Geo-Trax

Does everyone out there know about Geo-Trax? It is our absolute favorite train set ever! We have three different train sets, and for a long time I tried to not get my own geo-trax set because Grandma Lynn has it and I didn't want to duplicate her toys. But since we will be moving to Yuma, and won't be able to play her Geo-Trax whenever we want, we have started our own collection. We totally love it!!! I have AT LEAST as much fun as Ammon does and I am always very proud of my "creations" when I have built a new track. It is way fun for me and my boy to do together!

Great Smile!

My computer was down and out for a month and a half, so even though I have taken some pictures, I haven't been great about getting them off the camera. I was doing that this morning and found this picture Katy took. She was able to get a great smile out of Peter - I love it because it is so him: happy and bashful at the same time.

Green Straw

Ammon went through this phase where he was obsessed with straws. And not just any straws - green ones. Every morning he would ask for his drink and then say, (because I heard it so often I taught him to be polite about it), "May I please have a green straw?" This went on until we ran out of green straws. He was disapointed, but then came the daily question, "May I please have a blue straw?" Again this continued until we ran out of blue straws. Next he asked for red, and finally yellow straws. Eventually we ran out of all of them. I went to the store and found some straws randomly hanging in one isle, thought of Ammon and brought them home. They were great because they were all the same color - red and blue striped. I could just grab a straw at random and give it to him. And I did. Every day. Until they were all gone.

Every once in a while Ammon still asks for his straw. I keep meaning to buy more - I just haven't yet. And so I remind him that we are all out of straws. This morning was one of those days - he very sweetly asked for a straw and I told him we were all out, mentally reminding myself that I have GOT to go to the store to buy some. Strangely, Ammon asked, "Will you just check anyway?" So I did.

My mom had gotten some straws and put them in the "straw" place so I was pleasantly surprised to open up the cupboard and find a big bag of straws. I forgot which one was Ammon's favorite - I just grabbed one out and handed it to him.

We were lucky. I just happened to grab a green straw. Ammon shrieked with delight. He asked, "who bought the straws?" and I explained that I think Grandma had gotten them. He immediately ran downstairs to where she was and gave her a big hug. I was so impressed by the sheer happiness Ammon felt in response to a simple green straw and thought it might be good for me to reflect on what some of the "green straws" in my life might be. Happiness is so often and easily found in some of the simplest forms and today Ammon was a great example of that.

On a different note - I consider this to be a little bit more than a "green straw" happy thing - we finally figured out when Andy's first raise will be (actually his second raise - they had a 3% cost of living raise increase at the beginning of the year). There was a question about when it kicked in - it used to come 7 months after the academy in conjunction with a test they took. They don't have that test anymore, so we were not sure what to expect. Now the first raise (which is 14%, so it's kind of a big deal to me) comes six months after he started! So we'll actually be seeing it in just a few more months. I am pretty excited about that!

Bed Time Bliss

The first few years of Ammon's life, I was stupid. I guess I just didn't realize that babies will somewhat automatically put themselves on a schedule if you just help them decide what it is. For our entire marriage Andy and I had worked nights, and although I quit my job, Andy was still working nights and not getting home until late - even though he generally left the house for school at 6:30 in the morning. So having a bedtime for the baby didn't occur to me. Ammon slept when he fell asleep and was awake the other times. There was absolutely no rhyme or reason to it. And it wreaked havic on our lives as he got older.

Because I never forced bed, Ammon never really learned how to unwind and fall asleep. We got into the very bad habbit of driving to put him to sleep. We would get in our car at 2 or 3 in the morning sometimes because Ammon had still not gone to bed. We were always up at least until midnight or 1:00 and often times later than that.

We lived this way until Ammon was big enough to not take naps at all. And then our lives changed for the better!

Now I have two boys who are perfect at going to bed! Peter has always been really good about adhering to a schedule, and lately Ammon has been coming to me telling me he is ready for bed. And I am talking about 7:30 at night - none of the midnight stuff anymore!

Tonight I put Peter to bed at 7:30 like I always do. Ammon was having a good time playing on the computer so I decided to let him stay up "late" until 8:00. I came down half an hour later to put him to bed and he was no where to be found. After a few minutes searching I found him already snuggled into bed sleeping. It just cracks me up that he put himself to bed!

I am so glad that I can rely on bedtime every night. It takes half an hour or so by the time I nurse Peter, get him to bed, and then help Ammon get his teeth brushed etc and get him to bed. But it's never a fight with either one of them and by 8:00 every night I am free and clear and able to do whatever (usually talk to Andy for a few minutes) and have some child free time before I go to bed myself. I am so glad for my boys who love their sleep!

No Cavities!

Ammon had his first ever sucessful visit to the dentist today! Hopefully now we can just keep the routine of checkups every six months with an easy cleaning and flouride treatment. It is just so much easier this way than when there is lots of extra work to be done.

Since Peter already has 7 teeth, I am taking him in as soon as he has his birthday. Hopefully we can keep his teeth from having the same problems Ammon had. He has a couple of advantages that Ammon didn't have, though. He lives where there is flouride in the water (Ammon didn't when he was Peter's age), he doesn't use a bottle, and, after our experiences with Ammon, I am much more paranoid about juice and candy.

I went to the dentist a few weeks ago and also had no cavities (no surprise there - I can't remember the last time I had a cavity...) Andy needs to get to the dentist, but apparently Artesia doesn't have any dentists that work hours which would accomodate him. He is pretty frustrated about it, actually.

Anyway, if nothing else we can get him in to see our dentist here one last time before me move. After being double covered on insurance last year and still spending a good 5k out of pocket on dental stuff, I am eager to keep every one current on their check ups!

Tip of the Day

Yesterday I went to CostCo with my mom. I had already checked Sam's Club for the Twilight Books (they were about $18 a piece at Barnes and Noble and I couldn't bring myself to do that!) Sadly, no luck at Sam's Club. But, while at CostCo, I decided on a whim to check out the book area. Sure enough, Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse were all there for $11 each! We walked out of the store with 6 books in hand!!! I bought all three, Mom bought Twilight, and Katy requested that we get her the first two (she heard that a new edition of Eclipse will be released soon with the first chapter of the next book in it so she is holding out for that). Anyway, if anyone else wants to buy the books at a good price, CostCo is the place to go. The books are hardcover. ;-)

Sick and Miserable...

It started with Ammon having a runny nose. That was last week. Other than the runny nose, though, he seemed to be fine. Until Friday, I think. That was the day we just sat around watching TV because he kept telling me how sick he was. Then I started feeling like I was catching something. For me it started Saturday night. I have always heard that the third day of a cold is the worst, and if today counts as the third day, then I totally believe it. I am miserable! And the disheartening thing is that Ammon still seems to feel lousy too. Last night he started coughing so hard he actually threw up. (The picture is of the girl cleaning it up...) This morning he is just miserable and has asked me, "why does it have to be morning?" I think he is saying that he wants to still be sleeping. I told him he can close his eyes and go to sleep anyway, but he is petty adament that morning time requires conciousness... what a funny boy.

Random

Can you tell from Peter's unsure smile that he is wondering if he is allowed to be happy with me a full three feet away from him! He is just at that age!!! He is so cute and can really keep himself entertained IF he forgets to worry whether or not I am in the room. But he will be playing just fine and if he suddenly looks up to see me, and realizes that I am over on the couch instead of on the floor next to him he will start to cry. He does this funny thing lately where he puts his hands over his ears and cries in major distress every time he is upset. I really spent three weeks wondering if he had ear infections before I determined that it is just what he does when his feelings have been hurt.

Ammon was sick today, which was a bummer. I encouraged him to lay low and watch TV most of the day. He loves Diego, though, and I don't turn it on for him very often, so he got up and had fun. Diego was doing some sort of race today and so Ammon ran and ran - even though he told me it made him tired. I love all these interactive TV shows they have these days. (Although I guess I should let him watch them on the days he's NOT sick - it kind of defeated my purposes today...)

The other day I took Ammon to get an icecream cone at McDonald's. He heard me order the "Kiddie Cone". Ever since then he has been asking if we can go back and get the "Kitty Cone". Then he started calling it the "Kitty Cat Cone". It is funny to realize what kids think they hear.

Andy did awesome on his law test today. 12 out of the 43 guys failed it and Andy's score was in the high 80's. He thinks he may be the only guy in his group who hasn't failed at least one of the law classes. He has been doing so well in those classes! It is really impressive. I wish we were rich, because next weekend is another three day weekend and I want him to come home again. The only consolation is that we will be going there in three weeks. But even though three weeks will get here, it still sounds like a long time compared to next week!

I have been supposed to be binding a quilt - which is so small it should have been done 2 weeks ago, but I have been reading in all my spare time and haven't even been getting to my book much, so the binding has been put aside. However, I finished Eldest today, so I can finally get back to the other things I am supposed to do when the boys are sleeping (like getting some sleep myself...)

I am not sure how much I love the books Eragon and Eldest, but I am intersted enough that I will read the rest of them when they come out. I think the next one comes out in August, though, and that is when the next book from the Twilight series comes out. There is no debate in my mind as to which one I'll read first! Now that I am finished with this book, I just may read Twilight again!

I am kind of disapointed that Eldest culminated on the great revelation of Eragon's family background since I had figured that out back in the first book. I expected it to come out in the second book, but the way it ended on that note made it seem like the whole book was just building to that discovery. Oh well. Like I said, I am far enough invested in the story that I am curious to see it through now.

And now the big decision for my night... binding or bed? (Or, knowing me, good intentions for both and in reality niether...)

President Monson

Today I watched the press conference which announced our new first presidency. It was neat to watch. I felt the spirit in various ways throughout the meeting and am confident the this is the Lord's church and He is at the head. President Monson, President Eyring and President Uchtdorf truly are servants of the Lord.

When I first turned on the TV Carol Mikita was reporting but the conference had not yet begun. She is a good reporter, though, and basically knew, through her own observations what was going to take place. She reported seeing President and Sister Monson, Sister Eyring, and.... Sister Uchtdorf. As soon as she said that, it was an easy assumption of who the new first presidency would be.

Moments later in walked our prophets and apostles: the men who lead the church and bring the words of our Heavenly Father to the world today. At President Hinckley's funeral procession, it was noted how orderly they are in following their order of senority. Well, I didn't have a clear view of the TV because I was tending to Peter, but from the corner of my eye I could see eleven men walking in order to sit in the chairs for the apostles, and three other men walking to the chairs for the first presidency. Before any formal announcement was made, President Monson sat down with President Eyring at his right and President Uchtdorf at his left. I just got chills as I watched this newly formed presidency make themselves known to the world for the first time.

Someone asked President Monson what he did in response to the realization that this responsibility would come upon him. His answer touched me. He said that he knelt in prayer and asked the Lord what is offered in D&C 84:88, that the Lord would "go before my face, and that He will be on my right hand and on my left, and that His Spirit shall be in my heart, and His angels round about to bare me up." I love listening to the Prophets and Apostles because so often they speak the words of the scriptures whether we realize it or not.

The other answer I remember (I can't recall what the exact question was) was that the best thing the youth of the church can do is pray and have confidence that they will receive answers to those prayers. It is my responsibility to live this way, and more importantly to teach my children the power of prayer. I feel like I am already being taught and instructed by President Monson.

I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who has provided for us these watchmen on the tower who help us find the light in an ever darkening world!

YOU Need a Blog!

OK. So I got tagged. This is the explanation of what that means:


Quick Rules:
A: Each player answers the questions about themselves.
B: At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

The problem is that Kara is the only person I know who keeps a regular blog and she is the one who tagged me!

Well, part A is fine... I'll get around to it. But part B is a problem. So I am going to "tag" the people who read this blog who I WISH had blogs that I could read too!


5 People I Tag:

1.. Amanda
2. Krista
3. Rae
4. Kim
5. Deanne

I feel bad because I know there are people I left out and honestly, I want EVERYONE to start a blog because I would love to know more about what is up with you. So even if you aren't on the "list" consider yourself "tagged" to start a blog. (And then don't forget to tell me about it!!!)


OK. On to the questions...


10 Years Ago:
I had just turned twenty. I remember my parents being concerned about me because they felt like I was "drifting" and didn't really have a clear direction with what to do with life. I didn't understand what they were talking about at the time, but in retrospect they were dead on. I struggled to be motivated with my education because I felt like the next year would either bring marriage or mission, both of which would potentially disrupt school. I didn't know what to prepare for or how to do it. If I am specific to 10 years ago this month I was working full time in the returns department at Franklin Covey. I went to the "Wellness Center" every day after work and didn't realize until later but was in the best shape of my life and probably looked my best too.


5 Things on My "To-Do" list for today:
1. Keep the boys alive
2. Stay as sane as possible
3. Read more of my book
4. Clean the bathroom
5. Work on laundry


3 of My Bad Habbits
1. Worrying about finances - even the finances of other people I care about who are much better off than I am and of who's detailed finances I really know little of. I just worry about money for everyone.
2. I have to-do lists - great plans of what I should and could do - and then I don't accomplish most of what is on them.
3. I stay up on the computer when I should be getting much needed sleep!


I Enjoy:
I enjoy knowing what is going on with friends and family. I enjoy sleep. I enjoy cooking when I am doing it because I want to and not because I have to. I enjoy snuggling in a warm blanket and feeling all cuddly. (I don't know how that will work in Yuma.) I enjoy watching my boys play and grow. I enjoy playing games with Andy. I enjoy a good romance whether it is a book, movie, or real life. I enjoy having a good friend to talk to. I enjoy going out to eat. I enjoy paying off bills and having money left to pack away into savings.


Snacks I enjoy:
I love nachos. I like carrot sticks with Ranch dressing. I LOVE icecream - especially Ben and Jerry's Peanut Butter Cup. I love salad's although that is usually more of a meal than a snack. I love ritz crackers with cut up pieces of deli meat (turkey) and slices of cheese. I like apple slices. Trail mix is a favorite. Oh, and dried mangos from CostCo. I also love cinnimin bears, chocolate covered nuts and Jamba Juices or really any smoothie.


If I were a billionaire:
I would pay tithing and put an equal amount into spendable money (first and most important purchase being a house). I would save the rest in an account with a good return. Every year I would take half of the interest out and let the rest continue to build. I would spend my time thinking of all the good I could do with the money for myself, my family, my friends, my church and the world. Then I would lament because my ideas will always exceed my abilities. Then I would go spend more than I intended to on the people and causes I love.


5 Places I've Lived:
1. California
2. Washington
3. Utah - Magna, South Jordan, Logan, Rose Park, Taylorsville, Lehi, West Jordan
4. Texas - Humble, Beamont, and Bridge City
5. Louisianna - Cameron


5 Jobs that I've had:
1. Taco Bell - Line Worker, Supervisor
2. Capstone Entertainment - TSR, QMR, QMR Supervisor
3. Franklin Covey - CSR, Returns Specialist, NAR (finance dept)
4. UPS - CSR, QMR
5. Discover Card - NAR

Ammon's Prayer

The other day we were visiting Carolyn and Kylie and Katie invited us to stay for dinner. Kylie was called on the say the prayer, and Ammon was selected to help her say it. He still has a hard time figuring out how to start (I am clueless as to why) so he turned to me for help. And so the prayer began:

Jenny (in a whisper to Ammon): "Heavenly Father"
Ammon (in a whisper to Kylie): "Heavenly Father"
Kylie (out loud for all to hear): "Heavenly Father"

Fortunately for all of us, Ammon decided that he could take it from there:

Ammon (NOT in a whisper - don't know why...) "We thank thee for Jesus."
Kylie: "We thank thee for Jesus."

Ammon: "We thank thee for the food"
Kylie: "We thank thee for the food"

Ammon: "Please bless President Hinckley to get fixed so that he can be put together again"

silent pause.

Kylie: "What???"

Anyway, we were able to bless the food and start eating, but I thought Ammon's prayer was so sweet. He and I had talked about President Hinckley dying. I explained that his spirit left his body and went back to live with Heavenly Father. When we watched the funeral and saw the coffin, I explained that we are keeping President Hinckley's body safe in that box until his spirit comes back with his body. So even though Ammon did not know the right words, he prayed with his four year old love and faith that President Hinckley would be resurrected. What a touching thing for him to come up with all on his own.