Another Post on The Boy

It seems like lately all I have been posting is about the baby and the boy. The girls are getting left out, I'm afraid.

And today is no exception. Maybe tomorrow, girls.

With another girl coming into our family and ET being the only son, we look for opportunities for him to do things with his Dad. The library in Provo has an activity every year called Big Guys, Little Guys, where boys and their male caretakers get to go and hang out and do all sorts of things--just the guys.

They went last year (I am sure I have a post somewhere about it but am too tired to search for it.) and had a blast. ET got his face painted, a tote bag full of things and the book of his choice.

This year was no different, besides a different theme and his increase in appetite. The kid ate 3 hamburgers and wanted to go back for more. This year was a medieval theme. They had guys sword fighting and a juggling act that was really good according to hubby.

And the face painting. ET wanted to leave it on so he could scare the kids at church and school. And being the bad Mom that I am, I told him it wasn't appropriate. What do you think?

And of course, the obligatory 6 year old dead pose.

Pregnant...still

It's a miracle, folks. This thing has never happened before in the history of my pregnancies. Well, two things actually, but only one of them is exciting.

Between week 32 and week 34 I gained 0 pounds!* No weight gain whatsoever. Jason said technically that means I lost weight.

The other new thing? My iron is low. I am not sure exactly how this happened since I have eaten almost a whole cow this pregnancy but alas, 4 pregnancies of not really taking my prenatals has finally caught up with me. So break out the steaks...I'm grilling!


*baby is fine and measuring just where she should. Perhaps she is finally pulling some nutrients from my fat stores.

***Edited to add: I have been eating whatever sounds good. Cookies, cakes, hot chocolate, pizza...you name it, I've eaten it, and more.

First Real Loss

My son is a big softie. (much like his father and grandfather, actually.) He is very sensitive.

And now, he is experiencing his first real loss. And it's breaking his heart (and mine in the process.)

He started kindergarten this year, and in doing so, made new friends. But one boy in particular stood out. His mom and I would take turns taking the boys to school. They played together at recess. They walked home from school together. We even switched babysitting so they got to hang out lots of Friday nights. And, of course, they saw each other at church every Sunday.

This boy moved yesterday. To Oklahoma.

ET was in the midst of doing chores (thank you Karate!), and I went to check on him. He walked slowly toward me and said, "I'm just sad today."

I had no idea what was going on. We hadn't fought; he hadn't lost priveledges: the usual culprits of sadness.

"My best friend moved yesterday," he sobbed, sitting down heavily by me.

I just held him and let him cry.

The REAL Karate Kid

Daniel Larusso's got nothin' on this kid.

Last month, we signed ET up for the Leadership Program at his Karate School. This program puts him on track to be a Second Degree Black Belt in 5 years. It will teach him all sorts of leadership skills. He gets all sorts of homework: Practice karate for 20 minutes every day, Read for 20 minutes every day, and self-discipline--do things at home or school without being asked. But, the best part is watching him lead the class of older students.


And his nunchuck skills are rather impressive.

The Art of Negotiation

My son is a master negotiator. He starts out small.

"Mom, can I have just one Oreo cookie?"

So I think--the girls are in the tub so this won't turn into a cookie fest. He did eat his breakfast pretty good so why not.

"Sure. One cookie."

**Crunch*** He already had the cookie in his hand because he knew I would say yes.

Two minutes later...

"Mom, can I have just one more cookie because they're so small?"

In Need of Assistance

I am going to be alone over Conference Weekend. Well, as alone as one can be with three small children. No showering uninterrupted on Saturday because hubby is there to sort out all disputes. No sleeping in. Nobody to cook breakfast for us.

Now I know I shouldn't be complaining because there are plenty of parents who regularly have to go it alone (my sister and Brooke, for example). But you see, I can count the number of times my husband and I have been apart since we got married.

There was the week that he was in school and I was in Cali for my sister's wedding.
There was the time I stayed with friends while he went to the Gorge with his friends.
There were a handful of overnight camping trips with the Young Men.
There was the weekend of his friend Erik's wedding.
There were those two Father/Son campouts where they came back at 7 am anyway.

And now another of his friends is getting married and he will be gone for two whole nights.

Who will get me a Jamba Juice at 10:30 at night?
Who will grill me a steak?

But most importantly, who will change the poopy diapers and get up with the kids at night?!

I am glad that this trip happens to be over General Conference weekend, because that means we can stay in pjs all day and I don't have to try church alone with three kids. So I will be stocking up on bubbles, play-doh, and snacks; but I need some ideas on how to get the kids to sit still during Conference...or a better lock on the playroom door.

Last year, I found a Conference packet that entertained them for about an hour. Does anyone have anything that has worked for them?

"I Don't Wanna Get Pinched!"

Oh the joys that school brings. All of the holidays that we could skim past before are now brought out front and center. Valentine's Day was important but nothing compared to the talk of St. Patrick's Day. (And don't even get me started on the highly anticipated First Day of Spring!)

You'd better wear green or you are so gonna get pinched:
Who am I to argue with Kindergarten logic? And that boy--he can pinch hard!