Peter pan

I've been getting ready for the day, which is hard to do if all the kids are awake, so I made sure Tommi was securely and safely fastened in his chair and figure the others would be fine for 5 minutes. I came down, and Jacki and Wes each had my two biggest knives. They were playing Peter Pan and Captain Hook Jacki told me. Wessie did end up with a cut on his toe, although no one could tell me how it happened.

We spent the day working around the house. Ty took down the Christmas lights. I ran with my neighbor Lisa 5 miles.

I went to the laundromat to wash a big blanket that is too big for our washer. I am sooooo grateful to have a washer and dryer in my home so that I only have to make the annual trip to the laundromat. It would be very inconvenient for me to wash all of our clothes at the laundromat. I don't remember being grateful for a washer and dryer. I do remember noticing that they were leaking and wanting the new front load washers. I am grateful for the laundromat reminder of luxuries I have in my life.

Tommi still loves peek a boo, and I love how hard he laughs when we play it. Wes has been talking non-stop. We're working on potty training. He said "yucky poop" when he pooped in his diaper.

Jacki likes to say, "really mom." Today she asked if she could cuddle while we watched a movie.

I gave the kids popcorn while I was doing the dishes. Wes poured some one the floor, so instead of keeping him busy so he wouldn't make a mess, he made a mess with it.

Helmet Removal

Lately I've been thinking about how perfectly we are all dependent on each other to receive help from our Heavenly Father. More than every before, lately I have realized that when we let others help us, we are often given the chance to help them also and see God's hand in all of it. For example, today I went biking with my neighbor. She knew that I had to take all three kids down to primary children's hospital to have Tommi's head checked. She offered to watch the kids. I didn't expect it at all, but I was so touched that she would do that for me. She said her daughter would come help when she got out of school. She had wanted to start babysitting but "no one had asked her." I realized that this was an opportunity for her to get experience and get to know the kids under the help of her mom. I felt like they helped me more than I helped them, but life is not about measuring details like that, it's about realizing that God cares about all of us- the mom with 3 young kids, the young woman wanting to babysit. It doesn't matter how small our contribution is. He uses us all if we let him by "not contending with the spirit" but "receiving it" (Alma 34:38).

Tommi "graduated" and got his helmet off. I packed up his baby clothes the other day, and this made me realize again that he's growing up. We asked Wes what was different about the baby, He replied, "Naked-butt-head." Ty calls the kids "naked butt" after they have their baths, so he figured that since his helmet was gone, he had a naked butt-head. I can't even think about it without laughing. Thanks Wes.

I stayed up waiting for Jacki. She went to a play with Grandma Judy. It was weird to be waiting up for my 5 year old to come home. She loved it and got to see Aunt Lauren who helped on the stage crew. She's been counting down and singing, "Hello dolly" around the house.

Sleeping during time out

Does time in time out count if you fall asleep? Wes & Jacki were fighting yesterday and had to sit down on the high chairs because they were fighting. I told them they could get out of time out and clean up the mess in the front room. Jacki had her head down, and she ignored me (or so I thought). She had fallen asleep. Maybe she still does need naps. I know I do!!!

Ordinary miracles

So, the other day I forgot to say that Wes flushed their toothbrushes down the toilet. That wasn't the first time, but I've been trying to pay attention to those blessings and ordinary miracles that we have that I don't notice until they are gone, like the car running, indoor plumbing, and vacuums, especially carpet cleaners that clean up 80 oz. of bubble solution. I'm really glad Ty didn't have to take apart the toilet this time too. (He had to do that a couple of weeks ago when Wes plugged up the toilet.) I can't help but share all these crazy stories about my kids, but really they are the biggest miracles of all in my life and teach me all the time!

More from Disneyland

Jacki is already wanting to go back. The last time I went was 10 years ago, and that was perfect for me. Ty wants to do a lot of camping and other things, and I want to pay off debt. We told Jacki we'd go in about 10 years - or when the house is paid off- whichever comes first. She told our neighbor "We don't get to go to Disneyland again for forever....10 years." Haha poor girl!!

Disneyland fun

We had fun at Disneyland. Wes made a lot of friends and hugged a lot of characters. He also taught Cinderella how to do knuckles. Jacki said every ride (except for Space mountain) was her favorite. Ty and I had fun watching them and seeing all of the detail and thought that went into Disneyland. The water show was amazing.

We've had many "ordinary miracles" I want to mention. I've been thinking about all the little services people do for me that help me feel God's love. The baby was fussy in Relief Society, so I moved to the back of the class. Ty had to get the kids ready and to church without me because I had a meeting and didn't have time to feed Tommi and bring the diaper bag, so Tommi was hungry. Stacy Mackley was back there, and her son is just a month older, so she had snacks and shared. Little thing, but it made us able to get through. Then, yesterday I prayed that I could serve someone along the way that day.

Well, the battery has been struggling, and when I picked Jacki up from school we stopped at Walgreens and it wouldn't start. Right then I saw a friend drive through the redbox and ran over to ask for her to help me start the car. I was so grateful Heavenly Father sent help. My moms neighbor also stopped to help. Ty had taken out the jumper cables but left a jumper that has a battery attached and doesn't need another car, which was lent to us by our neighbor, who has been another help sent from God. So, it started, and my friend left. Her son was sick and she asked me to pray for another child. It was a small thing, but I went home and prayed for them and for a friend going into surgery this week and started a fast, and the spirit made me cry for how much Heavenly Father is involved in our lives.

We had a full day yesterday. Wes started by dumping out a garbage can full of shredded paper. As, I cleaned that up (it clogged the vacuum. I had to change the bag and the belt.), he flooded the sink, so I had to clean up that mess. Then, he dumped out 80 oz of bubble solution on Jacki's floor. I need a carpet cleaner to clean that up, so I haven't done that yet. He did something else, but I have blocked it out....overload.