Say What: the Thursday Edition

Maybe you do know how good you have it....

We were telling Daddy about our day and Mia commented that we had seen one of her primary friends at McDonald's with her grandma and that she was having a little baby sister born today. Don commented, "How fun!" and then jokingly added, "How come you don't have a baby sister?" Mia thought about it and said hesitantly, "Because I'm lucky?"

Frere Jaque

These pics were taken by Don Saturday morning. Ryan had a rough asthma night. He was up a lot wheezing, not ever really getting the relief he needed. He got up like normal with the rest of the kids but took one small bite of toast and promptly fell asleep at the table. Don didn't quite notice (breakfast at our house is a crazy noise time) until Mia shouted, "Hey look! Ryan is sleeping!" Sure enough. He slept on the couch on and off for the next few hours. It was really funny because he would (seem to) fully wake up to say hi then while you were responding his eyes would roll back in his head and he would be instantly asleep again. I do think he inherited some of his poor mom's narcolepsy. Poor guy was himself again after a few hours sleep and some nebulizer treatments but was heartbroken to have missed his best friend's birthday party.

Say What?

I know this is an unprecedented two posts in one day, but when you are sick you certainly don't have energy for dishes or laundry, so.....
Last night we were quizzing Ryan on his "opposites". What is the opposite of floor? "Ceiling" How about over? "Under" What about right? "wrong". Then we said "What is the opposite of bottom?" We were very confused when he took a minute to think about it after some of the harder ones we gave him. Then with a deadpan, very earnest expression said "a pee-pee?" After we finished laughing, we approached it a different way. What is the opposite of top? "OOHHHHH, bottom!"

Bleccchhhh....

Don't you like how I always include the most random pictures in my post? Nothing related to the goings on of today. But you might be glad of that when I tell you that the goings on of this week have mostly to do with copious amounts of vomit. A 12 hour stomach bug that leaves its host pretty darn wrung out. Ryan first, a couple of day delay, then Wyatt yesterday, now Mommy this morning. Don should avoid it by mysteriously being at work whenever vomiting occurs. We are washing our hands until they crack, but it hasn't seemed to help thus far. Don gave the kids a stern warning that I was sick and to be nice. When saying prayers over breakfast this morning, they blessed that Heavenly Father would help them be good for me. I guess it is totally out of their hands! Actually, it is kind of nice now that they are older and have some concept of sympathy and help out quite a bit. Nothing like having to rock a screaming baby while throwing up at the same time - oh yes, I do remember. The kids constantly surprise me with their kindness, understanding and willingness to help. I think when Christ counseled us to be as little children, he meant the 3-5 age range. They certainly love each other and are so close. The picture above was taken on Saturday. This was a dress I bought during Mervyns closeout that I absolutely love. Mia does not. On Friday she said, "Mom you can pick out my clothes today" When I picked this dress, she said "ummm, how about tommorrow?" The next morning when I woke up, she had it on as promised and said, "Mom, you can do my hair if you want." Although I am not great at doing hair, Mia makes it harder by preferring to look homeless most of the time. I curled it and took a picture to remember the time she actually wore what I wanted her to and asked to have her hair done. Enough for now, I am going to concentrate on not vomiting....

Sunday Morning Celebration

There were many many reasons to celebrate today. The first perhaps being the most momentous. We switched to a 10am church time from 8am and were excited to add this to our days of switching off sleeping in. When Don and I rolled over to the sound of children playing we glanced at the clock. It was well after 8am!! The kids had gotten up as usual (the boys have an alarm clock in their room set to 6:30 - they are not allowed to get out of bed until the alarm rings and then Mia can follow). Then they had gone downstairs, set the table, said prayers, and eaten by themselves!!!! It helps that plastic dishes and cereal are accessible in our new house and that Ryan loves to be the "big kid" in charge of pouring everyone's cereal and milk. Hah! (and everyone asks why we are not in the midst of having another child - evidence right here).
The second is that Mia and Wyatt went to Sunbeams today for the first time. They were so excited. We have a rather large set of kids in our ward (17 brand new active sunbeams today) and we were told repeatedly by many harried primary teachers and leaders that they were the only two who were not crying. What a primary that must have been! 15 crying kids and no toys and snacks. Well, we feel that we had already done our part when Ryan cried for the first three months of his Sunbeam year.
On Wyatt news, we are potty training and are about 80% there. He seems to want to and does a fairly good job keeping dry but seems a little confused when he has accidents. There is going to be major carpet cleaning when this whole thing is done. Arghh. Special Note: Mia has been potty trained for a year...a YEAR.
Well, I have no pics from this week, but I know that I might get flack from my mom if I don't give you something, so here are some completely post-unrelated pics from last month when we were playing by the iron turtles at the neighborhood lake.

A Carlsen Christmas

So, the Christmas present rush of this morning is over. The kids played upstairs with their "Christmas Eve" toy they had opened the night before until 7am, then we videoed their stocking opening (too bad I have no idea how to post video from our camera). They had a blast and made a mess (as you can see). We had Belgian waffles and chocolate milk and then played all morning. Don's brother Mike came to share Christmas morning with us and revel in all the presents that were sent to us by his Mom because she didn't trust him to wait (good call Mom). This is our first Christmas away from any family at all and even though I am muchly enjoying being in my own house, I had not expected to miss them as much as I have. I guess it is not as much fun being the grownup. We do not miss traveling with a billion bags, living out of suitcases and the general ruckus of a million kids (that is, even one more than we already have currently residing here). We hope (I hope) this Christmas "break" is filled with lots of organizing the garage, planning for scouts (Don and I are the bear den leaders), and maybe a couple more shelves put up. Hope all of your Christmases were great!

Ramblings about Christmas

Christmas is a funny time. I LOVE the decorations. I love getting out things that I remember from years past. I like the Christmas music in the stores. Lights on houses across the neighborhood. But, I hate the Santa story. I just can't pull it off. I don't remember growing up ever believing in a real Santa Claus. I have a hard time perpetuating the story for my own kids. I am trying (my husband is absolutely insistent on this aspect of Christmas), but I don't like it. I am just not creative and, in addition, a horrible liar. No really-- you can see straight through me. Luckily my oldest is 5 and thinks I know everything magically. Really funny actually - I walk into his room and see a portion of a 1x2 we had left in the garage after making shelves. The board is sticking into the space between his very bent screen and the window frame. I find Ryan and say "Ryan, why did you break your screen?" Ryan, with wonder and apprehension on his face says "How did you know?" There have been many such incidences. Oh, the innocence of not trying to cover your tracks. In all instances, I look at him firmly and say "I know everything, that's why I'm your Mommy." But the Santa thing really stumps me. I have the pat answers for what how Santa will find us, and how he will get in when we don't have a chimney - but it is getting harder. Soon he will notice that I look uncomfortable and pause with a umm...well...mmm, whenever he asks a "Santa" question. And really, well, I don't care that my kids believe in Santa. There is going to come a time when I look at them and say, "Umm, well, yeah, your friends are right. I have been lying to you all these years. Santa is more a symbol than anything. Sorry about that..." Humph - I don't like it. But it is funny seeing the kids sooooo excited to see Santa at Walmart - how can you deny them that?