Mischievous Miracles

We walked (used loosely) past President Barr, our stake president, on the way to church. I was exhausted due to a portly fetus stealing all my food and energy. The boys woke up hyper and hadn't stopped running since their door was opened. He mentioned "those miracle boys". I thanked him for reminding me of that fact as I wasn't seeing them as "miracles" right now. He then asked me if I had heard the following story.

I've told the story about the little baby nine months old who was born blind. The father came up with him one Sunday and said, "Brother Cowley, our baby hasn't been blessed yet; we'd like you to bless him."

I said, "Why have you waited so long?"

"Oh, we just didn't get around to it"

Now, that's the native way; I like that. Just don't get around to doing thing! Why not live and enjoy it? I said, "All right, what's the name?" So he told me the name and I was just going to start when he said, "By the way, give him his vision when you give him a name. He was born blind." Well, it shocked me, but then I said to myself, why not? Christ told his disciples when he left them they could work miracles. And I had faith in that father's faith. After I gave that child its name, I finally got around to giving it its vision. That boy's about twelve years old now. The last time I was back there I was afraid to inquire about him. I was sure he had gone blind again. That's the way my faith works sometimes. So I asked the branch president about him. And he said, "Brother Cowley, the worst thing you ever did was to bless that child to receive his vision. He's the meanest kid in the neighborhood, always getting into mischief." Boy, I was thrilled about that kid getting into mischief!

Wait a minute. Did the Stake President just give me a pep talk about being blessed with mischievous miracles? Ehh, we'll take 'em, even if they're ornery.

Did you know...

who the 2010 UTC March for Babies Ambassador Family is?

Us! We'll do our best to act normal...but I can't promise anything.

100th Day of School

"100th day of school was so much better than that other day" (that other day being Groundhogs Day). Everyone got to bring 100 things. Grace took princess stickers. They counted a few peoples 100 things and played games. They all got to dress up like 100 yr olds too. There were a few with the intensity of Grace, who wore pink rollers, a shawl, a robe, a zip up Walmart night gown and her support hose...err tights. And guess what? Tomorrow is Teacher Something Day so there's no school. She's so excited.

Pups-a-johnny Phil

Grace was very excited to hear if the groundhog would see his shadow. They've been talking about it at school and today was the big day.

"Pups-a-johnny Phil or no I think it's Brandon saw his shadow and so well have six more days of winter. I don't know what that hedgehog knows about winter but I think we should have Spring now. I just don't want this snow anymore."

Now we are looking forward to "100th dat of school" on Thursday, I hope it's not a buzz kill too.

It's only 10am.

Sometimes there isn't time to get the camera. You just have to use the webcam.

Kate is ready for battle with her sword & gun.

Err, breast pump piece, gun, same difference. {That blur is James}

Minutes later Miles come in " I go to church"....umm diaper, unders, clip on tie? Sorry babe.

Boring is Good!

It's be a lie if I said I was not panicking as to what was growing inside. We've had stuff that most OBs can't handle. Who's to say we weren't going to have another crazy pregnancy. Why am I so lucky that I've got 4 of 4 or yikes now wanting 5 out of 5?

So, after dropping Grace at school, the boys at a friends, Kate (my carpool excuse) and I headed to Dr Watts. I took the ipod for Kate to keep her entertained during the appointment but that failed to work so I ended up answering 20 questions about what was going on. After a forever long (ok ... 20 minutes) appointment we go in and get an ultrasound. Right as he put the thing to my belly my awesome ultrasound tech-ing skillz came back to me. I saw one bag, one beating bean, and my heart rate mellowed. Yay the start of a boring pregnancy. With this round of morning sickness being similar to the boys I was fearing something could be amiss.

Boring is good!

Lying is bad

This afternoon the girls room was a disaster and I gave them the time I was showering to get it presentable. They did very well, except for stacking the mattresses on Grace's bed versus Kate's being trundle-ed underneath. Blankets were laid out with care and clothes were hung up so I let it go and thanked them. Later I hear thundering noises and forbid them from jumping off the double mattress-ed bed to the floor. Again they comply, again I thank them. Things are going well.

Tonight I got the boys ready and in bed then went to the girls room to start the drill across the hall. Both girls were ready for bed, under covers, on the same double stacked mattresses. With many pleases and politeness they asked to sleep like that, I will probably regret letting them but I tucked in the blanket to make sure no one rolls out, showed then the distance of what could happen, and turned to leave.

There is a hole in my ceiling {above the dresser} the diameter of a pencil!?!?

Me-What is that?

G-I don't know what that is.

K- {dodging my look of death}

M- I'd much rather know you broke something than know one of you is lying. Lying is bad. {waiting for a guilt induced confession}

G- I have no idea, I was at school when that happened.

K- I was in the basement.

{I rehang the clock that belongs above the dresser}

G- I may have bumped that when I jumped.

M- You jumped off the dresser to the bed?!?

G- No, I walked off the dresser.

M- Do not climb or jump off the dresser. I don't care as much about the clock, how did you break my ceiling?

G- I think Miles did it.

K- I saw the babies get up there and poked a hole in it with a long drilling stick.

M- Good night girls. No one is going to have any fun tomorrow until I know what happened.

K- Ok mom, the babies did it.

{as the door shuts}

G- Be quiet Kate.

Please don't tell me they are going to formulate some story for tomorrow morning. Grace is barely 6. I had to leave though as neither have great poker faces nor can they think on their toes. Lying is bad.

Sledding

Grace loved sledding, we've even made a couple of pit stops since to get a few runs in if we are on errands and the boys are asleep. I think it is a little fast for Kate and the boys but everyone seemed to enjoy going, even Ben.

Kate was more a climb down backwards snowshoer and the boys more of a watcher or with dad sledder.

We all had a several sleds down before Grace started the potty dance.

But miraculously once we were all walking across the field she regained the strength to take two more solo runs.

She rocks.

2009

In 2009 we:

What's in store for 2010?

I was doing fine at keeping it a secret but Rich decided to tell the kids (essentially opening it up to public knowledge) Saturday morning that if mommy needed more help we all needed to help her because she is going to have a baby...yet no one jumped to help de-Christmas or do all the laundry...that pile of Christmas is still just to exciting.

This was all made around the dinner table as a family announcement and I was eager to hear their reaction. Grace thought it was a great idea to have a baby, she's "always wanted a sister" (ps: You have Kate, remember and this little one doesn't even have more than a spine). Kate wondered if it was "a girl baby or a girl/boy baby?". (I'm really hoping not to have a hermaphrodite baby.) James laughed and asked "you got a baby in there?" and Miles said he "yiked it" (liked it). So, since I have family approval I guess we are on our way. We hopefully will have the most boring SINGLETON pregnancy and have the most uneventful delivery sometime in August.

Grandpa Clause

Christmas Eve brought good food and Grandpa Clause to our house.

Rich is done playing...err assembling the tracks... good night!