In the hustle and bustle of the evening I didn't think much of William's comment as he ran upstairs to his room.

"I need my chicken!"

Santa brought the kids about a dozen puppets for Christmas, the chicken being one of them (which is actually a rooster, but whatever).

I was busy making dinner or cleaning up dinner or straightening the house. You know, some typical evening mother-like chore, and I was relishing the fact that my kids were being self-entertaining.It wasn't until I saw what he was doing that my brain even registered his comment from several minutes earlier.

He was making a jump for his monster truck and the chicken comment is what makes this moment so classic, so memorable, so photograph-able. He didn't just find the chicken among the scattered toys in the living room and decide it would make a nice stand for his jump. No. He sought out his chicken for that express purpose. He needed his chicken.

I pity the chicken, er, rooster. He looks a bit dejected, doesn't he? A bit used, perhaps? What a life to be demoted to the role of monster truck jump stand.

Then again, what could be more rewarding than providing an outlet for the creativity, however eccentric it may be, of a 4-year-old boy? I mean, he was needed after all. And who doesn't want to be needed?

'Isms'

Brandon and I are trying to figure out when we went from having a toddler and a baby to having two kids. I think we blinked a few of weeks ago and suddenly they grew up on us.

I mean, look at them last Easter or better yet, two years ago. So much change in so little time.

This post isn't really about Easter though. Easter outfit pictures have yet to happen. This post is just another documentation of my darling kids, their busy minds, and the things that they come up with to say.

Like this morning when I was dropping off William at preschool and Marie changed her usual routine of, "Bye William. I love you." to "Be good, William. Don't be crazy."

Or the other morning over breakfast when William was singing to himself.

William: Kenican. Kenican. Kenican
Brandon: William, what does kenican mean?
William: It's when two planes crash into each other without shooting at each other.
Brandon: Where did you learn that?
William: I didn't learn it. Jesus made me that way.

Then there was Sunday during sacrament meeting when another parent had to carry his crying child out of the chapel (been there, done that, huh?). After they walked passed us William leaned over to Brandon and whispered, "Someone's grumpy."

And now we are going to work on looking at the camera while taking pictures. Rumor has it they figure it out by the time they move out of the house. I'm not crossing my fingers though.

So Excited For This!

This is not an official announcement. In otherwords, if you go to my piano blog you won't find a registration form and the flier is still in rough draft form. The event IS happening, though, so stay tuned for more official information.

Yay!

Spring is Springing!

These beauties have most certainly brightened an otherwise blah month for me. Way too many sickies going around this household. This is the third Spring that they have been planted and they are the most beautiful this year, by far!

I do have a question for any resident gardening experts, or anyone that knows more than me, which is pretty much everyone. If I want to move bulbs to another location when is the best time to transplant? I am worried that if I wait until the fall I won't know where all of them are, but I don't want to ruin them by moving them too soon. Advice is welcome and appreciated.

And now on to April when my tulips will come up!

St. Patty's Day: Magically Delicious!

Marshmallow rainbows. The only way I could get William to make the rainbow, instead of just gobble the marshmallows, was to race him. I did the pink and yellow, he did the green and orange. I think I won, but don't tell William that.

Those tricky leprechauns paid us a short visit this year. They left a rainbow in the living room and green breakfast to enjoy. The favorite part of the morning was a tie between the apple juice that turned green when I poured it and the green butter that they got to paint on their toast.

The leprechauns were alright, but our favorite visitors of the day were Grandma (I actually do have a picture to document her presence, it just didn't make it on the collage), Aunt Rachel, and Baby Jocelyn. Baby Jocelyn being the "most favoritest" by a landslide. We didn't complain about the sunshine and playing outside either.

The Belly: 20 Weeks

I don't feel like my belly grew too much over the past 4 weeks, but my weight still went up. Blast it all. I solved that problem though. I stopped weighing myself every morning. Haha. That works, right?

This is my first pregnancy where we have actually owned a scale and the first pregnancy where I have felt down about the changes in my body, rather than joyous and grateful. I think the two are related. The 30 pounds of weight loss I achieved after having Marie hasn't helped either. I mean, it has helped alot, but now I am more discouraged because I don't want to gain those lost pounds back. I know it is baby weight now, but it is still so hard after all that work to see the numbers go up instead of down. So I fired the scale.

You see, I am determined to only show gratitude for the miracle that is happening within my body. I don't know why my body is able to carry a child healthfully when so many other women, many whom I know personally, struggle with infertility and all the sorrow that it brings. I don't know why I have a man that loves me and is able to join with me in raising a family when other women I know yearn and ache for that same companionship and find only loneliness instead.

I am not more righteous then them and certainly not more deserving. If anything, it is quite the opposite.

I do know that "one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so." (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland)

Because of this I cannot and will not allow some measly numbers on an electronic device and something as trivial as weight gain to cloud the miraculous event I am able to be a part of. I am blessed beyond measure and will always strive to express my gratitude for that.

And that, my friends, is what has been on my mind here at this milestone of 20 (almost 21 weeks). Not quite the "20 weeks isn't really half way" post that I had intended, but sometimes we just have to let the stream of consciousness take over.

Happy March Madness!

Meeting Jocelyn ... Finally!

Precious one,
So small,
So sweet

Dancing in
on angel feet
Straight from Heaven's
brightest star

What a miracle
you are!

Jocelyn was obviously anxious to come into this world, as she came four weeks early. We all agree that she came just when she was needed the most. She is a beautiful reminder of Heavenly Father's love.

The Stork Has Been Busy!

Lucy Joann
7 pounds 5 ounces 19.5 inches
6:46am, March 7, 2010
born to Marc and Eliza (Brandon's brother and wife)

My 8th niece. The kids 12th cousin. Another sweet miracle.

President's Day

A much needed day dedicated to the kids.

A couple of hours of down time for us.

Slides and jumping.

Pure enjoyment.

Blissful smiles.

Daddy time.

It was tongue waggin' fun!

Laughing Moments

After letting the kids know they are going with daddy to wash the car--

Marie: In authoritative tone. Mommy. You stay home and cook dinner.
Brandon: Next time, Marie, say "Woman!"

While looking at a dinosaur puzzle they had completed--
Brandon: Which is your favorite dinosaur?
William: The tyrannosaurus rex and triceratops.
Brandon: But if you had to pick just one which would be your favorite?
William: Um, my favorites are the tyrannosaurus, the triceratops, and that one (pointing at the brontosaurus).
Brandon: Can you pick just one to be your favorite?
William: If I picked just one it would be the diplodocus with the crest on top.

The kids invaded our bed this morning, while we were longing for the days when we used to sleep in on Saturdays. Marie nestled herself in between Brandon and I --
Marie: Mommy! We're stuck, how get off? Maybe need a ladder.
Mommy: You think we need a ladder?
Marie: Or a mouse-ke-tool.
William: No, Marie. Toodles isn't here.
You'll have to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse to get that.

As told to the missionaries when they came over for dinner --

Marie: That's my mommy. She got married all by herself.

William: Yeah, that's when my mommy was a princess.

William: (After asking the missionaries their names.) When I grow up to be a missionary, I want to be called John.

Brandon was holding a towel for William to dry his hands --
Daddy, you're a towel holder!

On My Mind

“Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace. Whoever will lose his life in the service of God will find eternal life” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 361).

Yippee!

Jocelyn Emilie arrived yesterday at 2:55pm. She was 5 pounds 7 ounces and 17.5 inches long. A decent sized baby considering she was born 4 weeks early. Rachel is doing well. Her labor was relatively fast and smooth. My favorite part of the story was her water breaking right as she got out of the car at the hospital. I'm not sure if Rachel appreciated that, but it makes me smile.

Congratulations, Rachel and Cory!

My sister Rachel is in labor. I am so excited to get her phone call that baby J has arrived!