My Three Sons

Milestones

2012-02-11T16:16:00.002-07:00

Hey there. My name is Drewbers. I love my dad's lasagna. And I'm cute. Tee hee.

I'm just chillin' here. Letting it digest and feeling it all over my chubby cheeks.

Andrew walks now, and fast. He's all over the place. I love to watch him toddle and I love how proud he is of himself.

Meanwhile, Max lost his other top tooth! He was very glad the tooth fairy remembered to come this time. She forgot last time.

He lost it had school. Reports say the other kids were chanting "Pull it out! Pull it out!" It was a flapper -- just dangling for a while before it gave up. The teacher had a little container to put it in for him to bring home. Very exciting stuff.

I've often wondered....

2012-02-10T08:24:00.001-07:00

...what it would be like to have a girl.

Meet "Andrea" Rockwell Richards.

JB's note:

She’s not the prettiest girl in class but she’s got a really good fastball and a deadeye three point shooter.

(Nonna watched the boys last night and didn’t have any other jammies in his size at her house. )

Benny the baseball player - updated

2012-02-06T08:02:00.000-07:00

My sister-in-law Suzanne's friend Amy took a recent church picture of Benny (where he posed as a baseball player) and photoshopped it. Look how cute!

And with a bat:

Isn't that killer? He loves it, and often asks to see the picture with the bat. I'm going to print it out to put in his room.

Cruise part three - our boys

2012-02-03T06:00:00.001-07:00

I was worried before our cruise about my baby. Worried because he didn't sleep very well at night, he still nursed a few times a day, and he often was rather clingy to me. But I have an amazing mother-in-law. Saint Pauline I now call her. And I think I underestimated this baby. He quickly learned to love Nonna as his meal ticket, and she quickly sleep-trained him.

That's right, this 13-month-old now sleeps through the night. I. love. Pauline.

Here's my darling baby in the car Saturday night at the airport when we got back.

Here he is with daddy.

(For the record I took my pump on the cruise. He now nurses twice a day so we are still slowly weaning, my cute little baby!)

I shouldn't have worried about Andrew so much. I should have worried more about my four-year-old Benny boy. He missed us a lot. I heard rumors of some meltdowns and tears. He would tell me on the phone, "I'm still thinking about holding you."

Here we are reunited again:

I'm doing my hardest to spend some one-on-one time just with Benny every day, to help his behavior improve. He is the definition of a middle child.

Max did the best of all the boys. He was a good helper while we were gone, and I believe he would have been just fine if we were away 2 weeks. He often tells me Nonna is nicer. She took him to McDonald's afterall, and got him Costco pizza twice, and bought him a BeyBlade from Wal-mart (they are all the rage in his class).

I was so happy to see we didn't miss him losing a tooth! It happened Sunday while he and Benny were wrestling, and he ran up to show us.

I love that face!

Cruise part two

2012-02-02T07:45:00.000-07:00

The Norwegian Epic had fantastic entertainment. Fantastic, I tell you! We saw Blue Man group one night, which was amazingly crazy. Then we went to The Second City comedy troupe the next night, and keep in mind on a cruise this is all for free. We loved The Second City so much, we went to 3 more of their improv/sketch shows during the week. I laughed so hard my cheek spasmed.

The Epic had Nickelodeon characters and activities on board for kids, so I thought my boys might like knowing I met a very large Dora. Hola!

JB played basketball a lot at the ship's court. One day a game was put together, shirts versus skins, and JB went up against a guy who was pretty tough -- serious about basketball, fought with JB over every rebound, etc.

Then, that night or the next night, we went to the show on board called "Legends," featuring a Steven Tyler, Lady Gaga, and Elvis impersonator. Guess who was the Elvis impersonator? Mr Basketball!

He recognized JB and said, "Hey, you're the guy I fouled the hell out of!"

Besides the fun on the ship, we also had ports. The ship went to St Martin, St Thomas, and Nassau Bahamas. In St Thomas JB and I took the ferry over to St John, one of our favorite places ever.

In St Martin we took the public bus for $2 (really a minivan) and went to Caho Beach, which is right by the airport. How close? Those are my knees, there's a plane coming in over the water.

And there's the plane overhead.

Here's JB in the ocean with a sailboat behind him.

I don't think we took any pictures in Nassau, but we had a nice time. We took the bus for $1.25 instead of an expensive taxi, went to the beach again, looked around the Straw Market, things like that.

Next post -- seeing our boys again, and how on earth could they grow so much in just a week?!

Cruise!

2012-01-31T18:19:00.003-07:00

JB and I went on a cruise last week out of Miami to the Eastern Caribbean.

It was awesome: Eat, sleep, repeat.

This was one of the chandeliers on the ship. It was a huge ship -- the Norwegian Epic, with around 4,000 passengers I think.

We only packed carry-ons and backpacks, which was much cheaper on the plane and easier getting on and off the ship -- but you may notice some repeat clothing in the pictures.

Look at that sunset!

It was the view outside our window one day at dinner.

Here we are in the cabin, where I spent such glorious dark, Air-Conditioned times reading, watching "Keeping Up with the Khardasians (we had only a few channels, ok?) and sleeping and sleeping and sleeping. You see, our 13-month-old Andrew had only slept through the night probably 6 or 7 times at that point.

Beyond JB's feet is the sink to the left, the shower behind the curtain, and the toilet to the left. Cozy!

Next post, what we did -- including a run-in with Elvis, Dora, and planes over our heads on the beach!

Max's video diary

2012-01-20T11:48:00.003-07:00

Max found my phone, found out you can reverse the camera function so it points at you, and I found this video he made.

Enjoy a cameo by me, Benny's voice, and my sweet Andrew's face.

Notes

2012-01-16T07:28:00.002-07:00

-Ever since our trip to the Dinosaur museum, Benny has been obsessed with dinosaurs. Oh don't worry, he still loves sports -- I spent most of last Sunday in church drawing footballs and the block U for him. But he also wants us to draw dinosaurs for him, too. I bring this all up because the other night at bedtime he said, "Momma, when you die, you see Jesus in a chair. And I will ask him to send me back to the time of the dinosaurs!"

-I think I'm sending Max mixed messages. One minute it's, "don't carry the baby around!" and the next it's, "could you bring the baby to me?" Or it's, "turn the other cheek" in regards to Benny's pokes, and the next day it's "don't let him do that to you, fight back!" Hopefully he sees through my muddled parenting.

-Andrew is such a funny, funny baby. He just hoists that chubby cankle up almost to his nose to try and get over the edge of the bathtub or onto the couch. If JB or I sit on the couch with a snack, he speed-crawls over to beg for some. He is also taking more steps on his own, and I am always reminded of a bear cub up on its two hind legs.

-Speaking of animals, why is Andrew always surprised/angry/sad about naptime and bedtime?

-Everybody's raving about Downton Abbey. Why/how did I miss the first season?? Oh yea, I'm on the radio early in the morning and have exactly 15 minutes to watch any TV. Also, I'm becoming addicted to Pinterest on my iphone and spend my spare time getting stress knots in my shoulders trying to craft and sew. Now I'm scrambling to find the time to watch the first few episodes of Downton Abbey online before it goes away from pbs.org tomorrow.

-I'm on The Browser again this afternoon on KSL. One of the times I co-hosted they had me blind taste test Coke products for the first time. Here's the video if you were dying to watch it again. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1S3jtKjwcM&feature=share

-Since I'm bringing attention to myself, if you didn't see this on Facebook here it is again, aw shucks (it's the professional video they did that I talked about in this post)
http://www.ldsphilanthropies.org/byu/news-features/mary-richards-byu-graduate.html

-JB and I are going on a cruise soon. I just hope and pray the captain doesn't hit rocks and run the ship aground and leave. That's all. Oh, and I want endless shrimp.

Benny the baseball player

2012-01-11T19:37:00.000-07:00

At church last Sunday the primary leaders took pictures of each child to start the new year. They told me when they went to take a picture of Benny, he said that he wanted to pose like a baseball player and he posed himself.

My sweetheart. My sweet, sweet boy.

He saw the picture in my email and wants me to print it out. I think it would be great to make it look like an actual baseball card. There's got to be a way online or in Photoshop to do that, right?

Working hard and looking cute

2012-01-09T08:31:00.003-07:00

We've been back at Lowe's making stuff at their kids clinics. Andrew came along one Saturday, and liked to drive the cart.

Then he wanted to get out. As in NOW.

He wanted to help Max and Ben with those hammers.

Look at Benny's side eyes looking at Andrew -- "Keep him awayyyyyy....."

All Andrew wanted to do was put those tiny nails in his mouth. Is that too much to ask?

So sleepy

2012-01-03T19:57:00.000-07:00

Benny is such a goofball. He wakes up before the whole house every morning. By the afternoon he can get grumpy. But at 4 years old, he doesn't nap every day. He does a quiet time where sometimes he falls asleep. Like so:

Then there's our other stubborn son, Andrew, the-baby-who-still-doesn't-want-to-fall-asleep-by-himself. After he howled and howled from his crib, JB got him out and held him on the couch. Behold:

Ahhhhhh.

A handmade Christmas

2011-12-28T13:19:00.000-07:00

Ever notice that on all those blogs (and on Pinterest I assume -- I'm going to join one of these days), they make it look so easy to handmake stuff? Like you can just whip it up.

Well, I "whipped up" some stuff this Christmas to give out. I have the backache and needle-poked fingers and stress-headaches to prove it. But I enjoyed it. And I hope the receivers enjoy the gifts! Note -- this was all before I knew I was getting a sewing machine, or I would have waited for sure!

I got obsessed with scarves there for about two weeks, and made a few for myself and others. My mother-in-law helped me on her sewing machines at her house.

Then my mom sent me a picture of the cute stuffed snakes she was sewing, and Max wanted one, so I tried it out. I ended up making 4: one for Max, Ben, and their cousins Jane and Emily. But I had Max and Ben help. Yes, I gave them needles. Why not share the labor -- I mean, teach some small motor skills and hand-eye coordination?

I crocheted a BYU hat for my brother Joe.

And, what I'm most proud of, this rose throw for my little sister Rachel. She saw something similar on Pinterest. This took hours of hand-sewing and glue-gunning.

After Benny saw me take this rather artistic picture, he wanted to borrow my iphone and take a picture, too. I had to giggle when I saw his night-night also carefully placed for a picture:

Now that I have my machine, I'm going a little crazy. I've made two more scarves (well, only one that's wearable. Let's just chalk that first one up to "getting-to-know-the-machine"). And I have dreams of aprons, fabric headbands, pajama pants, skirts, who knows!

Happily busy

2011-12-26T10:57:00.005-07:00

What a fun Christmas we had. I have such a sweet, thoughtful family!

Look at these amazing quilts my mother-in-law made for the boys. They opened them Christmas Eve and love sleeping under them.

Andrew loves it when Papa has a toy or treat to share.

On Christmas morning I tried to get a lovely picture of the handsome boys dressed for church. It didn't work so well. Andrew was ticked! (He's trying to get to me right there). It was such a lovely meeting, and the children all sang a song up front.

As for the presents, well, I'm pretty sure Santa got the right things for each boy! Benny got his own scooter:

Max got a remote-controlled car:

And Andrew got his own name train (it's a tradition).

(No, we don't let him hang out sleeveless. I let him eat jello as part of the Christmas dinner, and he got it all over his shirt.)

JB's presents had a theme -- the Jazz, and cooking. That's a new digital cooking thermometer.

And me -- well, when I opened the box I started to cry. Some would say burst into tears. My in-laws (and JB was in on it) got me a sewing machine! Here I am with it all set up and trying it out.

The boys didn't want to fall asleep last night because they wanted to play with their new toys. Same for me, too!

We wish you a healthy Christmas

2011-12-20T19:55:00.003-07:00

We are happy this Christmas that things seem to be getting better for those members of our family who have been having some physical trials lately.

Last week Papa got both knees replaced.

Andrew loved the perfect-sized ice chips at the hospital. And the treats Nona had in her purse.

Papa is doing much better every day, with the right exercises and such great care from Nona. She's such an example to me of patience and concern.

We always have Aunt Sarah (JB's little sister) in our hearts -- because of her heart. On Tuesday she underwent surgery and got a pacemaker (read about it here). Max kept calling it a peacemaker. We hope this means the start of a new, healthier chapter in her life!

We also have been praying for Uncle Seth (my little brother), now home from his mission, because his back has not been feeling well ever since he had a bike accident in Indiana. He kept serving through the pain. Now he's trying to figure out what to do next with his life!

And then Uncle Bart (JB's little brother) got hurt playing basketball (read about that here). It's no fun to see him in pain, either.

Thankfully all of My Three Sons haven't needed any stitches or casts or things like that, even though they sure wrestle and jump and fall like they want to go to the ER. We do have some stubbed toes, sniffles, coughs and the rest going on this winter. But we can get through those.

Soooo big!

2011-12-20T19:25:00.006-07:00

Andrew-chunker-Drewbers-baby-boy is now one year old!

I gave him his first present Sunday morning. It's his own snack bowl, so he won't steal the other babies' snacks at church.

We had cake and presents after Sunday dinner at Nona and Papa's house. Those helpful older brothers assisted in blowing out the candle and opening his presents.

A first birthday wouldn't be complete without losing those clothes and smashing a piece of cake.

On Monday he had his 12-month checkup. He's 30.25 inches long, which is the 67th percentile (but he wiggled during the measurement) and he's 21 1/2 pounds, which is only the 27th percentile! He has dropped in percentile again, so the Dr recommended we try to plump him up. Whole milk, cheeses, nut butters, etc. We have immediately started working on that.

Now that he's a year old, I can start to wean him. But this baby more than my others is very attached to nursing. It's going to be a challenge! We may just keep going for a while....

Andrew is just such a joy, despite his lingering stubbornness to go to sleep on his own consistently. He claps, points, says mama, dadda, and "more." He loves to be read to, and to share whatever you are eating. He is great with that pincer grasp at putting anything in his mouth. He stands by himself, and he took two steps on his own Saturday night and again tonight! But each time I squeal, or the boys yell "LOOOOKKK!!!" and it scares him and he sits down.

Don't grow up too fast, baby.

Santa!

2011-12-13T07:27:00.003-07:00

My radio station sponsored a night at Zoo Lights last night. We bundled up, oohed and aahed over the lights, saw two of Santa's reindeer, and saw the big guy himself!

I took the baby back, and Santa visited with Max and Ben for a while.

Can't wait until Christmas.

Perchance to dream

2011-12-10T13:55:00.005-07:00

We've been trying to have Andrew put himself to sleep for 13 days now. He's slloowwwly getting better at night, both in putting himself to sleep and in not waking up in the middle of the night. Some times are better than others. For example, after letting him fuss for a bit the other day I heard him get quiet. I snuck in and saw this:

Melt your heart, that does.

I'm convinced he's napping less. He squawks and squeals in his crib and finally catnaps for 15-20 minutes, then he's refreshed for another round of "Get me outta here!" I wonder if he's the type of baby that doesn't need a morning nap any more?

I miss how we could just tuck Benny in bed with his night-night (blanket) and binkie and he'd sleep for hours. This baby thinks I'm his binkie and my hair is his night-night.

Look who is 4!

2011-12-06T15:33:00.003-07:00

Four years ago this sweet, precocious, maddening, darling, smiley little boy came to our family. How glad we are for our Benny-boy.

We had a party on Sunday to celebrate. I'm always happy with the size of my house...until we entertain. In the picture below, there are seven more people not even in view.

Benny loved getting new Cars things, Legos, and flashlights.

He requested an airplane cake. I tried being just like Cake Boss. Max and Ben were very impressed!

JB did point out that I can also make a whale, just in case that's ever wanted!

Brothers!

2011-11-29T07:22:00.003-07:00

JB's brother Jeff was here for the whole week of Thanksgiving, and we had so much fun with him and loved meeting his girlfriend, Melissa.

Look how handsome these two brothers are.

Jeff had presents for the boys -- new shoes that I swear make them run faster and jump higher and look cooler at school. And he brought this awesome outfit for our baby and he took perhaps my favorite picture of the Drewster-boy:

Isn't that just hilarious?

Benny loves Jeff:

Benny loves to poke the baby, as evidenced by this picture taken by Jeff:

It just cracks me up that he captured the moment that shows what goes on in our house everyday.

We had great food while they were here visiting. Ham last Sunday, fantastic Thanksgiving dinner with my mother-in-law's roasted turkey (as soon as it comes out of the oven I stand by it and sneak pieces when she's not looking), JB's smoked turkey that makes my mouth water, and all the delicious sides like grilled corn. JB also smoked a salmon for Saturday lunch that I still dream about.

Now who can visit over Christmas and help us have good eats and good company again?

Round 3

2011-11-28T07:26:00.005-07:00

Ooohh I want to run home and smush those cheeks with kisses. JB just sent me this picture of our baby this morning. His message said, "He still loves us!"

You see, last night we started our third attempt at sleep-training. Not only are we trying to get Andrew to learn to fall asleep on his own (without me nursing him or without JB holding him and patting his bum (which Andrew loves. (And so do I, tee hee))). But we are also trying to get him to be OK sleeping in his crib.

He has not only been ending up in our bed in the middle of the night, but lately, he's starting in there, too. It's just easier when you are soooo tired. But, despite how cute he is to cuddle, he's crowding us out! And we are not getting much sleep. He ends up making the middle part of a capital H between us, kicking, rolling, and snoring when he has a cold.

So, we are trying again and it's hard. He just stands there and sobs and sobs. We go in every 5-7 minutes and pat him and reassure him and lay him down, then he pops up again. He drifts off to sleep holding on to the edge of the crib.

Last night he woke up at 1 AM and at 4 AM right before I had to leave. I went to the room and nursed him in the rocking chair each time (I can't help it. What if he's hungry? Though at 11 months old, he's probably not). Then he slept in until 6:45, which was great for JB.

So, I think if we can stick to it this time, with a routine, and with consistency, we may be able to do it!

(I pledge not to be a softie this time. It's for the best, right?)

Crazy boys in the can

2011-11-23T18:00:00.000-07:00

In Salt Lake City, we no longer have leaf bags. You have to cram all your leaves in to the brown garbage can to take to the curb. So, sometimes you need a little help with that cramming.

I wasn't there -- but I hear JB had quite the amusement park attraction going on, by tossing the boys up and in. Rumor has it they were squawking, "Again, AGAIN! MYYYYY TURN!"

Such good helpers.

Holy teeth!

2011-11-22T07:26:00.002-07:00

It was inevitable, I suppose. After years of growing up with fluoridated water and great genes, it appears I can no longer escape. I now have to be numbed and get a cavity filled. Perhaps two. Sob.

Here's the other big sob -- Max has 3 cavities that need to be filled! Already it begins.

While I'm dreading the day of the procedure, he's not. He came bouncing out of the chair and told me, "Guess what?! I have cavities just like my friend Madeline!" (Oh young innocence).

Think of us both next week!

In the meantime, I have taken over brushing Max and Ben's teeth again. Just to be safe.

I went to the barber shop, shop, shop

2011-11-17T16:49:00.004-07:00

To get Andrew's hair cut off, chop chop.

My 10 1/2 month old baby's hair was getting shaggy. Mullet-like. We've never had a baby need a haircut this early. So, we took him to the $5 dollar barber shop and they put this widdle wobe on the widdle guy.

Ahhhh, feels goooood.

Feels interesting! What is going on up there?

All done! So handsome!

(look behind me in the mirror and you see the camera flash and JB holding it)

A Utah Man

2011-11-12T21:35:00.007-07:00

JB just got home from the Utah-UCLA game, where he had on a gazillion layers and blankets to protect against the snow. It's hard to believe just one week ago he and his dad were in sunny Arizona for the Utah game there, and to visit his brother Jeff.

It was gorgeous during the day, but when the sun went down it did get a little chilly (I think this is JB's favorite picture of his dad).

They had some good eats (as always) in Phoenix and Tuscon.

They also got to meet Jeff's girlfriend Melissa, and her family. I can't wait to meet her at Thanksgiving!

A trip to Phoenix would never be complete without a hike up Camelback Mountain. Look at that view!

JB was gone early Friday morning through late Monday night. Four days of single parenting for me. I took Friday and Monday off work (because who is going to come over at 4 AM for me to go into the radio station?), and I really had a nice time with the boys.

I liked taking them to school in the morning and getting little kisses goodbye. I liked poking around the house with them and hearing their stories. I got stuff done around the house and I wasn't grumpy-tired like I can be sometimes.

But we missed daddy a lot, and especially missed his cooking. Our meals consisted of hashbrowns, chicken nuggets, quesadillas and grilled cheese sandwiches. On the last night I tried boxed stuffing with peas in it. Those leftovers are still in our fridge.

Crochet away

2011-11-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

The turning of the weather made me reach for the yarn and crochet hook again. One can never have too many hats!

My hat from last year, and a new earflapped hat with bear ears on top for Andrew.

A monster hat for Andrew (it kept him cozy enough to fall asleep!)

Candy corn hat for my new nephew Caleb.

(professional photographer I am not. That's the couch)

Strawberry hat for my friend Autumn's baby girl:

A Utes hat for Benny (he's singing the fight song below. Bless his daddy-loving heart.)

Now he's asking if we can play baseball. I reminded him of the incident (even though it was technically Max who threw the ball that time).

And some video taken by Max on the day I crocheted Benny's hat outside. Notice how I have to rescue Andrew from Benny, and Max's narration -- he points out the bush. And the other bush. And the other bush....

Fire-fightin'

2011-11-06T20:34:00.002-07:00

In October one of the fire stations had an open house, and boy were all my boys pretty excited about that.

JB came up with a new trick when we take pictures. Instead of saying "Smile!" he says, "laugh!" It gets the best faces each time. Even Andrew goes "Ha ha, ha ha!" now.

Woody, the football player, and the dragon

2011-11-01T07:59:00.003-06:00

Well I must say they are pretty cute.

I could just eat that dragon. He's not scary at all! Just darn-tootin cute (a lot like his older brother in the same costume 3 years ago!)

Benny's costume comes from JB's sister Suzanne. She and Seth are at Clemson right now. He has tried to wear it every day.

Each boy got their own pumpkin (This is round 2. The first set was stolen off our porch. Hooligans.)

And we must show Max with his amazing Nona -- she made his costume! Sewed the shirt and vest from scratch. Notice the yarn edging around the vest in the picture above? JB did that! And the holster belonged to Papa when he was a little boy.

Hope you had a happy Halloween! We've got an awful lot of chocolate left over. (Sa-weet!)

Good fences make good neighbors?

2011-10-30T13:09:00.000-06:00

I love the tall wooden fence around our yard. I love that it has a gate that keeps the boys enclosed and safe and I don't have to worry while they are outside playing.

Whenever Max and Benny start to chase each other around the kitchen-hallway-living room-kitchen-hallway-living room I intercept their path and usher them out the back door. They may holler for a bit but often start to do their roughhousing in the back yard.

Many days they'll play on the swingset or in the sandbox, or shoot hoops or kick a ball around.

I'll hang out back there, too, with the boys. I put the baby in the exersaucer or on a blanket (though now he crawls off and crawls into the flower beds and bushes, putting whatever wood chip and rock he can find into his mouth).

It's our sanctuary, our play place, our piece of the world carved out and separated from everybody else's piece of the world by a nice, tall fence.

But, I sometimes forget about the fact that there are others juuussst on the other side of that fence.

It's inevitable any time

a) The boys are hollering at each other and/or using their feet and hands to make their point

b) I'm hollering at the boys to knock it off

c) I'm nursing the baby

d) I'm giggling on the phone with my sister Bekah

that:

I hear a slight "ahem" coming from the other side of the fence.

And sill more

2011-10-25T09:25:00.000-06:00

Nothing like a tire swing under that huge blue Missouri sky.

All my boys loved that swing.

We had to get a picture with all 6 grandsons and Grandma and Grandpa. But it took some maneuvering.

No Andrew, don't poke Caleb. Nathanael, are you sleepy? Max, smile!

Andrew, do you have something in your mouth?

Bethany steps in to help. Caleb: momma?! Hey, good smile, Benny.

Now we try just our boys:

Max has had enough.

Before we went back to the airport, we ate at probably our favorite BBQ place in Kansas City: Oklahoma Joe's.

More from our trip

2011-10-24T07:35:00.000-06:00

My brother James bought a house "in town" and is fixing it up. It was really cool to see his hard work while we were out there last week. Peter lives with him there, too. They go to my parents' house to go grocery shopping. I kid.

Anyway, James also owns a huge dog named Mal. How huge? Well, we wanted to show it by having him do his trick of standing up next to James.

Mal is really shy, so James held him and then we slipped into the picture.

Yup. That's a horse-dog.

Speaking of horses, while in Nauvoo, we took a horse-drawn wagon tour of the town and all the historic sites.

JB and Max in the wagon.

Andrew and me (Benny is under a blanket on the other side. It was a little chilly).

Then Andrew got chilly. And thirsty.

We had a great view from the wagon of the temple before we went up there for Joe and Susan's wedding in the afternoon.

After the wedding and pictures, we drove south to Pittsfield and my friend Andrea drove up from the St Louis area, so we could meet for dinner and have our boys play again!

It was such a fun, fun day.

However, Andrew howled for the last hour of the drive back to my parents' house (they are 3 1/2 hours from Nauvoo), but we sang every song we knew and that helped. If we paused while trying to think of a new song, he cried again. I had snacks and activities leftover from the plane to help Max and Benny on the drive. I just kept throwing stuff back at them -- "Here, try this!"

Our Missouri trip

2011-10-22T20:33:00.007-06:00

In 5 days, we were in 4 states. Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Illinois. Well, we were in Iowa for about 20 minutes as we drove to Nauvoo, Illinois for the wedding. And we were in Kansas for a short time, for some great barbecue.

When we landed at the Kansas City airport on Saturday we went to LC's in the city for lunch with my sister Bekah and brother James.

It was gooood.

Then we drove 1 1/2 hours to my parents' house in the Chillicothe area. Funny, we woke up so early Saturday to get on the plane, and I thought the boys would nap on at least one of the two flights. They finally slept in the rental car. Too excited I guess.

Andrew liked Grandma a lot:

Max remembered a lot from our trip two years ago, namely the chickens, garden and bunkbed. So we had to see all those things first!

(James, Joe catch some escaped chickens)

My mom's garden is huge. And amazing. We ate fresh peppers, tomatoes, onions and herbs while we were there.

The next day, my little brother Stephen showed the boys a great time.

And he caught another escaped fowl.

Max and Benny loved gathering eggs twice a day and feeding those birdies and the rabbits. I think my family liked having people help with the chores. Free labor.

Joe's wedding!

2011-10-20T19:42:00.008-06:00

Lookee who got married. Awwwwww.

We just got back from a trip to Missouri to see my little brother Joe's wedding. Susan is from southern Utah County, but they chose Nauvoo -- they got engaged there, it's sentimental, it's not too far from my family. It was so so nice to be there for the wedding and to see almost all of my huge family together again! We were just missing Seth (on a mission in Indiana) and Enoch, who passed away 5 years ago next month.

On to more pictures!

Chances are, this very picture (or one very similar) will be on our Christmas card this year.....

10 of 12 children! (L-R back row Peter, James, Dad, Mom. Middle row: Rebekah, Rachel, Emily, Stephen. First row: Sarah, Joe, Mary, Michael.)

What's that? You want order by age? (Rachel's new husband Rhett was trying to line us up and put Michael first. He's just so serious and responsible. He had me number 5 or 6. Yes! Mid-20s!)

OK, it's Rebekah, Mary, Joseph, Michael, James, Peter, Seth, Emily, Rachel, Stephen, Enoch, Sarah.

Phew.

Not pictured -- the spouses and grandkids. It's Mary-JB, Michael-Bethany, Rachel-Rhett, and Joe-Susan. Besides my three sons, Michael and Bethany have three sons.

Here we are mingling. There was a chill wind but other than that, it was a beautiful day.

The sisters (the wedding party wore red and Emily was the "best ma'am." Our family wore green and Susan's family wore yellow).

Max and Ben didn't mind waiting, as long as they had an uncle to play with. Or an iPhone!

In upcoming posts, some of the fun things from the trip.

update

2011-10-18T06:00:00.002-06:00

This sweetpea now has four teeth up top and two on the bottom. Mmmm those toes are tasty.

This baby also likes to explore the house like a puma or other giant kitten. He crawls around and around, stalking his prey, finding anything to pop in his mouth.

This boy also only takes catnaps some days, unless he's being held. Then he'll sleep forever.

This stinker also likes to stand up in his crib when he should be sleeping. And holler. And HOLL-ER! His little knees get so weak as he stands and screams for us to come rescue him.

This kissable, huggable, cuddly smiley fellow also gets me to do anything for him.

Basketball

2011-10-14T08:00:00.000-06:00

Max and Benny have been practicing basketball a lot. They are getting so good! In the future we hope to sign them up for Junior Jazz or a similar program. I have a feeling (and their growth charts back me up) that these boys are going to be tall. Very tall.

A friend of ours (whose son is ranked for high school golf) says with their height, they could be good at golf, too. I hear with boys it's important to get them involved in lots of stuff as they grow up, to help them find their passion and to keep them out of trouble. We just want them to have fun and be happy. Let's just hope it doesn't get too expensive.....

Busy Benny. Sleepy Benny.

2011-10-11T06:00:00.001-06:00

Busy Benny

Give Benny a newspaper, scissors and glue and he's set for an hour or so. Lately he loves to cut pictures out of the paper -- especially sports pictures. He puts them in a folder and calls them his homework, or he glues them to plain paper.

He also stays busy at the table practicing writing his letters and drawing all sorts of stuff. We have noticed a huge increased interest in letters and sounds and numbers now that he is in preschool. We play the "starts with" game a lot, and practice rhyming words. We also do a lot of counting together.

On preschool days he gets pretty sleepy. Benny isn't so good at staying on his bed for a quiet time, but there are some days where he just gets plain tuckered out. I call this next photo:

Sleepy Benny

Frisbee

2011-10-07T20:34:00.000-06:00

Before this cold spell the boys and I took to the backyard to play frisbee. But this isn't any regular frisbee -- it's huge. And perfect for catching and throwing. JB took pictures.

Andrew squealed at us from the Exersaucer.

Wherever the baby is, Max and Benny aren't far behind.

Who, me?

2011-10-05T12:30:00.002-06:00

As one of 12 children, I like attention. I do. But lately I'm feeling aw-shucksy. LDS Philanthropies is doing a feature on me.

Part of what they do is fundraise for scholarships. I was so blessed to get scholarships at BYU while I studied Broadcast Journalism, and they want to feature me now working in my field.

My uncle Howard works for them, so it was cool to see him when he came last week and took some pictures. Next week a videographer is coming to take video and interview me. I'm not used to being on this side of the camera and microphone! I'm usually the one doing the story. But I'm honored to help them, because of what those scholarships and BYU meant for me.

As Howard was preparing, he asked me a few questions about my experience at BYU. Here are some of those with my answers:

What was/were the biggest challenge(s) you had to overcome as a student at BYU?

My shyness, and my personal financial situtation. I applied for scholarships and Pell Grants before going to BYU, and re-applied every year after that. The day I moved to Provo to start Summer Term I got a student job on campus. I worked the entire time I was there, 20 hours a week while taking a full load of classes. (I worked for the first 3 years at the Harman Building/Conference Center, then my last year got a job as an editor for BYU NewsNet.)

The shyness I got over through the help of amazing freshmen year roommates who saw my potential and nourished it. They inspired me, encouraged me, and helped me come out of my shell. They saw things I was good at and helped me realize it, too.

How else did your college experience enrich your life?

It made me who I am today. I grew by leaps and bounds at BYU in my own self-worth and self-esteem. I found out who I was as a person, and realized God's love for me even more. I learned how to work hard, study hard, expand my horizons and have fun. I took ballroom dance classes, went to Spain on a study abroad in Spring 1999, and New York for my internship. I went to volleyball games. I went to the top of the Bell Tower. I stood on the sidelines of BYU Football games during Lavell Edwards last season for my Sports Broadcasting class. I met my "Best Friend Forever" in the newsroom of the Daily Universe and Newsnet.

When you think back about BYU, what is one of your fondest (non-football!) memories?

How to pick just one! Playing tag in the dark at the Marriott Center. The butterflies in my stomach waiting for my first live newscast ever. Watching International Ballroom Dance Competitions at the Marriott Center. Watching movies at the Wilk. Standing on top of the roof of the Harman Building to see the stars. Standing in La Plaza Real in Madrid (and all the other sights of Spain). Having Autumn peek over the computer at me in the newsroom in the Wilk and speak those encouraging words that changed my life. Sitting on the first row to hear President Hinckley speak. Sitting in the control room while ABC taped 20/20 with Barbara Walters. Writing a column for the Daily Universe and getting recognized on campus. Being praised in front of a roomfull of people when I was told I won the Earl J. Glade and Arch L. Madsen awards.

Please share your feelings about how your scholarships made your education possible.

I'm getting all teary-eyed thinking about this. Without those scholarships, I would not have been able to go to BYU. Who knows where I would be today. I wouldn't have found my passion for journalism and radio. And -- here's where the tears are coming -- most importantly, I may not have moved to Utah, therefore I wouldn't have met the love of my life and have my three darling children.

Awwwww

2011-09-29T18:00:00.002-06:00

You know you want more pictures of this chubster!

Only, according to his 9 month stats, he's not so chubby. At 20 pounds 12 ounces, he's dipped to the 40-something percentile for weight. But the doctor says that's normal with breastfed babies and he's not at all concerned. In fact, he talked to me on and on yesterday about how the high fructose corn syrup in formula, juice and soda is leading to obesity among kids.

Anyhoo, Andrew is also getting taller. He's 29 inches long, according to the squirmy, kicking, rolling over-on-the-table measurement the nurse took of him.

He had his first flu shot, and is feeling better now after that fever-vomiting bug he caught this week (he just wanted to be held all the time, poor boy).

He has four teeth now that he keeps feeling with his tongue and fingers. I mean, how confusing is that? You wake up one morning with something sticking out in your mouth! He meeting his milestones of smiling and clapping and babbling and moving.

Speaking of moving, we love to track this caboose as it explores the house:

Go Mudcats

2011-09-28T09:36:00.002-06:00

I'm late posting this picture, but congrats to the 2011 Tuesday night runners up! JB is on the back row. He's the tall blonde drink of water.

Max, Benny, Andrew and I only got to see him play a couple times because of bed time, but we are so proud of him. The basketball rec league he played in is also now done (next year, I swear the championship is OURS!).

Always moving more!

2011-09-26T08:41:00.002-06:00

In just a week, Andrew is now zooming around the house on his hands and knees. He's determined, too. He also pulls himself up on stuff, and tried to cruise the furniture yesterday. I tried to stop him: "No, you will not be mobile yet! You will stay my baby!"

Those top two teeth finally popped through over the weekend, and he has been feeling them with his tongue and fingers ever since. He's sad this morning, though, and feverish. Maybe more teeth?

He also bit me again. Vampire baby.

Always moving

2011-09-19T19:00:00.001-06:00

I took this video on September 7 of Andrew moving around the floor. He did the backwards thing for a while, but he's even better at forwards moving now. He goes up on his hands and knees and scootches forward, then does some sort of inch-worm thing. He's fast at it, too. Max and Benny will turn around for a second and then wham -- the baby is right there putting their toy or project in his mouth.

Speaking of his mouth, it's getting full of teeth. His two bottom teeth I call the sharp pearls of terror, after he bit me while nursing 3 days in a row. My mom told me to flick him so I did. He cried and I cried, but he hasn't done it since.

Three teeth on top are just about bursting through. For a week or so now they have just been hovering beneath the surface. He hasn't been too happy about it. But not bad for 9 months old!

Dads and Kids

2011-09-17T10:14:00.003-06:00

Max and Benny had a great time with JB at our ward's annual Dads and Kids campout.

The gathered wood:

Played hard:

And got pretty tuckered out waiting for those marshmallows to roast.

When they got home they told me all about seeing the stars and how dark it was, how cozy it was in the tent, and how much fun they had with the other kids. Max even stated, "We had funner than you, Momma."

But I had a fun time, too. I went to Target with the baby (one child is soooo easy at the store!), then met up with some of the other moms for a game night. I laughed so hard as we played "Time's Up" and "Outburst." I may have been accused of trying to cheat...I do have a tendency to blurt out whatever is on my mind at the time.....

Then on Saturday morning before the boys were home, I emceed at the KSL Book Festival at the U of U. I introduced some of Deseret Book's cookbook authors who were doing demonstrations. Andrew joined me on stage in the front pack and got tons of smiles and people tickling under his chin and his cheeks. I tell you, a baby is the best ice-breaker.

Sleepy

2011-09-14T08:30:00.002-06:00

Benny is now down to maybe one or two official naps in his bed a week. It's usually on preschool days. The rest of the time he does a "quiet time" while young Drewbers and I are napping. Only it's not so quiet.

"Mommy? MOMMY! Can I play on your iphone?"

Many afternoons on our after-dinner walk (so around 5 PM), this is what happens:

I know, right?

(It reminds me so much of Max and Ben at this age 3 years ago. See for example this post about Max's naptime conversations and this post with a similar picture.)

Benny starts preschool

2011-09-09T11:34:00.003-06:00

That's Benny outside the house, getting ready to go to the first day of preschool! Since I'm at work in the mornings, JB got him all dressed. In fact he gets all the boys dressed and fed and ready for the day. I think Ben looks a lot like his daddy in that outfit. But I just know he tried his hardest to get daddy to agree to a number shirt or jersey. He's so obsessed with sports, he sometimes sleeps with his number shirts.

They walked to the school, and here is Benny just outside the playground.

JB says he ran right in and started to play. Apparently he wants to go to school everyday, just like Max. It's only Mondays and Fridays, which we thought was enough for a 3 1/2 year old, but now we wonder -- maybe he would be good going every day!

Mary Poppins

2011-09-06T08:00:00.001-06:00

We went to Mary Poppins this weekend! I'm still humming the songs.

Some memories:

When Bert pops out of the chimney in the beginning, Max hissed, "He looks real!" I whispered, "He IS real." This became the theme of the day, even though I thought I talked about it with them before. They just heard "theater" I guess and thought movie theater.

Both boys kept holding out their hands for snacks. Constantly.

The part when the toys came alive I found creepy, but that was Benny's favorite part -- and I hear, his 2-year-old cousin Jane's favorite part: "Look, a big bunny!"

Benny noticed the stage lights changing colors and was so fascinated he forgot to ask for snacks for about 5 minutes.

When Bert dances upside down I about jumped up for a standing ovation. Incredible.

Max was rather mad when I took him and Benny to the bathroom. "This one is for girls," he scolded.

Near the end, Mary Poppins flies out over the audience and up to the mezzanine. Benny said, rather loudly, "How did she get out of the TV?"

Bees!

2011-09-03T20:53:00.004-06:00

Thanks to my work, we were able to go to a couple Bees games this season. Nothing like a nice night at the ballpark, hot dog in hand. We have to leave early because of our early bedtimes, but Max and Ben like that:

1) there's a fire station next door

2) there's often a bouncy house up behind center field

3) a small train runs the length of the outfield.

Also last week, the media was invited to Bees batting practice. JB, Benny and Andrew were able to come for a brief time -- and JB even hit a few! I think I saw a few singles and a double in there.

Benny tried out a bat:

And Andrew showed off his sitting skills in the grass.

Animals

2011-08-28T06:00:00.000-06:00

Do you ever feel some eyes on you?

Do you ever think your children are not what they seem....

That they might really be....

ANIMALS?

Tee hee, Max is the cutest tiger. There was a little event in our neighborhood with a bouncy house and face painting.

Benny asked for a U on one cheek and a football on the other. He was also wearing a jersey that day, big surprise. He's sooooo obsessed.

First Grade

2011-08-24T09:06:00.004-06:00

My first baby keeps getting older. And taller!

Today was the first day of first grade.

Here are My Three Sons posing on the way to walk to school to drop Max off.

I hope he has a good day. He knows several kids in the class and met the teacher last night. He's already stoked about school lunch today being cheeseburgers, so he didn't want a home lunch on the first day.

I also hope holds my hand on the walk home. I'm still cool until about third grade, right?

Sleep, sleep, I miss you

2011-08-22T12:00:00.001-06:00

July was the month Benny started to nap less. August is the month he has given them up.

We still put him down for a quiet time every day, but he sneaks out. Seriously -- he does an army crawl down the hallway. On busy days he needs a nap or he's exhausted by evening. See the above picture where he fell asleep on the floor. I have a few more pictures on my cell phone of him asleep in the stroller and asleep on me.

He made it 3 1/2 years, for which I am extremely grateful. But wow do I need a nap everyday, or I have to go to bed at 7:30 too. We'll figure it out, we did when Max stopped napping.

My sweet Benny! Growing up.

The canyon

2011-08-19T20:43:00.001-06:00

We went up Millcreek Canyon for time with family before Seth and Suzanne went back to South Carolina. Clemson calls!

What a fun time. Hot dogs, marshmallows, cousins, rocks and dirt.

This guy likes to cook. I like that he likes to cook. He's so good at it.

Feller had some advice for roasting properly.

Max and I thought it was all delicious.

Papa is very good at getting babies to sleep. He gets them all cozy on his warm chest, and hypnotizes them it seems.

Works every time.

Mobile

2011-08-16T06:00:00.001-06:00

Andrew (aka chunker, chubby, Drewbie, Drew, Drewbles, chubber-bubber) is mobile! It's all backwards though. He gets stuck under stuff.

He rolls all over, too. This is why he can no longer sleep on our bed. JB jokes that Andrew is trying to learn to move fast, so he can follow me around the house. Right now if I leave the room he cries. Until I come back, swoop him up and kiss his cheeks.

So about the sleeping in our bed, after almost 8 months I think we've solved it! It was a tough few nights of hearing him cry in his crib (we would go in and pat or rock him every 5-10 minutes. It made me cry to leave him in there alone). But now he's used to his crib and he's doing much much better. He still wakes up once a night to nurse, but for a week now he has slept in after that until 7 AM. Woo-hoo!

JB the magnificent

2011-08-13T19:45:00.005-06:00

It was JB's birthday this week. I made my from-scratch carrot cake I make every year it seems for his birthday, but he tells me he likes it so I keep it up. Sometimes I do orange cream cheese frosting. I know, exciting.

I crocheted him a new U hat. And I got him a bike miler measurer thingy, but he already had one. So my brother James saved the day with this awesome Coca-Cola clock. JB likes Coke stuff, like the chest I got him a couple of years ago.

He's such a trooper about that hat. I keep kicking myself for not going to go get new Pac 12 gear. Oh well, our anniversary is coming up!

We both took time off work on his birthday and went out to breakfast with the boys, then to Lagoon. I just love this tall drink of water and look forward to many more birthdays together!

A fun visit part 2

2011-08-07T13:00:00.000-06:00

Dave, Andrea and Douglas stayed at the Holiday Inn Express. Who knew they had such a cool pool! We loved playing with them there.

Max and Ben went up and down this slide over and over. They really learned some confidence from Douglas, who I swear must be half-dolphin. He's a great swimmer for 4 years old!

This little guy loved splashing.

After the pool we went to the Days of 47 Rodeo. We had a lot of fun watching these boys' excitement.

On the last day of their visit we hung out at the park.

(Oh Andrew. Carrying you and your milk supply really hurt my posture)

I'm glad Andrea took pictures when I forgot our camera -- I borrowed all these pictures in this post from her Facebook page.

I hope we will be able to see each other again soon!

A fun visit

2011-08-06T21:26:00.003-06:00

Pioneer Day weekend my high school friend Andrea came out west for a visit! I can't believe how much fun we had that weekend. It was so good to see her, too. We've seen each other a couple times since high school, and now our boys are great friends.

They brought a ton of St Louis Cardinals toys and gear for us.

They also brought the outfit Andrew is wearing below. JB is modeling his shirt, and Dave and Andrea's son, Douglas, had on a Cardinals shirt, too.

I miss St Louis. I loved my years there. I was obsessed with the Cardinals in high school, and still try to check the box scores to see how they are doing. But Dave and Andrea cured my Missouri nostalgia by reminding me of the humidity. They escaped a heat wave when they came out west!

We took them to Lagoon one day.

Andrea and I rode "Wicked" together. I think we screamed the whole time. If one of us was taking a breath, the other was screaming. But I'll tell you what ride scares me more -- the skyride. Yup, the whole time I'm afraid I will fall or my babies will fall. So I watched from below while they rode.

Max and Ben loved Douglas. I mean loved him. Every night of the visit they would ask me how soon until they could play with him again. In the next post, more pictures of the fun things we did.

Feeding time

2011-08-05T07:37:00.000-06:00

Andrew is getting much better at eating solid food -- and the boys are getting better at feeding him. Ah, helpers. Pretty soon I'll be able to put my feet up as they clean the house, right?

Check out this picture of my best helper Max, feeding Benny exactly 3 years ago:

Now here's him, same kitchen, same high chair, different baby!

He's so tall now. Then Benny wanted to feed Andrew, too.

Those are carrots. Yum.

My little stinker

2011-08-01T08:04:00.000-06:00

Here's Andrew modeling the skunk hat I made for a neighbor's fourth baby boy. I used a fuzzy white yarn for the stripe. Yes, that's drool on his shirt. No teeth yet though.

Here's Andrew on a day he should have been napping on the bed next to me. He was quite proud of his new sitting-up and raspberry-blowing skills.

My Max is 6

2011-08-01T05:56:00.003-06:00

Max turned 6 years old last week. How did my first baby get so tall, and lose 2 teeth?

He asked for a "cowboy cake with Woody and Jesse on it from Toy Story. " My imagination and my talents are far apart when it comes to piping frosting. So I called in a higher power and took the cake over to my sister-in-law Suzanne. Doesn't it look great?

Here's Max blowing out the candles.

Benny somehow ended up claiming Jesse. Thankfully Max let him. Otherwise there would have been tears on both sides.

He got a scooter as well, and loves it. He fell off going downhill and skinned his knee big time, but now proudly shows off the huge bandage. That's my boy!

I love this July

2011-07-27T07:06:00.007-06:00

It's been such a fun past few days. My friend Andrea was visiting from the St Louis area with her family -- our boys are fast friends now. Pictures to come.

It was Pioneer Day and my birthday all in the same weekend. It's great to have a birthday around Utah's state holiday, because it really does extend the birthday festivities. Since I'm one of 12 children, I kind of like the attention.

But, now that I'm a mom of 3, I need to give up some of the attention. Max's birthday follows mine, so my birthday is really just an extension of his in his mind. See the cake below? My amazing MIL made it for me, but Max claimed it as his own as well. I guess the crayon candles didn't help. Maybe it was for him, too....

Thank you to my in-laws Seth and Suzanne for making delicious fried chicken, mashed potatoes/gravy and corn on the cob. I never get tired of any variation of that meal. I love it so much.

For my birthday I got cute new shoes and more seasons of the Mary Tyler Moore show on DVD, and got to spend the day with my sweet boys. They slept in until 8 AM for only the second time in their lives. A birthday miracle!

We're walking, we're walking

2011-07-22T08:30:00.001-06:00

Oh how I miss the days when I could put a child or both children in the jogging stroller and briskly walk around the park. It's so much harder with three.

To get exercise these days, I put the baby in the front pack or in the stroller, and Max and Benny ride their bikes. Max without training wheels = super fast when he wants to. Benny on the trike is really cute.

The only problem, is that they run out of gas after 2 blocks. Our walk becomes a motivational seminar, with me as head cheerleader and argument-solver.

For example:

Benny slows down to look at a bug.

Me: "C'mon Benny, keep pedaling!" He slowly starts going again.

Max speeds up to the corner. Benny realizes he's been left behind, and starts furiously pedaling along and screeching "MAAAAXXX! WAAAAIIITT! Way-ay-ay-ay-tttt!"

We stop at every corner to let them take turns being the leader down the sidewalk. If not, a breakdown is inevitable with both boys hopping around me trying to get at each other and hollering, "It's MY turn to be the leader!"

(I also make them stop at every corner because I'm paranoid of accidents or kidnappings and make them stay in my sight. Yes, I am that kind of mother.

Sometimes it takes motivation to make it home if we deviate from our normal 2 or 3 block route.

They get tired or thirsty, or scold me for going the wrong way. Or they see mud/sticks/dandelion puffs/a good climbing tree. So I have to keep encouraging them along with my best rah-rah-stay-positive voice. But Benny will even just give up pedaling. If I brought the double jogger, I hook the trike on and let him hop in. If I brought the single stroller Benny plops onto the front near the wheel anyway and I slowly push the new burden along.

The worst though, is when we go past homes that belong to people we know, and the boys want to say hi. If someone isn't outside, the boys want to knock on the door but I often say no. Our walk time is at most people's dinner time, because we eat dinner so early at our house. A couple times Benny has thrown a full-on, loud, crying, sobbing, refuse-to-pedal-any-further tantrum when he can't visit his friends. Then I end up somehow dragging him and the little red trike home.

By the way I just read this post again about a walk when Max was 3 1/2 and I kept giggling at the memory. It seems I'm never destined to be a power-walker with my children in tow!

Buzzed

2011-07-19T07:47:00.006-06:00

It's summer haircut time! Before a major shaving off of long hair, we like to give the boys some mohawks. Just for a few minutes.

Max never really likes it.

(For another funny Max grumpy face, see this post from last year. For a cute Benny face, see this post from two years ago).

Max felt better after "all the itchiness" was gone. I hosed them down outside.

Two wheels good, four wheels bad

2011-07-15T17:35:00.002-06:00

1) There's a lot of bike riding on TV these days. JB is following the Tour de France, and surprisingly, Max and Ben like to watch too. They pepper him with questions: "Why do they have numbers on their backs?" "Who is that?" "What is that building?" "Who is in that car?" "Why are there so many bikes on top of that car?" "Where are they going again?" "How do they eat?" "Can I have an otterpop?"

2) JB has been kicking bum (this is a family blog) and taking names lately on his bike. He has a new road bike, and recently rode 12 miles uphill to the top of Emmigration Canyon with a group of guys from the neighborhood and our church. They also take weekly rides on trails throughout Salt Lake County.

I'm really proud of his biking prowess (and I love the way he looks). But I can't help but think, doesn't it seem like biking is the thing to do now? I've done a few stories on the radio about new trails, new laws, high bike sales, etc. I also keep hearing about more people I know going for rides or forming riding groups.

I would call it a trend, but trends come and go. I think for JB, biking is here to stay.

(Just be careful out there, honey.)

Eat up!

2011-07-11T07:00:00.000-06:00

Is anything getting into his tummy? Good thing the sink is nearby for a hosedown after dinner.

Andrew is still trying to master eating solid food. Correction: I am still trying to help Andrew master eating solid food.

At his 6-month checkup recently, he weighed 18 pounds, 11 ounces, and was 27 inches long. That's 90-something for height I think, but 65th percentile for weight. He has dropped some more. Listen Baby, in our family, we go 100 or we go home!

It is time for him to be eating rice cereal and such, and we do try. He just gags and spits and pushes it out with his tongue. But he did like the applesauce we tried recently. I think I got three spoonfuls down that time. I know he'll get the hang of it soon. They always do.

Mmmmm, cake!

2011-07-09T17:34:00.000-06:00

This appeared at my house recently.

I can't be sure, but I believe it's the frozen top tier of our wedding cake.

We had a carrot cake with buttercream frosting that day, almost 8 years ago. Yep, a closer look at the frozen circle did seem to reveal carrot cake. But how? Why?

All I know is there are many freezers in my mother-in-law's house. I also know JB's sister Suzanne has been cleaning out big time as she visits this summer from South Carolina.

No, I didn't try it.

A new nephew!

2011-07-06T18:02:00.003-06:00

Congrats to my little brother Michael, now a papa of 3 boys (this makes 6 grandchildren, all boys, for my mom and dad).

Here's the latest sweetheart, born last night:

I think he'll have red hair like Bethany! I love it.

Highlights of our Fourth

2011-07-05T08:17:00.004-06:00

Our activities involved wheels, water and fire, so we had such a great time!

First off, was the annual neighborhood bike/trike/scooter/stroller parade. (Here's the picture from 3 years ago. How fast they grow!) I'm glad I brought the frontpack because baby Andrew got restless in the jogging stroller waiting for the parade to start, and Benny got restless on his trike. So into the stroller went Benny, the trike got attached to the side, and the baby went into the frontpack for the long walk. Max did great on his bike.

At the end of the parade, we parked the wheels and went along to the booths getting cotton candy and sno-cones. Then the fire truck that came along hooked up the hose to the hydrant and did a HUGE spray into the air. As it came down, the arc landed exactly on the spot where our stroller and bikes were. Soaked 'em. It was a squishy ride back home. But Max loved the hose-rain-storm.

Max and JB stopped for one more sno-one, as the baby and Benny and I kept trudging along. Then a neighbor drove up in his golf cart and offered us a ride. There was just enough room. I will never forget Max's face as he turned around with his treat and saw me facing backwards, holding his two younger brothers and pulling away in the golf cart. When he and JB got home only 3-5 minutes later he was sooooo mad. "Unfair!" he yelled.

We went swimming with friends from noon to 4PM (the same from this post) This was really fun. Andrew loved splasing in the water in our arms. Benny was brave enough after a while to go down the slide, jump in from the side, and swim about 2 feet to someone else without help. And by the end of our time in the pool Max let go of the side! He still had floaties on and was clinging to a noodle, but it was a big step for him. I think it's time for swimming lessons again....

We had some poppers and sparklers and played with those outside. Max burned his finger -- I think he touched an ember -- and ran inside without me knowing what had happened. JB found him there. I think he was embarrassed about it, because we had given such strong warnings before hand about being safe. It just goes to show how quickly something can happen, but I'm glad it's just a tiny burn and nothing worse.

We had the boys try to take late naps so they could stay up for the Sugarhouse fireworks show at 10 PM. I had to work early so the baby and I went to bed at 8:30 PM, but JB says the boys did great in the evening and loved the huge fireworks in the sky. Benny slept in until 7:30 this morning and Max until 8. A new record!

Me + KSL = 9 years

2011-07-02T10:00:00.001-06:00

I know it's not a 10th anniversary, but still, I can't believe I've been at KSL Newsradio for 9 years this July (side note -- on Memorial Day I marked 2 years doing the news for FM 100 as well!)

Almost all of those years have involved producing or reporting for the morning news, meaning a wake-up call between 2:30 and 3:30 AM, depending on the assignment. But I'm done at lunchtime.

I have had such amazing experiences. Here are some of the people I've met and interviewed, or at least been very close to in a gaggle of other reporters. I put a link when I could find it.

(Don't worry, it's not name-dropping if they don't remember you. Seriously Donald, you never call, you never write.)

Michael Phelps
Nick Lachey
Andy Serkis
David Archuleta
Tom Ridge
Donald Rumsfeld
Lynn Cheney
Jon Huntsman Jr
M. Russell Ballard
Orrin Hatch, Bob Bennet, Olene Walker, Gary Herbert, and various mayors, lawmakers, etc

I've done stories in cities from Springville to Layton, from Tooele to Park City -- and Haiti.

I've put my microphone in front of dogs, cats, chickens and sheep. Oh, and reindeer.

The stories that ALWAYS get me: troop farewells and homecomings, and tragedies involving children.

Lately I've been doing more for KSL TV and the Deseret News. I also try to Tweet and Facebook for work. Who knows what new challenges are in the future!

Playing in the sun

2011-06-30T07:50:00.001-06:00

These days we spray on the sunscreen and head out to the backyard for hours. We have a new sandbox and a kiddie pool. What could be better?

Here's some video from my cell phone of the boys splashing around. Things to note: Max knew I was recording so he's being a ham, Benny is following Max's lead until he gets cold and comes to me for comfort, and you can spot baby toys on the ground at my feet. Andrew was playing on a blanket by me in the shade.

Have I mentioned Benny loves sports?

2011-06-28T06:22:00.000-06:00

I had to copy this picture of 3 generations of Richards boys from my sister-in-law Suzanne's blog from the Utah Jazz NBA draft party last week at Energy Solutions Arena.

JB took Benny for some special one-on-one time, and just look how happy my little boy is. His Papa on one side, his daddy on the other, a big bucket of popcorn in his hands, and basketball players on the big screen.

This boy ALWAYS has a number shirt on -- a jersey if possible. He also loves sports shorts. At night, he sneaks into our storage bins of boys clothing in the closet, and rummages around for more number shirts or soccer shorts. I caught him trying on some that were way too small, and way too big. He has hidden a stash of such clothing at the foot of his bed under his covers, and pokes his head under the blanket to check on them every once in a while. I think it's his happy place.

He's ok to wear his Sunday clothes, or another outfit say to a party (he was invited to his first birthday party on Saturday -- he soooo excited after watching Max go to parties for the past year, and he looked so cute with his combed hair and polo shirt). But as soon as he gets home, he pulls out his sports clothes and asks for help to put them on.

Here he has laid out his outfit at night on the kitchen floor, complete with his football helmet from the thrift store:

It kills me!

My third baby

2011-06-25T16:00:00.001-06:00

Andrew loves me.

I mean he's really attached.

If I'm around, he only has eyes for me. And he would prefer it if I would hold him all the time. I've already blogged about how he likes to sleep by me.

He also loves the baby carrier a lot more than my 2 other babies did. That way he's close to me. It could also be because I have a different carrier now and I use it all the time because I love it. I bought a used Bjorn, and it is amazing.

He's probably getting too chubby for my back ("You think?! says my chiropracter) but I have even started putting him in it in order to get work done around the house.

I sometimes just use my toes to pick things up while I'm holding him, too. Then I remember when I was younger and my siblings and I used to change the channel and volume with our toes, and I hear my dad's voice in my head, "Knock that off, you foot monkey!"

My second baby

2011-06-23T08:11:00.001-06:00

My cute, funny, precocious, energetic, still-napping, sports-obsessed, 3 1/2 year old Benny has now been a middle child for 6 months. He's not sure how much he likes it. I tell him, he's like peanut butter. It totally makes the sandwich!

Here's a picture of Benji-boy as a baby. Look at those cheeks! I LOVE that I have chubby babies.

My first baby!

2011-06-21T07:44:00.005-06:00

I have been cleaning out my email inbox at work -- it keeps telling me it's full. Rude.

Anyway, I found some emails from the summer and fall of 2007, before I started this blog, that include pictures of my sweet Max, when he was 2 years old and an only child.

It kills me! That face. Those dimpled fingers. That shocking blonde hair. Now he's a tall, skinny, almost-6-year-old:

What a dad

2011-06-19T12:00:00.001-06:00

Everybody tells me that My Three Sons look exactly like their dad. I couldn't be happier! Happy Father's Day to a cute, handsome and fun daddy.

Don't move! He's asleep....

2011-06-16T06:00:00.001-06:00

(Wook at da wittle chub.)

JB and I have a problem with sleep. You see, Andrew likes our bed. A lot.

I think it's for a few reasons.

1)I work early early in the mornings, so I go to bed by 9 PM. 8:30 if possible. It's just easier to bring him in bed with me to nurse while I sleep.

2) He really likes to nurse. Look at that chubbiness! He also doesn't like the bottle so much. Oh he'll take one -- he doesn't like to feel hungry, but he'd rather wait until I'm home (I'm freezing so much milk that I'm pumping everyday).

3) He was really sick a few weeks ago, so we had him in with us a lot. And my family was in town for my sister's wedding and we needed his bedroom.

All of the above means he is now just used to sleeping in our bed. Seriously though, what's not to love? Mom is right there, dad is right there.... But this means JB and I stay frozen in one spot all night, with one eye half-open to peek at him and make sure he's ok. If we are not too sleepy, then we slip him back into his crib across the hall, only to bring him back in a few hours when he wakes up again.

I know we ought to let him cry it out.

Buuut,

I can't lie, I'm a bit of a softie.

Summer starts

2011-06-13T19:35:00.001-06:00

School is now out for the summer. My firstborn is now done with kindergarten! Sob.

On one of the last days, they had a water day.

Benny went to play with the kindergarteners as well. If you've seen Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, remember the part when Flint Lockwood has his first snowball fight and pelts everyone while yelling, "Snowball!"? That was Ben with the water balloons.

The kids with summer birthdays were also recognized in front of the class. I know he's been watching his classmates go up to pick a pencil and be sung to all year, but I was still surprised by this level of excitement when it was his turn!

His shirt was still off from water day. He also struck a pose, not for the camera, but for his classmates.

What a character.

Big mistake. Big.

2011-06-10T08:57:00.001-06:00

These cute pictures were taken outside in our front yard.

See that baseball? In just a few moments it will be.....

Through our big front kitchen window.

What's that? You want your allowance? Hahahahahahaha.

Bouncy, bouncy

2011-06-06T16:40:00.001-06:00

We pulled out the Johnny Jump Up for Andrew to try. I just love his surprised look in the pictures like, "Wait, what?? What is going on?"

Max and Benny were estatic. "Look baby, you can bounce! C'mon baby, let's bounce. Bouncy, bouncy!" One of my hands is steading the baby during these pictures so they wouldn't send him sending into the hallway like that high-flying ride at Lagoon.

He tried it without his older brothers' help, and got twisted around.

He didn't last long in there before he got sad. He prefers me to hold him all the time anyway. And I oblige. That way I can kiss those chubby cheeks whenever I want.

I love technology

2011-06-02T12:00:00.002-06:00

JB and I caught up with the rest of yous guys this week. Sort of.

I joined Facebook and he got a smartphone.

I am now on Facebook so I help post more of my stories I do at work in the mornings. I have a dummy page under my maiden name so that I would have a login. Now I can hopefully figure out how to post to the Fan Page my coworkers already set up for me. But I'm not sure how much I will personally post to Facebook, because I see how much time it can take up -- and I need all the time I can get while I'm at home to spend with my boys (and I'm lazy).

JB now has a Samsung touchscreen fancy phone after using a flip phone for years. He was way past eligible for an upgrade. He gets his work email on it, and it's easier for him text now -- plus he got a plan that doesn't charge him 20 cents every time he got a text.

This was part of our first text conversation:

Me: A test text for my lover.

JB: I really like this keyboard.

Just one picture?!

2011-05-31T19:15:00.001-06:00

Since we were all dressed up for the wedding last week, we thought we'd get a family picture of all of us together. It's not so easy these days.

Whoops, can't see the baby.

No Max, please don't make faces. But great smile, Benny!

Andrew is sad, Max is shy, JB and Mary are fake laughing.

Andrew's shoes, and face, say "Grrr."

The baby is squinting, but everyone else looks pretty good. It will work!

Family

2011-05-30T11:30:00.000-06:00

It was so much fun to be with my family for my sister Rachel's wedding. Since I'm the second oldest of 12, I remember when many of my siblings were little. The youngest, Sarah, is 12 now. I was 12 when Rachel was born.

Even though I wanted to pinch her cheeks and say, "Oh, sweetie, I remember the night you were born! You were such a cute baby," I refrained from any talk like that -- I think it would have just made me look old.

The sisters.

It was great to have 3 of my brothers in town. Who else would lift my children up to touch the decorations?

Or swing them back and forth?

Or play games with them on the phone?

My mom met baby Andrew for the first time -- and gave him lots of loves.

If you sneak up on my Dad, or use a zoom lens, you can catch a smile.

I can't wait until October when we do it all again for the couple below. My brother Joe is getting married to Susan in the Nauvoo Temple!

I'll see you then, Missouri siblings o'mine.

Rachel Getting Married

2011-05-27T20:13:00.005-06:00

Rachel asked her nephews to be her helpers on the big day.

Andrew and I watched from the side. He wasn't feeling so well, and got grumpy halfway through.

It was a cloudy day, threatening rain, but when Rachel came out -- I kid you not, there were witnesses -- the sun broke through at the exact same moment!

Here's my dad walking her down the aisle.

Me with Rachel and Rhett.

My parents at the luncheon.

I loved the venue, at Sleepy Hollow in Orem.

The boys thought the refreshments were delicious.

Andrew fell asleep on me many times that day.

We also attempted to take a family picture.

More on that, and more pictures of my fun siblings in another post.

A wedding!

2011-05-26T10:18:00.003-06:00

My little sister Rachel got married! She was so pretty. This picture is from her Facebook profile, because she and Rhett are goofy like that. My siblings tell me she was updating Facebook that morning. Cute girl.

Pictures from our camera of the big day will come at some point, whenever my sweet but sick-with-a-bad-cold little baby lets me put him down when I get home.

Me on TV

2011-05-20T10:42:00.002-06:00

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

I worked on this Germy Band Instruments story for at least a month. I did 6 interviews and turned 12 samples into the lab. My shoulders are still hunched over from the editing stress of putting together a longer radio and TV version -- but I loved it! The piece aired yesterday on the radio and on KSL 5 at 5 PM.

Slobberbob

2011-05-09T20:40:00.002-06:00

My sweet baby has a little problem. He drools.

A lot.

People tease me that perhaps he inherited my spituation from pregnancy. If he has, too bad he can't constantly chew gum to help out with all the extra saliva.

I just think he's going through a normal stage of baby development. Max went through a lot of bibs at this age. Benny did too, although he had lots of spit-up.

Maybe he's getting a tooth. Let's feel around in there:

Hmmmmm...

Nothing yet!

He's five months old this week. At his four month checkup, he had dipped from 90-something percentile to 80-something for weight. I started to worry....but the doctor basically said he still has rolls and plenty of cheeks so he's just fine.

Soccer ends

2011-05-09T20:29:00.003-06:00

NOTE: Blogger deleted this post (I saw others had blogger troubles as well) so I will try to remember the post's original wit and cuteness.

Soccer ended last Saturday. Here's Andrew getting dressed for the big day.

The boys were sad they wouldn't have any more games to go to, but were quite happy to get their trophies. They have been looking forward to the trophies since day one.

They were engraved with something to the effect of "Soccer Outdoor league." We played indoors, but no matter.

They took the trophies to bed with them for a few days, and carried them around the house. Now one is on top of their dresser, and I think the other one is between the bed and the wall.

They are already talking about what trophies they will earn next year.

Mother's Day

2011-05-09T20:23:00.004-06:00

I had such a nice Mother's Day, with sleeping in until 7:30 cuddling baby Andrew, drawings from Max and Ben, a card from JB that had a toe print from each of my boys (including his), and a new purse.

I loved what the boys brought home from church. Their teachers had each child do a fill-in-the blank about their moms. For instance, Max said I was "around 25" years old, while Benny said 24 (I'm 31 but I guess I never told them!). They said they love it when I hug and tickle them. They also said my favorite things to do were to fold laundry and clean their room. Maybe that's because I always use my hyper-excited voice to get their help: "Hey boys, come help me fold laundry! Yeeaaayyyy!"

See, doing chores can be tons of fun.

Oh, and they both listed their favorite thing to do with me as "making cookies." Sounds good to me.

Time to look at the phone photos

2011-05-02T18:00:00.001-06:00

My phone's pictures aren't the best quality but it sure is handy in a pinch. I also love to scroll through the camera roll and see what Max has taken pictures of lately.

Exhibits 1-20: The exact same picture of the fire truck, taken 20 times.

Exhibit 21: Notes Max wrote.

The top one says (I think) Max is a talented restaurant. The bottom one says Max is 5 years old. Very true and very wise.

Exhibit 22: My sweet chubby Andrew's chubby cheek.

Easter pictures

2011-04-26T20:18:00.003-06:00

JB: "Smile! But keep your eyes open!"
Baby Andrew: Eyes open. Got it. What about a chubby fist in my mouth?

Me: (noticing Benny is clenching his teeth) "Benny, please don't squeeze the baby with your arm."

JB and Mary: "Kiss his cheeks at the same time -- perfect!"

"Smile like you love each other!"

These boys.

Max's big week

2011-04-26T20:10:00.003-06:00

My first baby lost his first tooth! That thing has been hanging by a thread for days, but he was worried about it hurting if we pulled on it. Tonight JB said, "Here, let me give it another wiggle," and pluck! Out it came.

This was his prayer tonight at bedtime after tucking that tooth in the special place for the tooth fairy: "Please bless that tomorrow I can go to school and show everyone my lost tooth including my teacher and they can say 'Wow Max, that's so exciting!'"

Also in the past week, he learned to ride a bike without training wheels. We are so proud of how quickly he caught on. He just zips around now and even stands up while peddling.

Now a note about Benny: He wants to be just like Max but doesn't realize he's 2 1/2 years younger. First he wanted us to take his training wheels off too (he's so not ready!). Then he sobbed and sobbed tonight, asking us to pull his tooth out too.

I wish....

2011-04-23T12:52:00.000-06:00

(iphone photo from Amy, who is the next-door neighbor)

Max's favorite new thing to say is "I wish...." For example, "I wish I had some goldfish snacks right now," or "I wish I had a drink of water," or "I wish I could play outside," or "I wish we had a new house."

Yes, remember when Max prayed for another baby so we could get a minivan (and we got a Honda Pilot instead?) Well, I've accidentally said something else along the same lines and he's now running with it. One day as we watched the progress on the house our friends are building on the next street, he said, "I wish we could have a bigger house too." I absent-mindedly said, "They have more children than us and need the space."

So now he says, "I wish we had more kids so we could have a new house."

No comment.

Entertainment

2011-04-21T12:00:00.001-06:00

Our friends are building a new house. Every day we walk by to check on the progress. The demo a month ago of the existing house came with lots of big trucks. It has been lots of fun for 3-year-old little boys named Benjamin: We are also redoing our downstairs bathroom. It's the one room left that we didn't touch when we bought the house 7 years ago this summer. It also needed some major help after we had plumbing problems in the upstairs bathroom. Every day Max and Ben discover something new related to the remodel that they can play with. Boxes, tiles, plastic, sheetrock pieces, more boxes, etc. And our friend Phil is helping so he's fun to bug -- I mean watch -- for them as well.

A new baby

2011-04-18T09:07:00.001-06:00

Meet the new Andrew Rockwell. He's sleeps, he smiles, he coos, he giggles -- he's happy! No more hurting ears.

A trooper

2011-04-15T15:46:00.003-06:00

Andrew did such a good job today. Here he is at the hospital before the procedure in his wee little scrubs.

He smiled at all the nurses, and they were just eating up him up. The whole thing was over pretty fast. Here he is with me in the recovery room after the tubes were put in. Look at that tiny blood pressure cuff on his right arm:

We were able to go home within an hour afterwards. He has had some sad moments today but we are giving him lots of cuddles. He's also startling at loud noises but they say he should start feeling much better very soon.

Pwease bwess Andrew's ears

2011-04-14T12:27:00.003-06:00

5-year-old Max and 3-year-old Benny have been saying the sweetest prayers at night, for Aunt Sarah's heart, and for Andrew's ears. Then they go on and on about the things they ate for dinner, the new baseball bat, a favorite shirt, etc. It's sweet and sincere and sometimes quite funny.

Anyway, think of our sweet baby tomorrow morning if you would. We are taking him in for the surgery to have tubes put in.

Baking

2011-04-12T11:10:00.003-06:00

Sometimes I daydream about baking. Ever since starting this dairy-free kick, I think about cheese as well -- big hunks of medium cheddar. I also think about baking with butter, cream and milk. Andrew is still congested so I'm not sure it is the dairy in my diet but I'll give it more time just in case. In the meantime, I will use substitites.

Here are 2 cakes I made in the last month before giving up the good cow products.

If I ever have to give up chocolate, I'm in big trouble.

In Sickness

2011-04-07T08:16:00.003-06:00

1) We are praying for JB's little sister Sarah, who was admitted to the hospital yesterday for more problems with her heart.

2) Max caught the fever/cough/ache/tired sickness that Benny had a week ago. We kept him home from school, and he was so disappointed that he missed chicken nuggets for school lunch. He kept lifting his blonde curly head from the pillow to talk about it.

3) Andrew has had 5 doctor visits and 3 rounds of antibiotics in the last 6 weeks, and his ears are still not better. Yesterday the Ear Nose and Throat specialist recommemded he get tubes put in. I hate to have my sweetheart have surgery, but nothing else is really working.

The pediatrician told me to try avoiding all dairy products for two weeks to see if that helps his congestion. But Andrew also keeps catching colds. The ENT said his ears just aren't draining -- he said it just seems to be the way our sweet chubby baby is built.

Yummy

2011-04-02T21:59:00.002-06:00

Andrew found his hands.

Slurp, slurp

Mmmmmm, I can't stop gnawing on them.

Good thing I have a bib on for all this drool.

What?

Soccer sheer exhuastion

2011-03-31T14:54:00.000-06:00

I have these pictures on my phone from last Saturday, and every time I look at them I smile and sigh. The boys did so well at their first soccer games. They ran and ran and ran, and were so excited to be with their friends and high-five their coach. No wonder that on the way home, they were tuckered out.

Benny even scored a goal! It was enough to send him over the edge into dreamland.

A great night

2011-03-30T08:11:00.002-06:00

For all those worried about our health and sanity after yesterday's post, things are so much better today.

We napped like the dead yesterday, and everyone slept all the way through the night last night, even Andrew. Well, I woke him to nurse him at 3:15 AM before I left, and he woke up at 5 AM just to smile and wiggle for JB -- but that was OK because JB crashed into bed before 9 last night!

Max and Ben slept in until 7:40 (if only they would do that on Saturdays) and Benny was happily eating oatmeal when I called a minute ago. Phew!

A sleepless night

2011-03-29T12:30:00.003-06:00

6:30 PM Benny has not been feeling well for 2 days. Fever, slight cough. He starts to fall asleep on the couch after Family Home Evening (boring lesson from mom?)

7:00 I tuck Max and Ben in a half-hour early.

7:45 Andrew wakes up after his evening nap. I nurse him while watching Dancing With the Stars. Thankfully he’s not too cranky/colicky!

8:15 Andrew falls asleep again. I, foolishly, decide to postpone going to bed in order to fold laundry while finishing DWTS and the Jazz game with JB.

9:15 I go to bed.

9 something I hear Benny crying downstairs, JB goes to comfort him. Twice I think.

10 Andrew wakes up again for more milk. He loves it. Can’t get enough. Thankfully he goes back to sleep easily.

10 something In my haze I hear Benny crying again. I go to comfort him this time. Max says “I can’t sleep momma! Benny is too loud.”

11 Benny still won’t go back to sleep, so in my tired state I, foolishly, bring him into bed with us.

11-1 AM Benny kicks, coughs, and asks when he can get up and watch shows. He must not know IT’S THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. But I keep holding him because I know he’s not feeling well.

1 AM Andrew wakes up to nurse. What the what? Why not wait until 3 like normal, huh, HUH? I tell Benny to come out to the couch with me.

I lay Benny down on the couch and cover him up. JB gets him something to drink and stumbles back to bed. Andrew gobbles down a feeding while I get a crick in my neck as I nod off.

1:30?? (I didn’t have my glasses on) I slip Andrew back in the crib and put another blanket on Benny who has now fallen asleep on the couch.

3:15 My alarm clock rings. I push snooze for probably 45 minutes, then jump up, grab my things and sneak out the back door so I don’t wake anyone up on my way to work. I figure I’ll brush my hair and teeth later, and pray I have matching socks on.

Later I found out from JB the following:

4:15 AM Andrew woke up again. (Is he going through a growth spurt??)

5 Andrew goes back to sleep after some milk and good smiles for JB (thank goodness for that smile).

6 Benny woke up again. JB turns on a show for him and stumbles back to bed. Benny calls out for oatmeal (at least his appetite is coming back).

7:30 AM Max comes upstairs, after sleeping in 30 minutes longer than usual. He’s the most rested and refreshed one of the house!

I’m posting this at 12:30 PM at the end of my work day. From 1-3 this whole house had better be asleep!

Sundays

2011-03-27T13:00:00.001-06:00

Oooh, I just want to kiss all of these cheeks.

Max loves to hold Andrew.

My boys really are so good to me on Sundays. They do try their hardest to be reverent at church -- well, Andrew thinks through his tummy but we try to deal with that the best we can with Daddy on assignment in another ward these days. I've had some wonderful help from people in the pews around me.

I did have a tricky moment while teaching Sunday School last week. Andrew woke up under the desk, hungry and grumpy before he was supposed to. So I gave the teens a New Testament word search while I was gone. They were still there when I came back, thank goodness! I really have a great class.

Benny has had some troubles sitting still all the way through Primary but is working on it. I love when they tell me the things they learned: "Jesus loves me!" is my favorite. They also have scripture-reading charts they are very serious about filling out. I pray every night they will grow up to be good boys who want to do what is right.