The Report Card

Once the boys were finally in bed after fighting a few too many bedtime battles with a WAY over tired Christian, I felt like we'd failed yet another test in life. You know, the patience-endure-to-the-end-of-bedtime test. Actually, I've failed worse before, so perhaps tonight I would give myself a D. Then I started thinking about what life would be like if we really did receive grades for these tests we are given. Like in school. I mean, what if we were given a grade at the end of each day, according to our performance on our tests. Because I assure you, I am tested every day. And then at the end of the week, or maybe even month, we received a report card. Would this change our performance on the tests? Would we try harder and do better because we knew we would see physical results in the form of a letter?

I did very well in school. It came easily to me, but I also worked hard and studied hard, and tried for perfection. I graduated from high school with a 3.95 and graduated cum laude from BYU with a 3.7, I think. I don't say this to boast. I say this because grades were always important to me and I knew they were going to be important to those looking at my transcript to get into BYU and later, those looking at my transcript to hire me. If I knew the score mattered, you better believe I was going to try and I was going to do my very best. I was never happy with a B, or even getting an A- bothered me. And getting an F was just not even an option.

So why do I seem to keep failing these daily tests now? How can I even allow myself to fail? Or do poorly? Why am I not making sure I achieve the top score and receive an A or even an A+? Would we all do better if there was some kind of report card sent from heaven to let us see our progress?

I know that these tests matter, and they matter more than any of the math or english or history tests I took in school. Although I do not have report cards on my progress now, my children and my husband (and myself) are very much affected by the grades I am making.

Luckily, the final exam isn't here yet and I have an eraser that helps me fix my mistakes. I am so grateful for the atonement of Jesus Christ that allows me to do better and improve my score. I am grateful for a Father in Heaven who waits patiently for me to learn patience. And I am grateful for the chance we have to earn eternal life, and to help our children get there too. That is the A I am working toward. Or rather, the A+.

Energy

E is for Ethan and E is for energy. This little boy is full of it! He is two and half in a few weeks and I have no idea what to do with him. Anything he picks up is sure to be launched into the air, in any given direction, no matter the object. Anything elevated that has enough surface area for two little feet to stand on, is sure to be climbed. And even more sure to be jumped off of! He is a climber and a jumper. The other day I turned around and there is Ethan about to be perched on the very top of the piano. He climbs the stairs part way and then jumps to the bottom. He climbs their bunk bed ladder part way and jumps to the floor. He jumps off their dresser, their table, the kitchen table, the couch. He climbs up onto the changing table and then jumps into Owen's crib. And if I'm nearby at any of these moments, he yells, "watch, Mom!" or announces he's going to do a flip or yells, "Cannonball!" as he jumps! Even though I have scolded him for doing this just moments earlier. (Luckily he has no idea what a real flip actually looks like.)

How do I discipline this child? If I get real stern or mad, he laughs. If I put him in time out, he plays. Nothing seems to be effective in teaching him that throwing anything and everything is not okay and that jumping off of any and all elevated surfaces is dangerous.



And then he looks up into my eyes with his giant big blues, and I remember how innocent and pure and sweet this little ball of energy is. And i have to smile and laugh. I just don't know what else to do. :)

The Bunk Bed Saga

Christian and Ethan are now sleeping in bunk beds and it has been quite the battle. This is also Ethan's first time sleeping out of a crib.

Day one: (July 30)
After many times of getting out of bed, trips to the potty, the drink being taken away, a finger in the fan and the fan taken out of the room, and a serious threat of sleeping in the pack and play because I set it up in their room, Ethan and Christian finally fell asleep at 10:00. Note: they normally go to bed at 7:00.

Day Two:
The baby sitter put them to bed, so I didn't expect them to be asleep at 8:30 when we got home. Of course they weren't, but they WERE having way too much fun with their new bunk beds. After a few more times out of bed, lights being flipped on, and more threats of the pack and play, Ethan insisted, "I stay in my bed." and they both fell asleep by 9:30.

Day Three:
Bedtime got started on time tonight, so we hoped bedtime would go smoother and quicker. It did, a little. This time the boys were much better at staying in their beds, or at least in their room, but we could hear mischief going on up there. After multiple interruptions from mom and dad to insist they go to sleep, a few potty runs, and a trip downstairs for a piece of bread, I went in one last time and this is what I found: Ethan caught red handed, swinging the extension cord back and forth that was carefully hidden behind their headboards in order for Christian to have a fan up on top. "I skiing!" Ethan insisted. "Ethan, you don't touch the cord, it's not safe," I said. "He's just waterskiing, Mom," Christian said. And next to his bed I notice the curtains on the floor and the curtain rod hanging from one hook. "Ethan, you can't touch the curtains, you could get hurt," I said. But Ethan was not going to hear what I had to say until I listened to what HE had to say. "Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom...I BREAK it.". Yes Ethan, I see that. And so I finally put their room back together and told them goodnight. But it was not going to be so easy. Eventually they were asleep by 9:00.

Day 10:
It has now been over a week since we put up the bunk beds, and we keep threatening to take them down. We've about had it. Im exhausted, their exhausted, we're all exhausted. Last night Christian and Ethan lost all privileges of bedtime--no more water bottles (they we dumping them on the floor), no more books (they were throwing them), no more ladder (this was taken away a few nights ago), no more fan (they broke it). And no more going to bed together. We finally pulled Ethan out of the room after all that mischief last night and Christian was asleep in minutes. It's amazing how quickly he can fall asleep when he doesn't have anyone to play or get into trouble with! He's been so exhausted, it's making us crazy. So tonight we followed the same tactic. After multiple meltdowns and tantrums over not getting their water bottles (we were NOT budging on this one) bedtime went quite smoothly. Christian was asleep in approximately 2 minutes, Ethan got to spend a little one on one time with mom and dad, and even Ethan only came out of his room once to fill up his drink. It was a much nicer evening. I think we'll stick with this routine for a while. At least until they've caught up on their sleep.

**Update: it is now August 19, and the boys are doing much better with their beds! We have started putting them to bed together again, and it's going well. Ethan still gets out of his bed multiple times usually, but Christian is good about following the sleep rules, which are 1. Stay in bed, 2. Close our eyes, 3. Be quiet, 4. Go to sleep. These were instigated and hung in Christian's room when he was two and newly in a bed bed, and now they have surfaced again and both boys can repeat them. (The idea was taken from the Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child book.). So, needless to say, the bunk beds are still standing and the boys are happy and the parents are happy. :)

Lessons Learned #3

There are three parts to this lesson....

1. Crayon comes out of a part-straw-woven rug with warm water, dish soap, and toothbrushes. Amazing. But it does come off the under-side of the table with those same three ingredients. The artwork there still remains.

2. Christian and Ethan are good little scrubbers if you give them a bowl of water and a toothbrush!

3. Crayons belong on the top shelf of the highest cupboard in the kitchen.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

This really is kind of an ugly picture and I almost threw it out as I was sorting through the pictures, but then I realized this really told a lot about what my life is like right now.

1. My boys are wearing mix-matched pajamas...don't you love them?

2. The look on Ethan's face.

3. There is still a computer in Owen's room, notice the cords? It drives me crazy, but it's still there.

4. See the changing table in the background? Yes, it's a mess of Owen's clothes. One of these days we're going to put together that extra dresser tht is boxed under Ethan's bed.

5. See the diapers on the changing table? I order my diapers from Amazon now and it is the best way to do it! I don't know why I didn't do this sooner! Hence, I have quite a stock of diapers.

6. Buzz cuts. Gotta love em.

7. A lazy summer morning. Still in pajamas. No where to be. LOVE. THOSE. DAYS. May I always make sure to have those kind of days throughout my children's childhood.

Owen, 4 months

July 25, 2011

Owen is four months old today! My how time flies! He is growing, growing, growing and continues to be such a joy in our family. Here are some facts about Owen at four months.

-He is getting better and better with his hands. He likes to grab his blankie, his binky clip, my hands and fingers, and the boys are giving him lots of practice trying to hold toys. He's still working on it. He tries to put things in his mouth, but he's the best at just getting his fists in there.

-He loves his blankie and will snuggle up to it to go to sleep. I love that! I just lay him down with his binky in his mouth, put his blankie next to his face and he turns his head to to snuggle in it and go to sleep. He is such a good baby!

-He is still sleeping 10-12 hours every night. Bless this child.

-He is ticklish, but after his first laugh, he seems to think it's torture.

-He definitely knows his Mommy and gives me lots of smiles.

-He likes his baths and is starting to kick in the tub.

-He is still adored by his brothers, but at times I think Ethan might be getting tired of him. Half the time Ethan is giving him sweet soft kisses and loves, and talking sweetly to him, and the other half of the time he is hitting his tummy, squeezing his hands and feet, or yelling in his face. I suppose he is two, and just trying to figure out what this is all about. Owen is a pretty good sport about it most of the time.

-he is cooing and laughing. Oh how I love to hear him laugh!

-His eyes are still a gorgeous blue! And his hair is coming in blond.

We love you Owen!

His four month stats:
Weight: 14.47 lbs (38%)
Height: 25.3 in. (62%)
Head: 16.5 in. (40%)

Here are some pics of Owen from the last couple weeks:

A visitor!

A friend of Jake's that he met at Clemson came to visit and we had a great time spending time with him. He is from Iran and has never been to SLC before, so Jake tried to give him a good overview of where we live. He met us in Wallsburg, and got to see the Heber Valley and Park city, as well as Little Cottonwood canyon. On Sunday, Jake took him to Temple Square, where they were able to see the broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word", tour the conference center, and visit both visitors centers there. That evening we all headed up big cottonwood canyon for a stroll around Silver Lake.

Hossein's words to Jake: "Why would you ever leave this place?"

It's good to be reminded of the beauties and blessings we enjoy here every day, and most of the time, take for granted. Thank you, Hossein, for stopping to visit!

SILVER LAKE PICS:

These two pictures crack me up, so I had to include both.

We brought ice cream treats from home...the boys LOVE ice cream! :)

Water + Rocks + two little boys = endless hours of entertainment