The Small Moments

". . .the biggest mistake I made is the one that most of us make . . . I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of the three of [my children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages 6, 4, and 1. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less.
Anna Quindlen

I read this quote last month and it has stuck with me ever since and I hope it will forever remain with me. It seems as long as my motherly mind can remember, I've concentrated a lot on the "I can't wait until . . . (s)." I can't wait until Mac goes to school, I can't wait until this morning sickness is over, I can't wait until Beckam learns how to walk, I can't wait until Jilli is sleeping through the night, I can't wait until Jaxton doesn't ask me for a snack every other second." My new goal is to seize the small moments with my children. They need me now and even though there are many days that I feel more like pulling my hair out than filling up one more sippy, I LOVE being needed and dread the day when my children won't need me will need me less.
These pictures are from our rain storm that we had today. My kids wanted to go outside and play and even though my mind went immediately to the thought of dealing with muddy, wet laundry, I remembered and decided to enjoy this small moment with my kiddos.

Jilli loved being a part of her first puddle stomping experience and the boys enjoyed just as much watching her discover it all.

Beckam insisted on wearing his bike helmet, absolutely sure that even though it had holes in the top, it was still going to keep his head dry.

Jaxton giggled through the entire experience and came inside more wet than anyone else -- I think he literally rolled around in the water.

As the kids were jumping puddles Mac exclaimed, "This is the BEST day ever!"

And to think that I could have missed this face if I wouldn't have made the decision to enjoy the moment.

Jilli's shoe came off in a mud puddle and so she used it as a bucket to fill up with water and then dump out -- she was quite pleased with herself.

I could have missed this . . .

or this . . .

but I didn't, at least not today. And I'm hoping I miss less small moments in my children's lives from here on out.

"If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disapear all too soon and that you will - to your suprise - miss them profoundly."
President Thomas S. Monson

Sports Enthusiast!

Mac just finished a super successful basketball season. I was amazed at what a difference just one year did for him in this sport. This year Mac was immediately pinned as the main shooter, making several baskets each game. He was also much taller than most of the other kids on his team so he played Center and loved being right by the basket so that he could get his hands on all those rebounds. Mac loved taking the ball down the court and driving it in and there wasn't a shot he wouldn't take. After this year, I can't wait to see what next year will bring.

As soon as basketball season ended, Mac (and Jaxton) started right up into baseball. Even though Mac generally uses a metal bat, Nate picked up a plastic/foam one for practice around the house. Mac took it outside and on his very first swing, he hit the foam ball so hard that the bat broke in half. Baseball is a sport that Mac has always been fairly good at and I guess even after his "off season" he's still got it. Here's to the end of a great basketball season, to the beginning of an awesome baseball season and then looking forward to swimming and soccer.

My Girl!

My baby turned 18 months old on Wednesday.

I love everything about this little girl from her hip-swingin' run, to the "shh, shh, shh" she says as she's rocking her baby dolls to sleep or quieting her brothers.

I love seeing her smile each morning, her squeals of delight when I come home and the fact that she's a momma's girl.

I love the way she repeats words that she hears, finds such joy in her brothers chasing her around in circles and attempts such a cute version of push-ups.

I love the way she says "NO," her ability to say lots of words, especially any that begin with "B" and the way she pats your face or head when she thinks you're sad.

I love the way her leg warmers roll down at the top from having such juicy thighs, the way she rolls her eyes in disgust and the way she pushes her hair out of her face.

I love my Jillian Venice!

18 month stats: weight: 25 lbs. (65th%), height: 32 in. (70th%) and head 75th %

We've Been BUSY Around Here!

Shell Bell came to visit for five days and we were so thrilled to have her. The kids loved bonding with her and when we dropped her off at the airport, we hadn't even pulled away from the curb before Beckam said, "I miss Shell Bell." Thanks for the visit Michelle -- we love you lots and lots!

My dad's birthday is this week and I'm the appointed person to be in charge of his birthday this year. He mentioned that he needed a new watch, but wanted to pick it out himself and since we live across the country from each other, I had to come up with something. I didn't necessarily want to just put some money in a card or get him a gift card, so I came up with this, which I wrapped up and sent home with Michelle to give him on his birthday. Happy Birthday Dad! I wish I could personally deliver this gift and give you a big hug -- love you lots!

I saw this cute idea from the Tatertots and Jello blog and decided that's what I wanted to make for teachers, my kids and my visiting teachers for Valentines Day. My kids were thrilled with their Love Juice and I'm hoping it was a big hit with the others as well.

This was from last weeks FHE. The kids each took turns standing on the heart as we all told that person what we loved about them. For our treat we dipped vanilla wafers into melted red frosting and then we refrigerated them for a bit -- super tasty!

We made personalized Valentines Day cards again this year and I think they turned out great. The boys were happy to channel their inner rockstar long enough for me to get a good picture to use.

I love this picture of Beckam -- I think it captures him pretty perfectly!

February (so far . . .)

The real meaning of "CHEESE!"

Parenting Lessons #563, #564, #565, #566, & #567

DON'T JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS!
DON'T THREATEN!
DON'T TEAR UP YOUR CHILD'S ARTWORK!
RESOLVE ISSUES IMMEDIATELY!
ALLOW YOUR CHILD SUFFICIENT TIME TO EXPLAIN THEMSELVES!

Wednesday Mac came home from school and as always, I sat down to go through his backpack. There were the usuals, homework, books, and his daily work, as well as a groundhog puppet since it was Groundhog's Day. Mac was busy eating his snack and working on his Math homework, so I continued sorting. As I picked up his groundhog puppet to move it aside I noticed something that Mac had drawn on his puppet. I didn't believe my eyes, so I looked again and again. What the?!? Is that a cigarette coming out of MY child's groundhog's mouth?

I immediately panicked and thought very quickly about the best way to handle this. Threaten! That always seems to work. (I know, I know I've got a lot to learn.) "Mac, come here, please. What is this?" I asked holding the puppet up and pointing to the cigarette, all the while using my best stern voice. Mac hesitates and I immediately take that as his guilt, so I continue, "Son, I send you to school trusting that you are going to make good choices and when you pull something like this, it makes me think you don't deserve my trust." (I'm on a roll, so I keep going.) "If you don't know how to make good choices, then I'll keep you home ALL day EVERY day and you'll do school here at the house with JUST me. How does that sound?" And then came my grand finale, "This is garbage McCade and garbage does not belong in our house!" I said as I ripped the puppet into two. Mac's shocked look let me know that he knew I was serious and I was pretty sure I had gotten through to him, but just to be positive I added, "Do you understand?" Mac's head bobbed up and down and I felt pretty successful. Way to go, Mom, high five!

Even though I felt like I had "handled" the situation, I was still in shock that MY child would do such a thing. I needed to tell someone fast, so I dialed my sister and she was as surprised as I had been. "Where did he learn about cigarettes from?" Michelle asked me. "I have no idea," I told her. She suggested that I talk to him more and find out WHO he's learning such things from. I agreed and told her that I would get to the bottom of it. Later, much later, like the next afternoon (nothing like resolving the issue immediately :), Mac and I were walking in from outside when I remembered to ask him, "Hey Mac, where did you learn about cigarettes from?" "What's a cigarette?" he asked, completely innocent. "You know, one of those smoking things . . . you drew one out of your groundhog puppet's mouth yesterday." "Mom, that wasn't a smoking thing, that was a SWORD behind the groundhog's back. I made my groundhog into a warrior!"

Imagine my horror, not to mention embarrassment! I dug through the garbage, pulled out the two puppet halves and sure enough, there was the handle of the sword at the top, and the point of the sword at the bottom. I apologized again and again and again and then asked Mac why he didn't explain that to me yesterday. His reply was, "Well, I didn't really know what you were talking about and then you just ripped my puppet up."

Today (another day later), as Mac was gluing and stapling his puppet back together I suggested he use tape since it would be easier. He quickly replied with, "You know what would be easiest, is if you wouldn't have ripped it in the first place," and when I looked at him with the look of "really, do we have to go there?" he added, "I'm just sayin' Mom."

I don't see any Mother of the Year nominations coming my way anytime soon . . .

Take it from me, allow your children the opportunity to explain their actions and DON'T jump to conclusions. I find that my immediate reaction is to assume the worst, but if given the benefit of the doubt, my children usually pleasantly surprise me.

And just for the record, for about the 10th time, I am so sorry Mac! Mom was wrong and I'll try to do a better job of understanding from now on. Thanks for loving me no matter what!

SEVEN

I took Mac to the store with his birthday money from grandparents and he picked out some Ninjagos and then decided to save the rest. On the way out of the store there was a donation container for sick children; Mac paused, asked me what it was for, I explained, and without any hesitation, he dropped his change inside it. He didn't look to me for a pat on the back or a "way to go Mac," he knew what the kind thing to do was and he just did it, happily and without another thought about it.
I love everything MAC! His drama, his sweetness, his sincerity, his hard head, his drive, his wisdom, his curiosity, his wonderfulness!
Happy 7th Birthday big guy! You make my every day AWESOME and I love you more than words can say.