Gracie: "Mommy, you're my sweetie pie."

I was going to wait to write a post until I could put together a “nice” one with pictures from Jonathan’s birthday but life has been going non-stop so that post will just have to wait. I’m so grateful for that wonderful kid… Eight years ago tonight I had no idea I could love that baby boy so much.

Gracie loves to make up little songs about how much I love her, playing nicely, her flower blanket, how she is my Gracie girl and that sort of thing. Driving to church last Sunday was one long song of sweet improvisation. Sometimes when I think she is sleeping in bed for her nap, out of the blue I will hear my little songbird.

Tonight, she came in to help me put Ryan to bed. I was holding him (a treat he will let me do when he is really tired) and singing to him. She sat next to me kissing his head every now and then and hold him softly. When she is in a really giving mood, she will even give him her blanket. She is very proud of getting me diapers and wipes for Ryan from anywhere in the house. My Visiting Teachers from church came by this morning. It was the first official VT visit I’ve had since we moved here and it must have shown because and Gracie did a little dance for them and sat on one ladies lap. Ryan put on a little show too “telling” them all sorts of jibber jabber stories. I’m sure they weren’t expecting a performance, but a performance is what they got.

On the way home from church on Sundays, Ryan will often start to fall asleep. Our first reaction is to wake him up because if he falls asleep, he’ll count that as his nap and be wide-awake once we get home. Anyway, I caught him falling asleep and said, “Hey little guy, no sleeping allowed on the drive home” while tickling his toes in an attempt to keep him awake. He gave a sweet smile but refused to open his eyes. He loves to tease me and he’s not even two yet.

Jonathan has chosen to be baptized into

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

to take the name of Christ upon him

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Saturday March 1, 2014 at 12:30

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Pauba Stake Center

32374 Pauba Road

Temecula, CA 92592

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On Thursday, I was walking through an elementary school with Gracie and Ryan and thought it was odd that the faculty were announcing an activity over the intercom and substituted the term, “father-figure” every time they would normally say “Dad”. “If your father-figure wasn’t able to make it…” I wonder if they substitute “mother-figure” for “Mom” in this politically correct world. About the same time, I passed a nice older gentleman that I see every week. He sits in a desk in the hallway volunteering his time at the elementary school helping three or four children with reading. Even though he’s at a stage in his life where he could easily justify just worrying about himself, he’s using his time to help these children. Thank goodness for those “father-figures”.

Recently, we have been enjoying playing family games (Ticket to Ride, Settlers of Catan, Hedbanz and Mousetrap). Now we have another very enjoyable family pastime, watching the Olympics! It’s cute to see how the kids enjoy it. While we were watching the women’s snowboarding competition, Jonathan was making comments like, “Oh that was a good one. She had a lot of control on that landing” and other language like he heard on the TV. As far as the Olympics go, I especially enjoy watching any of the competitions where there are other women that are really tall and powerful and intimidating and must struggle finding any clothes that actually fit them- solidarity ladies. Last night, I couldn’t get enough of the dancers acting out Russian history. I was mesmerized.

Ryan likes to walk places on his own now like he is a big kid. The only time he’ll sit still in my lap is when I’m reading to him on the rocking chair because he knows that if he gets off, Gracie will jump on in a heartbeat. He’ll sometimes get his own diaper and wipes from under the bathroom sink and gives me sweet kisses when I ask him for them. We switched to 9:00 church in January and it’s been so, so nice. I teach a CTR 7 class this year and Michael is teaching the 15 year-olds in Sunday School. Gracie loves being in the Sunbeam class and is more excited about primary than either Jonathan or James ever were. Church ends at 12:00, we go home, eat lunch and everyone either has to take a nap or have quiet time. I figure it’s the perfect time for families with children (and grown-ups) that still need naps.

Especially after attending a pinewood derby with Grandpa two weeks ago, Jonathan can’t wait to start Scouts in two weeks.

Jonathan and Gracie got Valentines from Grandma today (notice picture). Ryan and James’ must still be in the mail. James is anxiously awaiting his and hopes there is something sweet inside.

If I told you Jonathan and James wake up at 7:00 full of energy and happily work together to make our entire family smoothies, oatmeal (salt and brown sugar included), and buttered toast each morning without any parental help would you believe me?