Pioneer Day

Our local museum has a Pioneer Day every year. Local volunteers and artisans come and teach children (and parents) about Pioneer life. Laura Grace, Aunt Barbara, and I spent the morning learning from demonstrators and hand on activities what it was like to live in the 1800's!


Laura Grace churned butter...

Ground corn into meal...

Took corn from the husk...

Washed clothes with lye and wrung them dry...

And, finally, after a hard day's work, sat in the outhouse!

Shoe Shopping

My children are fashion snobs. I guess they come by it honestly. You really couldn't tell by looking at me because since I can't find anything I want to buy this fall and none of my clothes fit because I purged everything that wasn't maternity while pregnant so I am pretty much doomed to wearing hoodies, tshirts, and jeans. Hoodies, t-shirts, and jeans that I have had since...oh...college.

Wait, I do have some new t-shirts thanks to Junior Auxillary. We are some t-shirt making/buying/wearing girls. Every time we have a new fundraiser/service project/idea...BAM! T-shirt! Don't get me wrong, I am always up for a new shirt.

Anyway.

I am rambling.

My point is that I threw away everything because I went a little insane nesting and decided that there was no point keeping my clothes because I would never be thin again. To be honest, I am still not thin but I could have fit in those clothes.

But again...I am rambling.

I should be talking about shoes here.

Okay, so today we went shoe shopping. I thought Laura Grace would be thrilled because she is very into picking out her own clothes and shoes this year. I knew Layton would be less than excited and Will would scream so I brought lots of snacks and hoped for the best.

I should have prayed instead of hoped.

Laura Grace took one look at the available shoes and turned her nose up, "too boring", she announced. I admit, I actually agree with her. I was appalled at the shoes. They were not boring at all. In fact, they were far from it! Why do shoe manufacturers think that little girls should have heels higher than mine and enough glitter for fifteen princesses?!

Layton looked over the shoe selections more carefully, willingly tried on a few pairs, and after jogging in place says, "They are all too slow. I need some fast shoes."

That was it. His mind was completely, absolutely made up. Layton very rarely puts his foot down but when he does, it is final!!

In the chaos of trying on shoes and trying to convince Layton that gray is not a girl color, Will was very happily eating a check out of my purse. It just so happens it was my last check from my checkbook and even if we had found a pair of shoes we would have had no way to pay for them. I admitted defeat and we all went home to take naps!

11 months old!!

I am 11 months old now!! Actually, next week I turn one. So, this is a little late. But better late than never!

In my opinion, and I have many opinions, I am grown.

I play with trains, cars, and action figures. I chew on the action figures more than I actually "play" with them but it is the thought that counts. I love nothing more than to play with my big brother and sister. I want to do everything that they do!

I am clapping my hands, waving bye bye, playing peek a boo, wrestling, and WALKING! I now walk everywhere-I rarely crawl anymore. I am trying to run but I still trip and fall :(. I am also pointing my finger and saying, "this". I love for people to tell me the names of objects and then I try to repeat them.

I can say a few words! I say, "Laura Grace" (aura dace), "Layton" (adan), "this", "shoe", and of course "mama", "dada", and "no".

I am wearing a size 4.5 extra wide shoe! I am in size 18 month clothes and size 4 diaper. I am a big boy!! I am 25 pounds.

I have four teeth and know how to use them! Right now I am busy learning that it is not nice to bite, pinch, or hit. I get a tad bit aggressive when I do not get my way! I think that the remote and cell phones are mine and it makes me very upset when I have to share them.

I am a sweet boy and love to rock and sing "Jesus Loves Me." I also have a best friend named Goat. Goat is a stuffed mountain goat and I sleep with him every night.

Shopping and me.

When I was a teenager I loved to shop. I would walk into the food court of the mall, smell the intoxicating scent of Asian food and french fries and immediately feel the adrenaline rush shooting through my veins.

I could spend HOURS at the mall and somehow, with a mere twenty bucks, come away with several outfits. I had a rare gift when it came to scouring the clearance racks. It was glorious.

And then I grew up.

And got married.

And got broke.

Had kids.

Three kids.

And am now broker.

I also home school and just butchered every grammar rule. Whatever.

Shopping now consists of lugging three squealing children around. When we walk into the food court they are drawn to the merry go round and french fries like addicts to crack cocaine. My sweet little children's eyes glaze over as visions of the Barnes and Noble train table and book shelves dance through their heads. We go through the mall repeatedly telling them that they can not have the lotions, ipods, cell phones, new age crystals, orthopedic shoes, and pillow pets that are so proudly displayed in the aisles. By the time we get to the department stores to shop we have already spent our clothing budget because one of them has managed to hit yet another growth spurt and we had to spend our life savings in Gymboree.

Ya'll know what I mean. We are mostly all mommas here. And if not mommas to babies, then to furry children who also need clothing and ridiculously expensive flea medication.

Shopping for myself these days is a rare and momentous occasion. It is also a very humbling occasion. I have completely lost the knack of finding cute, stylish clothing on sale. IF (and it is a big if), IF I find a pair of pants that make my rear end look perky then they are at least half of our monthly income. Not really, but they might as well be!! Don't even get me started on the dresses that are all too short, the shirts that have lost their sleeves (somehow they are supposed to be for fall), and prints that should only be found on a ranch somewhere.

Am I alone in this?

Is anyone else perturbed by the western wear look? Does anyone know how to wear it?!? Does anyone else think that the shades of pink and gray that fill the stores this fall are just...depressing?!

I have a feeling I am about to get lots of comments from people who are currently wearing a fantastic plaid shirt and gray leggings.

Shopping just makes me weary. I stand in the dressing room with countless pairs of jeans piled around me and just want to wave a white flag. So far this fall I have found a cute jean jacket. I figure I can wear that over...something. Yoga pants maybe. My maternity ones.

Sigh.

Attack of the Strep

When we get sick around here, we do it well. We are not just a little sick. Nope, not us. We all get can't get out of bed because I feel like I am dying sick.

Around one o'clock Sunday morning Will woke up wheezing and struggling to breath. Five hours later in the ER they determine it is croup. I come home to find Laura Grace burning with fever. I then realize I don't feel well myself. Clay then tells me he also feels sick. By Monday afternoon we have all been diagnosed with strep and sinus infections. Yay.

Layton is the only one who has escaped the illness. He proclaimed that he is not sick, he is NOT taking medicine, and he is NOT letting that doctor touch him. Luckily for him (and me), his granddaddy picked him up Monday afternoon and he has been with him and his Aunt Barbara ever since then. I called him yesterday to see if he was ready to come home and his response was, "I am not sick. See you later!"

Thank goodness for having family in town! We have been able to lay low and just get better. Thankfully the antibiotics kicked in fast and I am feeling much better. Clay is also better as is Will. Laura Grace is still running fever but she had been complaining of a sore throat for several days before she was diagnosed with strep so I think she had it for awhile before we realized she was sick.

It is all random...

But these are things that I want to remember :)

Life right now is so, so busy. I know everyone can say this and I am preaching to the choir! However, when I look back at this season of life I don't want to remember the running to ballet, tumbling, and soccer. The Junior Auxillary meetings will certainly not come to mind and even the hours we spend at church activities will probably be a blur. What I want to remember is the sight and sound of my children playing in my home. These are things that I am loving right now!

Layton:

He has become obsessed with playing in the dirt. He takes his construction vehicles and this tiny plastic gorilla outside (because it has a booty-horrifying yet hilarious) and sits in the dirt. FOR HOURS.

He is also crazy about Buzz Lightyear, any CARS character/vehicle, Ironman, and Spiderman. It amazes me how little boys are so fascinated with superheroes. He has never seen any of the shows because I find them dark and violent, but yet he still loves the idea of the characters.

I love how he walks around singing praise and worship music. We listen to it in the car and at home and the songs are always in his head!

Finally, Layton is full of questions about heaven and God. I love it. When we tuck him in at night he always asks to cuddle and pray. He wants to pray and has genuine conversations with God. I love how he is overflowing with thankfulness for everything God has given us. And then, after praying, he wants to talk about "that heaven place". He also asks questions about hell and monsters. He then got this wild idea that monsters should be eaten with mustard and ketchup like hot dogs. Weirdness.

Laura Grace:

She thinks she knows everything. Absolutely EVERYTHING. This can be frustrating and often leads to me disciplining her but at the same time I love watching this independent, strong willed child begin to mature. She is confident in herself and her opinions! It is challenging to know how to channel this appropriately but it is a challenge I am so thankful for.

She adores her brothers. Laura Grace is a sweet, loving sister who is always willing to play with her brothers. Well...almost always! When I ask her to play with Will for a few minutes so I can get some housework done or dinner on the table she comes up with fun games for him. She is always hugging and kissing him spontaneously. With Layton she is equally loving. They have become very close over the summer and these past weeks of homeschooling. Now that they no longer spend the majority of the week apart they have built a strong friendship that I am so thankful for.

Her wild imagination, high pitched giggle, and goofy knock knock jokes crack me up!

Will:

Affectionately known as Willy T. Or Wilbur. Poor Will...

Will is my explosive bundle of sheer determination and bravado. He sees no obstacles, only the opportunity to get around them. Will never stops moving. If you ask him for a kiss nowadays he will lean over obligingly and allow you to peck his forehead as he toddles away. If he is hungry he will sit still long enough to swallow a few bites and then with little warning he is screeching to get down and go play some more.

He thinks he is Layton's age. He wrestles, crashes cars, and plays trains with the best of them. He has no desire for baby toys because he truly thinks he is grown!

He loves the song, "Jesus Loves Me". When I sing it he knows it is time to rock and go to sleep. He lays his head on me and for a few precious minutes we cuddle and sing together. He says "sheshus" and hums. Precious. When I lay him down he grabs his stuffed goat (don't ask) and reaches behind him for his blanket.

His favorite words are "GACE!!" (Laura Grace), "AYT!" (Layton), "DAD!" (yes, no dada or daddy. He is grown, you know), "DIS" (this), and finally....drumroll please...

"Clay."

No, "Mommy" or "Mom". Nope, just "Clay." He gets a huge thrill out of shouting his father's name and shocking everyone.

I know this was such a Mommy post. I post that I probably will only enjoy! But I am so glad that I will get to go back in a few years when these precious years have passed and remember!