Relationship Intervention

Tonight I held a relationship intervention.

I have two kids who sometimes just really struggle with getting along with each other.

Among all the good times and laughter and friendship shared they also push each other's buttons. Get on each others nerves. Argue. Tattle.

Sounds a lot like siblings, right?

Today was day two of what seemed like constant bickering. I threw at them the lecture of the importance of their relationship. And then the thought came, "How many times have I, and will I, strive to convey this message?"

So I changed tactics.

I sat them down criss-cross apple sauce style with knees touching. I told them I was going to leave them alone for them to talk about what they were going to do to improve their relationship.

And I left the room.

They emerged 15 minutes later smiling and laughing.

They came down with a list in hand. They had talked and made a list of what they thought the other person could do better.

So here we have it...

What Zachary needs to do better to McKenna:

Don't Charge

Don't Wrestle

Don't Choke

Don't be so Sensitive

DON'T GET MAD!!!

What McKenna needs to do better to Zachary:

Listen Better

DON'T GET MAD!!!

Now I know this is not the end all fix all. I wish it could be that easy. But it got them talking about the solutions they felt they needed to see from each other. And I think I've found a new approach!

Zachary's Art Debut

We got a text from a friend saying they had just seen Zachary's art displayed at our local mall.

WHAT? We didn't know a thing about it.

So the next Monday we headed to town to check it out.

Schools across the county were displaying two pieces of art from each grade.

Zachary's pumpkin picture had apparently been chosen to be one that represented Kindergarten from his school.

This was the first time I had seen his piece. And I was very impressed. I love the shading and different use of colors as well as the different shapes of pumpkins.

He was pretty pleased with himself and asked if we could buy it before someone else did. (cute!) The rest of the night he just kept saying, "I can't believe I'm a famous artist!"

I see a new yearly fall decoration for our house!

Snow on a Sunday in March

Snow on a Sunday in March means...

Snow on my purple flowers and budding tulips...

It means one more chance to fire up the fire place

One more time to get the snow clothes down for exploring in the snowy woods with Dad...and creating their own game of Angry Birds 3 where he throws snow balls at them.

It means hot chocolate and warm chocolate chip cookies for them when they walked back in the door.

Snow on my pink blossoms...which I think was actually quite beautiful.

It means our three hour block of church starting at 9:00 a.m. was cancelled to a one hour meeting at 4:00 p.m....

Which made for a lazy, cozy, fun morning.

It means reading books,

And playing games,

And staying in our PJ's most the day.

I thought I would hate snow on a Sunday in March.

Turns out I L.O.V.E.D. it!

Random Happenings

Abby is obsessed with dragons and is reading anything and everything she can find with dragons in the plot.

Springtime makes me happy and makes me sneeze.

Gavin likes to play Mario Kart on the Wii...and he's actually good at it. It's pretty funny to watch.

McKenna likes a boy...and that boy likes her right back. mmmm...definitely not a fan of this one. Thankfully she knows she is too young to have a boyfriend.

Abby likes a boy too...but she's too shy to even say more then five words to him.

One of Zachary's teacher told me a couple of weeks ago that he has been blessed with many gifts. And I thought wow, I love that she used to term "blessed." And she's right, he has.

Bret was watching the Florida game last Saturday afternoon and in walked Gavin who said, "GO JIMMER! GO JIMMER! GO JIMMER!" Not all basketball is Jimmer basketball buddy.

For the first time in my life I am consistent with exercise. I've gotten past the hate stage and I actually really enjoy it now. Who would have thought? Thank you P90X.

Abby never remembers to hang up her jacket. McKenna never remembers to bring in her shoes and socks from outside.

Spring season of sports is upon us and that makes for busy week days and busy Saturdays. Each week we've got two t-ball games, soccer practice and a soccer game, two ballet classes, piano lessons, sometimes Activity Days...and I know I'm just at the starting line of this stage of life.

Bret's elbow is hurting him daily.

Abby has really developed into a beautiful, graceful and flexible ballet dancer. Its fun to see the growth in her.

Gavin and his best friend Claire Evans really have a genuine love for each other. It makes me smile to see them together.

My favorite platter got broken this morning when a bottle of wine that was given to me got knocked over on it. :( Why was that wine given to me...I hosted a neighborhood book group last night and didn't serve alcohol but when it is given to me as hostess gift, even when they know we don't drink, I put a smile on my face and say, "Thank you."

Gavin is potty training. Yesterday he threatened me in a mean growl to put his diaper back on him or he was going to poop on my floor.

Bret is swamped. With project after project after project after project (with any luck will turn into publications), on top of classes, on top of being EQ Pres., on top of his comprehensive exams which are in TWO months!!!

I've been watching a little boy the last two months and am watching him through the end of May. He is a sweetheart and good little 18 month old. It's been a blessing in our lives but I really enjoy Thursdays when I don't have him and it's just me and Gavin again. We fill those days with story time at the library, lunch with the kids at school, and other things that make us happy.

Gavin is still napping. It means he is up till at least 9:30 every night in his room signing very loudly. But I just can't give up those naps. I need them too much. And at night he doesn't come out of his room so I say why not still have a few hours of quiet during the day?!

Zachary is writing a chapter book in Kindergarten. His teacher called me yesterday to tell me about it. It's about a magic wand he finds in his Grandma's back yard. She said he's going to be a famous author some day.

I'm working on a massive project for senior primary. I'm creating file folders of a time line of the Savior's life. The teachers copy is complete with all the different references to the events. I will be happy never to see sticky velcro again.

Bret is my Captain Elliot. (I just finished reading These is My Words again for book group.) He brought me flowers last week and wrote me the most thoughtful and sweetest letter just because.

I'm already starting to dread our drive out West this summer for family reunions.

Zachary is in the highest reading tub bin in his classroom, level "M." Pretty soon the teacher is going to have to go to the literacy room to find books for him to read.

McKenna continues to be a social butterfly. Abby continues to be perfectly content with her one best friend.

We get to watch BYU in the sweet 16 tonight!

Great Wolf Lodge/Williamsburg

Two weeks ago we had a great little over night get a way to Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg. We had an absolute blast swimming and sliding to our hearts content. Favorites included the wave pool, surf zone and the howling tornado. I only managed to get shots of McKenna and Zachary surfing...but every member of our family did this...including Gavin!!! (I do have to add that when he fell they turned the water off and then he didn't know what to do with himself and Abby had to walk in the middle to go get him. The attendant turned to me and said, "Will you please not let him do this again.") I came away from the surf zone with the award for most improved. The first time it's easy to say I made a fool of myself but then I got the hang of it and was even rolling with the board the second day.

We swam for a few hours the next morning and then got ready and made our way to Colonial Williamsburg. We didn't do any of the tours but just walked around and enjoyed the beauty of it and the sunny weather.

The kids played in the stocks.

I made a discovery about myself...I LOVE old glass. I never really knew that before. I love the way it plays with light and reflections. The girls got a little tired of me pointing out lovely windows.

Virginia's first Capital

On the way back to the car we stopped to pet the horses.

It's a place we definitely want to go back to...and being only 2 hours away we're excited to do it again sometime.

Lunch Date

I had a very important lunch date today.

It has been written on my calendar for two weeks.

I've been reminded of it every day this week.

I was not to miss it...at all costs.

My date was someone very important.

There was no way I was going to forget about it.

No way I was going to disappoint this cute face...

We had a tag-a-long on our date...but neither of them seemed to mind too much!

Nothing tugs at my heart strings quite like love between siblings. As soon as Gavin saw her he went running down the halls yelling "K-K" at the top of his lungs.

She was pretty excited to see him too.

This was a special lunch date...not our regular lunch in the cafeteria with the rest of her class. This time we actually left school campus and went to Subway. And let me tell you, this girl beamed with excitement. She felt special, important and loved...all those things she should feel because she is!

Thanks K-K. I couldn't ask for a better lunch date.

Today...

Today I was tired.

Tired of waking up early at 5:20 to exercise before our school mornings begin.

Tired of constantly cleaning up messes.

Tired of dirty dishes.

Tired of tantrums in the check-out line, at home or in the car.

Tired of poopie diapers

Tired of grocery shopping and making dinners.

Tired of not going to the bathroom by myself.

Tired of dirty laundry every where I looked.

Tired of dust bunnies and dog hair.

And then my good husband came, saw that I was in a funk, gave me hug and said he was grateful I was not perfect....and I smiled.

The boys went down for a nap, I fixed myself a root beer float and sat down on the couch and did NOTHING!!! It was great.

Then the big kids came home from school and the little boys woke up from their naps.

They were happy and excited to see me.

They greeted me with hugs and kisses.

They dumped their coats and backpacks in a huge pile, but put them away the first time I asked.

They helped clean up some messes.

They ate, and ate and ate some more.

They played outside.

I helped Abby learn a song on the piano and had to ask her several times to respect me enough to listen to what I had to say.

I fixed dinner for a family who is coming over for tonight whose Dad left for Iraq today for another six months...(he'd been home for his two week break.)

I took away a pool noodle that was being used as a weapon.

I played the peacemaker role.

I changed two more poopie diapers.

I pleaded for patience every step of the way. Sometimes I had it, a lot of times I didn't. It's only 5:00 but I'm ready for it to be bedtime...for them and for me! And then I get to do it all again tomorrow...hopefully I wont be so tired!

Beauty In Food

I see beauty in food. The combinations of colors, textures, tastes, and temperatures. I love creating it and even more so eating it! I love trying new recipes, looking at a list of ingredients and knowing that if I don't screw it up it's going to be delicious! There is nothing like a beautifully presented plate that speaks to my sense of taste, smell and sight.

So last week when Abby was making the salad for Sunday dinner and was washing the lettuce to perfection, I couldn't help but smile when she said with enthusiasm..."Isn't this lettuce so beautiful! I love how it changes shades of green."

She was right. It WAS beautiful lettuce, arranged to perfection in the strainer. And then I thought how grateful I was that she recognized the beauty right in front of her.

Who from Whoville

Last week Gavin earned himself a new nickname...

With a fall that landed him face first on the railing of his little toddler bed he became a Who from Whoville with a very fat upper lip.

Luckily no series injuries occurred. His front tooth was shifted back about 1/8 of an inch that we had to pull forward. He's loved the soft diet of jello, pudding and yogurt. It's been over a week now and the swelling and bruising on the inside of his lip has gone a way, but his tooth is still a little loose and it hurts him to bite into anything. He's eating like a 10 month old again, with everything broken into little pieces for him.

Poor little man. He's actually had a rough week. He's now sick with the flu and had a febrile seizure today. Thankfully it was not as serious as the first time. He didn't stop breathing, no turning blue, no 911 and ride to the hospital in the ambulance. After he stopped seizing he was crying and trying to talk but it all game out in gibberish. It took him a good five minutes before he gained control of his language. He's doing great now. Still sick with the flu and a fever but was back to his normal energetic self after a good nap. There is just something about this kid that tugs at our worry strings.