Name That Place

Boy, I was hoping to have all these posts about the trip done and pictures up. But would you believe that I'm still experiencing jet-lag? I was asleep by 8:40 last night and haven't slept past 5:30 in the morning since I've been back. Is this what life is like as a morning person? The time is now 9:10 and I can barely keep my eyes open.

So for now, let's play a game. Can anyone name the location in this picture?

The Gap

I'm back, although many of you didn't know I was gone. Jet-lag is a real and powerful thing and I'm spending the day fighting it. I anticipate loads of posts about the trip I just took, but for now (since I'm still gathering pictures) I'll just give you a little teaser.

Four Out of Five

I was reflecting recently on the difference between posting five days per week and only posting four days. I didn't think cutting one day would make such a difference, but it has. The stress that I felt over getting something on the blog has all but disappeared. I enjoy my blog again.

And since this is my fourth post of the week, I guess I'll see you all next week!

A Tour of Phoebe's New Room

The Exciting World of Books

It's Not What You Say, It's How You Say It

I realized after posting the tale of Phoebe's tattling on Cooper that I failed to include how she says things. Many of her words are clear and fairly easy to understand, but not all. So when she said "Mommy, Cooper hit me" it sounded more like "Mommy, Duba hit me." Duba is how she says Cooper, which is an improvement considering she used to call both boys Peter.

Other words currently taking up space in her vocabulary:

Daddy	computer	movie
class	iPad (which she calls myPad)
glasses	Bekah	mine
happy	Ryan	cheese
birthday	Benjamin	more
tiger	Nana	yes (which comes out "yesh")
boots	go	Grandpa (Bumpa)
cookie	book	Grandma (also Bumpa)
bagel	cat	mess
banana	dog	phone
apple	bow	piano (sounds like "ano")
orange	hair	music
juice	ear	play ("pay")
milk	eye	doll
plate	shoulder	baby
bowl	arm	hold it (said as one word)
spoon	toes	shirt
smoothie	noes	dress

There is a new one, taught to her courtesy of her big brothers. Sometimes she says it to scold the boys. Sometimes she says it to herself in a private, laughing sort of way. Want to know the new phrase?

Doo-doo head.

Yup, she's going to be that kid in nursery who teaches all the other kids naughty words.

Awesome.

Baby Bear Hugs

All of our children are snugglers. Bryan and I are often awakened in the night by a little voice (and sometimes not-so-little voice) asking if they can crawl under the covers and snuggle. I didn't think it was possible for a child to be more cuddly than the boys.

Phoebe has proven me wrong.

She spends large portions of the day giving hugs and kisses. Her little arm wraps around my neck as she lays her head on my shoulder. And she holds on tight. The boys do not escape the love either. She kisses their cheeks and puts her face against theirs.

Affection pours out of her.

And I love it.

Ring-A-Ding-Ding

I got a text from Bryan yesterday that made me pause. I realized what he meant, but receiving it on Valentine's Day was a little unsettling. There was one sentence. It read:

I just took off my wedding ring!

Um...

He hasn't been able to take off his wedding ring for several years. It turns out being in school and living on a rice and beans diet has had a positive effect on Bryan's waistline - and his ring line, apparently. He was sharing the good news about his weight loss, not reveling in the fact that he could go without his ring.

But still, kind of a funny message for Valentine's Day.

Sweets For My Sweets

We celebrated this day of love by eating our Valentine's. Soy Nut butter, coconut, and banana sandwiches, anyone?

The Question

Eleven years ago this weekend I came home from another wonderful date with Bryan. When I knelt down to say my prayers that night I told Heavenly Father that I would really like to marry this young man, but that I would leave it up to Him.

The next night I had to lock-up, one of my Resident Assistant duties. Bryan kept me company as I walked between buildings and swept the lobbies clean of anyone that wasn't supposed to be there. Bryan was jumpy and nervous and had trouble expressing himself clearly, very unusual behavior for such an articulate fellow.

When we finished the buildings we sat down on the steps outside the backdoor to my apartment. Our conversation was a spiritual one. Bryan still seemed unsettled and I wasn't sure what was going on. Then a switch was flipped and he was calm.

He looked at me and said, "Margot, I want you to go inside and pray to Heavenly Father and ask Him if He approves of me for you. And if He does, I want to know if you would be my wife."

As he spoke a grin spread across my face. I started slowly nodding yes.

Bryan looked confused, "Yes you'll pray?"

Laughter bubbled up out of me, "No."

He now looked much more hurt than confused, "No you won't pray?"

I looked into his eyes and said, "Yes."

A light of understanding began to dawn, "YES, yes?"

"Yes."

He didn't know that I had already prayed and asked that question. Bryan's proposal was my answer.

Happy Eleventh Engagement Anniversary Bryan!

The Jig Is Up

I am sad to say that Cooper is not as kind to Phoebe as he should be. And by that, I mean that Cooper is constantly poking, pinching, or hitting Phoebe. He spends a lot of time in timeout.

We drive a small car and all three of the kids sit crammed in the back seat, Phoebe in the middle, the boys on either side. Most of Cooper's infractions take place while he's strapped within punching distance of Phoebe. It used to be that Cooper could get away with naughtiness because I couldn't really see what was going on behind me while I drove.

But not anymore.

Yesterday while we were traveling in the car, Phoebe let out a cry of pain.

Me: Cooper, what just happened?

Cooper: Oh, I was just trying to give her a hug.

Phoebe: Mommy, Cooper hit me.

And that's what you get when your seventeen-month-old sister can speak in sentences.

Our Vernacular

Today Peter was telling me a story and part way through I had the thought," Huh, I wonder how many six-year-olds use the word 'several' correctly and on a regular basis?"

I had a similar thought a few weeks ago when I inadvertently snuck up on Cooper and he said I had startled him. Startled is a great word, especially for a three-year-old.

I do love the brains these little people have come with.

Run Run Run

Do you ever feel like you're traveling at a constant run? The day or the week or the month lays open before you, full-to-tipping with obligations? And since time is constant (at least for us mere mortals) we have rigid twenty-four-hours-in-a-day constraints telling us that we simply cannot do everything that we feel we should.

So something has to give.

What will we sacrifice to cram one more item on our must-get-it-done list? Will it be sleep? Time with our families? Leisure? A shower?

I have, at one time or another, sacrificed all of these. An hour here or a shower there is fine occasionally, but once they become repeat intruders the balance shifts and they take over where they do not belong.

Would you like to know what I'm sacrificing right now? My house. The dishes are stacked, the laundry is clean and folded but still sitting in the living room. I'm not sure that boys' closet floor even exists anymore.

I will reclaim my home, but not today. And probably not tomorrow either.

Nope

Card-Carrying Member

After years of wanting and waiting, Peter got something this week that's he's been requesting for a long time.

Behold, his very own library card.

At our library you must be six to be a card-holder. After he filled out the required paperwork, the woman working behind the counter handed him his card and a fancy plastic bag containing library goodies: a pencil and some bookmarks.

I received no such bag when I got my card. Must be a first-timer thing.

Peter was a model citizen while we got our books. I let him pick out his own reading materials without my approval. He was anxious to get back to the counter to use his new card. He kept telling me that he was going to "buy some books."

Oh the power of a library card.

Book Club

Thanks for taking (and then subsequently sending me) this picture Charlynn.