Mom Song

My mother-in-law showed me this, and I laughed my head off!

It's some good entertainment, and I know I've said at least half of those things, and I'm sure I'll use the rest at some point in my motherhood role.

Enjoy!

Beautiful Moment...

We were driving home from an adventurous and fun afternoon with the kids- we went swimming at the ND Rockne pool (indoor heated, yay!), followed by a quick wardrobe change and then a fun evening with friends to celebrate one of my former YW's graduation. On the way home, Miranda was beyond tired and screaming. Megan was trying to finish the sandwich she couldn't get down (cuz she was too busy playing), and Zoë was eating a tootsie pop.

I think it was Zoë who started, but she began singing a song we've been using a lot lately*, "When we're helping, we're happy..." Megan joined quickly, and when they got to the "tra-la-la-la-la" Miranda even joined in (yes, the music made her stop screaming earlier).

I love music. I love good music even more. But, having my daughters join together (even if they aren't singing the right words or in the right tune), and being happy together is absolutely beautiful (from an emotional standpoint; from an artistic or an acoustic standpoint).

Oh, and thanks for the awesome swim suits, Nana! The girls loved having Princesses on their tummies, and having the cover-ups to wear as capes. I loved having suits that fit, that looked good, and cover-ups that helped keep them warm!

*It's been high on the usage list because of our Saturdays cleaning the church. We've even used "for we love to help Heavenly Father, cuz we all love him so"

Fernwood Gardens

To celebrate the first day of "Summer" Vacation, I took the girls up to Fernwood Gardens near Niles, Michigan. This is a great little place, only about 20 minutes from our house, and even though there aren't any playgrounds, the girls (yes, all three) have so much fun there.

Unfortunately, I spent all morning on the phone trying to get the internet fixed, and also trying to find some friends to come with us to the gardens. Both attempts failed. However, there was a slight chance we might run into some friends who said they might go (The friends' grandfather was in town for a visit, and the mom hadn't made definite plans, so they might decide to go, but not until after the baby woke up).

So, after a hectic morning, and Zoë asking me every 20 minutes if we were close to leaving (the poor girl!) we finally got everything loaded and into the van about 11am (I had planned to leave no later than 10am!)

The girls loved the frogs. Then they loved the picnic. But the best part was while we were flapping away flies, worried the bees would come get us ("Bzzzzzz. Sting!" as Miranda now says), I heard some little girl voices I thought sounded familiar: we met up with our friends! Yay!

It was a great afternoon, and I was thankful for all the shady trees as we would've been nicely burned and even more uncomfortably hot otherwise. I've posted lots of pictures on our website. Thanks Wells Ladies (and grandpa) for sharing a fun afternoon with us!

Creative Play

Megan found a stash of clay I had laying around in the basement. She asked if she could play with it. I was hesitant at first, but thought, "Why? Why should I worry about her playing with clay? I don't have carpet, so it can't get ground in there, and she's not that messy..." So I let her have at it. I was very surprised with how well she did! She, of course, started out with the obligatory "snakes" but then she started making people. Yup, complete with legs, arms, torso, feet, head, and of course, hair.

Miranda watched in avid fascination, but I realized that I had not gotten the PlayDough out enough, but made too many PlayDough Cookies... she kept saying, "I want cookie!" and would run after wherever Megan tried to hide her clay people, pull them apart, and look for the cookie. Thankfully, I don't think she actually ate the clay (although it was labelled as nontoxic).

Say, What?

I took Miranda in for her 18-month checkup. She had more fun looking at the fish (vision her little lips making a sucking noise here) than she was interested in meeting her doctor. Still, she did great. She's 33.25 inches in height (about the 90%; for those of you who aren't moms, that means she's Tall), but still a lightweight at only 24lbs and 13oz (which is about the 60%, meaning she's close to average). She's growing right on target. She's met and exceeded her developmental milestones (talks in sentences- some of which you can actually understand now, climbs, goes up/down stairs, runs, "pretend" plays- I caught her teaching her doll, Charlie, about cuckoo clocks yesterday after I told her that Grandma has one, and has hit the tempter-tantrum phase, UGH).

The other interesting find- she had double ear infections. I checked her ears last week when she'd had a fever for 2 days. They looked red, but not infected. I asked the pediatrician if I could take a peek at them, too- just to make sure I was seeing what he was seeing. They were definitely different, so I am thinking my diagnostic skills aren't too shabby- except she was less bothered the last few days. I wonder if they were already getting better? Still, her nose is goopy, and she has a short fuse for crankiness, so maybe these antibiotics will help that department, too. It's nice to have my happy girl, back.

Oh, and I've updated her TODAY page. I also updated the months I've missed on the Old-Today pages, and I fixed up Megan's and Zoë's pages. I was behind by about 4 months. Can't imagine why I haven't kept up...

Here I am, almost 25 weeks along.
Megan and I were enjoying our oatmeal.
Miranda loves to wave to the bus when it comes to get Zoë.

Can you tell who is ready for the day? (i.e. waiting for the bus)

Protests

It was bound to make the national media, and it did. With the invitation of our nation's first African American President to Notre Dame, who happens to be a democrat and pro-choice, there was a flurry of ND students and Catholics that raised an uproar. How could someone who was against such a core Catholic belief (life at conception) come to speak at a Catholic University?

The controversy didn't stop there. About three weeks before graduation (and Obama's visit), a number of people protesting abortion starting hanging out at the main entrance to Notre Dame. It's the intersection of Angela and Notre Dame Avenue. It happens to be the one place I drive by almost daily.

I had no problem with people protesting Obama coming to speak. I had no problem with people protesting his support of abortion (pro-choice stance). I had no problem that they were against abortion. I had a HUGE problem with the graphic images they displayed. Aborted fetuses at 10-weeks and older; baby body parts, dead fetuses with foreceps still holding the head. It was horrible. Now, that wouldn't be so bad, but they also got a plane to fly a huge banner around the neighborhood (over ND) with some of the same images. So, even if you could avoid the intersection (which would add at least 20 minutes to a commute), you would still see the pictures in the sky over my house.

Now, even then I wouldn't be too upset- except my daughters, ages six and three, both saw and paid attention to the pictures. That meant that I had to somehow explain an issue many adults don't understand to young children! This is not a topic I want forced on my family when my kids are so young. We haven't even had the "sex talk" yet!

And, despite my cursory and open discussion with Zoë and Megan, I know that it has affected them. After one discussion about abortion, Zoë started not just praying for her (unborn) baby sister, but asking that she be born healthy.

We heard of arrests of people going on campus protesting abortion (some women were pushing strollers with blood-covered dolls inside). We had people standing in front of ND for the last three weeks. There were trucks driving around town with pictures of an aborted fetus on it. The last is the only one I had issues with (again, forcing the issue and exposing innocent children).

We then had a flurry of emails sent on the neighborhood listserve. It started with an informational email telling us of busloads of protestors from Chicago coming to town for the graduation. Then a mother whose house would be right in front of the protestors, said she was defnitely going to get No Tresspassing signs as she was already upset about the horrible pictures, and now they were going to be displayed right in front of her children's windows. That set off a barrage of people saying we should be more tolerant, shouldn't we allow protests, and others saying we should be pro-life cuz we're Catholic (yeah, I'd guess our neighborhood is about 75% Catholic) and/or we work for Notre Dame.

Still, even with hundreds of people lined up over 3 miles around campus, things were peaceful on campus. There was a student-organized peaceful protest on campus- a sit in at a quad, and a prayer vigil at the Grotto. President Obama was welcomed with enthusiasm, even if some people disagreed with him. And, hecklers that shouted out "Abortion is Murder" and "You need to apologize to Our Lady" (meaning the Mother Mary), they were Boo-ed by the student body at graduation and then drowned out by them chanting "We are ND!". Obama calmed the boo-ing, but said that it was OK. His speech addressed stemcell research (another hot-topic for Catholics) and abortion. He really is an excellent speaker.

As for people being arrested- well, they were all warned that campus is private property, and there would be nobody allowed on campus that was controversial (aka anti-anything: anti-abortion, anti-Obama, anti-NotreDame); I heard only of anti-abortion people being arrested.

Although I am not entirely pro-life or pro-choice, I believe in people being able to (peacefully) protest. I had no problem with people being out front of ND and displaying their frustrating and anger over abortion. However, I am VERY mad about the images that were forced on me and my children. I had a few friends that didn't let their kids go play outside when the plane was flyign around, and avoided the intersection with images as much as possible. It wasn't easy. But, I was upset that somebody would call me intolerant or a bigot or for abortion because I was upset over having to deal with these images (which did happen!)

I am glad that the whole debacle is over. The protestors have packed up camp, and our roads are free from horrible images. The students have left and once again I have my favorite time in South Bend and at Notre Dame- full leafy green trees, ducklings following their mom and dad around, the walks to parks and around the lakes on campus. It's beautiful, and it's peaceful. I like it that way.

This youtube video was posted and shows what I avoided- the horrible photographs of aborted fetuses. The protestors lined all of Angela and once to the major intersection (933-Michigan), were along the road for another 2 miles as one drove to the ramp to the toll-road. Please, don't watch this if you don't want to. I just wanted you to have the chance to see what we've seen nearby for the last three weeks.

Baby Carriers

Megan was 9 months old when I decided that I needed to have something to carry her in. I'd used the Snugly infant carrier until she was 4-months old, but I felt like every time I bent over she was going to fall out of it! She was happy in it (facing me or out), but I wasn't happy with her in it as she got bigger.

I had a friend who used a sling. It looked a little funny to me at first- you know, kinda "mother-earthy" and all that. I wasn't too sure about using one myself. I can't remember what finally convinced me to go ahead and try it, but I bought the rings, found some sewing directions, purchased some fun thread and plain muslin fabric and put one together.

Nana- giving my shoulder a break-
carried Megan this way letting her look out at the world.

It was super easy and was an immediate hit with me. It was versatile: I could carry her, let her sleep, nurse her, put her facing in/out, on my hip or even on my back. She was happy in it, and it was a life-saver for when she got older to get her to sleep at church (until I stopped nursing, anyway).

Then, I moved to South Bend, and I saw this new kind of infant carrier- a Moby Wrap (or similar style, that's just the brand name). Again, I was hesitant to try something new. I was certain the sling was enough, and there was not reason to get anything else. My neighbor bought one and let me try it with Miranda. WOW. She was snuggled in, it was soooo comfortable to carry her. I talked to friends and figured out how to make my own, and found some resources on how to wrap the baby up using different styles.

Can you believe I was nursing Miranda?
She fell asleep and we walked another couple of hours
before she woke up. She was 8 months old on this trip.

So, which is best? Here are my thoughts:

Infant "pack" (Bjorn, Snuggly, etc)

PROS

1. weight distributed across back/shoulders
   
2. gender neutral (I've seen many a dad wear this as much as a mom)
   

CONS

1. although baby can technically face both ways, I've never felt like the infant looks all that comfortable, especially as the baby grows.
   
2. as baby gets bigger, the weight seems to not be as comfortable
   
3. as baby gets bigger, seems like she will fall out if you bend over
4. All those loops/straps/cinches
5. Not very easy to nurse (although I've heard a few say it is possible)
   
6. Cost! I haven't seen anything cheaper than $40, and most are around $80+
   

Sling

PROS

1. super fast to put on (if you leave the sling threaded through the rings)
   
2. easy to switch baby's position (sitting forward, toward you, hip, laying down, on your back) without moving the sling much
   
3. Easy to nurse baby while completely modest.
4. COST! To make your own (you'll need a sewing machine) it's $5 for the rings, and the cost of 2.5 yards of material, and thread. A friend of mine sewed two for $22 (purchasing linen during a 40%-off sale)
   

CONS

1. If carrying for a long time, shoulder can begin to hurt
   
2. Need to learn (simple) trick of how to thread material through rings, how to adjust to get right tightness on infant, and how to get baby in/out
   
3. Not quite as gender neutral (I haven't seen any dad's use this- Travis tried a few times, but I don't think he liked it much)
4. If you buy this already made, you're looking at $40-$80
   

I nursed Megan to sleep while we were looking at Bridal Veil Falls.
Megan is eleven months old here.

Moby Wrap

PROS

1. Perfect for carrying baby around a long time- weight is well distributed around hips and shoulders, while still held in snugly (I can bend over and not worry about baby falling out)
   
2. Can carry baby face in/out, on your hip, on your back (see #4 below)
   
3. Can nurse while in wrap (see #4 below)
4. More gender neutral (I've seen quite a few dads use these- not as many as the infant packs, though)
5. COST: By far the cheapest to "make": you get 5 or 6 yards of interlock knit fabric (60" wide) and cut it into 20" strips. I waited until the fabric went on sale, and spent $30 and made three wraps.
   

CONS

1. Takes a bit to learn how to put it on
   
2. Can get the baby in the wrong way and she isn't secure
   
3. It's LONG, and I've had it drag on the ground (i.e. much easier to get dirty)
4. If you want to change baby's position, it isn't quick; you almost have to undo the entire wrap and start over. Some holds require assistance from somebody else, or odd positions to get the baby in the right way (e.g. to nurse or carry baby on your back)
5. Buying online, already made, they run $40+
   

Travis carried Miranda for a few hours this way-
even on the boat trip to the base of Niagara Falls.

Overall, I wouldn't spend any money on an infant pack. They don't seem to be very versatile, and they don't seem to work so well for when the baby gets older (I haven't tried a Baby Bjorn, tho'). So, sling vs. wrap? I actually recommend both! The sling is perfect if you need to quickly get the baby picked up and keep moving. It's fast to put on or take off, and baby can be in any position (or switch) quickly. Also, nursing is super easy with this- the tail makes a great cover-up. But, I love my wrap for long-term carrying. It distributes the weight more evenly. One can still carry the infant in many different holds (facing in/out, on hip, on back, or even nursing), but it takes a lot of practice to get good at getting them in the right position, and you can't switch between them without re-wrapping.

So, borrow a sewing machine, buy some fabric, and make both a sling and a wrap! (I'd be happy to help you!!!)

Rock Angels and a New Bike

Travis took the girls on a daddy-daughter date last week. The purpose of this date was to go bike shopping for Megan. She really had outgrown her tricycle, and we figured it was time for her to ride a bicycle. She was VERY excited. As she tells people now, "Dad and Zoë bought me a new bicycle. It's white, purple, pink and blue."


I tried to convince her we should ride to Notre Dame, but I guess she had so much fun going to the park on her tricycle that she wanted to try out her new bike on the trek. It was a much faster trip (Thankfully!) and I didn't have to push her the whole way. Still, the uneven sidewalks made for slow going. When she got on smooth sidewalks I was nearly jogging to keep up with her! She tipped over a few times, and was scared, but she handled that well, too.

My personal feeling is that kids should learn how to fall off a bike- makes it safer in the long run. Zoë became a champ since her chain used to pop off every time she went over a bump (while training wheels were on).

Miranda was excited to be outside and to be going/doing something. Every time I take out my camera, she shouts "CHEESE!" I guess she's grown up with the contraption in her face quite a bit...
The girls were not as interested in the slide this time. We ate our picnic lunch (hence the orange soda stains all over Miranda- note to self, straws are not enough, need a sippy cup. The girls then played on the swings.

Miranda loves the rocks. She loves sweeping them with her hands, picking them up and putting them on things (swing seats, benches, my hands). But I really laughed when she decided to make rock angels. She'd fallen over (the swing she pushed bumped her just right) and she laid there for a few minutes looking up at the overcast sky and the trees, then she started moving her arms & legs back and forth, making a "Rock Angel".

Megan joined her, and she had fun making a rock angel, too.
Miranda was a mess by the time we were finished with the picnic and park and started on our ride home. Twigs and dirt in her hair, smashed into her sticky face (from soda and a runny nose). But she was happy!

Have I mentioned that she loves to swing? She also enjoys company swinging, and indicates she wants me to swing next to her. Why does swinging as an adult make me feel so sick? It's not surprising Megan doesn't enjoy swinging- I'm not fond of the way my gut feels going back and forth!

Here are a couple of videos of the Megan riding her bike, and the last moments of making Rock Angels (I couldn't get the camera out fast enough to get a video of the process of making them).

Megan on her New Bike

Rock Angels

Cookies!

In an attempt to use up more fondant and to try another recipe from The Cake Mix Doctor, I made these yummy cookie pops.


Immediately after baking, I inserted the wooden stick and then I used a cookie cutter to make their shape. The next day (I got a little distracted), I rolled out leftover pink fondant and cut it with the same cookie cutter and used some frosting to secure it to the cookie. I also cut out yellow fondant for the center, and used a #3 tip to line petals with white butter cream frosting. The frosting flaked off after a few days, but the cookies were still really yummy.

Mother's Day Craft

Not necessarily one for little hands to help with, this was still a fun/quick/nice craft that I made for my moms and grandmoms for Mother's day.


I cut out 2 pieces of the foam display board, 5" x7" (using an exacto knife and a ruler).

I cut out the inside frame, about 3.75" x 5.5" on one of the boards, and cut 1 cm (or 1/2") off the other.

I cut a piece of fabric that was 7" x 9", and using a hot glue gun (set on low temp so I didn't mangle my fingers) I glued the outside edges to the open frame (folding the cloth over the back and tacking it down with the glue). I then cut an X in the material inside the open frame, and folded those edges back and glued them down.

I then put a thin bead of glue around the side and bottom edges on the back and glued the other (shorter) rectangle to the back, making the bottom and sides flush, but the top being offset lower. Finally,using adhesive magnetic stripping, I stuck the magnet on the back.

It fit a 4x6 picture perfectly, and the photo can be changed out. Travis complained that if you bumped the top corners the magnet would fall of the fridge, but I figured it was a trade-off for being able to change out the photo. I suppose you could not cut quite so much off the back, and it would be more stable.

To one (to cover up a glue mess-up) I added a button, but for the most part I let the material be the embellishment.

I know that my mothers/grandmothers loved the photo, but I think they were happy with the frame, too. I used different material for each frame (trying to match the material to the personality of the person). It took me a less than 2 hours to make 4 frames (and that was with figuring out dimensions, cuts, sizes, etc.) I imagine one could easily make one in about 20 minutes from start to finish.

Oh, Unc'Allan!

I'm trying to consolidate some old pictures, and I am amazed at how much my first-born has grown and changed, and not! This is her at 2 years of age with her aunt and uncle.


I grew up in a family of girls, and married a man who has a great sense of humor (although dry and more intellectual). I have no idea what teasing is, nor how to deal with it. Thankfully, I get a taste of it when I get to hang out with my brother-in-law. He also enjoyed teasing Zoë. She would get frustrated with him if he "picked on" her too much, but for the most part she loved his teasing, his banter, and she did nothing but laugh and smile when he was around. She absolutely adored her Unc'Allan and Aunt Buffy.

Addendum: I also found this picture. Maybe this relationship got founded at an even earlier age... is it a kiss? or a bite? Knowing Zoë, it was definitely the former! She was six months in this photo and this was the week that Buffy and Allan got married.

Reverence

I never thought I'd hear such a quiet sacrament meeting. Sadly, it wasn't in a church, and it wasn't sacrament. We were sitting in an auditorium at Saint Mary's University (the sister-school of Notre Dame) watching a performance by the BYU Dancer's Company as they came through Indiana on their tour.

Originally I had thought to only take Zoë to the performance, but Megan was nearly heartbroken when we started to leave, and so I decided to try her and see if she could handle sitting through something like this quietly.

I was not surprised to see many people from our Stake at the performance. I wish we could've had more nonmembers there, but it was still great to see so many people there to support the dancers.

I was a little surprised to see how many children- young children-were there. A number of infants, a handful of toddlers (ironically mostly from our ward), and quite a few kids agesd 5-7. Although, the vast majority was made up of teens and adults.

We've had a few discussions and debates about reverence in the chapel, particularly during Sacrament meeting. We have quite a few young (VERY young) families. There are about 8 active young women (12-18 y), but there are about 20 active nursery kids (18mo-3y ). I don't know how many primary children we have, but I imagine it's close to 60 active (meaning they come to church most every Sunday). This can make for a very noisy room, no matter how well-behaved the kids are. But, I've heard many people say that it isn't just the kids, but the adults who are making the chapel so noisy.

The auditorium was nearly silent between dances. There was the given rustling and occasional cough. I did hear a few babies start to cry, but they didn't last through the entire dance (although they might've been drowned out by the music). I think Megan was the loudest- especially when the dancers came on stage wearing skin-tight leotards and Megan asked in a normal (i.e. loud) voice (despite the repeated reminders and insistence that she whisper!) "Are they wearing any underwear?"

I began thinking, "Why can't our sacrament meeting be this quiet- this reverent?" -- of course sans the underwear comment.

Something I've been working on is to really get Zoë and Megan to be reverent/quiet during Sacrament meeting. I've always been a stickler about sitting quietly while the sacrament is passed, and during the prayers, but I'm trying to get them to understand that they also need to be quiet and behave properly during the rest of the hour. It is long, they are young, but I know that children can behave in such a manner, and it won't hurt them.

Still, as I sat in sacrament meeting, taking away all the books, pencils, paper, etc. from my daugthers, and trying to get the friend to understand what we were doing as they started to prepare to bless the sacrament, I was hit broad in the face with how unutterably NOISY it was. I tried to discern if it was scuffle noises (NO!), if it was children noise (YES!), but was there adult noise, too? Some of it came from a new convert family talking to each other/children, but I couldn't tell if it was others or not.

I just remember feeling so sad that as a group of Saints we could be quiet during the pauses between songs at a dance performance, but we couldn't be quiet and reverent during one of the most sacred things- remembering our covenants with our Father in Heaven.

I will continue to work with my daughters and help them learn to be reverent during Sacrament meeting. I know it's difficult- I've often missed taking the sacrament as I walked out to the foyer with a cranky (noisy) child as the Priest walked in from just passing the sacrament to the people there. I've been in the Mother's lounge more times than I can count nursing an infant. I've had to reprimand my children for rolling on the floor, ripping paper, talking in loud voices, playing with friends instead of paying attention, etc. It's a work in progress.

To be fair, the composition of ages in the two groups were different- but how much of the attitude of the adults around those children influenced them to behave better at the concert than at the sacrament meeting? Don't we need to lead by example?

One more thing: There was an incredible talk given at General Conference in April by Margaret S. Lifferth, the first counselor the Primary General Presidency, entitled Respect and Reverence. She says that we need to teach reverence to a child:

However, reverent behavior is not a natural tendency for most children. It is a quality that is taught by parents and leaders through example and training. But remember, if reverence is rooted in love, so is the teaching of it. Harshness in our training begets resentment, not reverence. So begin early and have reasonable expectations. A toddler can learn to fold his arms and get ready for prayer. But it takes time, patience, and consistency. Remember that we are not only teaching a child his first lessons in reverence, but the child may be mastering his first attempts at self-discipline. This process of teaching and self-discipline continues line upon line and precept upon precept.

So, patience with my own children, and patience with others is the best thing to do- but continue with teaching and not just give up.

As for the dance performance, Zoë really enjoyed the entire show. It was a lot of fun, and the dancers did a wonderful job. Megan had a rough time being quiet (we're working on whispering), but I think she enjoyed the new experience, and the dancing as well. I was very grateful to the couple we sat next to. They are in our ward and the Brother loves to tease my girls unmercifully. He was so sweet and offered to hold Megan (my lap space is becoming limited) since there were some tall adults who sat in front of us. He was so great with both Zoë (who sat next to him) and Megan, and his wife was so sweet to share him with us. I'm glad we went. I'm glad that the girls were so excited to go on a Mommy-Daughter date- they were so adorable as we walked to the building, and they were incredibly well-behaved.

Oh, and as for my girls' behavior on Sunday- it improved over last week! Megan attempted to talk in a whisper more, and I only had to ask them to be quiet half-a-dozen times instead of a dozen-times-a-dozen times. They're learning...

Park!

We've been encouraging Megan to practice riding her tricycle in preparation for getting her a new bike. I want her to be able to go on bike rides with our family. It is amazing what you can learn about a person when you get them to try something new. Or, at least recognize in your child. Megan is very cautious. She doesn't like to go fast, or rush into things. She's not as adventurous when it comes to height, speed, or action. She wants to go slow and stead and get there in her own time. Oh, and she'll argue with you the whole way.

On Saturday (and I didn't get pictures, you'll understand why in a minute), we went for a walk/ride to Keller Park, a very small park with not a lot of equipment but has a small slide and some swings that is about a mile from our house. Zoë wanted to ride her bike, but I knew that she'd ditch us and be bored waiting for me to push the stroller, and then I'd end up dragging Megan along with us. Not a pleasant prospect. So, I asked Zoë if she'd like to roller skate to the park. Yes!

Well, we have really HORRIBLE sidewalks here in South Bend. There are days where I wonder why we have them at all and wouldn't the road almost be safer (but I don't really believe that). There are cracks, but there's also upheaval from the treeroots, and lots of empty houses that don't care for the sidewalk (so there's sand/trash/sticks/rocks/glass/broken toys/etc.) This makes it difficult to ride a tricycle, but even harder for rollerskating. I had Miranda in the stroller, Megan on her tricycle, and Zoë hanging on to the handlebar of the stroller as I pushed both girls along, giving a kick every few sidewalk squares to Megan. It took us about 45 minutes to get to the park. UGH! But, the girls were all troopers, and we all had lots of fun going, staying and returning home.

I decided to try again, and see if I couldn't get Megan used to going a little faster- did I mention she was also easily distracted and would stop of her own volition to look around, in addition to going cautiously slow?

We made the trip again, and it only took 30 min over and 20 min back- but I ended up using my stroller to "push" her most of the way. She was still peddaling, but I was helping her go a little faster (so every bump didn't make her stop, and she had to concentrate more on where she was going so she wasn't as distracted). She was a champ! So was Miranda for not kicking her the whole way (she wanted to- Megan's seat was just where Miranda could tap her with her shoes!)

Of course, the highlight of the trip was the actual park- or was it drinking out of unusual cups? Megan got the bottle. But, she'd packed a doll's sippy cup in her little purse that she brought with her. Miranda used that (and managed to stay mostly dry). They both had so much fun drinking the water!

Of course, the slide was a major hit. Megan has no fear of this one now. I guess she got used to the height/speed of the contraption. Miranda loves it, but isn't so sure about speeding down it by herself. She's super confident about going UP (the slide or the ladder!). She even counts as she goes up each step... "won, woo, rhee, fo', fiive.. Go!" She isn't sure how to sit down on this slide since there isn't a good spot to rest and gather yourself before you're hurtling down the slide to the bottom. Still, she loved it! (even in the video you'll see... she didn't cry, but she was a little surprised about the landing)

They also went on the swings. Miranda LOVES to swing. Megan does NOT love to swing. I don't think she likes the way it makes her tummy feel, and she freaks out if she goes "too fast" (which is anything more than slower than a baby swing on medium speed).

We were all hungry and happy when we got home. It was a great trip. Now, we just need to get that bike, get Megan comfortable on that, and head out to the lake at Notre Dame!

Megan on her tricycle as we left the park. She was more interested in "spraying her hair" with her duck than riding her bike, but she was managing both rather well- she didn't crash!

Megan and Miranda on the slide. Miranda says
"too, rheee" and then "stop!" to her big sister..

Miranda makes it down up and down the slide by herself. She didn't even cry when she landed so hard!

Bragging?

I've had so much fun playing with the gumpaste flowers. I attempted making lilly-of-the-valley, but I didn't have a good stick to put the little bell-like flowers on. So, I let the girls eat them. I also considered making gum paste daisies as a gift for mother's day, but then I realized that they wouldn't ship so well. I'll do another post on what I did send to my moms/grandmas for Mother's day later.

One of my good friends had her birthday last Saturday. As is usually the case with adult birthdays, the day is never convenient, and is often lost in the demands of life- children's activities/performances/appointments, church callings/meetings, etc. I knew it wouldn't be much of a Birthday, but wanted to do something for her... so I borrowed her book, The Cake Mix Doctor (which is awesome) and I chose a recipe out of it, made the cake and decorated it. Although, I almost forgot to take pictures (AGAIN!), but luckily I had my camera in my purse. Anyway, this is her birthday cake:



Dark Chocolate Buttermilk with Buttercream icing covered in sugary (edible!) fondant and topped with carnations and little daisies. The cake itself was really yummy (I made an extra cake, not covered, for our family).

My Husband

I knew when I met him that he was an amazing guy. He read my mind, was considerate, and made many efforts (even before we were dating) to be thoughtful and courteous. Then we started dating, and it got even better. Then we got engaged, and I knew I was getting quite the prize. Of course, after we got married, all my feelings were solidified, and there was no doubt in my mind that I Have the best husband (sorry, ladies!)

I have seen the example his parents have set, (his dad taking a tray of soup and crackers to his mom one evening because she wasn't feeling well), and I have seen how much love and support there is among his extended family (a family fast for an aunt with melanoma that had metastasized to her brain that, after the family fast, had completely cleared). I have seen his interaction with members of our Faith, and members of other faiths. I have seen his interaction with the elderly, married, single, teenagers, youth, children and infants.

He talks with me- a lot. We talked for hours (never on the phone!) while we were dating and engaged. We had a 40-minute commute each way to work/school while we lived in Houston, and we would spend that time, and after during the evenings, just talking: politics, world events, church callings, missionary work, family (our own and extended), and a myriad of other politics.

Then we had children. Nope, that didn't change much (other than we had less time to talk). He still was thoughtful, helpful, attentive, and loving- towards me and our daughters as they came along.

The biggest change, and I think the hardest one for me, was when I quit working and we moved to South Bend. No more 40-minute commutes to talk. Two and then three kids, so I wasn't up for much snuggling or talking when he got home from his 12+ hour work days. He didn't change, but my role did, and I was having a hard time adjusting to the fact that I couldn't rely on him before as I had (regarding household work). I had to come to the realization that he needed to stay longer at the Lab, and I needed to buck up and take on the expectation that all household chores were now my responsibility. That attitude improve things dramatically. So has cutting back on my TV time so we have more time to talk in the evenings.

His relationship with his daughters, although shifting in that he has less time, also has the same quality as before- one of a supportive, attentive, loving, fun dad, who still maintains discipline and supports his wife completely.

He is amazing. I am awed that he wanted to marry me- and I'm so glad that he asked! I love the family we have built together, and I am looking forward to tonight, tomorrow, and all the other days that come our way together.

I had originally planned this post to be one about how Travis is so good to take the girls outside- in the mornings (now that the temperature is no longer freezing) he grabs a Frisbee, Zoë, Miranda and sometimes Megan and they play outside until the Bus comes. (Miranda has a great fascination and excitement in spotting buses). You can see where that thought process led- maybe that and the fact that he did the dishes last night.

Yep, I really have the most amazing husband.