My Early Morning Chickadees

Seminary has ended for the year and I managed to get a few pictures of my students at our breakfast on the last day. We had a great year but I cannot say that I am sad for the summer break! I only had 4 students which was really nice and I enjoyed getting to know them and see their sleepy faces everyday.Zack
KeganKegan, Elder Rose, Kaylee, and Jessica--the girls did not want their picture taken that early in the morning. (Can't say I blame them-- why do you think I'm behind the camera?)

I hate super glue

Today I tried to glue a Hello Kitty fork back together for Avery. I had to open a new tube of super glue to do it. A potentially messy task but one I thought I had mastered. Not today. The d@*# thing exploded all over my hand and I had two fingers completely stuck together and a 6th appendage in the form of Hello Kitty.

After Googling how to get it off, I soaked my hand in nail polish remover for half an hour and nothing budged. I know--not my brightest moment. It took a couple of hours and a razor blade but the Hello Kitty has finally come off and the rest of the super glue will just have to wear off. I'm a dummy. Lesson learned.

Happy Mother's Day!

(Author Unknown)

Before I was a Mom, I made and ate hot meals.

I had unstained clothing.

I had quiet conversations on the phone.

Before I was a Mom, I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed.

I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.

Before I was a Mom, I cleaned my house everday.

I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.

I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom, I had never been puked on.

Pooped on.

Chewed on.

Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.

I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom, I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.

Or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom, I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.

I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom, I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.

I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.

I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.

I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom, I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.

I had never known the warmth,

the joy,

the love,

the heartache,

the wonderment,

or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,

before I was a Mom.

I love these two for reminding me everyday how blessed I am and for making me realize how much my mom loves me.

So tired

Avery has grown more and more adverse to taking a nap. At first, this really cramped my style because I really enjoy those few minutes in the day when I have peace and quiet and a little time to myself. But then I realized that when she doesn't nap during the day, she goes to bed soooo much easier at night. So I am willing to let this no nap nonsense slide in order to get a longer evening of *me* time. Oh yeah, and Brent too. :)

There are some days, though, when Avery's little 2 year old body just can't handle anymore activity and she gives up. Sometimes, it is in the middle of a temper tantrum, sometimes while watching a cartoon, and sometimes in the middle of playing. It's extremely random--one minute she's alert, the next she's slumped over, sawing logs. I know by now that if Avery goes silent she's either painting the bathroom with my darkest shade of nail polish or she fell asleep. Last night, Avery came into our room in the middle of the night twice. The first time was to tell me that the birds were trying to get her blankets (maybe I should start buying non-hallucinogenic milk?) and the second was to tell us that someone had stolen her pillow. After shooing the "birds" away and finding the pillow shoved between the bed and the wall, I knew she would be a tired little monkey and would give up at some point today.
Bingo! In the corner, face down on the carpet with her precious backpack on. Don't worry, I checked for a pulse--we're good.

Darn you, Santa Claus!

Today, I changed no less than 4 poopie diapers on Avery, each one worse than the last. By the fourth one I said, "My word, where did all this diarrhea come from?!" To which she replied, "Santa Claus brought it to me for Christmas. He gave it to my bum-bum."