I over hear Lexie saying, "I don't like it. Maybe you can where a hat to school tomorrow so no one sees it." She is four how does she know it is bad? Oh who am I kidding, look at the picture of course she knew it was bad. It wasn't till after Andrew processed this comment that he said he didn't want to go to school tomorrow. I know I''ll just have to buzz or Bic the rest off but I just don't want to. It will take forever to grow back; I suppose that is better than the alternative, sporting a bald patch on the front of your head for the next several months. Why I ask, why?? I could've sworn he did it with a razor but nope just a little pair of scissors from my mom's sewing drawer. At first I could only find one little lock of curls. My sister Nicole, who called me immediately, said, "there has to be more, THAT is more than a lock of hair." I found them in front of the mirror in his room. What to do with this boy? Lexie got in some trouble too, for not getting me when she knew Andrew was doing something naughty.

My second best thing for today: So I talked to Nicole several times today. Well I think just 3 times and every time she was on her way to Target. Guess how many Targets she went to today? She is going to write her own blog about this but I've laughed so hard it had to be included in the list: 6. Yes that is right, six different Targets. I was laughing hard when I thought it was only 3. She then later confessed to 6. Can we say C-R-A-Z-Y. She was in search of something, which like I said she will blog about. It was some decorating accessories for Lucy's room, I think. I suppose, this is why her house looks so great. Not only does she have an eye for decorating, she will also spend all day working to achieve the look in her mind. I love you Nicca thanks for a good laugh.

I finished the evening out watching some 30 Rock. I'll have to admit, when I first saw this show, I didn't really get it. It's grown on me and I think it's hilarious. When I happened upon it on the ON Demand I had to watch. Hadn't seen it in awhile and it was a good way to finish the day out. Life is good and funny. So do you think Andrew should have to sport the look at school for a day to learn a lesson??

Humiliation

Whenever we are heading off to school it seems we barely make it there on time. We are usually on time but it is always by the hair on our chinny chin chins. It doesn't seem to matter how early we start. Andrew is a doddler and it may makes me nuts. Anyone with any suggestions for the doddling I would be happy to hear. So back to my story, We get Andrew to school and I am in the car with the girls. Andrew is the only one with the morning five done. He bolts out of the door and runs like an Olympian to the door where the Kindergartners are lining up. Of course he leaves his back pack in the car. I noticed right away and yelled, AnDREW ANDREW. But no luck he is gone inside just that quick. I have to walk into the school in my pajamas hair everywhere to give the child his back pack. Anyone with short hair knows what I mean when I say hair EVERYWHERE. We strapped it on his back before we left, why is it not on? I swear he would forget his head if it were not attached. The most humiliating part is the teacher who lets the kids in is my fifth grade teacher and also a previous Bishop of mine. I swear I am doomed to spend my life humiliated. I guess the moral of the story is my new goal: Have my morning 5 done before Andrew goes to school. Maybe I will post a picture of myself or maybe I'll save myself the humiliation. I may as well roll my hair in curlers, put some smudged lipstick on and go out and run my errands in a moo moo. Well I'm off to get DRESSED.

Flashback Friday

This is Andrew in September 2005. He is just a few months over one year, and it was a few weeks before Lexie was born. How great would it be to be able to fall asleep in a swing. OR on second thought how awful, he must be completely exhausted. He is still just as cute now. We came across this photo as Lexie and were going through pictures of when she was born. So much has changed. He is in kindergarten! I can hardly believe it. The girls and I went to the school today to have lunch with the little guy. It was a pajama party for all the kindergartners. He was so excited about the party all week long. He didn't even fight me in getting ready for school, which was a welcomed break. He jumped right up, went to the shower, then dressed in his space jammies which had been the plan, put on his shoes and said he would fix his own breakfast, which he did. I laid in bed all the while and then jumped up and drove him to school cause it was pouring rain ( we live way close, so the driving is really unnecessary.) It was fun to go see Andrew in his school setting and he was excited to see us. We need to do this more. Every time I go into the school all the adults from the lunch ladies to the secretaries in the office tell me how sweet Andrew is. I got told this by no less than SIX people today. He is a charmer. Worries me a little because I think he thinks he can get away with 'stuff' cause he can talk his way out. It really is mostly effective with the ladies though. I love you Andrew and Lexie too, for taking the walk down memory lane with me. My children truly enrich my life so much. I would be lost without them, even when they make me nuts. Best weekend wishes to everyone!

Ingenuity

I love Andrew's sense of adventure and his ingenuity. He is a smart boy and is very curious. This is the cause of most of his destructiveness, he usually is just being curious or finding a way to get what he wants, which if channeled in the right way will take him far in life. And not to toot my own horn but if anyone can steer him in that direction it will be me cause I am hearty like Scarlett in Gone With the Wind. I imagine all mothers are hearty or how else would they survive? Sidenote, Andrew will be needing some steering as his current career aspirations are to work and Walmart. No offense to any Walmart employees. Anyway this is Andrew on top of the "doggy" house (a little shed in the back yard for lawn and garden tools) he was trying to get a glimpse of the sunset, or so he said. Really it was just his ingenuity at work. He knew if "seeing the sunset" was the reason to get up there I would help him. I am a sentimental sap that way. But I also hope I am cultivating a love for the beauties of the earth. Thanks Andrew for all your energy and the great boy you are. I do love you.

Turkey Day!!

Love this. Kids make everything better, especially holidays. I am so grateful for all my many blessings, especially my kids. Each phase is so fun I want to soak it all up, "I don't want this feeling to go away, please don't go away" Upside Down Jack Johnson

lnspite of being away from family, we had a great Thanksgiving. We celebrated with two families in our ward and it was very nice. I'm gaining an appreciation for the out of state ward "family". I feel so thankful for all my blessings, family, friends, gospel, freedom. Now how to give back with this crazy life we have? I'm open for suggestions. Hope all had a great Day.

Thoughts from today

So tonight at dinner we were discussing nicknames. Lu Lu; Lu Badoo; Balou, which Lexie does not like being called. She informs me I can call her that on her next birthday. Andrew chimed in with,

"Call me sugar."

Me: "Can I call you brown sugar?"

Andrew "yeah, I'll pull your earrings, white sugar." in a teasing tone.

It was funny we all laughed.

The other darling interaction from dinner went something like this. We were playing the game "best part of your day" and idea we got from a family in our old ward. Each family member tells an event which was the BEST from the day. We were all going around sharing, and when it was my turn I said," the best part of my day was.." and Andrew finished it for me with, "picking me up from school."

I must say he is such a delight. We had parent teacher conference today and I'm happy to report he is doing well. On his testing his teacher said he did very well. He struggles staying on task, but we are working on this. I'm grateful he has a teacher who is so good. I can tell she genuinely enjoys having him in her class and I am thankful for this. I feel so lucky his first year of school is shaping up to be a positive experience. Some of the positive things he has picked up at school are: "Happy to do it," "Yes Ma'am", and "Yes, Sir." I think this is great and if there is one thing we can take home from the Texans is their great manners, I hope to continue to incorporate this into our family. School has been so good for Andrew. He has been more obedient and he is learning lots. It has been a big adjustment, some days he comes home and crashes on the couch. The other morning when I woke him up, he said, "Mom I'm tired, Miss Pemberton won't let me take a nap." He is always starving when he gets home, today he polished off a 1 and a half tuna sandwiches (with apples and diced onions in it. I got this idea form my friend Amy and work, thank you by the way. May sound gross or maybe it doesn't, but it was the best tuna sandwich I've ever had.) We are grateful for a great kindergarten teacher, family dinners together, and fun interactions with the kiddos. It really is the little things which mean the most. Although I don't always remember this. Thank you Andrew for the darling sweet boy you are and for the sweet spirit you take with you to school each day. You are a positive influence on those around you keep up the good work!

A few weeks back we had rain for about 10 days. Normally I would not have enjoyed rain for so long but I did, it was great. Here is Andrew making the most of the rain and having a great time, we were both soaked when we came in. Amazingly enough that night it let up and we went to Dallas to watch a pro bike race. Jeremy was in heaven and the kids enjoyed being outdoors. It has been said that is doesn't rain much in Texas but compared to home it rains tons and when it rains it really comes down. Maybe it is just global warming screwing up the weather everywhere I don't know but we enjoyed the rain! You'd think our lawn would be totally green after so much water, it's not. Haven't quite figured out lawn maintenance in Texas.

Fall=Home

So Sunday (9/12) after church Andrew wanted to put out the fall decorations. I remember doing this as a kid and always loved it. So we pulled out the fall and Halloween stuff and got the house looking all festive. I need a few more, as it seems there are not enough decorations to go around. Do you have fond memories of pulling out the decorations as a kid? It made me think about that even though I'm not "home" , home is where you are. A quote I've heard a lot lately, I read it on a blog somewhere, my dad said it to me, and it was in the movie Julie and Julia. Maybe the universe is trying to tell me something. So thanks to my little Andrew for wanting to do the fun things that make a house a home, and for being the first person I see when I get home. (He is always the first to greet me and is oh so excited to see me.) I love you buddy!

Sick Day

Monday night Andrew said to me, "Mom, I can't go to school tomorrow, I'm sick and I'll get all the other kids sick." Tonight he said, "Mom in the morning I'll be sick so I can't go to school." I'm just wondering, isn't 5 a little young to be starting this? At least he is smart, right?

Kindergarten!

So I'm not sure what to make of the first week of school thus far. Each afternoon when I've picked Andrew up and asked what did you learn, the responses have been as follows:

Monday: "I learned about not hitting."

Tuesday: "learned about not hitting, pushing, and sharing."

Wednesday: "learned about telling the truth."

I'm wondering if this is what all the kindergartners report or just the ones who are having trouble with these concepts. I'm hoping all come home with such reports. He has all day kindergarten so it is going to be a big adjustment. I'm wondering what they do all day, how he is behaving, how much the are indoctrinating him with TEXAS, and the likes. He was super excited about the first day but a little less the following two days. When I asked him if he wanted to wait a year before starting kindergarten he still reported no. I'm hoping Mrs Pemberton is nice and patient, and that Andrew will be able to sit still for longer than 2 minutes. Life's an adventure, things are always changing and I'm not sure what to make of having a school aged child! I shed a few tears of sadness and also a few for Joy. My house been quieter, and cleaner. I hope he likes it, makes friends and learns lots. Andrew I hope you have a great year, I love you!

Update

Well since my blogging competition ended with my sisters, which by the way I won, I haven't been very good at posting. I'm going to get back into it as it is something I enjoy and makes me happy. So some random updates:

Saturday night (8/22/09) cute Andrew said," Is tomorrow fast Sunday?"
Me: "No."
Andrew: "Is it slow Sunday?"
Jeremy and I had a good laugh at this one. Makes sense if there is a fast Sunday there should be a slow one too. But for me Fast Sunday is the SLOW Sunday. I have never been very good at fasting and it is an area of life I could stand for a little improvement. Sure I fast, or rather go hungry but I really need to develop a testimony of this principle.

When my mom was here in July we decided we would try to highlight my hair, against my better judgement. My mom tried to tell me it didn't look "that bad" when someone uses this term you know it's not good.
So I waited and then when Jess was here she bought some hair dye before she left for home. So that night after the wonderful vacation which you can read about here ended, I dyed my hair. This is a first for me. I have always paid someone for my dye jobs (there is a reason for this). Anyhow, the color is much darker with a fair amount of red highlights. Sometimes I like it and sometimes I don't. But when Lexie noticed she said,"Did you paint your hair?" I told her I did and she got all excited said she wanted to paint her hair in the morning, ran into the bathroom looking for the paint, then asked if I used fingernail polish. I love how their little minds work. They make me so happy and I feel so lucky to be a mother. I just want to always remember the cute things they do and say, especially in the moments where I am clearly losing it.

Just Because

Winking Andrew , and Lexie chilling on the patio August 4, 2009

So, I came upon the above scene this morning. They recently got umbrellas and who knew they would be such a hit. They want to play with them all of the time. I think they are darling, the children not the umbrellas.

Do you think Lexie should be a model? She is learning the art of posing, maybe I'll put her to work.

Andrew at 5

Favorite Food: Jam Sandwiches, Fruit, Guittard Chocolate chips

Favorite Primary Song: I see my mother kneeling, I am a Builder, I am a Child of God

Favorite thing to do: Go swimming, Ride Bike, talk on the phone, or anything Mischievous such as get into the powdered or brown sugar

Favorite Book: What Do You Say Dear and The Giant Jam Sandwich

Favorite Color: Blue

Favorite thing to wear: Shorts

I can Hardly believe five years has past. We celebrated his birthday on July 9th, or as he use to say, July night. He had a great day with lots of fun and went to Chucky Cheese for the first time,which was a big hit for both kids and Mom and Dad. You are not going for the food here. I love this little boy so much. He keeps me on my toes and he is so fun. Andrew loves to play in the hose, this will occupy him for hours. He also has a great love for garages. He has always talked about garages and houses with one garage or two. This is distinguished not by the number of cars a garage will hold, but by the number of doors it has that will open by pushing a button. He frequently says he misses our garage in Utah, as do I. It is a good garage. He asked for a Lego garage for his birthday.

Andrew has a healthy curiosity for how things work. He likes to be the go and doing things. He thrives on attention and it always catches me off guard the things that will hold his interest, as well as the things that bother or scare him. He sat and watched the sprinklers run for about 15 minutes today. He doesn't mind having food all over his hands and face but having grass stuck to his feet will put him over the edge. We have a nest of baby birds on the porch which recently hatched. We have had fun watching the momma bird feed them in the morning and we watched them learning to fly the other night. It has been fun to see this circle of life from our front porch and also funny because Andrew was afraid of the baby bird that was sitting on the porch. He also does no like really big leaves and the itchies that come when you get a haircut. He loves to play with Anna and has a special relationship with her. He is my best cuddlebug. When he is tired he will just go lay down and go to sleep. I love this boy and hope and we are doing a good job raising him. I am certainly learning lots from him and am better because he is in my life. I will always be grateful for Genyia, his birth mom for this gift in my life. Maybe one day we will thank her together. Happy 5th birthday Andrew, we love you!

Mischeivious

Andrew, he is a darling boy, but lets just say he can try my patience, push my buttons, etc.. This is him driving home form church a few weeks ago. He got one of the invisible ink markers from the diaper bag, the ones crayola offers and chewed it open on the way home. He was covered in the "invisible" ink and so were his church clothes. You ask how does one little boy find the time to do all he does? I do not know; I promise I watch him. You may think this is just an occasional thing with him. NO it is a normal daily occurrence at the Ward home. It is exhausting. I love the boy to death but wish we could take the curiosity level down a notch and the focus up a notch. I told him his birthday is next month and toady he came in my room first thing in the morning, "Mom, is is July yet?" his big eyes as big as they can get with a look of anticipation, and excitement. Yesterday, he had Jeremy's iPod and was singing and dancing with if for over an hour. He found the Metallica song, Back in Black and listened to it over and over. He affectionately calls this his song. Could he have picked something other than Metallica? The other song he will ask me to play on my iPod is Crazy Train from Ozzy Osbourne. I promise we do have some good music as well. If he didn't have those big chocolate eyes, maybe he wouldn't melt my heart so much. I feel so lucky is in our family and keeps me on my toes. He makes me laugh, cry, shake with rage. I do love this busy little boy.

P.S The "invisible" ink did wash out

The First Day of Preschool!

September is proving to be a busy month. I imagine as children get older this becomes even more of a reality. Andrew had his first day of preschool on the 9th, and we are all loving it. Andrew has seemed a little bored the last few months so this is a great change for all of us. He is loving the interaction with the other kids and I am loving running errands with only 2 children. It is amazing what a difference it makes when you are down one than your normal. It has been fun having a little more one on one with Lexie, and the kids seem to get along better with a little break from one another. I'm sold; preschool is great! We tried to have Andrew attend preschool last fall and it did not work out, that is a blog all of its own and I am happy to report that things are going without a hitch this year. Lexie is cute she will ask Andrew when we pick him up,"Andrew what did you learn today?" Thursday he reported he learned about Jesus, I don't think this is true as they wore swimsuits and had water fun, but eventually he will be able to decipher between primary and school right? The time is flying by and I pray I'm doing a good job with them, cause there are days I have my doubts. I'm so happy to have this darling boy in our family and excited for all the firsts we will be experiencing with Andrew. Oh yea, yesterday Andrew burned his fingers on the stove, they are blistered and pale looking. Last night he said,"Mom, I'm turning your color." I've gotten a good laugh from this. This is his picture on the first day. I think he is darling and is quite the poser. I'm also into this faded color look with photos lately. Andrew good luck with school this year and do your best! I love you.

Disgusting

Who could possibly believe someone this cute would poop on the front lawn. Yes that is right, just like a dog. I go outside to recover my children after being in the shower, and I find what I thought was fresh dog poop, no just Andrew. I wonder what my neighbors think of us. We are probably those people. You know the ones every neighborhood has them, and I think We are it for our neighborhood. I didn't know what to do or what the punishment should be so I made him clean it up and told him if he ever does it again, I will be rubbing his nose in it. Sometimes I am at a loss as a parent. How do you teach the the right things to do and then proceed to get them to do it? Obviously I don't know what I'm doing. Wish me luck.

Andrew's 4th

Andrew on the 4th of July

Blowing out candles

Playing with his new Mac

The pink cake

We celebrated Andrew's 4th birthday this week. I can hardly believe how fast the time has flown. All Andrew wanted for his birthday was a pink cake and a squirt gun. We spent his actual birthday on the 9th with our little family. I had a nice day with the kids, we swam at Cherry Hill with Aunt Nicole and our cousins. We went to dinner as a family and as we left a neighboring table stopped us and told us how well behaved our children were. This is not a compliment I receive often and it really made my night. Andrew wanted to go to the park, and play and we finished the evening with cake and presents. Really kids don't need much to be happy. I need to remember this when I Christmas shop.

Today we had our family over to celebrate his birthday. It was fun to have everyone over, not something we do to often. It is nice to practice hosting a large group as it really something my mother and sister Nicole make look effortless. I enjoyed it and had fun preparing. Thanks to all the family for the gifts and more importantly for loving and supporting Andrew. He loves all of you and we feel blessed to have such wonderful family.

As I think over the past four years I'm so thankful they have included Andrew. He is a darling boy with such a sweet way about him. We've had lots of firsts. I remember the night we brought him home. It was a Friday and I was suppose to work for the IV team at LDSH. My sister Nicole was nice enough to take the shift for me. We went to a ladies home in Bountiful and waited for his arrival. He was flying in from Mississippi. There were teenagers at the house and as it was a Friday night kids kept coming in and out. Every time the door opened we would start out of our seats and look in anticipation for our little boy. His plane was scheduled to arrive around 10 pm and we went over at 9 to sign papers. When he finally arrived I was so happy. I remembering wondering if I could love a kid more than my nephew Isaac and then it happened. I can't explain the love I felt as a first time mother. It is truly more than I could imagine and something you feel with each new addition. I remembering wondering before the arrival of both Lexie and Anna if there was enough love to go around as you feel you can't imagine loving anything as much as your children, but so far with each one, the love you feel is overwhelming.

At times different people have asked me if I was worried my love for Andrew may be different than for my girls. All I can say is Andrew is mine, I love his birth mom for giving me the best present I've ever received. I hope to some day be able to express to her my gratitude. I'm so grateful for this busy boy and all the joy he brings to our lives. Happy Birthday Andrew, keep up the good work. Pictures to come.