Outgrown

Us: Sophie, we really want you to finish potty training so you can finally earn your big girl bed.

Sophie: I don't want a big girl bed. I like my little bed.

Us:

April Showers

Some sweet friends in my ward threw a baby shower for me last weekend. I felt a little awkward saying yes when they offered since it's our fifth baby and third boy. But when we found out Sophie was a girl nearly five years ago, we gave away almost all of our boy stuff. So it's a lovely thing to have boy clothes. We also received lots of diapers in various sizes, and I know we'll use those. Unfortunately, I totally spaced on taking pictures.

Then on Monday Sophie and I went to a neighbor's house for a play date. We walked in to calls of "Surprise!" and balloons. They had put together a surprise shower for us. It was delightful. We had lunch and opened gifts while the kids played. Thankfully, I remembered to take a few pictures this time.

April showers bring May babies, right? Isn't that how the saying goes?

Part of the Crew

Peter has been working all year as a member of the stage crew for the Intermediate School play. Tonight we went and saw the fruit of his hard work. The set looked great and Peter did a good job inconspicuously moving set pieces on and off stage. Bonus, Bryan's brother Spencer is in town for a quick visit so he was able to see the play with us.

Afterward Peter pointed out his picture on a big poster that highlighted each kid that participated.

Here's the entire stage crew. Just to give you an idea of how tall Peter is compared to his peers, he's slouching in the group picture.

Cankles

I have a super power. I can change shape. It's true. When I wake up in the morning my ankles look like regular, human ankles. But by bedtime my ankles resemble tree trunks, or elephant legs. And then I go to sleep and they look normal again in the morning. That's got to be some kind of special ability right?

Still Learning the Dictionary

One side effect of encouraging our children to read is that they come across words they don't know. Sometimes they ask us what those words mean. Sometimes they try to deduce the meaning based on context. The latter happened a few days ago when one child attempted to pay me a compliment using an unknown word.

Keep in mind, this was said in a most charming voice.

"Why hello Mom, you're looking very corpulent this evening."

I'm certainly currently more corpulent than usual, but I don't think the correct meaning had been guessed before the word was employed. I just laughed while Bryan defined the word. Sure enough, that was not what they thought it meant.

Little Drummer Girl

Friends have the best toys.

Petting a Tiger

Phoebe participated in her school's Reflections competition this year. From what I understand, all the kids at the school created an art project to submit and some of their parents filled out the appropriate paperwork. When this was happening I got a text from a friend that was helping with the competition telling me that Phoebe's piece was really good and I should make sure I entered her. Then my friend brought me the paper and had me fill it out one morning at the bus stop. Otherwise, it probably wouldn't have happened.

And that is how Phoebe came to tie for 5th place in the 2D/3D Artwork category for Kindergarten through second grade. We attended the awards ceremony tonight. Phoebe was delighted to go up to the front of the auditorium and receive her trophy.

Here's the winning artwork. It's called Petting a Tiger.

Jump To It

Premature Aging

Yesterday, due to a tantrum and a poor choice, Sophie earned a timeout. At our house kids sit in timeout for one minute for each birthday they've had, so a four-year-old would have a four minute timeout. (The grownups aren't so lucky, we don't usually get timeouts.) Now you have the groundwork for the following conversation.

Sophie: (still throwing a tantrum while in timeout) Can I come out yet?! I've been here for eight minutes!

Me: No, you've been there for two minutes. You still have two minutes to go.

Sophie: No I don't! I'm done!

Me: No, two plus two is four, and you're four-years-old. so two more minutes.

Sophie: (in a know-it-all tone) I'm not four. I'm five.

Me: Oh, so you should actually have another minute of timeout?

Sophie: (without pausing) I'm four.

If I Only Had a Brain

Curious about when a specific event happened, I looked up my blog posts from five years ago, knowing that would jog my memory. I quickly found what I was looking for, then spent some time reading through the things that I wrote about as Bryan completed his MBA. I made an interesting discovery: I actually wrote.

Yes, I realize that I write now, but I also have so many picture posts and conversation posts. And those are great, but I have come to rely on them much more than I used to. And the purpose of this blog is to attempt to maintain my ability to form coherent sentences. The cute kid pictures are a nice bonus. I don't spend as much time actually writing as I used to.

I wonder, is this a measurable difference between having three kids and having four kids? Most nights I finish bedtime and my brain feels fried. I stare at my computer in a confused stupor. Then I wander over to Google Photos and find a suitable offering.

If this is my brain on four kids, what on earth will happen in a few weeks when we graduate to five kids?

Headgear

Sweet Aunt Melody sent us a package of boy clothes for Baby Brother. Sophie helped me unpack the box and put the items to immediate use...

The Wardrobe

Tonight the following conversation took place. The name has been withheld to protect the participant.

Unnamed Child: Why do you like shirts that have buttons so much?

Me (looking at my shirt): I don't have that many shirts I can wear these days.

Unnamed Child: You've been wearing the same shirts over and over.

Me (with less amusement): I don't have that many shirts I can wear these days.

As my belly grows rounder, my wardrobe grows smaller.

Once There Was a Birthday

With the excitement of Peter receiving the Priesthood on his twelfth birthday this year and posting about that, I never did a proper birthday post. And, pregnancy brain being what it is, I just now discovered it. So, here's his most recent birthday!

The weeks surrounding Peter's birthday were extremely cold outside, so we kept the celebration inside and pretty low-key. The highlight was certainly having Nana Shari and Papa Ron visit us for his big day. They were instrumental in fulfilling Peter's wish to have a video game cake. We brainstormed and pinterested and designed this awesomeness. It was a group effort from all the adults at our house.

HB2U equals Happy Birthday to You.

Peter got some gifts that he's really been wanting.

And the group enjoyed the birthday goodies.

See? Low-key. Not to worry, though I forgot to post this birthday for a while, I did not forget to conduct our traditional birthday interview!

FAVORITE FOOD: Jello

FAVORITE ANIMAL: Elephant

FAVORITE CANDY: Milky Way Midnight Dark

FAVORITE BOOK: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

FAVORITE COLOR: Dark light turquoise (He insisted I write it this way.)

FAVORITE SHOW: Voltron

FAVORITE MOVIE: Star Wars The Last Jedi
FAVORITE SONG: O Holy Night
FAVORITE BOARD GAME: Monopoly Gamer

FAVORITE CARD GAME: Spoons
FAVORITE VIDEO GAMES: Minecraft, Super Mario Odyssey, Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild
FAVORITE THING TO DO: Hanging out with Dad
FAVORITE MEMORY FROM BEING 11: Getting into Pr-Algebra and going to Utah and Christmas
FAVORITE PLACE: Home
FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL: Pre-Algebra and Tech

FRIENDS: Dad, Mom, Phoebe, Sophie, Peter, Cooper, Ian, Reed, Reed, Ethan, Micah

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP: Lego master builder, a dad

Amateur Photographer

"Hey Mom, let's take a selfie."

I Feel...Round

Guess who's 37 weeks along? I'm not a full 40 weeks, but if Baby Boy came now he should be fine, though possibly not as chubby as if he waits a bit longer. I decided I should finally post a lone pregnancy picture, which may be shocking to those that haven't seen me in all my round glory.

Someone at church on Sunday asked if I felt like he was going to come early. I said no, but I agree that I look like I'm done. Someone else recently saw me and said, "Wow, you're all belly." Yes, that's how I feel too.

Answer In Love

Like planets aligning, our family scripture study and my personal scripture study happen to be at about the same place right now. We're reading Alma 60 and today I read Alma 61. Alma 60 is the chapter where Moroni, while leading the Nephite army, sends a letter of rebuke to the chief judge Pahoran, chastising him for failing to send much needed aid to the army.

Moroni, a wonderful leader and person, throws all kinds of accusations at Pahoran, claiming that he's seeking after power and slothful and wicked. In short, Moroni is full of righteous indignation and unleashes it on Pahoran.

I've been on the receiving end of some pretty awful letters, accusing me of of terrible things that I haven't done, so perhaps that's why Pahoran's response speaks to me. Rather than returning anger for anger, he responds with love. He explains that he's been thrown out of the government, that those they are fighting now have control. He commiserates with the plight of Moroni's army and confirms that they are still on the same side. In Alma 61:9 he says

9 And now, in your epistle you have censured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart. I, Pahoran, do not seek for power, save only to retain my judgment-seat that I may preserve the rights and the liberty of my people. My soul standeth fast in that liberty in the which God hath made us free.

There are so many admirable people in the scriptures, but I think Pahoran may be one of my favorites, simply for how he answers Moroni. I know from first-hand experience the struggle of responding to such a letter. The big difference is that I was met with wrath rather than righteous indignation. Nevertheless, Pahoran's example is one that I try to follow. Sometimes I've answered, sometimes I've simply let it go, realizing that in that situation I didn't have the power to change someone else's false perceptions of me.

You know what I think is truly wonderful about the scriptural account? In chapter 62 Moroni gets Pahoran's letter and he believes it! He marches to Pahoran's aid and, eventually, peace is restored. I love these chapters.

One More Day in the Snow (We Hope)

On our final day of spring break, we had a proper snowfall. I insisted that we all get on our outside gear and tromp outside. It may snow one more time, but I sure hope there's not enough to play in, I am ready for consistently warmer weather.

 

A Grown-Up Name

During General Conference on Sunday, Sophie came to sit on my lap. I pulled her long hair into a ponytail and the following conversation took place.

Me: Maybe we should have named you Rapunzel like Phoebe wanted.

Sophie: No, that wouldn't have been right because my name is Sophie, not Rapunzel.

(reminded of naming)

Sophie: I think we should name the baby Bob Anderson.

Me: (holding back laughter) Bob Anderson? Did you say Bob Anderson?

Sophie: Yes, Bob Anderson.

Later, I relayed the conversation to Bryan, not able to keep a straight face. Sophie, sitting nearby and overhearing, said quietly to herself in a sing-song voice, "Baby Bob Anderson."

No, I don't think we've found his name, but it sure is funny.

An Appearance of Spring

In between sessions on Saturday we all took advantage of a sunny, relatively warm day. Bryan cleaned out the garage while the kids and I went to the park. All the vitamin D was welcome.

On the First Day of Spring Break

We stayed at home during our rainy first day of spring break. We did chores and watched the first two episodes of the new season of A Series of Unfortunate Events. The big, most productive thing that happened that day was that baby furniture was unpacked and put together. We did this a few weeks early, but it felt like a good day to get it done. Bryan assembled the bed while Peter took care of the cubbies for clothes and the chair and footstool for late night feedings. Then Sophie, Phoebe, and Cooper used dolls and stuffed animals to test out the new furniture. Everything passed their scrutiny.

The List of Inspiration

Tonight for Family Home Evening we all shared the talks that stood out to us from General Conference this weekend. The kids did a good job remembering the talks and were mostly able to remember details about specific talks. I loved several talks, including the entire Priesthood session. Those that really stuck with me include Larry J. Echo Hawk's, Taniela B. Wakolo's, Devin G. Durrant's, Dallin H. Oaks', Gerrit W. Gong's, Jeffrey R. Holland's, Quentin L. Cook's, and President Russell M. Nelson's.

I love General Conference.