Parenting success

Today was a parenting triumph, in my opinion. We are constantly reminding our boys to turn off the light in their room. Today I had had enough. So I reminded them to turn it off again, and then I said, "If the light gets left on again, I will take out the lightbulb so you don't have a light anymore." Well, guess what happened not even 30 minutes later? Yep, the light was ON! I then asked Brady to take out the light, and they heard me. He actually had a better idea...to just trip the breaker for their room so we aren't still wasting electricity when the lightbulb is out.

And then the wailing and knashing of teeth began! Oh my, you should have been a fly on the wall! I was trying soooo hard not to laugh. I seriously had to bite my lip. I just absolutely love finding a punishment that fits the crime perfectly. What a better consequence is there for leaving the light on than having no light at all anymore? I hope after having no light,night light, or fan privilages for a few days fixes the problem.

P.S. Whoever invented the swivel sweeper is a GENIUS!! I now have my boys taking turns cleaning all my tile daily! How awesome is that? (especially since they are the ones that drop food and crumbs on the floor at every meal) I won't have to drag out my broom ever again!!! And I have one less household chore to do. WAHOOO!!

New accomplishment

I will forever have this day linked to a special event. Gideon rolled over for the first time today! He was taking a nap and I heard him making noise, but I didn't go get him because I was hoping he would go back to sleep since he was only asleep for an hour. Well I didn't go get him fast enough so he got mad. So mad that he rolled right over from his tummy to his back. It's about time! I wonder if he will do it tomorrow just for fun, or if I have to make him mad again.

Happy Easter!!!

Austin

Here is a video made to tell about Austin's medical events. His mom and dad are good friends of ours from our BYUI days. Please help them out if you can. Spread the word about their story!

Let's face it.

These pictures are really for the Grandmas and Grandpas :) Watching a PBS show, I think.

Playing "construction"

This is what I found one morning after I got ready for the day.

"Helping" do some dishes. I think this muffin pan got washed 4 times.

And this is what I found when I checked on him during a nap. I did NOT lay him down that way.

Toothless, not the dragon

Two teeth lost in 24 hours. The first came out on Saturday while Brady was at work. It was dangling, so I just pulled it out. The second started dangling and bleeding while eating popcorn during General Conference on Sunday. Brady had the pleasure of pulling that one out. He was so excited for the tooth fairy to come. However, I should say that she forgot to come Saturday night because she was so busy....or something. And just so you all know. She does in fact pay one quarter more for those nice big ones! He wanted to call his grandparents and tell them all. He was so excited!!

K it's official

They really do look exactly the same!! Zenock is 3.5 months in this one. Holy cow!!! I really do have some super cute kids, if I do say so myself! And, wow, Brady is young in this picture too :). Time flies when you're having fun!

Look alike's

Wherever we go, people keep telling me how much my boys look like each other and me. At first I thought it was a little weird, especially when total strangers would comment about it. However, I decided to see for myself (because honestly sometimes I really don't think any of them look the same). Here are pictures of each of us at similar ages, doing the same thing.

Ammon at almost 3.5 months

Zenock at almost 6 months

Gideon at 2.75 months

Me at three or four months...ish. Don't you love the carpet and that fabulous chair back there?

So, do you agree? Do I really have cookie-cutter children? I think so. Poor Brady though. According to the genes on display he had no part in their appearance. Perhaps I should find a younger picture of Zenock though to really show it off.

Highlights

Good idea

Who knew a four year old would have a good idea for lunch? I try, and try, and try to get the boys to eat different foods for lunch. Sometimes we have leftovers, sometimes sandwiches, corn dogs, burritos, etc. Today I tried to get them to eat a tuna fish sandwich, since I get it from WIC and it's really good for you. Well they both said no, they wanted to dip crackers in it intsead of have it in a sandwich (which Brady and I do a lot, and I like relish in mine). I said, no. Then Ammon just asked for a fork to eat it plain, and Zenock asked for some celery to dip in the tuna. A little light came on in my brain right then. I thought, hey, tuna is healthy, celery is healthy. This is a great way for him to get some more of the nutrients he needs in a day instead of carbohydrates. So I also made some for me. I just have to say, this is my new favorite way to have tuna fish. And it's also really good with a dab of mustard and a tablespoon or so of Taco Bell hot salsa. I admit though, I was a little suprised how good it tasted. So give it a try. What's there to loose? A can of tuna?

Loosing = WIN!

So, I am going to try loosing some of this fabulous baby fat (leftovers that never disappeared after Ammon was born 6.5 years ago). I can't diet since I am breastfeeding, but I can eat healthier. And I may think it's a swear word, but I really should do better to exercise. I am holding you all accountable to make me accountable mk? And don't let me make cookies for a while. I end up eating them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner....but they were soooo good! I guess since there are still cookies on the counter I can't be held accountable until after they are consumed...that would be better, don't you think? So right now I am at 160 pounds plus a muffin top. Let's see how long it takes to loose 10 pounds and a little muffin...starting today!

Food

So I have a lot of cookbooks. Sometimes I use them, and when I find something that is really good I copy it and put it in my recipe box. However, since joining blogland, I have found tons of really good food blogs with step-by-step directions for great tasting food. And now I have another site I absolutely love. It's called Our Best Bites. They just came out with a cookbook sold at Deseret Book. I have no idea how much it is, but I think that is THE cookbook to have. I think I might drop some major hints to Brady for Mother's day...if he'll get what I'm saying.

On another note, Ammon has lost 2 more teeth in front. It's the top two...so now he has the cutest lisp.

Spreading the news

In the last fifth Sunday lesson, our Bishop stressed the importance of using the internet to spread the Gospel. A great way to do that is start a profile on mormon.org. While on that site today, I came across my friend, Stacey. Click here to read her story.

Conference

Things I learned (or was reminded of) from Conference:

President Uchdorf: The Lord most often answers prayers through others. It is vital to be of service and accept service from others so that answers may come. Share the Gospel more through social media. Invite friends to come to church.

It warmed my heart to watch the General Authorities walk out of the Sat. afternoon session with hugs to their wives and arms around them/holding hands. It's so refreshing to see wholesome affection shown these days. It makes me want to make sure to show my boys how much I love their dad, just like I saw with my parents growing up. It's so important for children to know how much their parents love them, just as it's so important for husbands and wives to know how much they love each other. This healthy display of love helps families stay strong and united together amidst the turmoil in the world today.

Elder Bednar: Personal revelation is prevalent even today. It can come powerfully and suddenly, it can come quietly and subtly. One must live such a manner where whisperings of the Spirit may come when needed and desired. And there may be times when you may not even realize you are being prompted by the Spirit.

President Monson: Temples are built with brick and mortar. They are filled with faith and fasting, sacrifice and joy. No sacrifice is too great, no trial too heavy to get to the temple. Being able to have an eternal family is worth every sacrifice. There is no more important goal than working toward attending the temple.



Elder Scott: If you are a single adult, get on with it and find a spouse to marry in the temple. It will bring great happiness in the home, and in the marriage, when a husband expresses his love to his wife verbally. *This is such an awesome talk!!* It is so rewarding to be married. There are times when you, as a couple, are extremely happy and times of trial. One of the reasons to find a spouse in early young adult years is to avoid creating inapporpriate habits that are hard to change. All things are possible to the Lord. Eternity is a long time, and have faith in the Lords promises so that he will be able to bless you througout your life.

Elder - I can't remember his name: Wisdom to live with 90% of our income instead of all of it. Blessings come from being self-reliant, being sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Ghost, creating peace and harmony in the home. Paying tithing helps us develop a greatful heart, realizing that our blessings, all of our blessings, come from God. Regular tithe payers have a strengthened testimony of the Gospel. When we pay our tithing faithfully, the windows of heaven will poor out upon us, but most often not in monetary form.

Elder Robbins: "To be or not to be" is a very good question. "To do" is an action - checking off when the deed is done. "To be" is never done. Disiplining children should not be done in anger. It should be done by kindness, gentleness, and showing love unfained. (A huge thing I need to work on with the boys!!!) Parenting 505 (difficult children) and 101 (sweet children)....awesome! I think Ammon is more often a child in my 101 class. Zenock is my 505 with a thesis project as the final exam. I love my boys both very, very much. They are showing me all the time that they are different people, and I need to remember that what worked for one will not work for both. I hope Gideon turns out to be a healthy balance between the two.

Elder Holland: We will get blessings from holding family home evening amongst the bedlam, even with little bedlamites. (So funny, and SO TRUE). Sometimes you can't have it your way. The Church is neither a fast food restaurant, nor a buffet. Bradyism: You get what your get, follow it or don't. However, the Gospel itself is perfect. The people who are in it are not.

I wish I could get the youtube videos of the musical numbers to post on here. They were all phenomenal. I love listening to some of my favorite hymns performed. If you get a chance, view them on lds.org.