Aprons

I saw this online and LOVED it.  Enjoy!

***

The History of 'APRONS'

I don't think our kids know what an apron is. The principle use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath because she only had a few. It was also because it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and aprons used less material. But along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids..

And when the weather was cold, Grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men folk knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

Send this to those who would know (and love) the story about Grandma's aprons.

REMEMBER:

Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.

They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron.

I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron - but love.

Love

I love being a mother.

I love Cameron.  I love Allison.  I love Claire.

They push my buttons and have changed my body and make me want to scream.

BUT I wouldn't have it ANY OTHER WAY.

They are a part of me, and I love them more than anything.

Last night I took Miss Roo on a little mommy-daughter outing.  We went to dinner and then went to see the ballet, Cinderella.  My awesome running friend, Meridith, was playing the evil stepmother.  She was SO good!  It was a great performance.  It made me miss dancing so much, though!!

On Friday evening, the whole fam went over to my friend Joycelynn's house to see our NEW KITTY!!  We are in love with her, and we hope it works out for us to take her when we move.  I supposed I shouldn't blog about her until we know our future....but I'm SICK of not being able to make any plans, so for now, I'm going to pretend that it will work out because I'm going crazy!  :)

Meet Aspen!

So....I didn't blog about last week's running.  I didn't run much.  I love tapering!  Resting up for the BIG DAY that is coming up this weekend!  It's here!  Oh my goodness.

Better...and a Thief!

I'm feeling MUCH better.  General Conference tends to be uplifting.  ;)

A nice walk with my family, some loving words from my Nate, and a KitKat bar were also helpful.  It was really great to spend a quiet weekend at home.

So anyway....we have a thief at our house.  His name starts with a C and ends with an Ameron.  That little stinker!  He STEALS money from my and Nate's wallets.  We found a $20 bill today in his wallet that he had taken from mine.  SO NOT COOL!!  He's done it before, too.  Nate had a very serious talk with him today about it, and I really hope he stops!  He doesn't mean harm...he said he just wanted the money to buy a Ninjago book.  He's having a really hard time waiting for his birthday in July to get some new loot.  But Nate and I feel strongly that our kids get plenty and don't need to be getting extra toys and gifts throughout the year unless it's their birthday or they earn their OWN money.  We are trying to teach Cam that Daddy works hard for that money, and we NEED it for food!!

Well, his punishment was to clean his room.  He took it pretty seriously and even vacuumed, so that was nice.  He also lost tv/computer for the next 3 days.  He apologized, and we also helped him say a prayer to ask for forgiveness and for help to choose the right.  Being a parent is tough!  But one of the things I loved most about Conference this time was the message of hope to parents.  We are NOT fighting this battle alone.  So important to remember and rely on that.

(Note his walls are covered in Sharpie and crayon.  I'm too lazy to try and get it off of the cinder block!  They just paint over everything when we move out anyway!)

Update

So...foam rolling.  It's been 5 or 6 days now, and I am finally starting to see results!  The pain has gone down significantly, which means the knots are loosening way up.  The worst of it is OVER.  I am thrilled!  Now all I have to do is take 5 minutes to roll every night, and those big knots should stay away for good!  Sweet.


Claire got Dora jammies at Kid to Kid for $2.  She loves them.  She'll point to her big ole belly and run around the house yelling "Dora!!".  She is also obsessed with wearing Cam's slippers.  If you try to take them away from her, she'll scream like she's being horribly tortured.

Cameron is teaching himself to go cross-eyed.  Do you remember doing this is a kid?  Looking at your finger until it reached your nose?  Hilarious.

Man, this kid is such a blast.  It's a constant roller coaster with him, and the past few days he's been on a major UP.  Just doing awesome.  Obeying, helping his sisters, overall having a great attitude.  It is so wonderful, and I'll take it as often as I can get it!  It won't last long, but I like to use these happy times to try and teach and show him how much happier he is when he makes good choices.  The UP times obviously are going to lengthen in time and occurrence as he gets older, and I love seeing that light at the end of the tunnel with him.  You all know what a long 6 years it's been!!  Maybe he's giving us a break so we can gear up for Miss Claire to take over!  ;)  I worry sometimes that I put too much pressure on my kids.  I do have high expectations of them.  I do tend to put teaching them respect, hard work, and the Gospel WAY ahead of being their friend.  It's hard to find that balance.  My parents were the same way.  I knew I was loved, but I also knew my parents wanted me to succeed and grow up with strong values MORE than they wanted anything else.  I appreciate that now.  But like I said...balance.  So I'm trying to relax more and enjoy him just as much as I focus on raising him.  Does that make sense?  I read this quote, and it summed it up perfectly.  "Don't let yourself become so concerned with raising a good kid that you forget you already have one."  -Glennon Melton

The other night, Nate said he wants 5 or 6 kids.  I'm pretty sure he was serious.  I'm drawing the line at 4 though, and I'd really like to draw it at 3!! I told him that any kids we have from here on out are HIS.  ;)

I like that he wants a big family though.  Because it means he loves being a father.  It means he's always going to have my back as we raise our family.  He's involved.  It's awesome.  It's sexy!  I love that man.  He is so dang good to me, I can't even stand it.

Put A Onesie On It

To me, the retirement of the onesie is almost more of a sign of outgrowing "babyhood" than being done with diapers or binkies.  It's the END of an ERA!!!

So in attempt to keep Claire an 8-month old instead of an 18-month old, I bought her a onesie today for a buck at Kid to Kid.  It was worth a shot!!

It's not working.  I can't keep her little and young!  Even with a onesie.  :(

She can say "Buckle" and "Grandpa" now.  She feeds herself.  She climbs on everything.  She hates Nursery and fights her naps.

She's my baby.  So is Roo.  And Cam.  Always!!!

Sundays

Pretty little girls on a Sunday.

Sunday evening activities include:

Baking cake with Mom

Story-time

Eating cake!

Happy Sabbath Day.

Not much to say, just that I LOVE this smoochie, woochie baby.

***

“Babies are such a nice way to start people.”

― Don Herold

“I love these little people; and it is not a slight thing when they, who are so fresh from God, love us.”

― Charles Dickens

“Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind.”

― Howard W. Hunter

“I think it's worth trying to be a mother who delights in who her children are, in their knock-knock jokes and earnest questions. A mother who spends less time obsessing about what will happen, or what has happened, and more time reveling in what is.”

― Ayelet Waldman

“Mothers who know do less. They permit less of what will not bear good fruit eternally. They allow less media in their homes, less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world’s goods in order to spend more time with their children—more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, more time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all.”

― Julie B. Beck

“To you who are parents, I say, show love to your children. You know you love them, but make certain they know it as well. They are so precious. Let them know. Call upon our Heavenly Father for help as you care for their needs each day and as you deal with the challenges which inevitably come with parenthood. You need more than your own wisdom in rearing them.”

― Thomas S. Monson

A Typical Outting

Maybe the kids will think this is funny to read when they are grown.  It's not quite funny to me yet because it happens every single day.

Date: February 1, 2012
Time: 3:45 pm

Cam asks to go to the library to get a Herbie movie.
I say No, because I'm not dressed (sue me!), and don't have the energy to drag all 3 out.
Cam melts down in tears.
I feel sorry for him.
I tell him that we can go if he promises to behave.
He promises, and I throw some clothes on.
Get the girls ready and haul our little clan out to the van.  (It's too cold to walk today.)
I have to park far away and push Claire in the stroller up all the winding ramps.
The older two take the stairs and meet me at the top.
A fight ensues over who gets to push the handicapped button that opens the door. 
Roo agrees to push it on the way out.  Cam gets to push it on the way in.
We get our books and movies.  All is well...
Roo goes to push the button on the way out, but Cam runs up behind her and pushes it first.
Roo screams.
Loudly.
Roo punches Cam as hard as she can.
Cam screams.
Loudly.
Cam punches Roo back.
Both start bawling.
Mom turns bright red.
I tell Cam he has lost his Herbie-watching privileges for the evening.
More wailing.
We wait for the dumb door to close so Roo can push the dumb button (wishing I could use other words here instead of "dumb").
Roo calms down.
Cam continues to sob at a ridiculously loud decibel.
Roo pushes the button and walks happily down the ramp.
Cam won't budge.  Literally will not move one foot.
I proceed down the ramp, pushing Claire with one hand and dragging my screaming son with the other.
Of course I parked far away.

Well.  THAT was fun.

Heaven is for Real

Yesterday I read "Heaven is for Real."  It's a true story about a little boy who went to heaven while he was having surgery.  It's a really short, quick read, but my goodness it's powerful!  Brought me to tears and strengthened my desire to live with God again.  In one chapter, this little boy tells his father about how much God loves us.  "Dad, you wouldn't belieeeeve how much God loves us!"  He also describes how beautiful heaven is.  He also talks about meeting his sister, who his mother had lost in a miscarriage.  He talks about Christ and how His eyes are so pretty and how he got to see the "marks" on His hands and feet.

The whole thing left me with a quiet peace.  And even more LOVE for these sweet children of mine.  I love them so so much.  More than I can even put into words.  Things have been a lot better the past few days with Cam.  I have been enjoying these 3 like crazy.  Laughing with them.  Dancing with them.  Reading with them.  I cannot get enough of them!  Heaven IS for real, and being with these 3 and my sweet Nate for forever is all I want out of life.

Real motherhood

I try my hardest to keep my blog uplifting and positive.  But I'm struggling lately.  Feeling somewhat defeated as a mother.  The uphill battles with my beautiful Cameron never seem to end, and I. HATE. IT. 

I typed up everything that is bothering me and stressing me out and making me cry.  And then I deleted it.  Because Cameron doesn't need to read all of that later on.  The details of it don't matter.

I'm doing the best I can with him.  Most of the time I'm just guessing.  I honestly don't know what I'm doing.  I have made a lot of mistakes.   There are SO many days where I say outloud, "WHAT do I do?"

But I've also made a lot of progress.  More than anything I try to put my own feelings aside and just LOVE him. 

I'm just so tired.  It never seems to end.  It's been a really long 5 years. 

Sometimes I feel really alone in my quest to raise him well.  I feel like it's me against the world.  Sometimes I want to give up.  Sometimes I think I can't keep doing this anymore.  But the sun always comes up.  The days keep coming and somehow I get through them.  I'm just so tired of fighting with him over everything.  Every day.  Every hour.

I love him so much.  I love him more than anything. 


My dear sweet Cameron, we're going to get through this, right?  You're going to turn out all right, and I will somehow still be standing when you're 18 and I send you off into the world, right?

Raising a Bookworm

How do you raise a bookworm?
(I'm actually ASKING this...so please answer!!)

I grew up reading a lot.  I read Babysitter's Club and Boxcar Children and Betsy & Tacy and Amelia Bedelia.  Thanks to my sister Michelle, I read "To Kill A Mockingbird" and "My Name is Asher Lev" before age 14.  I have very few childhood memories of being parked in front of a television, and I'm grateful to my parents for this.

I've always loved to read.  There is just something amazing to me about holding a book, having no idea what journey it will take you on when you open the cover.  But when you finally close the book, the characters and story have become a little part of you that will never leave.  I still get excited opening up a new book.  Especially a GOOD book.  The prophets have always encouraged us to be constantly filling our minds with uplifting knowledge.

Books are my favorite gift to give/recieve.  I wish I could buy all of my favorite books.  My dream house has a huge library.  I hope heaven has books...maybe I'll have more time to read there!

One of my goals as a mother has always been to raise children who love to read.  Cameron is learning to read right now.  He is doing such an amazing job.  We play a new game in the car now, where I spell a 3 or 4 letter word that he can sound out, like N-E-S-T or S-I-P, and he tells me what word it is.  He is getting better and faster at our game every day!  Anyway, now that I am close to having a reading-age child, I am beginning to think about whether or not my children will love to read.  I'm also reading a book about a father who read to his daughter EVERY day for 9 years straight!  Isn't that so cool?  Reminds me of my father, he used to lay in my bed at night and make up stories for me.  Then he'd record them on cassette for the nights he got called to the hospital.  I loved that.

Here is what I would assume would help to raise a bookworm:
1. Read to your child a lot.
2. Let your children see you reading a lot.
3. Keep that blasted tv off!

I'm ready to throw our tv out the window.  I probably would, if Nate wouldn't kill me!  Except for Castle and sometimes The Big Bang Theory (FUNNIEST show ever, I can't believe I've never watched it before!), I haven't watched any tv in weeks.  It has been wonderful.  I hate how much the television is on in my house.  And when we go to the library, my kids run to the DVD section and could care less about the books.  It frustrates me!!  So that's my other question:  What are the television rules/limits in your household?

I'm really trying to do those 3 things with my children as best as I can.  But if you have any more ideas, I'd love to hear them!  I know a lot of you have children who are bookworms, so give me your advice and wisdom!  It's tough....yesterday I tried to read a book to Rooster, and she kept jumping all over the sofa.  And most of the time when we read Scriptures in the mornings, Nate and I look up and realize that we are reading to ourselves.  Lovely.  :)  But we keep on going....every day!!

Perfect November Night

It's Friday night.
It's snowing outside.
Kids are in bed.
Nate is home.
Kitchen is clean.
House is quiet.
I'm going to curl up in bed with a book for the next few hours.
I've been waiting all week for this!
(Babe Ruth ice cream and a cherry coke may or may not be involved as well.)

Favorite moment of today:  As I nursed my baby Claire to sleep tonight, she stopped eating, looked up at me, reached out and grabbed my hand.  Then she went back to eating and fell asleep without a peep.

It's little moments like this that make me feel God's presence and love in my life more than anything else.  He is there.  He is real.  Claire was just with Him.  I feel His love through her and my other children every single day.

Send me to time-out, please!

I'm truly exhausted.  It seems like lately every single member of my family needs Mommy constantly.  A nose wiped, a sandwich made, a drink of milk, a diaper change, a button buttoned, "Mom, come see what I drew!", homework help, Claire needs to eat, a hug and a kiss, another diaper changed, a library book read, a fight broken up, a kid (or two) put into time-out, a million questions answered ("Mom, did Jesus make construction cones?"), a toy fixed, shoes and socks put on, a fort built, hair done, more drinks of milk.....I could go on and on.  It never ends.  Even if I'm sick or worn out.  Whenever I finally sit down, a kid (or a hubby) needs something from me  (this post is taking me about 2 hours to write!).  It's pretty crazy.  And to think, we want one more!! 

There are days where I wish more than ANYTHING that I could curl up in bed and just read and sleep and NOT have anyone need anything from me for just a little while!!

Maybe that time will come.  Eventually.  Just not right now.  Right now I am a wife of an exhausted working student and a mother to 3 beauties, and this is my work.  Day in and day out.  I keep going, one day at a time.

A few days ago, I was about to my breaking point.  I kept thinking, "Mom takes care of the kids.  Mom takes care of the house.  Mom takes care of the husband.  WHO takes care of Mom???"  Then I had a distinct thought:  The Lord takes care of Mom!!  It's so true.  I am SO well taken care of.  I am happy and loved and safe and healthy.  The Lord takes care of me.
I. am. honored. to serve my family and love them and be their everything.  I don't deserve Nate, Cam, Roo & Cwaire.  But for some reason, the Lord has given them each to me, and I love them so so much.

A list of a few little things that make me smile when I feel like I can't go on:

*Pumpkin cookies.  I bake them way too much.
*Cameron saying things like, "Abra-Cadabra, make the craisins disappear!" as he eats his craisins and he calls me "Momison", like Allison.
*Mom: Cam, you're funny.
Cam: I am?  Are you going to write that on your blog?
HAHA yes I am.
*Roo walking around on her tippy-toes and saying, "Look at me, I'm Minnie Mouse!"
*Claire.  Just Claire.  All of her.
*The library.  I love being surrounded by books.  We go a lot.
*That blissful moment when Nate opens the door and walks in.  He's home!
*Having complete strangers come up and tell me that they have never seen a little boy be nicer to his little sisters than Cam.
*Strawberry limeades from Sonic.
*Playing the "I Love You" game every night with my family before prayers.
*My faith.  My hope.  My relationship with my Savior.

Mini-Nate all ready for school. 

Pwetty Cwaire

I love this girl.  LOVE HER.

I love every little thing about Claire. I love her chunky thighs and enormous cheeks and bright blue eyes and dark hair and perfect lips. I love nursing her and rocking her and bathing her and kissing her and smelling her and watching her smile and sleep. I wish she could stay JUST LIKE THIS for a few years!! It's going too fast...

A Lesson For Mom

Cameron recently taught me an important lesson, and I want to hurry and record it before I forget.  I hope I never forget though, because it was something I needed to learn.

A few weeks ago, Cam and I were having yet another arguement.  These happen multiple times a day, and the older he gets, the more I realize that the two of us are more alike than I thought!  I don't remember what we were arguing about, but we were both trying to outspeak the other.  I knew I was right though (because let's face it, Mom usually is when it comes to a 5 yr old!), so I was being pretty persistent.

Suddenly Cam stomped his foot down and threw his hands up and yelled, "Mom!!  You're not listening to me!!!!" 

I stopped and looked at him and realized that he was absolutely right.  I wasn't listening to him at all.  I was immediately humbled and put in my place.  I apologized and let him tell me what he wanted to tell me.  I was still right, and I "won" the fight in the end, but that's not the point.  The point is that he deserves to be able to express himself when he's frustrated and tell me how he's feeling.  Since then, I have been trying harder to not cut him off and give him a listening ear. 

I have never been a very good listener, it's not a strength of mine, so I am grateful for Cameron and how he is helping me to work on that.  Hopefully it will also help Cam and I have a better relationship, especially as he gets older.

Anyway, Cam's Primary program was yesterday in Church.  He did so so good!  He sat so still and sang every word to every song.  He said his part so clear and loud.  Such a proud Mommy moment!!  I'm grateful for the Gospel truths he is learning at such a young age.  He loves his Savior so much already.  We have a picture of Christ on our living room wall, and Cam likes to touch it and tell Jesus how much he loves him.  Yesterday he said, "Mom, Jesus is my favorite guy."  He already has such a strong desire to do the things he knows will make Jesus proud of him.  I pray every day that this desire will remain and only increase in Cam and all of our children.  It's ALL I want for them!!

My Chickie

This little chickie rocks.

Not only has she been sleeping 5 or 6-hour stretches at night now, but she SMILED at me today.  I love how that first smile just makes everything so worth it.

Today she has wanted nothing but to be held.  So that's about all I've done today, and it has been wonderful.

"Mom, Mom, take a picture of me and Claire!!"  Ok Cam.

Marshmallow Cheeks & Angels

Cameron: "Mom, why does Claire look like she has marshmallows in her cheeks?"

I don't know Cameron, but like you're one to talk...!!!

(Cam G at a week or two old.  I love this picture.  Hilarious!)

Anyway.

Life is good.  Life is so, SO good.

My sweet visiting teacher came over earlier this week, and she shared a thought with me that I really loved and needed to hear and that has stuck with me as I go about my days since.  The prophet Joseph Smith said to the sisters of the Church: "If you live up to your privileges, the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates." 

During my entire pregnancy, I prayed every night for strength and joy as a mother of three.  These past few weeks, I have truly felt the peaceful assistance of angels in my home and lifting me and comforting me and I have felt So Much JOY.  I have felt that I am NOT alone in my quest to raise these sweethearts.  Heavenly Father wants my babies to succeed and return to Him even more than Nate and I do.  He won't leave us alone here on earth to try and arm these children with righteousness and morality and obedience on our own.  He has lovingly given us prophets, scriptures, commandments, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and yes, even the company of angels.  My Patriarchal Blessing says that angels will always be waiting and watching to come to my assistance when needed.  Sometimes those angels come in the form of friends or family, and sometimes they truly are an unseen force that lighten my burdens and help me get through my personal journey on earth.

I love this picture.  Angels helping those early Saints push and pull their handcarts.  I have no doubts that this was true....because it still is today!

Cute Roo in her "candyland jammies".

Things I want to remember about my beautiful baby:

Claire LOVES taking baths.

Her eyes are already turning a gorgeous shade of dark blue.

She didn't get a cheek dimple like her siblings, but she has two tiny dimples in her chin!

She LOVES to be kissed on her chubby cheeks...she gets all excited and makes cute noises.

She loves it when Cam and Roo talk to her.

She has less-thick hair than Roo did at this age (people always ask me about that).

She never fusses during diaper changes, which is nice because she poops about 400 times a day.

We love you sweet Claire!