I LOVE BEING A WIFE AND A MOM

Today I am giving a lesson on having a good attitude about the divine role of women to be wives and mothers.  I have been interrupted in the process about 30 times by my duties as a wife and a mother.  (I just got interrupted from writing this post to rescue Ben from a standing position and to change his diaper.)  But do I love my job?  YES!  YES!  YES!
I have divided up my lesson into a few parts.  How do we come to have a good attitude about being a wife and a mother?
1.  Understanding the doctrine of the family.  Heavenly Father's plan is about the progression of his children.  We couldn't progress if women weren't wives and mothers!
2.  Pray for help to time it right!
3.  Understand the benefits of sacrifice for our own progression and for our children.
I used my blog for research in this Lesson.  I looked back at the time when I decided to be a stay at home mommy...That was such a hard decision for me.  But it has been worth it.
http://libbynorton.blogspot.com/2007/11/hospital-retrospective.html
http://libbynorton.blogspot.com/2007/10/great-news-and-tough-day.html (Although I still cry every time I read this post, or think about teaching...I know I made the right decision.)

President's Day Adventure

I am NOT a spontaneous person.  I want to be, it seems like a fun way to live life.  But I struggle with even a hint of spontaneity.  But, on Monday I had a rare burst of spontaneous energy.  On the way home from the gym (at about 11:30) I was thinking about what I could do for a President's Day themed Family Home Evening.  I remembered the awesome statue of George Washington at the UW.  So, I called Derek and we made plans to go after he got home from practice, at about 3 pm.  This worked out great because we first stopped at Super Jock n Jills so I could get new running shoes while he drove around Green Lake with the kids.  (So I guess it isn't all that spontaneous because we made the plans several hours before we left and I accomplished an errand on the way, but this is ME we are talking about.)  Then we went to campus and walked around.  I forgot just how AMAZING the UW campus is.  WOW.  It was so beautiful in the dusky rainy evening.  Libby and Sarah were enthralled with the Suzzallo Library.  We took them to the reading room and Libby just covered her mouth in joy and shock at such an amazing space.
When we went to see George (I forgot how high up the statue is) Libby asked if he was dead.  Then asked if he died right there.  It was hilarious and so fun to have our kids on a college campus.  (Sowing some seeds :)  Then we had dinner at one of our favorite spots on the AVE, Schultzy's. Yum.
I had to change a diaper on the floor of a restroom, and in fact I visited the restroom at Schultzy's about 6 times during dinner (it seems) but it was a blast.  I should take my family to do fun things more often!   

Ben Pulls Himself UP!

Ben started pulling himself up this week.  It is so cute--except that he can't get down yet.  So he pulls up, gets stuck and starts hollering.  There is a certain pitch to his wail so I can usually tell when he is stuck.  He is delighted with his new skill!

Trish as a runner?

My girl friends in my ward have been doing a bunch of fun things that I haven't been able to join in.  They all did a triathalon right after I had Ben.  They also went to New York, but it was Derek's busy season with both middle school and high school wrestling going on.  So, when they asked me to run a relay with them this summer, I just couldn't say no.  I am worried about how I am going to fit in running along with all my other workouts, but I hired a fabulous running coach (artemisfitness.com) to help me develop a plan and get started.  I also got the NIKE + gps app on my phone.  Genius.  It has all the benefits of running on a treadmill (tells you how far you have gone and how fast you are travelling) without the drudgery of running inside.  It even cheers you on along the way.  I did a pretty long run with Ben on Friday and then was totally wiped out by the end of my classes on Sunday, so I think I will be doing mostly short runs to prepare.  But I am really looking forward to bonding with my girl friends, especially because my friend MaryAnne (favorite mission comp!) is going to come and run with us!
I was also reminded that I really do love running.  It is so fun and cleansing and challenging.  It will be a great addition to my workouts!

Ben was so great!  He just chilled in the stroller (literally :)  But I did end up putting the weather guard on because it was "misting" pretty heavily by the time we really got running.  I was pretty wet after the 4.4 miles were over!

Me with Libby before going for a run.  Wow, she was a cutie!  We put lots of miles on our jogging stroller.

Sarah's Talk

Sarah is a Sunbeam now, and she loves being in Primary!
She gave her first talk last week and it was adorable.  She had her scripture all memorized and said some of the talk on her own too.  But, once when I didn't prompt her quick enough she said, "MOMMY!"
She is getting so cute!

T-birds at State

This year the District Wrestling tournament was 2 hours away in Oak Harbor.  I decided I just couldn't bear to drag the kids up there.  Then the next weekend we didn't have many guys still in it, so I again stayed home. This weekend was the State Tournament.  We missed Friday at the State Tournament, but I decided to take the kids down on Saturday afternoon for Matthew's last match.  So, we drove 1 hour + and paid  $15 to watch 6 minutes of wrestling.  And Matthew lost.  But, he did a great job this season--and he took 4th in the state.  He only lost to the kid who took 1st and the kid who took 3rd (who took 2nd last year.)  He lost the match we watched in overtime.  And, he is a sophomore.  The girls had a good time.  Especially since we went out to dinner afterwards with the team. Ben enjoyed watching the wrestling, but he really enjoyed trying to wrestle his way out of the arms of anyone who was holding him.  He is getting really squirmy.  He has a pretty major cold.  Poor kid.
My favorite thing of the day was when our server came up to us to take our drink orders.  Libby took over the conversation and said, "I want apple juice and mozzarella sticks."  

Libby's Letter

Last night Libby was playing in the living room (she has been sleeping in and staying up late lately--this definitely comes from her DAD, not me.)  She came in and asked me if I would write down a letter for her.  She wanted to write Grammy Geneva and Grandpa Brion about Grandpa Don and Grandma Doris.  I have no idea where this came from, but this is what she had me write down.  It was too precious not to share.
Dear Grammy and Grandpa--
I am so thankful I can do everything and I love Grandpa Don.  He's the most wonderful person in the world.  I love Grandma Doris and Grandpa Don.  I love you and I so thankful for what you did when you were alive (this sentence was to Grandpa Don I am assuming :)  I am not going to let you down.  I love you.
Libby
Then she had me draw a picture of Grandpa Don in the hospital with Libby and Sarah visiting.  It was so adorable.  She folded it all up to send and then licked it (she knows there is some licking involved in sending something--didn't realize she shouldn't lick the letter itself.)  I am going to put it in the mail on Monday (with a real envelope.)

Ben Crawling--but not by choice!

I am so smitten with this handsome young man.  He had a bit of a rough week.  His cold got pretty bad and he got some fluid behind his ear.  It really did seem to bother him--but it is getting better.  If it got better without getting infected, that is HUGE.  Maybe one of my kids won't have ear tubes! (knock on wood.)

Sarahisms

Sarah is so hilarious right now.  Last Sunday she came home from church with a crown and some little jewel stickers on it.  I asked if she put the stickers on herself.  "No," she responded matter of factly, "I put them on the crown!"
Yesterday we went to Old Navy to buy the girls some white shirts.  Sarah was so excited!  "Old Navy is my FAVORITE STORE!" She exclaimed clapping and smiling.  (By the way Libby responded by informing Sarah that her favorite store is Costco.)  Sarah loves Old Navy because they have "Plastic Humans" (as Libby calls them) and a plastic dog to pet.
Yesterday I heard them having a conversation about whether or not their teddy bears are potty trained.  Never fear, Pinka (Sarah's little bear) is getting potty trained.  Big Bruce is already trained apparently.  Libby said he always uses the potty.  I am relieved because that is one big bear.  I wouldn't want to clean up after him :)

Libbyisms

I haven't been writing down the funny things they say lately.  I don't like being so busy.  Libby is getting so mature with the way she says things.  She likes to use pretty big words that make me laugh sometimes just to hear them coming from a little girl.
The other day she was explaining to me that while I was outside washing the car she would come outside with me and then we could put the thermometer where we could hear it so we could check on Ben.  It took me awhile to figure out that "thermometer" is actually "baby monitor."
Yesterday she broke out into some little hives after being outside.  She told me about it in the car.  She said something like, "Mom, my hand is itchy.  Really itchy.  And it looks pretty strange (or serious or intense or something--I can't remember exactly what she said because when I actually looked at her hand it totally freaked me out.)"  Luckily the hives responded really well to the hydrocortizone because they were all over her body in patches, not just on her hand.  I gave her some Benadryl before bed too, and they were gone this morning.  Whew.
Libby has also realized that she can pick up Ben and move him around the house.  It is a little (or a lot) scary for me.  Ben seems to like it--kind of.  Sarah does it too, which scares me even more.  But he has only been injured once, and I guess it will toughen him up.

2nd Annual Zumbathon

When I got the idea of doing a Zumba fundraiser for Derek's wrestlers I was pretty excited.  Then, when I decided they needed to come and dance too--I got really excited.  It went well last year, and this year it was even more fun.  What a good group of guys.  They had their district tournament this weekend, (in Oak Harbor which is 2 hours away) and I made the decision not to drag the kids there.  (Which turned out to be a good idea because the wrestling was in two different gyms and it was rush rush rush according to Geneva.)  Only 2 are going on to regionals this next weekend, so it was a tough year! We have 2 alternates and 1 second alternate.

Randall Visit

My mom called me just before Chistmas and said she had been thinking about my birthday.  She said she really wanted to take me shopping for my birthday.  I was busy setting up my water aerobics class while I was talking to her. She then said that she had decided to buy tickets for them to come in January so she could take me shopping.  I burst into happy tears.  I was so happy I had a hard time drying the tears to teach my class.  It was a great surprise.  It was a very busy time while they were here, but we had fun.  Here is Ben at a wrestling match with both his grandpas.  I have a feeling this picture will happen again with Ben a little older wearing a singlet and head gear :)
My mom spent lots of time letting the girls play Disney princess dress up on her computer.  It is actually a really fun website.  Eventually the girls will figure out that this website isn't exclusive to Grandma's computer and they will be kind of upset with me.  But for now it remains something special that the girls can only play on Grandma's laptop ;)

This is the outfit my mom bought me when we went shopping.  (Actually I bought the shoes, since I am still not sure if I will be able to walk in them.  I need to practice.)  I hope to wear this as my Easter dress and to a wedding in June.  The wedding is in New York and we aren't taking kids, so I figured I need some sassy shoes!

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Happy Surprise Birthday to Me!

Last Sunday the Nortons and Barretts combined with my mom and dad to throw me a surprise birthday party.  For someone as bad at spontaneity as I am, I was a little taken aback for a minute or two.  But, I relaxed and had a really good time.  Libby helped me blow out my candles.  35 is A LOT.  I didn't quite get them all in one blow.  I got some great gifts and cards this year.  I scanned in a couple of my cards to share. 

This one is from Alayne.  She and I both like these novels by Janet Evanovich .  The first one has just been made in to a movie.  The card shows how Alayne and I are going to the movie (2 to go) and Derek is going to stay with the kids (4 to stay home :)  I love it.  Can't wait to get a chance to use my ticket.  Maybe next weekend I will just get a baby sitter and go since he has wrestling the next couple of weekends.  

This one is from one of my aerobics participants.  It says "Getting older isn't hell, trying to stay young is."