I hate. Never

It seems I will somehow remember the little things our kids say.  There are many each day that crack me up.  Perhaps a way to remember the "phases" in life we go through...........so here are a few of Grants:  When he is really really mad he will just yell things, like, "I hate" and then "never" in a growlish type of scream.  He had figured out the word "angry" and is often in touch with his "anger".  He will say, "I am angry" and then clench his fists, teeth, jaw, and even butt cheeks I'd imagine all while steam pours out of his ears, and his face turns beet red with sweat dripping down his forehead!  Love him to pieces but he really can get angry.  He had a run in with mustard tonight as he would not stop spitting at Amelia at the dinner table.  After the 8th spit or so, we put a dab of Grey Poupon on his tongue and he really hit the fan.  He was so mad and screamed at the mustard, hates mustard, and told the mustard to go away.  Derek say's he'll probably never like mustard.......hey it did slow down the spitting:)  He also randomly calls us all: pomegranate, roasting pan, cornucopia, chocolate, and so on.

Last Saturday I made the kids homemade buttermilk pancakes, as this is a tradition in our family.  I was asking the kids what they wanted to drink and threw out milk or juice as options.  Then I said milk would probably be better because juice is too sweet with all the syrup and pancakes.  My sweet little Millie at 5 says, "but mama your my sweetest mama ever, and that's just full of sweetness, so that's a problem". I thought my heart was going to melt on the spot!  Millie has the most wonderful prayers.....she is at a tender age and really just loving Jesus and is so intent and heartfelt.  She loves to say her prayers, and is so sincere and loves to go on and on:)  just love her so much and love her sweet spirit:)

Lucy is busy working on her special report on sea horses.  She brought her brainstorming sheet home and so so excited with her sticky note that said, "I need to go to learning experience on the internet" and she worked and worked on it for a while.  Then today she was home for early release and wrote her whole rough draft and is so proud of herself.  She has been knitting a scarf with Mrs. Kuebrich's class, she is getting the hang of it, and working hard:)  My little lulu is kind, sweet, sensitive and just a delight.  She is a great big sister and came down tonight and asked if there was anything she could do to help me.  I was so blessed.  This little girl warms my heart.

Ellie is getting so big.  She just finished her cereal box book report, on Runaway Ralph.  So cute how she designed it and worked on it, and put Grant's little motorcycle in the box as the prize!  She is working on her karate and is an orange belt along with Lucy. Her and I have a great time together!  We went out on a date this week at Baja Fresh (Ellie's fav) and chatted and talked about school, and friends and just caught up.  I love how we can visit about everything!  I hope we can always hang out like this together:)  Ellie is the sweetest little thing and I just adore her, and her tender little ways with her brother, even though he is a stinker!  She is loving her new ipod Nano and jamming out to the music..................

Coming Clean

Ahhhh........it's January. A time for all the decorations to be put away, all the extra cookies to be thrown out, and a feeling of freshness, cleanliness, and new beginnings!  We all enjoyed a really festive and full holiday season.  We were able to attend many Christmas parties, see the Eugene Ballet Company perform the Nutcracker, make Gingerbread cookies and houses, decorate the house and make it magical...........we had about 4 Christmas' by the time we celebrated with all of our family!  What a wonderful quandary to have so many people that you love and that love you back it takes four Christmas'.  I also was blessed to turn 35........to me age is just a silly old number and really just means I am so blessed to have had another year of health and happiness here on this earth.  Each day I am thankful for:

Husband. Children. Extended Family.Health. God. Warm Beds. Beautiful Home.Yummy Food. Hot Water. Stellar Mini-Van. Money. Financial Stability. Energy. Love. Good Will in the World. To be an American Citizen.........

I say these things not to sound boastful but to truly be grateful.  We really don't want for anything and have so much to be thankful for.  Right down to the families that we were born into who made us who we are today, and taught us how to be great parents, polite adults, Proud American's, with tact and manners, and appreciation for holidays and tradition.........little things like thank you cards, and bedtime routines, recipe's and family tradition--all of these come from having this instilled in us, and I hope to send our children on their way with all the goodness that I was sent with...........


Here's to a great 2011!!