Some tender thoughts...

I had a good cry last night.  I was remembering Grampa and missing him quite a bit.  He would have turned 90 years old today and I think I'll be humming "Beautiful Dreamer" the whole day.  He truly is a great man!  I am hoping to celebrate his 90th birthday the way he (more than likely) would have - at his favorite place, the temple.  Love you Grampa - miss you TONS!

With Kienna

At Hayley's Wedding - with Gran and Aunty Beryl

Kaia playing her violin for him - he also played

With my five kids!

With Benson Melvin Cahoon (named after him)

Colour On Cowboy!

I am currently watching 7 kids (my five and Hayley's two) and you wouldn't believe there was even one in the house if you called. After a rather chaotic lunch, both the two year olds were out down for naps. Both needed to be 'nuggled separately and Macy had a hard time going down without her mommy. Meanwhile, Lola (5 months) was fed up and wanted to be held by a grown up. Kaia and Kienna were taking turns holding her and did a great job, but after about 20 minutes, she lost it. Of course, Benson had ALMOST fallen asleep as Macy screamed for me. Once I got him settled and in to Macy's room, Lola lost it.

(Pause - I would like to thank Heaven for never sending me twins, no matter how cool it would have been. And if like all mothers of twins to know that I think they're amazing!! - unpause)

So after getting the three babies asleep, I go to check on Jaymeson after leaving him in his room with Benson (on the off chance that he'd fall asleep too) and he was all dressed up in cowboy gear. Immediately he ran downstairs, grabbed a piece of paper and said he's going to colour some paper for a paper airplane. It even adds to the silence.  My thought - "Colour on, Cowboy!!"

Isn't he adorable?!?

Anyway, I'm going to enjoy the silence! The girls are working on school work and we are only speaking in hushed whispers now. I might even get something done!!

Springtime? in Alberta

On Friday, my kids were having leaf races in the run off on the side if the road. Only a few bits if ice remained and there were no coats involved. We even broke out the sidewalk chalk for some hopscotch.
By Sunday, however, it looked like this... And that's in the sheltered spot by our front door. 25 cm in a day is a lot of snow. But, oddly enough, it is probably the worst Calgary has seen this year. It's been a fantastic winter, and I am NOT complaining!

(If you look carefully, you can still see some sidewalk chalk under the snow)

Moments to Remember

I've been really trying to cherish moments with my kids recently so that I can remember them for a while. I want to look back without any regrets on their childhoods (which I already do, so I better start now). So when I saw this on my couch tonight, I wanted to take a picture and write down how sweet and tender my little Saryn is.

I just put Jaymeson to bed. He was being exceptionally sweet, so I told him, "you've got to be the sweetest thing ever to live". Without hesitation, he responded, "yeah, and the greatest!"

I don't know if that proves me wrong or just shows that the male ego is alive and well. Either way, it got a giggle out of me.

Benson fell asleep at the table while eating tonight. He kept on feeding Himself without quite getting the spoon in the bowl or his mouth. It was SO adorable! I got it on video, so hopefully I'll find a way to put it on here, but if I don't, I at least wanted the memory written down!

My 'ittle Author

Jaymeson has started to write in a "journal" like his sisters. Kienna has also been writing a lot of stories to prepare for her PAT, so Jay has picked up on that. I thought I'd let other people read the beginning works of a famous author in the making. Enjoy!!


Kienna served as scribe for this Journal entry:

This was a dictated story.  I had just explained the "Characters, problem, solution" formula to Kienna, and I think he nailed it.

I LOVE that he gave me a title for this one.  It's so random that it had me in stitches.

 

The pictograph of the above story:

A Special Valentines Date

Well, I've been looking for a way to spend some more time with Saryn recently. Apparently she came up with a way before me because I'm currently sitting at the Children's Hospital spending my Valentine's Evening with a super special girl.

We were preparing a special family dinner for Valentine's Day and we were just about to call everyone to come sit down and eat when we heard BANG and Saryn was lying on the floor.

She was swinging between the table and island with one hand on each and lost her balance. Landing on hard tile floor on the chin is a great way to get moms attention. Off we went to the Children's Hospital.

The whole way, she didn't want to listen to music or anything, she was too worried. She needed to know exactly what would happen to her. After explaining that the people at the Children's Hospital LOVED kids and would be so nice to her, she calmed down a little.

In triage, we had a sweet nurse that said the words that Saryn needed. "Oh, that's just fine, the doctor can fix that up NO problem" and "we're going to put some "magic cream" on that so when the doctor fixes it up, it won't hurt you at all.

So far, so good. We're playing Nintendo Games in the waiting room and she's sufficiently distracted. Here's hoping we get in some time soon...

Monkey Benson

It was quiet for a minute, so I ran to check why. He found the sugar cookies and was going to town. I guess he's feeling a lot better after his Scarlet Fever.

My very own SUPERMAN!

"This is the best Super Cape EVER!"

Jaymeson got a new super cape from Granni (Jarett's mom) this morning. Now he, Benson and Jarett can ALL have one. He immediately wanted to wake up his sisters to show them, and he has been begging Jarett to put his on too. These are some of his quotes once he tried it on.

"It's a CTR ring Super Cape, too!!"

"Super Capes never give up"

"It's kind of like a life jacket, because it helps me float, then I sink and then it shoots me back out if the water!"

"I wish I had five eyeballs, then I could walk sideways, and the other sideways, because I'd have eyes on my cheeks. And I could also see up because of the one on top of my head!"

The picture is blurry because he kept on wanting to jump off before I could take the picture. Truly indicative of how he was this morning.

Being Inspired and Having Dreams Come True!!

So, I read a blog post yesterday about "drops of awesome" and focusing on the positive instead of what you're NOT doing. I was having a tough day and it helped me remember that I was snuggling with my boys and I got the kids to their music lessons etc., I'm doing okay. 

This post inspired me to try something I've been wanting to try for SO long. I have always felt like its not worth trying until I have the time I put in I master I (okay, I might have some perfectionism issues), but I tried it and I got through it!! I played Rimsy-Korsakoff's "The Flight of the Bumblebee" from beginning to end. It may have only been a fraction of the speed, but I made it through and I'm really proud of myself!  This has seriously been a life long DREAM!

This morning I pushed myself again!!  I went out for a run with my sister Brooklyn and got back on the "couch to 5K" program. Felt so good!! Even if it WAS -12 outside. I'm proud of myself!!

I just have to try and get the rest of the day as special for my sweet Kaia (who is TEN years old).

Remembering Our Civic

“That’s IT!”  I yelled at my husband as another puddle of water fell through the sunroof right onto my lap, “We’re getting a new car!!!”  We had just had our 1985 vehicle inspected and it had been completely rusted through by the Canadian Winters.  Not that the 1990 Civic was “new” in 2002, but it was a WHOLE lot better.
This “luxury” Civic included a few “special” features that are difficult to find on cars nowadays.  It had muscle-building steering (no power steering for us), it came with a learning curve (had to learn to drive stick), and it was 100% rust free.  It also included the seat belts that strangle you if you get out of the car too fast, an “easily accessible” trunk that opened with the removal of the bungee cord, and air conditioning (that came in the form of a spray bottle and an open window).  What could we say?  We fell in love.
As we were both full-time students, with our first child on the way, the $700 price tag spoke to us.  We were blown away immediately with the change.  We could drive the 10 hours between college and home with only 1 fill-up - and the tank didn’t take much to fill.  We never had to do any tune-ups or repair anything for the years of our ownership.  We felt 100% safe in a car that was completely reliable and loved owning our very first Civic!  We have had four more children now and have gone through a whole lot more schooling, but we still look back on that Civic with fond memories and a great love for Hondas!  In fact, 9 years later, my husband is still driving a Honda to work every day and wouldn't have it any other way.

Our Civic with it's previous owner.... ;)

Please Don't Help My Kids

I read the following article today and thought it really sums up how I have felt many times! I especially hate it when the "helping" adult looks at you like you're a neglectful parent. Enjoy the read!!

Dear Other Parents At The Park:
Please do not lift my daughters to the top of the ladder, especially after you've just heard me tell them I wasn't going to do it for them and encourage them to try it themselves.
I am not sitting here, 15 whole feet away from my kids, because I am too lazy to get up. I am sitting here because I didn't bring them to the park so they could learn how to manipulate others into doing the hard work for them. I brought them here so they could learn to do it themselves.
They're not here to be at the top of the ladder; they are here to learn to climb. If they can't do it on their own, they will survive the disappointment. What's more, they will have a goal and the incentive to work to achieve it.
In the meantime, they can use the stairs. I want them to tire of their own limitations and decide to push past them and put in the effort to make that happen without any help from me.
It is not my job — and it is certainly not yours — to prevent my children from feeling frustration, fear, or discomfort. If I do, I have robbed them of the opportunity to learn that those things are not the end of the world, and can be overcome or used to their advantage.
If they get stuck, it is not my job to save them immediately. If I do, I have robbed them of the opportunity to learn to calm themselves, assess their situation, and try to problem solve their own way out of it.
It is not my job to keep them from falling. If I do, I have robbed them of the opportunity to learn that falling is possible but worth the risk, and that they can, in fact, get up again.
I don't want my daughters to learn that they can't overcome obstacles without help. I don't want them to learn that they can reach great heights without effort. I don't want them to learn that they are entitled to the reward without having to push through whatever it is that's holding them back and *earn* it.
Because — and this might come as a surprise to you — none of those things are true. And if I let them think for one moment that they are, I have failed them as a mother.
I want my girls to know the exhilaration of overcoming fear and doubt and achieving a hard-won success.
I want them to believe in their own abilities and be confident and determined in their actions.
I want them to accept their limitations until they can figure out a way past them on their own significant power.
I want them to feel capable of making their own decisions, developing their own skills, taking their own risks, and coping with their own feelings.
I want them to climb that ladder without any help, however well-intentioned, from you.
Because they can. I know it. And if I give them a little space, they will soon know it, too.
So I'll thank you to stand back and let me do my job, here, which consists mostly of resisting the very same impulses you are indulging, and biting my tongue when I want to yell, "BE CAREFUL," and choosing, deliberately, painfully, repeatedly, to stand back instead of rush forward.
Because, as they grow up, the ladders will only get taller, and scarier, and much more difficult to climb. And I don't know about you, but I'd rather help them learn the skills they'll need to navigate them now, while a misstep means a bumped head or scraped knee that can be healed with a kiss, while the most difficult of hills can be conquered by chanting, "I think I can, I think I can", and while those 15 whole feet between us still feels, to them, like I'm much too far away.

alameda.patch.com

He's sick

Well, after whining all day, Jaymeson finally proved to me that there was a reason. A fever of 103 did the job. Poor thing!!

I haven't been feeling too fantastic either. This morning I've had a wicked bad headache. Heat packs and lying down has helped, but that's not overly practical with five kids.

The girls have been so sweet! As soon as Jaymeson's fever came, Kaia ran and got him a bucket. (His response was, "Thanks!! ... I like you!"). Kienna went and gave him his blanket (and a thermometer), Saryn got him his favorite stuffy (Lightning McQueen). This boy is going to be just fine.

Kaia's also been super sweet telling me to go take a nap and just leave her a list to do and she'd make sure it got done.

So now, after struggling through school and violin/cello practice, we popped popcorn and put on Avatar (Jaymeson's request). I am going to attempt to put Benson down for a nap, so I can do the same... Here's hoping!!

Check out my sweetheart kids!!

Mommy Date

Nope, it not a birthday party, just me at McDonalds with the kids. Thanks to my mother in law for all the free coupons!! Not one thing that you see on the table needed to be purchased! Fantastic Friday Night with the kids!!

Boys Games

I love watching my boys play boy stuff!! I had no idea how much fun their toys were...

What happens in the morning???

So, I'm usually up and at it by at LEAST 7:30 in the morning... and without fail, I haven't even had breakfast by 10:30 - usually 11.  I just don't get it.  What takes me so long to get downstairs and eating??  So, this morning, I took a mental note to write down what on earth happens to me.  Apparently the first few hours of my day look something like this:

Get up and set mental "to do" list in your head

Go to the washroom and clean up for the day (weigh myself and sigh - "I'm going to do better today")

Clean bathroom of anything that Jarett left out after getting ready for work

Get dressed, make bed, clean up anything that happens to be out in my room (including sorting any laundry that was folded previous night for kids to put away).

By now, my boys have come in and un-made some of the bed, un-folded some of the laundry and made a mess of the bathroom.  (so, I re-fold, re-make and re-sort)

Today, Benson also had a bad diaper and was immediately changed and put in the bath.  Jaymeson joined.

By this point, it was around 8:30 - first hour gone.

8:30 is the time I have appointed to wake up the girls if they haven't gotten up yet... so I go and wake them up.

Somehow a hurricane has come through their room since the night before Jarett put them to bed instead of me.  So, I ask them to please clean up their room.

Meanwhile, I go back into the bathroom and the boys have dumped all the soap into the bathtub.  So, I shower them off and do a once over of them.  Dry them off, put vaseline on to keep them from drying up and get them dressed for the day.  I make the boys beds, tidy up all new messes in their room, put their pajamas in the laundry and look into the girls room.  No girls.  No difference in the room, except for made beds.

Hearing "kitchen noises" from downstairs.  Um, "GIRLS!!!  Did you clean the room??"  "Yes" "Okay, could you come and try again??"  "But we're eating breakfast!"  Sigh.  "Okay, just come as soon as you can."

Go back to the kids bathroom and tidy up/mop up the floor from bath.  Wipe down counters and sink and make sure the bathroom gets all the way clean since there's already so much water involved.  Gather laundry and get all other things gathered that need to go downstairs.

Girls start filing back up (after a few more "gentle" reminders) and work on their room again.  I help coach them through it.  (Have several silly arguments about who's pair of pants magically jumped out of the drawer, because no one has EVER taken out their own pair - but it's sitting in the middle of the floor...)

By this point, it's around 9:30 or so - another hour is gone.

I head downstairs after the girls and usher them to their school work.  I go and sort my new 2 loads of laundry and start one.

Walk over to the kitchen and begin to cry (well, at least want to).  Breakfast exploded (one day I'll learn to not let them eat before the room is clean).  Begin the clean up of the kitchen.  Tempted to get the girls to come and help, but they're actually doing school work now, so I let it slide.

Boys begin to fight over toy.  Solve problem.

Girls have questions in math.  Solve problems.

Keep cleaning.  Find kitchen. 

Return to school room and answer more questions.  Realize that you're a little short and wonder why.  Oh yeah, I haven't had breakfast.  Rotate laundry on the way back to the kitchen.

While walking back to the kitchen see the mess of car trax that the boys have pulled out.  Help them sort that out so they can have a better track.  Get frustrated with the mess faster than normal...  Look back at the kitchen and see that the floor is still a disaster.  Go back to grab the broom... then remember that none of that mess happened because I had breakfast... and think, I'm not going to be happy if I don't just eat something and finish after.

Now we're at around 10:30 - 11 am.

Of course, now that I'm actually getting to breakfast, this is when the boys come over and ask for something to eat because they're so hungry.  Sigh.  Oh yeah, you didn't just have breakfast.  It's been a couple hours.  "Okay, just let me finish cleaning up the floor and then I'll start lunch."  Sigh.

This is the point where I get a call from my sweet Mother-in-law who (very sarcastically) says, "Oh good, you're up and at it!  Didn't want to wake you."  Fortunately, she also had five kids and knows exactly how much of a dream that would be.

Theory

Well, this year for theory was a HUGE struggle. I had two students doing their advanced rudiments (neither of which took it seriously until the last couple weeks). They would show up without their homework done, not understand the concepts and look at me like I was brilliant when I explained the exact same principle the same way and suddenly they would understand (until next week when they forgot what they had learned). I was worried sick about these two!

My other student was doing basic rudiments, and he really seemed to grasp it and worked hard, but he joined me only half way through the year and I was worried that we had skimmed too much or somehow missed some essential concept.

Well, today was judgment day! The results came in (drum roll please)! 95.5% and 96% are their grades for the Advanced Students and 96.5% for the Basic Rudiments.  First Class Honours with distinction!! I am beyond thrilled!! These are HARD exams and I am so proud of my students! Just wish that some of them could get more focused a little earlier in the semester... ahem. I honestly think I am FAR more anxious for my students exams than I ever was for my own.

Remember Lot's Wife

My brother-in-law, Josh, posted a talk of Jeffrey R. Holland's called "Remember Lot's Wife". It was fantastic! You can listen to it in byutv.org and I'd highly recommend that you do!!

My favorite quote from it was actually a poem of Robert Browning's

"Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be,
The last of life,
for which the first was made:
Our times are in His hand
Who saith "A whole I planned,
Youth shows but half;
Trust God: see all, not be afraid."

Love it!

The Cahoon Bears and the Messy Room

*Any resemblance to "The Berenstein Bears and the Messy Room" are completely on purpose.  I love that book and really felt the role of Mama bear here.*

From the outside, the Cahoon house looked fairly neat and well-kept.  

The inside was pretty clean too.  The piano was dusted, the dishes were done, beds were always made and the basement was pretty organized (which was quite a feat considering that it was only one small room with all the kids toys in it).

There was just ONE place that was an exception to the general rule of "neat and tidy"... the GIRLS ROOM.  It was a MESS!!

If you think this was because of neglect, you couldn't be more wrong.  The girls are not allowed to come down before breakfast until beds are made and everything is away.

In fact, even before going to bed, every article of clothing and every toy/book or the like has to be put away.

The fact that the girls room is EVER a mess overwhelms Mama Cahoon daily.  Hasn't she taught her daughters enough about putting things away as soon as they're done??  How do they claim that it IS clean when there is still stuff overflowing from underneath their beds and dressers?  Can they possibly think that things thrown into the closet won't be seen by Mama Cahoon's searching eye?

So Mama Cahoon would have them clean up their room yet again.  "Girls, come and clean up your room.  Please don't leave anything out this time.  Just put what is yours away and it will be okay." 

The problem wasn't so much that they weren't willing to clean up, it's just that when clean up time came around, no one had any belongings.  They were only their siblings belongings.  And if they were willing to put away anything at all, it would only be if they could see their sisters each moving with the same amount of enthusiasm.  In fact, they would spend so much time watching their sisters to make sure that THEY were cleaning, that sometimes, they would forget to clean themselves!

What usually happened was that while the girls argued about whose was what and who wasn't doing their fair share, Mama would start picking things up and putting them away.  She'd reorganize the whole closet, and drawers so that they had no excuse as to why they couldn't put things away. 

One day (that may have been today), Mama decided that she didn't want this anymore.  She looked back on her childhood and remembered a song from "Joy School" and decided to put it to work.  (The gunny sack is just a bag that comes and eats up the kids toys/clothes/books etc. that are left out in kids rooms.  Once they are "eaten",  it will keep all its stuff for a week or two. The kids can earn their stuff back by doing extra chores around the house or choose to give it away.)

Mama remembered the simple brilliance of this plan and she simply called from the top of the stairs "Girls, thank you for cleaning your room!  I'm just going to go and get the Gunny Sack and clean up the rest!"

Anyone watching would not believe that these were the same girls that would sit and fight about whose stuff was who's.  These couldn't possibly be the same girls who didn't want to work one second longer than any of their other sisters, could they?

Saryn jumped up and saved Kaia's blanket.  After all, what would Kaia use to sleep with?  Kienna dove in and saved all the American Girl dogs.  Kaia ran to save her camera and her bag (which has become an attachment of her arm).  The gunny sack was going just as strong.  It got all the garbage and the doll shoes and socks and books that were scattered.  It was a race between the Girls and the Gunny Sack... but oh, how clean the room looks!

Mama Cahoon just might have to remember her good friend "Gunny Sack" more often!  Either way, Mama Cahoon won the battle of the Messy Room today!

Nap time!

Nap time has really been a struggle recently. Mostly because Benson can just get out of bed if I don't stay until I'm asleep. But there are a few helps...

1. He loves his neck being stroked. A nice soft glide of your finger across the back if his neck and he instantly relaxes and his eyes begin to shut.

2. Singing!! Mostly primary songs and lullabies, but almost anything will do.

3. Give him the right company. "Bear" was given to him from Santa. He lights up and hugs it for dear life as soon as you show it to him!

4. Give him his favorite pillow!! My Gran gave all my kids fleece pillows for Christmas and they LOVE them. His is the adorable puppy pawprint one you see in the background!

Do these four things and time it right, and you just might have a sleeping babe in less than four minutes!!! (With luck on your side anyway)

January, thus far - in reverse.

Courtesy of Facebook again...

January 11th - I've decided that "Empty laundry baskets in empty laundry rooms" would be a song that would be just as full of emotion as the original, but it would be far more full of joy!! All I know is that I'm singing it right now and I am extremely happy!!

January 9th - Organizing my Tupperware cupboard with my boys here may not have been the best idea. They just want to take them out and make towers!

January 7th - I love my son, I love my son, I love my son...

January 4th - My husband is hilarious! Just found this text he sent to my sister on Christmas Eve and had a good laugh.

"Tell TM I'm g2g ( that means good to go, but I didn't want to have to type all that so I wrote "g2g" instead, it's kind of an abbreviation of sorts, so that I can cut down on my typing. Otherwise, I would be typing forever! So, to make a long story short, I just say g2g instead of good to go. Life's too short to waste time typing when you don't need to, you know?) Jarett 

January 4th - So, we just found a lady bug in our house. Benson is in love... But what do you do with it? Throw it outside and let it die? The kids want to keep it and take care of it until spring. What would you do?!? 

 

 (update: We ended up keeping the ladybug and calling it "Buggy" because that's what Benson always called it.  Kept in a jar with food and water for a while until the kids took it out and it flew away.  We sure had a LOT of fun with it for about a week though.)

Benson really was SO gentle with the bug.  You can hear him saying, "I'n Hold" and "Come on" in this video.

January 1 - Pushed myself a lot this year and went through a lot of change. Hope to keep moving up and improving. Grateful to be surrounded by fabulous people who make me want to be better daily.

Today

They say that the best way to start a journal is to start with today and back track later, so that's what I'll be doing...  Now, I realize that it's only 12:30 as I start this, but I really am wanting to start writing in my blog more often.  I'm thinking that my comments and status updates that I do so often in facebook should be transferred here so that I have a more permanent record.  I am just a little selfish and love to get all the comments on facebook that I miss out on in here.  I guess I'll just start doing this more faithfully and I might start getting more comments again.  (Note to all you blog stalkers that are too shy to leave a note... LEAVE a comment and you'll get more posts!)  Either way, here goes!  Blog posts daily, coming soon!!

It's been a good day.  Overall summary so far would go along the lines of:

Late sleep in (7:30ish).  Got up about an hour before the kids doing this.  Why are they sleeping in so much?!?

Cleaned up my room/bathroom

While making my bed, Benson woke up and climbed under the covers

Taught bathroom cleaning to Kaia so the girls can start maintaining their bathroom

Boys playing on our new air hockey table - a favorite! (and girls during their "recess")

Finished a Christmas Puzzle - and was missing one piece!

Did homeschooling - Kaia defiantly asking "What will I need to know about decimals in the future for?"
Girls playing barbies and ponies really nicely.  (This picture is of Saryn a couple days ago, but she just loves doing these games.  She makes up so many things and has an AWESOME imagination.  She even has songs that she's made up for them sometimes).

Oh, and the Gunny Sack came - and will be returning soon.  Fantastic reaction!!  Post on that to follow.

BIG Decisions

Now that Jaymeson is a BIG boy, he has to look to his future.  I mean, really, what four year old doesn't know what he's going to be one day?

On Tuesday morning, we were at the doctor because Benson had one eye that looked REALLY red and was goopy.  Apparently he has TWO ear infections and TWO eye infections.  Spectacular.  (This was also two days after we found out Kienna has a severe ear infection that was making her ear drum bulge).  While we were there, Jaymeson said that the doctor was a nice man.  I said, "Yes, that's good because all doctors should be nice.  They help people."  Jaymeson declared then and there that he should be a doctor when he grows up.  (Of course, the doctor was all over this idea and suggested that I get him a doctors kit for Christmas).

From a young age, he has shown a big interest in dentistry.

This morning, Jaymeson comes into my room and tells me that he wants to go to war.  The conversation went something like this:
Me:  But I don't think that's a good idea Jay.  You could be killed.
Jay:  No I won't.  I'm a winner.
Me:  Yes, but sometimes even grown up fighters get hurt and die.
Jay:  But I'm not a bad guy.
Me:  Even the good guys sometimes die. And they're older and they know how to fight.
Jay:  But I want to fight the bad guys.
Me:  Well, maybe when you're older.
Jay:  Like 14?
Me:  Maybe even older.

Moments later, he comes in to tell me that he just really wants to fight the bad guys.  So we get into a discussion about how Daddy and Grandpa kind of do that because they're lawyers and they help put the bad guys in jail.
Jay: Why do the bad guys have to go to jail?
Me: Because then they can't hurt the good guys.
Jay: But they wouldn't hurt me, I'm a winner and I could FIGHT them.
Me: Yes, but not everyone could.
Jay: Oh yeah, I guess I can't fight them all.

He could be a lawyer like his Dad... this is appealing!

A few minutes later, he remembers the doctor idea.

This is the kind of medicine he might be practicing for now

Jay:  Mom, do doctors fight bad guys?
Me: Well, I guess that they do in a way.  They fight the germs that are hurting people.
Jay:  Those aren't bad guys... those are germs.
Me:  Yes, but why do you want to fight bad guys?
Jay:  Because it helps protect people.
Me:  Yes, and doctors help protect people from bad germs.  So it's kinda the same.
Jay:  Mom, I think I'm still going to be a doctor.  (Then, after pausing a few minutes)  Mom, can I still have my name if I'm a doctor?
Me: Yes
Jay: All of them?
Me: Yes!
Jay: Okay, I like it!
Me:  Me, too!

I guess he might have to be like Uncle Troy and Uncle Vernon.  To very determined and wonderful men in the medical profession.  I can deal with that!



This little boy is going to be determined no matter what he does.  Seriously.  He's already trying to set his path and go down it.  (I think my retirement is set!)

A Big Day for My Girls!

LOVE this picture because it shows exactly the levels of excitement the three girls had.

 Well, Saturday became a day to remember.  I took all my girls to the mall and we got their ears pierced!!  They did great and were beyond excited.  They had two piercers and so Kaia and Kienna got both ears done at the same time.

Kaia looked more excited, but was very focused on learning how to clean her ears properly.

Kienna's reaction was pretty much the same as Kaia's - it wasn't fun, but it wasn't horrid.  Within a minute - they were both beaming with excitement.

Saryn sporting her new earrings - and smiling!

Saryn wasn't so lucky.  She had one of the piercers go on break (a little ticked off about that) and decided not to wait, but to get them done one at a time.  She was a little nervous, so I was hesitant to have her do it, but she REALLY was determined.  She almost made it through without crying, but when the waterworks started, they wouldn't stop.  She was so sad that she had to do it again that it didn't help either.  Finally, she decided she was going to get the other one (she didn't want to look weird) and she took some deep breaths, told the lady to get it ready and then told her to do it NOW!  She only cried a little after that one.  The next couple days, however, she still cried every time we'd go to clean them or anything... and yesterday one of her earrings fell out and we lost it.  She didn't seem upset about it at all because she was okay with not having her ears pierced at this point.  So, she's back to square one.

Kaia and Kienna, however, are still in heaven and love to have their ears pierced.  I just have to remind them that they ONLY have to clean them 3 times a day, not all day long. 

Sigh, my kids are growing up....

October in Facebook Stati (or Status')

At the Airport after Kim (aka Sis Mullen) returned back home to us!!

 
I decided you could learn a LOT about me from my Facebook status updates.  So I thought I'd put in a bunch from October to sum up the month (since I've been so awesome at Blogging).  That way I have it all in one consolidated place and have a record of what my life has been like recently. I'll only do some of the highlights - not the really boring ones.

 October 2012

1st - I just became an Aunt again yesterday. Congrats Hayley and Troy!! I now have 10 nephews and 11 nieces.
2nd - Probably just had the most "on the go" day I've had in a long time (which is saying something) and decided to top it off by dropping the couch right onto my toe. SO awesome!
5th - HELP! My mom is having a hard time finding 12"+ pie pans (the size that Costco uses) for the Youth Cultural Celebration for the temple. I was thinking that there might be a few of you having Costco pies over Thanksgiving Weekend. Can any of you save your pie plates and get them to either me or my mom once you eat your pie? This will save us from having to eat a dozen pies this weekend. If you aren't getting any pies, can you spread the word to those who might? Thanks so much.

6th - Brina posted - Had my breath taken away at the Temple last night. Anyone who hasn't gone should regardless of your beliefs. It was truly the most beautiful building I have ever been in! Thanks to Ashley and Delcia for taking us!

7th - I am so thankful for an awesome family and in-laws that I get to share my life with. Even more grateful for my special kids and the joy they bring to my life. Thankful for the guidance I got this weekend and so much more! What a magnificent Thanksgiving Weekend... and it's not even over yet!
9th - Today, I would like to thank whoever discovered that hair spray gets ink off of things... although looking back, I was disappointed when Kristen Hansen wrote "Anat and Phys or Bust" on my chair, today I was thrilled as it took all the scribbles off of my computer screen.
     - Every time that I see/hear Anne Hathaway sing "I Dreamed a Dream" I get goose bumps all over.... and that is just off of a trailer on You Tube. Can you imagine how awesome it will be when it's full screen and surround sound and in the middle of the incredible story that Les Mis is?!? Oh man, I'm BEYOND thrilled!
10th - I honestly feel so lucky to have the incredible husband that I do!! There really can't be a better one out there. Happy 35th, Jarett! On that note, does anyone know what to do for a guy on his birthday when it's a day that your sister comes home from her mission?? He may be the best husband, but I'm not winning any awards for the best wife....

1st Moments post mission!  Look how happy Mom and Kim are!

14th - What a wonderful day, full of family and friends and a whole lot of good soup! Feel so edified! So glad to have you home, Kim!! (Kim's homecoming open house)
15th - I truly believe that some kids are extra cute as a defense mechanism.
17th - My sweet little Jaymeson is sick today. He threw up on my bed this morning (of course the day after I did a deep clean of the bed) and as I put him in the bathtub just kept saying, "Mommy, I'm SO sorry". I told him he really didn't need to be, but he kept saying it over and over. I don't know why, but it was much easier to clean it up with him being so sweet.
18th - Okay, I'm hearing silence. Off of the computer I get!
19th - I am beyond excited to be volunteering at the temple this afternoon/evening. I am very grateful to those who are taking care of my kids to make this possible and I'm Extraordinarily confident that today is going to be incredible!

The Granddaughters on the Mullen Side

20th - I'm getting excited for my lesson in RS tomorrow. Hopefully I'm able to explain some of my thoughts in a way that makes sense.
21st - The sweetest little boy ever to live turned 4 today. Happy Birthday little - oops, I mean BIG Jaymeson!

25th - TWO MONTHS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!! Yikes. I haven't even thought about it until now. Better start shopping!
28th - This is the day I've been waiting for nearly all my life. I get to see the temple dedicated right here in Calgary!! It is a Sunday that I will never forget!
29th - Praying for my sister, Alanna who is very close to the eye of this crazy storm. Hope it passes quickly and without too much damage. (Frankenstorm)

Throughout the end of the month of October MOST of my status' were reminding people to vote for my picture in a Lysol competition - which I didn't win.  :(.  It was fun to be in the running and to get it going though.

 
Wow!  Who'd have thought I'd have a running Journal just on my Facebook wall.  Glad I did that.  I might have to make it a monthly tradition!   Or just start updating the blog more often.

Limericks

Kaia was learning about Limericks today, and we found a few examples on Wikipedia that made me laugh.  Thought I'd share:

The limerick packs laughs anatomical

In space that is quite economical.

But the good ones I've seen

So seldom are clean

And the clean ones so seldom are comical.

 

 

 

A lively young damsel named Menzies

Inquired: "Do you know what this thenzies?"

    Her aunt, with a gasp,

    Replied: "It's a wasp,

And you're holding the end where the stenzies.

 

(that was Kaia's favorite by FAR)

 

There was a young man from Japan

Whose limericks never would scan.

When asked why this was,

He replied "It's because

I always try to fit as many syllables into the last line as ever I possibly can

 

There once was a man from the sticks

Who liked to compose limericks.

But he failed at the sport,

For he wrote 'em too short.

 

 (haha)

 

I think we might have to do more poetry.  We've been really enjoying these and some Acrostic Poems as well.  Next is Haiku, I believe.  Any other suggestions?

 

 

The Whole Photoshoot is in!

Because time is short and I'm feeling a teensy bit lazy today, I'm just going to post a link.  My good friend from childhood Elizabeth Cranmer did some family pictures for us (including the one I'm using as a header).  She just posted the pictures on her blog and I'm seriously loving them.  Click here to check them out!

"The System"

Wow!  This month has been NUTS!  I started by taking one night to work at a studio, and a couple students on the side.  I ended up having so many students that the studio let me off the hook (I'm forever indebted to them), and I am now teaching TWENTY students piano and theory.  This took some MAJOR re-adjusting of my life.  I have never been so busy.

I would love to just summarize my week:

Monday:
am - home schooling with kids
pm - 4 piano students, Family Home Evening

Tuesday:
am - home schooling with kids
pm - violin lessons, 2 piano students, cello class, cello lessons, 1 theory class, 1 piano student

Wednesday:
am - home schooling with kids
pm - 7 piano students, activity days for the older girls and a theory class

Thursday:
am - home schooling with kids
pm - 3 piano students, kids skipping class and (hopefully) institute

Friday:
am - Story of the World group (every other week)
pm - swimming lessons, date night

Now, if my kids didn't get focused in the morning, I found myself in a hard place because, as you can see, I just didn't have much wiggle room with scheduling and I couldn't drive them to finish up their stuff while juggling this crazy schedule.  Thus, "The System" was implemented.

The System is quite simple really.  I printed out a week schedule for them.  I wrote on each day what they were to accomplish.  I laminated them, so that they can mark off what they got done with a white-board marker as they accomplish the said task. 

 A close up of a typical day.  The time really isn't relative, it's just how the sheet came.

At the end of the day, if all of their tasks have been completed, they get to put a sticker on the monkey chart.  If they have a perfect week, they get two bonus stickers.  When they finish each row, they get to choose a prize (a date with mommy or daddy somewhere).

So simple, yet it WORKS!  The kids were so focused today, and I was able to brush it off if they weren't.  I would merely remind them, "okay, you just won't get my help or maybe even won't get your sticker".  I didn't have to get upset or frustrated or anything.  Miracles happen.... I just hope they continue...

A Preview of a Family Picture...

I feel like I plastered this all over facebook, but for those of you who are not on facebook, I thought I'd show my sneak peak of a photo idea that I had.  It started simple, with just a white background and a "personality shot" of each of the kids.  The it morphed and we fudged a little with the idea... (it's a little bit harder than we had thought to fit a family of 7 on a white backdrop).  We moved location twice and did a few different shots, but this is the only one that I've seen so far.... and I love it.  It's just a true to life family picture.  My friend Liz (http://pigtailsandsnails.blogspot.ca/) helped progress the idea and it came to this.  I'm so glad that I told her about my dream family picture!  She literally made my dream come true!  Thanks Liz!

Our New Addition

I LOVE IT!! 
I got my very first real piano!  It's made it 1885 and still has everything super in tact, the sound it flawless.  I have been breaking it in all afternoon.  I love the detailing on it.  Sigh, I fell in love all over again.

We bought it because we needed to have a piano in a room for me to teach all the students I have enlisted for the fall.  The kids need to be able to walk around the house while I'm teaching, so we needed it to go in the den.  We got it from one of our favorite families (the Hunters), who just upgraded to a baby grand for a fabulous deal.  We are going to love every second of it.

This fall, I'll be teaching 24 students (I've never done that many before) and I'm getting a little nervous as to how I'm going to keep up with the schedule (along with my kids schedules and home schooling).  I'm excited though.  It'll be very interesting to see how the year goes.  We're starting in half an hour.... so here goes!  Wish me luck!