My baby is 5

Today is Ethan's 5th birthday- a milestone in my book. Five marks the end of the baby era, the beginning of school and friends and the beginnings of his own life- that needs less of my physical care. He has really grown this year. Well I mean mentally at least- he is still just a tiny tiny guy- he barely weighs 30 lbs. He can do nearly everything all on his own. He even makes his own bed. He is really smart- he learned to read this year and he can do simple math. He is so ready for Kindergarten- although today he told me that he wasn't sure about going because there might be bullies. He can write and draw and has a far better understanding of the world than I give him credit for. He is my guy! He still loves to cuddle and tells me that he loves me all the time. I can never go back- he will never be a baby again and he is my last baby- he'll always be my baby. Yesterday he told me that when he grows up to be a dad that he wants to be a golfer, because he loves golf and that he'll be able to eat food on the couch just like Jeff- then he asked me if we will move before he is a dad. Ethan is a very good little boy- he is calm for the most part and he minds very well. He loves cars- hotwheels, Cars the movie, trains, monster trucks and anything with wheels. He is a genius at the computer and the Play Station. He can figure things out faster than we can. He loves his sisters and tells me that ladies always go first. It has been a surreal day- I feel like it was all a dream- he has grown up so fast and I blinked way too much. I am so grateful for him. I love him! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUBBA!

Worried

Like I said in the previous post our kids have been sick- well I found out on Wednesday that Ashtyn really isn't sick- she is WORRIED. Every morning she would wake up with a tummy ache and call me to pick her up from school- then when we got home her tummy ache went away. I finally went to the school and talked to her teacher to see if something may have happened that was causing her stress. Her teacher is so adorable and she gave Ash a special envelope and letter that she could write down her feelings on. Ashtyn told me later what she had written and it was that she was worried about moving and having to make new friends. I decided I'd better talk to all the kids about this and see what their concerns were. All along we have been talking about it- but I think they just needed a special talk. All of them are worried about making friends. They are also all excited to get to have their own rooms. They were also under the impression that when you move you leave all of your stuff for the new people and that we wouldn't get to take our beds, toys, clothes, movies, etc. One of the reasons we are moving is to find a neighborhood that has more kids in it that are our kids ages. I want them to have lots and lots of friends. It's been one of my worries that are kids would have a hard time adjusting. But I know that it will also be good and good to do it now when they are little. My family moved to the house they live in now when I was half way through first grade- it was scary and hard at first and I know it will be a change.

We have been looking like crazy for a house. It has been lots of fun and challenging to find something that Jeff and I both agree on. This whole process is starting to take it's toll on the kids the most- they are definitely acting out and I don't blame them- we have pretty much been neglecting them the last two months. That is why I will be really happy to find a house and get settled.

Hello Spring

Today is March 23rd. Spring is finally here! Wait- does that look like Spring to you? I think Mother Nature is a little confused. Last week was full of sun- last week was still considered Winter. This week is the first week of Spring and this is the scene we saw this morning when we woke up. My only consolation is that my kids are sick today- so we don't have to go outside in this weather- although I wouldn't call sick kids a consolation.

Speaking of March 23rd- Today three more of our favorite people celebrate their birthdays. So Happy Birthday to Jeanne, Liz and Scott! We love all of you very much!

I know the pictures aren't the best- we really need to get some better pictures of our extended family. Hope all of you have an awesome day!

Yesterday Ethan was so sick in the afternoon. He had been taking a nap and he got up to go to the bathroom. I went to check on him and he wasn't in his bed. I found him laying on the floor in front of the toilet with his pants and underwear pulled down. It was sad and cute. He must have been so tired that after he went he just layed down.

We registered Ethan for Kindergarten a few weeks ago and he is so excited to get to go to school. They gave him a pencil, crayons and a pair of scissors to have and also a little workbook to practice over the summer. As soon as we got home he went straight to work on the workbook. Unfortunately he knows that he hasn't had his Kindergarten immunizations and he is not looking forward to getting them. He said "I know I can be brave and I might cry for a minute, but then it will be OK- Oh I'd better go lay down and rest to get ready for them." He's a funny boy. I'm excited for him to go to school, but I'll miss my buddy when he is gone.

Baby Chicks

Ashtyn's class has baby chicks. Their teacher got some eggs and an incubator from one of the college extensions. They have been waiting for the chicks to hatch and they finally did. They are the cutest little things. So soft and fuzzy. I took the kids to see them yesterday afternoon and they got to hold one. Well today Ashtyn told us that two of the chicks had to go to the vet. One has a broken leg and probably won't make it and the other one won't eat and is sick. It made me feel sad and I thought about all of the hundreds of kids that have been to see them and hold them and that probably caused their problems. Which makes me feel kind of bad for those chicks to be taken away from their home and raised in a classroom where they are handled and picked up by tons of little children. Her teacher is trying to teach the kids about chicks and their life cycle and I love that. I know she has rules about holding the chicks and I know she takes care of them and tries to make sure they are protected. Next week she is going to take them to a farm to live. I guess I just have mixed emotions- yeah it's fun for the kids and so educational to get to see them up close and learn about them- but it's really not fair to the poor chicks. I really hope those two don't die- I think if they do I will never let my kids pet another baby animal- they are just too small and helpless, no matter how careful you are- they aren't meant to be handled when they are young.

I couldn't do it

I couldn't live without the playlist- I LOVE music- I just heard David Martin sing today and I loved his voice so much that I had to put him on my list and repost the list.

Playlist

Is it me or is project playlist bogging things down. For some reason this whole week any blog with a playlist loads incredibly SLOW- I couldn't take it any more so I took my playlist off. My blog will be silent now- just your voice and my thoughts in your head.

Things

Jeff's aunt and uncle came to visit this last weekend and we got to spend a little time with them on Sunday afternoon. They are so fun to be with- I love their Mississippi accents. They hadn't seen our kids since 2007.

I found a new product that I love to use to clean my tub. It's the Arm and Hammer scrub free bathroom cleaner. It has baking soda in it and I know so many people love baking soda- but using it alone doesn't work for me on this 20 year old tub. It took all the soap scum off and made the faucet shine! Love it!

The leprechauns paid us a visit again this year. This really is such a fun holiday for me. I love the little foot prints and treats they leave. The kids get so excited to see them visit. Whitney couldn't wait to tell all her friends about it. They even left clover kisses on our faces. I felt a little dumb when our neighbors little boy came over for car pool because my kids ran and asked him what the leprechauns brought him and he just put his head down and said "nothing" in a sad little voice. So on the way to school we had a talk about how different families have different traditions and maybe his family does things that ours doesn't and that's ok, so not to be sad because he gets to do lots of fun things at his house too.

35, 17, 3, 14, 21

These are my new lucky numbers. We got an offer on our house this weekend! 35 is the number of days our house had been on the market when we got the offer, 17 is the number of showings we had before we got an offer, 3 is March- which is the month we bought this home and the month we got an offer, 14 is the day we got the offer and the 21 of April is the day they want to close.

I can not even begin to express how thankful I am that we have had a beautiful home and neighborhood to live in for six years. That we now have an offer on our home and have the opportunity to have a new home and meet new people and experiecne change. I feel really grateful.

So now if will become my full time job to find us a new house.

Ashtyn

Ashtyn had her annual reflux test this week- She has bladder reflux on both kidneys. We found out in 2006 when she got several UTI's that year. This was the fourth visit to the hospital for her. It is not a fun test to have and rather invasive. It always hurts. She was very very nervous this year because her memory has matured and she remembered last years test. She cried and felt like she was going to throw up- It made me cry this time too. I hate that she has to do this. We didn't have to wait at all when we got there and surprisingly she handled it very well. There were even a few smiles during the test. And to our greatest hope she no longer has reflux on her right side and it has improved on the left. We will no longer have to be on daily antibiotics and she won't have to have the test for two more years this time. She was very relieved. No child should ever have to see a hospital this much. Now we just wait and hope that it resolves on it's own and that she doesn't have any long term problems as a result.

On Saturday Jeff and I went to the temple for our date night. I was very surprised when I saw one of my best friends there. She lives in Arizona so I don't see her as often as I'd like. I have never been happier to see someone. I imagine that is what it will be like when we die and get to see everyone that has been gone. I wanted to yell her name and run over to her- but we were in the chapel and so she walked over to me and we hugged. I love the temple and knowing that I can see people again someday.

Our house is still going well. We haven't had as many showings this week- but we are still having them which is great. This week will be one month. I'm still optimistic that it will sell before the summers end.

Happy Birthday Malia

Happy Birthday to one of our favorite people on the planet! Aunt Malia! Malia we love you so much. You are kind, sweet, fun, creative, spiritual, happy, spunky, beautiful, smart, and the best aunt in the world! We hope you have a fabulous birthday on this day! (PS-while we(Ash and I) were writing this post, she asked if you were ** years old today and I said yes- then she said she is quite young mom, you know.)

Gowing Pains

Last night my girls went to bed one size and woke up a completely different size. It was crazy. My girls are tiny- they don't grow very fast- their hair sure does- but they have tiny little bodies that are usually a size smaller than their ages. They have two completely different body types. Ashtyn has my same long legs and short torso and Whitney is opposite and has a long torso and shorter legs. Ashtyn is super skinny and Whitney is more average, so even though they are a year a part in age- they pretty much wear the same size in clothes. We have been through some pretty long stretches where their clothes wear out before they grow out of them. I couldn't believe it when they both tried to get dressed this morning and they couldn't fit into their pants. Maybe it was all the cake we ate at my mom's 60th birthday party last night:)

We have now had a total of 12 showings on our house. I am astounded that that many people have come to see it. It has officially been on the market since February 11th. This last week alone we had 8 showings. I feel so happy about this- yet also so stressed out. Does anyone know how hard it is to sell your house when you have little kids?? VERY! We practically live out of the car- or at other people's homes:) I am just praying that one of these people will want to make an offer.

My faith has grown a lot this last month. I know that if we are supposed to move it will happen. I have fallen in love with my house all over again. In fact I probably appreciate it more now than when we bought it. I have become a little bit OCD about keeping it clean and find myself not being able to STOP cleaning once I start. I love love a clean house. I do go over board and find myself getting very stressed out when we have a showing- to the point I am yelling at my kids to not touch anything and stand still so we don't mess up the house or get footprints in my freshly vacuumed floor...LOL. I have to keep telling my self to chill out so that I don't go totally ballistic.

Today I was reading the scriptures in Matthew chapter 6 and a couple of the verses stood out to me:
31 "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? "- Temporal things are not important- it doesn't matter the food we eat or the clothes we wear.

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. -Heavenly Father will take care of the necessities that we need to sustain life.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. -If we are doing what is right first- he will provide for the rest.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. -This verse helps to give me patience and remind me not to worry so much about the future and take notice of what needs to be done today. Tomorrow will come whether I think about it or not.