Doing things her way

Anyone who knows Miquelyn knows that she does things HER way. It can be very frustrating, exhausting, annoying.......the list could go on, but finally it has paid off! Less than three weeks ago she told me during sacrament meeting that she wanted to go potty. I thought whatever, but I will take her any way. Low and behold she went. She had done this a few other times, and I decided maybe she was ready. So, that day we started. I did not slow my life down at all, and she did fantastic. Within 4 days I was taking her out all over town running errands in her undies. I can count her accidents and less than two hands. For almost 2 weeks she has been telling me when she needs to go, I do not even have to ask. She even wears her undies for nap time and to bed at night. She has done AMAZING...and I think it was all because it was her idea. I have a feeling if this girl puts her mind to something, it will get accomplished. She has been my youngest and by far the easiest. Thanks Mique for giving me a break.....lovin only one in diapers!

(P.S. special thanks to cousins Logan and Tiegan who helped decide she wanted to be a big girl and wear undies!)

Isaac...growing boy.

There is just something about this kid. I cannot explain it, but how can you not absolutely love him and want to (as his dad would say) bite his face off.

Tragedy

I am not sure if it is that I am getting older, know more people, am more aware...or if tragedy is just striking more, but it seems like I am constantly hearing about a tragedy involving someone I know. I am not going to lie, it REALLY effects me. Especially when the loss is that of a child. This week a good family friend...one that I have known as long as I can remember, lost their 3 month old baby to SIDS. My heart aches for this family. I cannot even imagine the pain and heartache (I do not want to imagine it). I think about them all the time. I wish there was something I could do. I am so grateful for our knowledge of the Plan of Salvation, and even though it does not take away the pain of loss, it puts perspective in an eternal nature. This family will be together again, this little soul received his body and can now gain his eternal rewards. I have felt to strongly that these parents are special chosen people to face this situation of being a part of the creative process providing their boy a body and having to let him go WAY too soon. It is good to know that their family surrounds them at this time.

I think part of the reason I am so affected is that my baby is only 8 months old. I cannot imagine having him one day, and not the next. He has not been feeling well the last couple of days, and I have taken the time to hold him close and tight. The other night we slept most of it on the couch...I just rested his head on my arm, pulled him in close, kissed his face, and just looked at my precious little one. I love my little buddy and want to take every opportunity to enjoy him, all of the kids for that matter. Life is unpredictable, and thank goodness for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to ease these earthly burdens!

Long days

It is 11:45 and I am just occupying my hands until Grant gets home. He went into work today at 8:00am, we took him lunch at work at 1:00pm, and now it is 11:45pm and he is still at work (but hopefully heading home pretty soon.) They were setting up the new phones and what he thought would be a couple hour job has turned in to much MUCH more. I feel so bad for him, he has got to be exhausted. This week he has already been at work for 52 hours, and two days left in the work week so at minimum another 22 (yep over 74 hours, yikes!). The hard part is that there is no other way to do it right now. I am just afraid he is so worn down and without any time to recoup, he will get sick. It will get better...it will get better. I wish his superiors truly understood the time, energy and effort he is putting into this. He is one of the hardest workers I have ever known, and no one can argue that. I wish he could have a little time to take care of himself, he is such a good man. Longs days are necessary, but I (and he too I am sure) will be so glad when they are long gone!

New Tricks

So guess who all of the sudden is getting to the sitting up position from laying down...seriously Isaac slow down or before I know it you will be running away from me instead of grabbing on to me!

Miquelyn for the last week has ocassionally told me she wants to go potty. So, I take her and she goes every time. Yesterday I put her in "undies" as she calls them and only had one accident. She has gone the whole day today without any problems. She was ready, I was not, but I do not want to miss the window, so here we go. Mique...you can go full force ahead on this one....beautiful thought of only one in diapers and only one left to potty train!

It never ceases to amaze me how these kiddos grow up in such a blink of an eye. it is a wild ride!

You never know

Every Christmas Eve my family does a white elephant gift exchange. It is a year long event, in that year round we are looking for the next year's best gift. No matter what, we can never know what the big hit of the night will be. I really thought the reappearance of Patches O'Hollihan (sp) was going to be the big event, but I was wrong. When Asher saw these, he just had to have them, and they instantly became the hit of the night. Doesn't he look adorable!

Enough so that Dad had to join in on the fun.

Now Caleb was not about to be left out.

Isaac needed to join the party.

Ok, party over...well it made me laugh pretty dang hard while it lasted. It was a great one Mikael, thanks for the endless entertainment!

This new year

If the last couple of days are indicative of our year...I think I will crawl back in bed and try again in 2012. I know, not the best attitude to start, but I was hoping for a better year and so far it has not been so.

It started with the stomach flu for Asher (both directions). I feel so bad for kids that have this.

It turned into Grant getting a nasty cold (which he still has not totally recovered from the one he got a month ago.)

Caleb fell down the stairs before church yesterday.

Asher seemed better, went to church, and within the first 20 minutes had to be rushed home. (Thank goodness Grant had stayed home....indicator of how crappy he felt...because I had to sub in primary.)

Caleb now has the bug (both directions.)

On top of the normal massive amounts of laundry, much more has been added on.

I have a 7 month old that is not even close to sleeping through the night...Those late night trips up and down the stairs take it out of me.

I was asking Grant about work last night and tried to accept the realization that he now will be working 6 days a week for at least 11-12 hour days without a lunch break...which to me translates to doing a lot on my own and trying to explain to the kids why he has to be gone (not my favorite.)

Seeing my hope of a "magical" Disney vacation this year fade away.

I laid in bed last night thinking about it all, I just wanted to cry...yep 2012 is looking better all the time.

So I tried to see the positive:

2011 has brought us a new couch for our TV room so we can finally watch a movie as a family in comfort.

Even though Grant is gone a lot, when he is around he is very "present" and gives his all to the kids...and it is evident how much they adore him.

Disney will be there next year.

This new dealership is good for our family, I just have to be patient and let it and my husband grow.

Illness is temporary, and it too shall pass.

I can do hard things (even though I do not want to have to), and my family is in tact and working together.

I have a good life, wonderful kids, the best husband and so many blessings I cannot count them all. It will get better and so will my ability to cope.

So, I am going to work on a few things I want and need to do for this year, and hopefully it will help me feel better and be better.