Andrew's Birthday Weekend

Andrew turned 6 this weekend and we had fun celebrating!

On the morning of his birthday, Andrew opened his present from us (Razor Scooter), then we took Lamby I & Lamby II on a train ride to the downtown library. The Lamby's were dropped off and got to have a "sleepover". The next morning, we picked them up and watched a video of all the fun things they did. They roasted marshmallows, watched a movie, looked at art, made their own art, and wathed the sunset. It was sooooooooo adorable! The boys loved it!




That night, we went to IHOP for dinner (Andrew's choice) and then Chuck E. Cheese to play games:

Then the next day, we went to Grandma & Grandpa's house, and the boys & Rand had a campout in the backyard (Andrew made it the whole night, Joshy didn't):

We finished the weekend with a family party:

Universe DVD from Grandmas Doris & baseball mitt from Grandma & Grandpa

Cute book from Grandma & Grandpa

Water guns from Aunt Maranda & Uncle Tyler

Bean Bag Toss from Grandma & Grandpa

Fun facts about Andrew:

• He loves to learn. Each week when we go to the library, we get books about a topic that Andrew is interested in that week (some of the things we have learned about: tornadoes, space, lightning bugs, human body, lightning, seals, dolphins...). I learn right along with him! We've also been reading the Magic Tree House series each night (well, almost each night) - we're finally at the point where we can read books without pictures on every page.
  
• He is still fascinated with bugs. He went to a week-long "Bug Club" day camp this summer (of course, no pictures). We've been trying all summer to catch some Monarch caterpillars up by Grandma & Grandpa's house with no luck, but he always comes away with some sort of creepy-crawly creature.
  
• He is a swimmer! We spent 4 weeks this summer doing swim lessons and he did great! (again, no pictures)
• He loves doing crafts and begs for them almost on a daily basis.
  
• He is a great helper. I'm always asking him to fetch me something and he does it without complaints.
• He is " tall and weighs - he's all arms & legs!
  

"It's in the refrigerator. The door is closed, the lights are out. The eggs are cooling, the butter's getting hard, and the jello is jiggling."

I miss Chick Hearn. Go Lakers (vs. Celtics 4-3) - what a fun showdown to watch!

Backyard Art

Josh's Masterpiece

"Space Planets Sinking in Water" by Andrew

School Field Trip

During the last week at school, Andrew's class went on a field trip to the zoo. Instead of taking a bus and going in one large group, the parents split the class into groups and we carpooled there. We got to take cute little Lizzy & Amelia with us. And of course, Joshy got to tag along.

Take a picture, it will last longer

We said goodbye to Kindergarten today. Well, technically Andrew's last day is on Tuesday, but today we sifted through all of his school work and art projects. I didn't have the heart to throw anything away during the school year - each piece of paper showed his progress and made me so proud. I threw all of his papers and artwork into a drawer - we had quite the collection! Andrew and I worked together to sort each piece into a "recycle," "keep," and "take a picture, then throw it away," pile. I'm planning to make a book out of the pictures we took. Randy was the one that had to throw everything away, though, it broke my heart a little.

When Andrew first started school, he was generally the last kid to finish his work. While his classmates were busy doing their work, he was staring off into La-La land. He wasn't distracting to the other kids, but it took him awhile to get going. The other kids got "free choosing" time after they completed their work, and Andrew rarely did. I was in his class every other week and it was frustrating for me to watch! But after a couple of months, something just clicked in his brain and he just got it. He did his work and had enough time for free choosing. His handwriting, cutting & coloring improved. He rarely needed help from me when he did homework at home - and often, he'd ask for more homework and so I had to make things up for him. His reading skills improved a ton and he read over 100 books with me!

I don't think we could have received a better Kindergarten experience. Mrs. McDonald is amazing - she is one of those that everything she touches turns to gold. She is a perfectionist and very thorough - she was able to accomplish so much in a short time. She also taught them silly songs and poems and was so kind and gentle. I also grew to love her aid, Miss Alisha. At first, I wasn't so sure about her. I think she thought I was a crazy, overprotective parent (I was), but I think our first impressions of each other changed by the end of the year.

Penguin March

I have a video camera. With two batteries. The night before, I thought to myself that I ought to make sure the batteries were charged, but I thought, "I have two, we're good." Both were dead. Note to self: Check batteries before special events like this!

Thankfully, I also brought my camera. Andrew's class performed in the cutest play...

The painted feet killed me

The perfectionist Mrs. McDonald, pinning Andrew's wings on the "right" way. His mommy is retarded.

Andrew had a few of his neighborhood friends in his class: Fiel Woods, Tyler Randall, & Isaiah Halverson

Friends

Kenzie, Andrew, Josh, Tyler, Darin in our ghetto, yet lovely basement

I had a devious plan to take a little snooze while watching five children. I fed them lunch, let them play for an hour, then got out the air bed, turned the lights off and put on a movie. Mercifully, they watched the entire movie while I folded laundry and then napped in the recliner next to them. A win-win. We'll miss the Randalls who are moving to Iowa this week for residency.

Private Blog

I'm switching to a private blog this Friday (6/4) - if you would like to be invited to view it, please send me your email through comments - I won't publish your comment. Also, let me know if you'd like to receive an email every time I actually post something on my blog. Thanks!

We Love Grandma's House

It's never a disappointment when we visit Grandma & Grandpa Lamb's house. We spent Memorial Day with them and enjoyed a barbecue in the beautiful warm weather. The boys discovered (all on their own) how much fun it is to play with the water hose on the trampoline. Next time, I'll be sure to pack their swim shorts!

Baby Animal Days

We made our first trip of the season to This Is The Place. We got to see the new baby animals (lambs, pigs, goats, chickens, ducks & cows). The day was gorgeous and the boys got to run around like banshees.

27 weeks and feeling great!

Or as Randy likes to say, "Large and in charge."

Two Wheelin'

I learned how to ride my bike without training wheels when I was 5. Andrew was nearing 6, and so I prodded Randy to teach Andrew how it's done. Randy ran with him back and forth, back and forth. I did, too. We both decided....maybe next summer. But then a few days later, Andrew saw some awesome roller blades at DI. A couple of his neighborhood friends have some and he wanted them, too. I told him that he would be ready for roller blades when he could ride a bike without training wheels. That very day, he went out, got on his bike, and taught himself how to ride. He didn't want my help at all. He was a bound and determined little man, and he did it! It took him a couple of days to learn how to turn, but after that, he was a pro at it!

Fluffing the Nest

I love you Shark Navigator. You. Complete. Me.

I have to admit it (and please don't hate me), I love being pregnant. I love feeling the little movements inside my abdomen and all of the hormones surging through my body give me a sense of calm and peace.

Another added bonus is that I am a compulsive, freakish cleaner! My house can't be clean enough. I have a cleaning schedule. I dust. I clean corners with a toothbrush. Randy LOVES it. Although he knows not to criticize a messy house (as long as he is fed, he's a happy man), he definitely doesn't mind finding me sifting through a messy closet and de-junking.

Last week, I couldn't stand it one. minute. longer. I went out and bought this beautiful vacuum. The first day I used it, I filled the canister three times! If that's not a selling point, I don't know what is! I'm telling you, I'm in domestic heaven people!

We Need a Pet

I was making dinner in the kitchen, Josh was happily jibber-jabbering in the dining room, but I wasn't paying attention to what he was saying. Then Andrew came in and asked, "Mom, Josh keeps talking about a mouse. What mouse?" I told him I had no idea - and didn't think much about it. A little later, Andrew said, "Mom! We have a mouse! Can we keep it!?!" The boys had cornered a tiny brown mouse in the dining room.

And then I remembered that I had left the back door open when we were bringing the groceries in. It was a cold day, our home must have been very warm and inviting to all woodland creatures.

When I went to look at it, it ran away and hid behind our computer. I was very disturbed, but the boys were elated. Andrew wanted to give it some cheese. Josh wanted to take it with us when we had to make a quick trip to a friend's house. I decided to let Randy deal with it when he got home; meanwhile, the boys enjoyed keeping their eyes posted for the next mouse run. When Randy got home, he had the boys help him find it and get it to go outside. The squeals of pure joy from Josh and Andrew trying to chase this little mouse and Randy trying to not kill the thing (for the boys' sake) were so funny to me. But I must admit, that I let out a few (terrified) squeals myself watching them chase it around! They did manage to get the mouse out of our house unharmed.

We had a similar incident last Fall (where I, again, left the back door open), but that one didn't fare as well. Luckily, the boys were asleep when it met its demise with my stealthy mouse-hunting-husband.

Heaven Help Us!

I had a dream two nights ago about Josh. I found him drowned in a pool. I woke up very upset and went immediately to his room to love on him. I said a quick prayer and gave thanks for two very sweet little boys and asked for help to always keep them safe. I then thought of the little one growing inside of me and I wondered if this one would be another boy. The thought of raising THREE BOYS is definitely a humbling thought - even just preparing them for and sending them on a mission later on down the road is frightening to me. But I felt right then that if I was going to have another boy, that it would be an honor and that Heavenly Father would help Randy and me raise them to be good men.

So when I went to my 20-week ultrasound yesterday and found out that we are having another BOY, I wasn't too surprised and neither was Randy. We got to see him doing somersaults and he didn't like being prodded - he kicked and punched with all his might. The ultrasound tech said I'd have my work cut out for me. We will have many years of farts, belches, dirt and bugs in our home, but having the chance to raise three boys is a sacred blessing and I will do my best to be worthy of it. I am not, however, looking forward to people asking, "Are you going to try for a girl?" I'm not ready to say never, but Randy and I both feel very happy and content with three - we are just so grateful that we've been given the chance to have one more. I'm 32 and I don't know if I can do what we did this past year again - it took real grit to keep trying after two losses. Yes, I do mourn a little over not having a girl - for so many reasons - but I am also looking forward to the many adventures we'll have with three boys!!

Sweet Release

Me, Annette, Ali, Natalie

I was released as Relief Society president a couple of weeks ago. And here are my girls. I love them! I had to super-crop this photo because I am a mammoth beast of a person right now. Two of my counselors are missing - yes, two! I actually had four different counselors during my year of service (in a student ward, you typically serve a year). Two of them moved unexpectedly. I think one of the reasons the Lord called me to serve as president was to train - I really do. Being in a student ward with so much transition and so many young, newly married couples, Randy and I are considered the old farts in our ward. I think I've mentioned this before, but I've served in either a Primary or Relief Society presidency for the last seven years - I have learned so much from the sisters I served with and I was confident in my ability to train. I was not, however, confident in so many other areas and I learned so much from my presidency and the sisters in our Relief Society this past year. Natalie, Ali & Annette were a great support to me, I really couldn't have asked for a better presidency to serve with.

I ate heaps and heaps of humble pie. Heaps! I was tried personally - Satan worked hard on me. There were a couple of months where I refused to read my scriptures because I felt that the Lord asked way too much of me and I didn't want to give Him any more. I wasn't always a cheerful servant. But I was still blessed with miracles. Miracles! Even though I wasn't always at my best, the Lord still blessed me and guided me. I received many promptings (usually in the wee hours of the morning, I guess that's when I was listening) to call a sister, or ask a question, or go visit someone. Service was my anchor - it was where I found joy amidst my own trials, I felt the love of my Heavenly Father so strongly as I served. It gave me the opportunity to look outside of my own problems and see that ALL of us have trials - no matter how big or small our trials are, none of us passes through mortality without them.

My friendships were strengthened ten-fold. My friends scraped me up, brushed me off and polished me with praise and love. They didn't judge or criticize, even though they had ample reason to. There is something so unique and special about women and our relationships with each other. We all need good women in our lives - to teach, uplift, listen, laugh & cry together.

I was blessed in my role as wife and mother. Randy was my rock. He gave me great counsel, and often - and put up with me when I put him and the boys second to take care of someone or something else. I love this counsel from Elder Ballard (I recommend this talk for anyone with a leadership position:

"Still there are those who experience some feelings of guilt as a consequence of their service in the Church. These feelings can come when our time and attention are being torn between competing demands and priorities. As mortals, we simply cannot do everything at once. Therefore we must do all things "in wisdom and order" (Mosiah 4:27). Often that will mean temporarily postponing attention to one priority in order to take care of another. Sometimes family demands will require your full attention. Other times professional responsibilities will come first. And there will be times when Church callings will come first. Good balance comes in doing things in a timely way and in not procrastinating our preparation or waiting to fulfill our responsibilities until the last minute." (Elder Russell M. Ballard, Ensign October 2006 " O Be Wise")

We were blessed as a family - we definitely grew. Arguments were few and far between with Randy and me. I think we all realized that we were in survival mode and were satisfied with just doing the best that we could. I was blessed with time. I've been released for a couple of weeks now and I'm finding that I had just as much time before I was released. I was given a gift to prioritize my time and focus on what was most important at any given moment.

I am very relieved - I was ready to be released. I gave it my best, and I feel a sense of accomplishment now that it is over. I am grateful for the time that I have now to focus on other things, but I will always cherish this time that I had as president. The Monday after I was released, I emailed the Primary president in our ward and campaigned for a teaching calling in Primary. By Wednesday, I had an appointment with the Bishop where he called me to teach Josh's class! I absolutely love it and I'm grateful for the change.

Easter with the Fam

We had a low-key Easter celebration with our family. We colored eggs & had an egg hunt. The boys experienced their first taste of POP ROCKS....

Diaperless

Josh is now officially diaperless. We started training in December, but then I got pregnant and didn't want to deal with it. We resumed in March, and he took to it very easily. Way to go Josh!