She's really that big?

So Allori has been asking me for some time to go to school. She went to a preschool on fridays only for a few weeks when jena and juliana started going. But I soon realized I did not love the care she was getting and pulled her out. She says cute things like, "mom, I am still little, I need to go school." We do workbooks and I try to teach her things as we cook and garden and things like that. I try to explain things to her so she learns and asks questions and understands. But I think she really is just so ready to learn and I have known for a little while that she is really ready to go and learn....from others...and learn more about social skills, etc.

So we applied to headstart. We are over income but they told us to apply anyway. I prayed hard that she would get in. I can't afford to pay for preschool but i told myself i would have to figure it out when she didn't get in.

Well we got a call today, a Saturday! It was headstart asking if we wanted a spot in a center close to our house (she didn't realize it was so close to us.) Two people ahead of us told her no that it was too far of a drive. She had a list of seven people to call and had we not answered the phone she would have continued to call down the list.

I first feel incredibly blessed. I know my prayers were answered. Then, I feel excited for her. i know she will love it. Well, I hope she does. Then I feel a little sad. I will miss her during the day. I mean most of the days are just bland, but we have been together for 4 years. Every day. All day. I love her and I love being with her.

I asked her if she was sure she wanted to go to school or would she rather stay home with mama. She said very matter of factly but with her cute loving smile, " Noooo, everyone grows up and goes to school." Yes they do.

Please Heavenly Father, keep her safe. Watch her for me. Protect her and help me to be a support to her so she has respect for herself and others and that she will always know how important she is...who she is...that she will act accordingly. Please help her teacher to be aware of her, to care about her and to teach her well.

The boys are at respite this weekend and we planned to have a fun and relaxing day. We went to a fun dinner and then to ice cream. Allori, Wayne and I.(It's a bit torturous to go with two one year old's.) It was so nice to spend some special and quality time together. I feel like I am grieving? Is that normal?

They hear everything!

So being the stellar wife that I am this morning, after letting Wayne do the morning stuff (like he usually does-do not be mistaken, this is a normal event. The man is amazing.) I pulled myself out of bed about a half hour after he left. Do not be alarmed-I had one ear pointed to the living room listening to my three hooligans (you know so I could decipher if any of the 7 cries truly needed my attention.) Finally I decided to pull my bum out of that so comfy bed and check on the hooligans. No one had lost an eye, pulled the dogs tail off or caused long lasting damage. There was however a trail of kix going from the cereal cupboard (I keep a low cupboard full of cereal for the kids to always have access to something ) to the tv. Fabulous.

My body aches. ACHES! But the death pain that was my back for the last 3 days has lessened a bit. Thank you Lidoderm. (I don't know why the site focuses on shingles but whatever.) They help my near constant pain, and I thank God for them! When I picked up my second prescription several months ago, the young cute pharmacist asked with a twinkle in his eye, "Do they work like a dream?" The glimmer in his eye hinted that we were sharing some beautiful secret. They DO work like a dream.

Anyway, upon seeing the kix and ignoring them..for now. I hurt too badly still to bend down and pick up trail-o-kix. Alright, so after chatting with Michelle for a bit and doing other important thigns on the internet. LOL I bathed. (See how productive the day is getting.) It was near time for the boys naps so got them down for their naps and turned music on the tv so allori and I could do some chores. She is a fabulous helper.

Well the chore part didn't really come. I am still working on that...Allori did start on the livingroom. But some lame song came on. I should have turned it off immediately but I was just trying to ignore it. (See, stellar mom too). All of a sudden Allori says, "low down, white trash..." at which point I was able to interupt her and let her know that those were not nice words. The line in the song ended with an even less pleasant word. Thank goodness she didn't say that. The world is such a crazy place.

In my little talk with her I did compliment her good listening skills. lol. Ah man...they do hear and see everything!

WOW!

My friend Natalie is having a baby. She posted Maternity pictures on her blog this morning...they are GORGEOUS! I mean seriously gorgeous. Goosebumps, you have to stop what you are doing and just look in awe- gorgeous. Anyway check out how cute she is....

(I wish I looked so cute being pregnant. Oh, by the way, I am....pregnant.)

I LOVE and miss you so much Natty. (Can you email me your address please? Or just put it in a comment and I won't publish it.)

President Barack Obama

We officially have a new President of the United States. This is an exciting and special time. It makes me tear up whenever I hear a man swear in to this office. May his words be honest and his intent be true. Work hard President Obama, we need help and we are depending on you.We support you and we thank you for this great service you are embarking on. May your family be protected and strong. God be with you.

What a month!

Here's the readers digest version.

Washer stopped agitating; We got two more kids from CYFD; The two new kids went home; Microwave started creating little fires each time it was turned on, figured that wasn't good-moved it outside so I would stop using it; tv went on the blink (we just have one); Computer died; got a new washer and dryer (new to us); got a new microwave (lack of fire in appliances is generally a good sign.) Wayne's Grandma died; We packed up Christmas and took it to Blanding, Utah; Did Santa for the first time for Allori, as Wayne's family does it and well Santa couldn't really visit some of the kids and not the others right?; Funeral related activities including viewing (which still throws me off guard just a bit-in my family we do not do that at all. There is no checking out the dead body. And certainly no kissing it-a phenomenon I cannot comprehend, and also lots of reminiscing about grandma and hearing stories of her life. This was truly enjoyable as I really loved and admired her.); I pulled the kids around the Blanding streets-they were on sleds, I was on my brother in law, Ryan's four wheeler. This is a tremendous amount of fun. I even got Taya, my dog to hop on the four wheeler with me. Sherah ran next to it and kept up at 18-20 mph without over exerting herself; Issy got way sick and was excreting green goop from most orifices on his face. 2 ear infections and a sinus infection. He got an antibiotic shot and an Rx for a strong antibiotic, along with some eye drops which he seemed to think he was being put to death every time I put them in and screamed loud enough to alert everyone on the block; Packed up and trekked home; Within moments of walking in the door and seeing Allori burst into tears and inquiring, she said, "I just missed this house!" Boy am I glad she feels safe and good in our home. I love her so much!; Wayne kind of got one of the computers working again. Thank you love!; Issy's dad freaked out about Issy not being taken to the Dr sooner (apparently I should be Able to foresee him getting sick and take him in so the Dr can psychically tell us what medicine he will need. That would actually be pretty cool..but alas I have let my subscription to psychics Weekly lapse; My brother in law, Craig came down to work Luminarias with Wayne and their other brother, Adam; We had some friends over; Learned a new game (thanks Craig); And a partridge on a pear tree.

I don't know what that means but it seemed like a good way to end. As you can see it has been tremendously eventful. Several of these thing probably deserve a post of their own, but I just don't see playing catch up in the near future game plan.

Wayne's family does Christmas VERY differently than my family does, than I do. So although it was fun to be there, it was a reminder about why we generally stay home for Christmas. AS a for-instance....they do not prepare a Christmas eve dinner or a Christmas dinner, or special breakfast. All of which we do. I think the sitting down to eat and preparing the meals together is part of the family togetherness-bonding experience. Otherwise it seems like it really is all about the presents.

This year however I was very different about gift giving. I tried really hard to make gifts meaningful (quality versus quantity) and I reminded myself constantly that the reason we give gifts is a reminder of the greatest gift we have been given....Jesus Christ and the Atonement.

I hope each of you had a magical Christmas and a fun new year. I learned this year that New Years day is one of the days you are supposed to fly your flag-if you have one. So I flew mine. It's one of my favorite things that I have. A reminder of the blessing it is to live in the United States of America!