pictures.....

Some pics from the last month! Brock is getting more mobile by the day...and the other two are as crazy as ever!

Quick Updates

Now that I've got the last post finally done and posted I can do some updates!

Rhett:
Still potty training but doing a little bit better every day. He's staying dry for the most part....it's still usually me saying it's potty time but today he told me he had to go twice. PROGRESS! He still refuses to poop. Slow and steady. We'll get there. We're going through a lot of tootsie pop suckers. He gets a sticker for staying dry and a sticker for going pee. After all the boxes are filled up he gets a sucker. We started at 10 boxes and are up to 12 before he gets a sucker. He's also getting into his groove without Zane here. His imagination is exploding! Since he's home all day and "in charge" he's always playing little games, telling me my part and really being fun to have at home.

Zane:
Still loving school. Some of his friends are a little more colorful than I would like but that's what happens when a lot of your friends have older siblings and different standards than you. He's always excited to come home and tell me the best part of his day. AND his two front teeth that have been missing for almost 3 years due to cavities have FINALLY started coming back in. He told Auntie Lishie that the best part was that mommy wouldn't have to slice up his apples anymore.

Brock:
Trying sooooo hard to be mobile. Can move around on his tummy a little but not anywhere near what he wants to. HATES moving backwards when he's trying to go forwards. He's starting to get up on his hands and knees and rock...won't be long before he's mobile! He loves to balance against things, touch and taste everything, and has quit sleeping through the night. The stinker! He's also bigger than Zane was at this age. HUGE growth spurt. Oh yeah. And has developed a screech that can shatter glass....I swear. My head aches all day.

Me:
Trying to juggle lots of balls. Some days I do good, some days I don't. Slowly feeling like we're getting into the groove of routine and making lists of things to do in the next couple of months!

Cliff:
New venture leader in the ward. Looking forward to volleyball league starting up again and doing a great job at supporting me in everything. Totally became the boys hero (he was already...just further cemented that status today.) He came home from work with a Foosball table. Saw it for FREE on kiji and now it's sitting in my living room. Yep. In my already overcrowded living room. Sigh. I just keep telling myself that one day I will have a room all to myself. Sewing, reading, hiding from males.....yep. It'll be great.

I think we're busy and then I listen to other people's lives and I'm soooo glad for our little world!
Life is good...most days!

On the Same Side

I've been wanting to write this blog for a couple of weeks now...but blogger and I were having issues with my new email address. Now that it's figured out I'm back. (I know, you were all really worried, weren't you?)
So I've been trying really hard to get up in the morning, do my seminary reading, and then leave the house and go for my walk/jog. I listen to some great music and try to think about all sorts of different things. My one rule - I can't think about things that stress me out like finances, potty training, lack of sleep....you get the picture.
A couple of weeks ago my great friend Leslie sent me an email about whales and mermaids. Have you seen it? I had before but really enjoyed reading it again. If you haven't seen it the Reader's Digest version is that some hot new gym is advertising for new clients with a poster asking : Do you want to be a Mermaid or a Whale this summer?
One fantastic woman writes a letter to the gym pointing out all of the wonderful positives of whales, listing their social networks, talents, love and family etc. While the mermaid is pointed out to not exist and that she would have extreme issues if she did actually exist. The woman ends the letter by stating that she would rather be a whale.
And where does this all fit in you ask? It fits in because it is was one of the thoughts I had while out in the morning. And I too thought that I would rather be a whale....an in shape and smaller sized whale, but a whale. I want to be surrounded by family and friends, have great talents, great love and enjoy life. And as I thought about this I thought about me when I was skinnier - after I achieved my last weight loss - and the thought I had was "even though I was smaller than I have ever been I was still struggling with the idea of being fat. I had programmed myself to that for so long that my brain was having a hard time matching up the person in the mirror and the person in my head. My next thought was that when I again achieved that weight loss I would have to work on my self image. I mulled this over for a few blocks but then came to the conclusion that I needed to start working on it now...not wait until I was nice and skinny again. From there I started thinking about all the different things my body and I have been through and here's some of what I came up with:
- 3 babies
- 2 miscarriages
- gall bladder removal
- D&C
- weight gain and loss
- sleep deprivation
- pancreatitis
- sick babies
- sick hubby
- sick me
- lots of love
- lots of laughing
- lots of hugs and kisses
- depression and climbing out of the hole
- several hair colors
- several hair styles
- lots of fashion bads
- learning how to dress better
- growing up
- and many other things
Some negative, some positive. But as I examined my list I realized that for a lot of things I was thinking of me and my body as separate. Not like an out-of-body experience or anything like that. More that there was me and then there was the physical me and the two me's seem to be at odds a lot of the time. Does that make sense or do you think I'm totally crazy. If you think I'm crazy don't answer. For instance, most people know that I am continuing the battle of weight. This is probably the biggest area where I feel like me and my body me are at odds. I've always felt like I was fighting against my body to get to where I wanted it to be. But as I thought about this - and by this time I hit the dreaded hill that I run up - I started thinking that instead of fighting each other, me and my body me need to get on the same page and start working together. I'm still working on how exactly to do this. One thing I am trying to do is to not put so much pressure on myself to lose all the baby weight right now. Yes, I'm working at it. Yes, it's not coming off as fast as I want it to. BUT I am still working on it. And slowly I'm seeing results. I know that I'll get there. I'm trying to recognize my limits more....slow down a bit and recognize that I know a lot of wonderful women who can juggle a lot more balls than I can....and that's OK. I need to the best that I can do. And I try to remind myself every day that me and my body are on the same side.

7 Months....

Where has time gone? How is this baby already 7 months old? Sigh.

At 7 months old Brock....

- is DYING to be mobile. He gets himself onto his tummy and waves his arms and legs and screeches, scoots backwards and screeches more because he's not going anywhere

- is starting to butt scoot in a circle as he reaches for his toys and stuff

- eating more....

- is 19.2 lbs!

- has a cold and a growth spurt at the same time - makes for some long nights

- thinks hiccoughs are hilarious

- LOVES the big boy bath with his brothers

- rolled off the ottoman the other day when I was trying to get a diaper on him. He was not impressed when he hit the floor.

- likes to watch football with Daddy

- likes books, bead necklaces, anything that makes noise

- is getting very grabby - little arms and hands always reaching and trying to get things

- moved out of the infant car seat

- is starting to get a few forward steps in the walker

- wears mostly 6-12 month clothes

- loves to sit and "play" the piano

- starts to cry when one of his brothers cry

- is all smiles when he sees mom

- starting to squawk a bit when I walk away from him

- thinks mom wears earrings and necklaces for his entertainment
- makes me smile and laugh every day

Tales of the Potty....

So we've started potty training with Rhett. Shoot me now. He has ZERO interest. So why am I persisting than? Because he really is ready, he just doesn't want to take the time to do it. So, anyways he was sitting on the potty today while I ready him a story and about half way through the story he says
R: Mommy, my penis is broken
M: Your penis is broken?
R: Yes, it's broken. There's no pee in it.
M: Well, it's not broken but if there's no pee in it you can go.

I just about died laughing! Which is a good thing because by the end of the day I was ready to smoke him one. He doesn't care if he's wet, doesn't want to sit, won't take the bribe, won't teach a bear to go pee, screams all the way down the hall, and won't make the easy choice - sit on the potty and you can go outside or that kind of thing. Instead he screams and cries and declares he doesn't want to! ARG. As soon as he decides that wearing underwear is a good thing and the whole potty thing is a good thing he'll be good in like 2 days. It's just getting there.
Hopefully I'll get more sleep in the next couple of nights....Brock has a cold and a growth spurt. Means little sleep for mommy. Wish me luck!

First day of First Grade...

Well. Here he is. All ready for the first day of the first grade. He was VIBRATING! Seriously. Was ready to go almost half an hour before it was time to leave.

So we walked to school, I showed him where to put his shoes, reminded him of a few things, asked his teacher a quick question and got a "bye mom" as he headed for his table. We were able to go yesterday and meet the new teacher and drop off school supplies and stuff like that so he already felt comfortable. It's hard to go home crying over my 'baby' being in first grade when he's so obviously excited. And I'm glad that he's so enthusiastic. Here's hoping he's always that excited to start a new grade!

And then came the wait. Rhett was quite upset when Zane was getting ready to leave....ran to find a back pack so he could go to. And then asked all day when Zane was coming home. BUT he was so fun. He built castles, played games, and just entertained himself. We played some games, he helped me with laundry and it was really fun to have him home. Brock slept a lot today so it was almost like having just one at home.

And then more waiting.....at 3:00 I started watching the clock. At 3:05 I thought, the bell has rung and started getting snack ready. You're thinking, snack ready? Shouldn't you have left for the school already? Well, Zane and his friend Damien got to walk home by themselves. And so I started watching out of my windows and about 5 minutes later I saw two blurs go by the post boxes at the end of the alley and here they came! Zane said they ran the whole way. But I was so proud of him. He did just like I asked him to, walked on the right side of the road, and remembered all of his stuff. It was so fun to see him come in pumped up from all the new stuff, and bursting to tell me stuff. Oh, and starving too. Still doesn't eat a lot at school. As he was filling me in (OK I had to strategically ask questions to get the answers I wanted) he all of a sudden stops and says "And you know what the best part of the whole day was mom? We got to ride the tire swings today!" His whole face was just glowing. Priceless!

Things I've Learned...and 10 Things Again!

I had plans to do one last post for August...figured I'd finish it off with a bang and do my overdue 10 Things to Remember lists again. But that didn't happen. I drove home from Raymond Saturday night (a great plan I thought since Brock hates his car seat but it kinda back fired since he didn't sleep the whole way as planned) and by the time I got home I realized that I was seriously sick. Fever, horribly sore throat, and achiness. Yep, Strep. Of course I couldn't see my doctor until yesterday and by then I could hardly swallow ANYTHING! And the swelling was getting so bad I could hardly talk. Thankfully, the antibiotics he prescribed are working FABULOUSLY and I am almost back to normal. But don't worry. I'll finish every last pill....don't need a repeat episode. And from that long winded, round about explanation, I have learned some things:
1. I need to pay more attention to me and what's going on with my body - see I'd had a scratchy throat and head ache for a couple of days and Saturday it just got worse as the day went on. Had I been paying attention I could have avoided a lot of pain and yuckiness.
2. My bright ideas are not always bright and I have to improvise
3. I have the most fabulous hubby. He took all 3 kids to church by himself on Sunday so I could stay home and sleep and stayed home from work yesterday. He did tons around the house and with the kids and just let me sleep or veg. Yup, he's a keeper.
4. I was reminded again of how thankful I am of modern medicine.

So today I've been folding laundry, dishes and all the boring things that need to get done around the house. I need to get seminary organized, Zane organized for school, and a couple more reminder calls for piano. But I'm taking a break. Time to do the 10 Things that I've been meaning to do....

10 THINGS I WANT TO REMEMBER ABOUT.....

ZANE:
1. You've grown up so much over the summer! You like your independence when it suits your purposes but still like to pull out the "I can't do that" pout when you don't want to do something
2. You make Brock giggle like crazy
3. You learned how to carry Brock even though it still gives me a heart attack
4. You stayed at the park all by yourself in Raymond
5. You loved running in and out and jumping on the tramp and playing games all over the yard in Raymond
6. You did so much better with Auntie Lishie and Uncle Jay's dogs the last 2 times we saw them
7. You have played so hard this summer and have the tan, bruises, scratches and scars to prove it
8. You make friends so easily. At the beach, at the park, or down the road. You have a talent to play with anyone
9. You're excited to go back to school
10. You're still my cuddly little boy under all that dirt!

RHETT:
1. Your hat obsession...you must wear it at all times, and it must be turned ever so slightly to the right. No matter how many times I straighten it out, you turn it back. It must feel better that way
2. Your stubborn insistence that you aren't 'big enough' for some things like putting your shoes on or wearing underwear
3. Your obsession with blue - you insist on a blue cup, a blue plate...if there's a choice of color you will pick blue
4. You adore Zane. And want to be with him always. I'm anticipating a rough week or so when Zane starts school in a couple of days.
5. You love to mug on Brock...and have found some tickle spots. You two will be great friends
6. When we're in Raymond you always want to know where Grandma and Papa are.
7. You loved helping Grandma with the strawberries and raspberries. Your attention span wasn't long but you had fun bringing the buckets back to the house and scouting for tomatoes!
8. Whenever you wrestle with Daddy and Zane you always switch sides to whoever is "winning"
9. Sometimes you like to pray, sometimes you don't
10. You still ask me every night "mommy, you sleep with me?" even though you know I will come and cuddle with you until you go to sleep. It's wonderful to be so loved!

BROCK:
1. You sleep through the night most nights
2. You are still so drooley even though you've cut your bottom teeth
3. You have smiles for everyone
4. Your hair is blond and sticks up everywhere! Grandpa Dooley says it looks like a dandelion that's ready to be blown.
5. You rock from side to side as soon as you're standing or sitting on someone. Grammie S calls you Rockin' Brock
6. You're appetite for real food is getting bigger
7. You're starting to think about getting up on all fours and rocking....won't be long until you're crawling
8. You are still a tight wad with giggles. And when Grandpa Dooley informed you of this you laughed at him. He thought it was very rude.
9. You HATE your car seat for trips longer than half an hour...grrr.
10. You're changing so fast that it makes me sad...but it's so fun to watch you grow and learn!

CLIFF:
1. You were such a great Mr. Mom while I was sick...you unpacked, did dishes, laundry, fed kids, put Brock down for naps, even took all 3 to church....Meant so much!
2. Passing your love of golf and sports onto the boys. I think it made Zane's year when you took him golfing Trevor, Kegan, Trent and Parker. Those 3 little boys were in heaven.
3. Your handiness around the house. The tiles in the bathroom look awesome and I love the new fence and gate.
4. Your moral support - no matter what.
5. Trying to lead our family with the spirit
6. How your face lights up when you play with the boys
7. You're right - we would make a horrible team if we played charades! I can't act and you can't guess!
8. Teaching the boys magic tricks! They LOVE it!
9. You and Trent making chili for the ward party and making it as hot and spicy as you could. You only called 3 or 4 times to ask what to buy and how to make it! (I was in Raymond and Jennie was out of town to. Thanks for using their kitchen!)
10. How much you miss me when I'm gone...I miss you tons to!

ME:
1. I can't believe how fast summer went by! I hope I did enough with the kids to make great memories and build anticipation for next summer.
2. I'm not as far along on losing the baby weight as I wanted to be but I'm still trying
3. I had to admit to myself, to Cliff and a few of my closest friends that I was battling some depression. That was hard. Still have some hard days but mostly back on track now.
4. Trying to keep mind from racing in so many directions as I think of everything...seminary, piano lessons, kid stuff, Cliff's calling.....
5. Trying to recognize the spirit more in my life and record those instances down to remind, help and encourage my family when they look back on this record later in life
6. So glad I've kept this blog...it's my journal and it's so fun to look back, pick a month and read the entries. So much I've forgotten! Makes the effort worth it!
7. I miss quilting. Not sure where I'm going to fit it in this fall/winter with everything else going on but I'm really hoping to get a couple of projects done!
8. Excited to be an auntie soon! So glad it's Alisha and Rikki who are pregnant and not me!
9. Dreading the potty training with Rhett. Ugh.
10. I know that I've got things worked out in my head...and some on paper...just anxious to get the next couple of weeks going and over with to see if everything I've got worked out is actually going to work...and to find out what isn't going to work and needs changing. Hoping it doesn't take us too long to settle back into a routine.

OUR FAMILY....
1. Having 3 boys is so much fun!
2. Some of the highlights of the summer - family visited and coming to visit - beach visits, the corn maze....we made some good memories!
3. Far from perfect...some days we fight, some days we don't. But we always love each other!
4. We like to play UNO together
5. Watch a lot of sports together....sigh.
6. Sometimes we have great FHE nights...and sometimes we don't. Still working on it.
7. Have some great new pictures thanks to Rhonda
8. Is looking forward to new cousins soon
9. Probably won't be back to southern Alberta until Christmas
10. Love each other

Growing Pains

The phone rang this afternoon at my parents house. I answered and said "please tell me you have my children with you". Dad said that he did but hadn't known until right then that he did.
Huge sigh from me followed quickly by the "I'm going to kill him" when he gets home thought.
Zane and Rhett were out in the yard playing when Grandma and Grandpa left to walk up town to the pharmacy. They waved to the boys and carried on. I could hear them in the yard playing while I worked on some seminary stuff and Brock slept. 10 minutes later I realized it had been awhile since I had heard anything from outside. I went out and called but no children. I wasn't freaking out...yet. I headed back inside to try and call my parents when dad phoned to tell me they had them. APPARENTLY, my six year old decided that he was grown up enough to take his three year old brother and walk up town to find grandpa and grandma all by them selves....with no shoes on. Just socks. And this was their game plan: walk to the store, go in, take a look around, and if grandma and grandpa weren't in that store they were going to try another store. I'm not kidding. This is exactly what Zane told grandma when she asked him how they knew where they were. "We didn't. We were going to come in, take a look around, and if you weren't here go look in another store".
So, if you saw two cute little blond boys wandering around Raymond this afternoon they were probably mine. Especially if they were only wearing socks.
I think he's going to make me grey.
I'm glad he's independent and capable of doing this but at the same time I'm not ready for this many years to have gone by already.
Zane really didn't see what the problem was. But I made him promise to ask me before he left the yard again.
Life just got a lot more interesting.

Prayers Answered

If you are a reader of this blog you probably remember that I have been called as the home-study seminary teacher for Sylvan Lake. I've had a couple of weeks to think about it and pray about it and have really felt that I was supposed to focus on the Atonement and use color coding when teaching these girls. But I wasn't sure how to implement it. And then I went to a seminary training inservice meeting on Saturday. I had really prayed that the Lord would bless me to have the spirit and to know and understand how to best full fill this calling and do the things that would bless these girls. I was definitely the youngest one there...and that was a bit intimidating. But as I moved through the classes I found myself commenting and seeing things that I haven't before. It was a really awesome feeling to contribute to the class and realize and remember that I can learn from the scriptures and explain it to others.
I also had some specific things happen that were really an answer to prayer. We had three classes to go through but could choose which order we did them. I was going to just do them in order of class room and headed to room 101 but ended up turning around and going to 103. In that class it was confirmed to me that focusing on the Atonement was what I needed to do this year with the Book of Mormon. When it was time to change classes I again started toward 101 but went into 102 instead. The class was fun and informative and I really enjoyed it. At lunch I sat with some sisters from different areas and the one in the middle of our small group has taught for several years, and her husband taught for several years before her. The other sister is like me and hasn't taught before. She was asking a lot of questions and the experienced sister was giving her a lot of good suggestions. And as I listened to the conversation I would think "wow, that's a really good idea" And then the Spirit would whisper in my head "that's not for your class" And then another good idea would come up and again the Spirit would direct me that it wasn't for my class. After this happening three or four times I just listened to her suggestions but didn't try to think of how I could make them work for me because obviously what has worked for this sister is not what my class needs. After lunch we had a training session with everyone and then split off to the last class. I finally made it to 103. I was still feeling like I didn't have a solid answer on which way to take the teaching part of my calling and said a silent prayer as I went in that I would learn something in this class that would point me in the right direction. The teacher was Brother Cartier and he was not feeling well at all, but had come anyway. And he really just opened the class up to what we wanted to know. And after a few questions from others in the class he opened up his scriptures and showed us how he teaches : color coding. And then he explained it in depth. I felt so strongly that this was the answer on how to teach these home-study girls this year. That this was the method that would really help them to learn what they needed to. I was so grateful to Brother Cartier for coming that day. At the end of the class he told us that at the beginning of the class he had no intention of talking about the things we discussed, but had followed the spirit.
The day was really awesome. In every class we were reminded that the Lord has saved his most choice spirit sons and daughters for this time and that makes us, as their leaders the choicest as well. We were told that we have been called to be the leaders of these youth because we are the only ones who are capable of giving them what they need. Hearing that was a little overwhelming, but also very empowering because I realized that my Heavenly Father was going to be there with me every step of the way. We were promised that if we would pay the price in preparing for our lessons, and would testify of the things we teach, and be willing to follow the spirit, that we will be successful and our youth will be blessed.
And so my journey begins!

I have a million

other things to do today. But I've been putting off my blog and have lots of thoughts swirling through my mind. Some random. Some spiritual. Some just there.

I can't believe that I'm packing my kids up and heading to Raymond by myself tomorrow. And then driving back to Calgary on Saturday for seminary teacher training. (Cliff works on Saturday and I couldn't bear to leave my baby with someone who's never done anything with him for 9 hours.) So we're going home, staying the week, taking in the Knibb family reunion and heading home so Zane can start grade 1.

Seriously, where did the summer go? And how do I not have a single picture of my kids at the beach, or park? I promise we did all those things. The camera just never seemed to make it into the bag with the other million things that one with three children needs to take to such venues.

Piano lessons start too. Every year I'm not sure if I'm going to do it and every fall I start up again. I think I've got 12 kids this time around (Zane's one of them). I'm teaching 4 days a week. 2 are home schooled and will come in the morning and I'm going to have to add a 1/2 hour to one of my after school days but I think it should all work out pretty good.

I'm already mourning the loss of doing whatever we want. With me teaching seminary, piano and Zane in school it adds so much more structure to the day. Plus I want Rhett to do some things like the library program and stuff to get some confidence on his own without Zane.

Rhett still has ZERO interest in potty training. For the most part I'm OK with this. Some days it bugs me. Mostly because people assume he's so much older than he really is. And very willful. I'm trying to be patient....but I won't lie. I would love for him to wake up tomorrow and announce that he wants to wear underwear and just get this whole thing over!

I'm trying very hard to be the helpmate to my husband that I've covenanted to be. And I've thought a lot about what that means. And have learned recently that although there are trials that we go through as a couple and family we learn different things from those trials. And being the helpmate isn't always easy as you wait for your wonderful hubby to take the role that is his. But it is worth it.

I've re-learned to appreciate the wisdom and wonderfulness in Patriarchal Blessings. Cliff and I recently read ours together. If you haven't done that lately do it! It's been a long time since I've read Cliff's and it was really wonderful to have that experience again.

Miracles still happen. Especially little ones. When mom and Kinsey were here mom and I went walking every morning. Kinsey came a couple of times but the last day we went was just mom and I. I wear my ipod and my cell phone on my arm band when I walk, but with mom to talk to had just been wearing my cell phone. When we got home I noticed I had an empty cell phone case. PANIC! We grabbed Cliff's phone, jumped in the van, said a short prayer and started driving our route. Mom was calling my phone to see if we could hear it. As we drove the thought came to me that I had stopped to tie my shoe. As soon as I thought that I knew what had happened - my phone fell out when I bent over to tie it. So we headed to where we thought I had stopped. Still calling the phone we walked up and down a couple of blocks with no luck. I was starting to get discouraged but thought we should go down a couple of more blocks. I tried calling the phone again and someone answered it! It turned out that an older lady was walking her dog and heard it ring, picked it up and answered it. She was a block and a half away from us and I could actually see her. When she gave me the phone it was on low battery so it wouldn't have rung for much longer. A simple miracle but one that we needed. I told Zane and Rhett what had happened and hope that they will learn from this experience as well.

Phew. Well my mind feels a little better now. Hope everyone is cramming in as much summer as they can in these last few days!

Corn Maze

We took Grammie S and Auntie Kizzy and went to the Lacombe corn maze....and had a wonderful time. The pictures are a bit random and not in order because blogger still hates me and won't let me move them. Grrrr. Anyways, the maze was a lot of fun. Poor Rhett fell in a puddle and lost the fight. He wasn't a happy camper but we cleaned him up as best we could and he was a trooper and moved on. He LOVED the gigantic slide there and would have spent all the time on it if we had let him. Other highlights were the recycled tire horse carousal, the pig races and of course the pumpkin cannon.
All in all a wonderful afternoon.

A first...

Zane got to go golfing with Cliff tonight. He and a couple other dads and boys went and did 9 holes here in Sylvan. Zane came home bouncing because he hit a ball over a lake all by himself (actually a small river) and it was soooo much fun! Daddy said it was an adventure to have 3 little boys along who had never been on a golf course before. Cliff said they hit their own balls about 6-10 yards each time. But by the 6th hole golf wasn't holding the same appeal anymore and they just had fun goofing off.
Poor Rhett was very distraught and upset that he didn't get to join in the golf trip and kept asking to go golfing with Zane. We tried to distract him with a wiener roast at Allred's but he was pretty tired from the day's activities and was more concerned about when Zane would get home. We all had a great time with Jennie and her niece Megan. We roasted hot dogs, ate too much and laughed ourselves silly at stories and funny things we've done. Good times by all!

I found this....

on my camera the other day. Apparently Zane is into taking funny self-pictures while I'm in the shower! Gave me a good laugh!

6 months!

Happy 6 month birthday to Brock...as of 2 days ago. We've been having so much fun with Grammie S and Auntie Kizzy here that I haven't posted until now. But here's the facts:

- he's 17 lbs and 26 inches long

- sleeps thru most nights

- usually wakes up happy

- is liking solid food but if he eats at supper time doesn't sleep good

- still thinks Zane is the funniest person in the family

- goes down for naps in his crib with his suckie instead of cuddling with me

- still likes to have his head pressed right up against something when he sleeps

- is happy happy happy

- is no longer a vampire - his eye teeth have gone back up

- has one tooth on the bottom broken thru

- likes to come for walks in the morning but doesn't like not being able to see if it's raining or too windy

- babbles a lot

- jumps like a crazy baby in his jumper

- has reverse figured out really well in his walker

- shifts his weight from foot to foot and looks like he's dancing. Grammie calls him Rockin' Brock!

- loves books

- still likes cuddles

- thinks that anything his hands touch should automatically go into his mouth

- is an absolute joy in our family!

And on a side note I still can't move my pictures around in my post. Any thoughts or tips from anyone?

New Happenings

I got a phone call Wednesday night from a member of our high council. He asked to meet with me and Cliff today before church. I agreed and hung up with huge butterflies. I quickly started thinking of which presidencies had recently been re-done and which had been together for awhile. I knew I was safe from Young Women's as they just did that one about 6 months or so ago. So that left Primary and Relief Society. I don't know anything about either one so as you can imagine I was very nervous. What else goes through your mind when you get that kind of phone call?
So I decided to pray that I would know that this new calling was what I was meant to do and that I would be able to work well with the people I was called to work with. I felt a lot better after and have tried not to speculate through the week.
We met this morning at the appointed time and I was called to be a seminary teacher. It is a stake calling that you serve in your ward. And because we only have 2 kids here in Sylvan who are seminary age I am actually a home-study seminary teacher. So that means no early morning classes (which I'm very happy about....my walks are safe!) and I meet with the kids only once a week. It's still going to be challenging and require a lot of studying and prep from me but when I was set apart I was promised that I would be blessed to find the time to study and prepare and that I would have the inspiration needed to teach and enlighten the young women I would be working with. (Both students are young women). I won't know much more until the training/info session that's going to be in Calgary in a couple of weeks.
And I was supposed to be released as the choir pianist today....but they forgot to write it down and it didn't happen....next week. We'll see.

A true man...

Today Zane was frustrated with me because of something I told him he couldn't do. Of course he thought it was a great idea and was quite put out that his mother didn't see it the same way. And then my little man made me laugh because instead of throwing the tantrum I thought was coming, he grabbed his golf bag, stalked towards the door and told me he was going golfing. I was talking to mom on the phone at the time and cracked "he's a true man. Throws a fit and goes golfing". We both thought it was pretty funny!

Beach Bums

Ok, so blogger isn't letting me move these pictures under my post...weird! Oh well. Here's the 3 in the tub....And Brock eating cereal for the first time....

A picnic with friend 2 doors down.....

A break from playing!

Beach Bums.

That's what we've been all week long. Living in a tourist lake town definitely has it's advantages!
I baked on Monday but other than that my early mornings have been spent packing a picnic lunch and all the paraphernalia that one needs for 3 kids at the lake and then we make our trek down to the lake to meet up with our friends. It's great. I push Brock in the stroller and balance the boogie "surf" boards on top of the stroller and the rest fits in the wagon that Zane pulls. Our little procession can make it to our spot in about 15 minutes. Not bad. Once there Zane and Rhett play hard and have a great time with friends. And Brock and I hang out on the grass out of the sand and visit with the other moms. It's a great way to spend a couple of hours and when it starts getting too crowded we pack up and head home. No obligation to spend the whole day there because we live here. Yep, it's great. Oh, and I have to add that Rhett is venturing into the lake this year! Last year he wouldn't go near it and this year he just walked in one day like it was no big deal. What a kid!

Yesterday I did venture out to another lake. I've heard great things about Gull Lake, just past Bently so we headed out. We were supposed to meet up with some other friends but we didn't see them when we got there and they didn't see us. So, I was alone at this HUGE beach with 3 kids. Stressful! There is a playground right on the beach and Rhett wanted to spend all his time there. The water is super shallow and really warm and Zane wanted to spend all his time there or building sand castles with random children he met at the park or in the water. And Brock needed to stay in the shade of the umbrella. It was interesting. Especially when he did a face plant right into the sand. Poor baby was so not impressed! After 3 hours I was done. We will definitely go back but next time I'm taking someone with me. Oh, and I really burnt my shoulders and back...apparently sunscreen expires and when it does it doesn't do such a great job! I'm pretty sore today....

Cliff was very productive while I was gone with the kids and built us a nice new front fence. The old one was shorter than we wanted and the boards had definitely seen better days. He still needs to do the gate but I love that no one can see in my yard as they drive down our alley.

Brock is starting solids. Officially. Not just little tastes here or there. So far cereal and bananas have been tasted and accepted. Oh, and baby cookies.

And my hubby just walked through the door with a dozen roses....just because. Yep, I know I'm lucky! It's great to know he loves me!

Something new....

We have a new friend in the neighborhood. He and his mom just moved in with his Grandpa who lives 2 doors down from us. We've never had friends close to us...playing always involved organization from the parents. And now I watch my sons take off to another yard and house....and it makes me proud, anxious, happy, paranoid....do you see the problem I'm having? I have mixed emotions about this new found friend. On one hand I love that the boys have someone to play with because it's always more fun when there's someone else involved, it's great that they only have to go 2 doors down, I can see them every few minutes from my kitchen window, they like all the same things and speak the same "pretend language" (I'm going to be Indy and you'll be the shovel guy....) BUT on the other hand we don't know a whole lot about them and I think that's my hang up. I'm working on it. But it makes me nervous when they are in his house and I can't see them. I wonder if it makes his mom nervous when he's here? This situation is brand new. And my thoughts are all jumbled because it brings back some not so great child hood memories about things happening at friends' houses that my parents didn't know about...and I worry. What can I say to them now so that they don't end up in the same situation?
And they're BOYS! Totally different from girls. They think different, act different, respond different...
BREATHE. I keep telling myself this and try to give them the space and freedom to explore this new friendship and cross my fingers that it will enrich their lives and only offer minor bumps and bruises along the way.
And I have no idea what the 'friend' rules are for how long to play at a friend's house...what to do when families are on different schedules(they ate supper about an hour before us yesterday and we ended up with the new friend playing in our house while we ate. I promise I told him that he would have to go home and Zane would come over as soon as was done supper - but the kid just stood there so I let him stay. See, I'm totally out of my element here.) Our kids go to bed earlier than he does...get up earlier....oh this is going to be an interesting summer!

He sits!

Brock is our best sitter! He loves it and is doing great....a couple of rolls to the side when he gets a little tired or stretches too far. Zane and Rhett are thrilled that he can sit and play now!

Home

We made it home last night....and before I tell you what I came home to (it helps build the suspense don't you think?) Here's a quick review of what we've been up to for the last 2 weeks!

- Saturday 26th - Zane's soccer tournament - he was THRILLED with his medal after playing 3 games and we had to bring it with us to show all the grandma's and grandpa's

- Auntie Kizzy came up and was my life saver. We never would have made it down without her! She and Cliff switched vehicles in Calgary so Cliff could take some appliances home to his parent's new house....and spent all day Saturday helping them move

- Kizzy, the kids and I left Sylvan after Zane's last game and headed south to Raymond. Met Cliff there. Missed my 10 year reunion because I was still traveling

- Hung out Sunday....Brock tried chocolate milk and attacked the cup. It was pretty funny.

- Monday Cliff and I took Brock, met up with Kizzy in Lethbridge and did some shopping. New suits for Cliff and some new stuff for me. I caved and bought new clothes. Sigh. Went mini golfing with the kids and grandma and grandpa and Auntie Kizzy. Rhett would putt, pick his ball up, plant it 2 inches from the hole and putt it in. Lots of fun and laughs.

- Tuesday Cliff golfed with his buddy Mark Nielson in Magrath. I read and the kids jumped

- Wednesday we did the parade (lots of fun of course - read lots of candy and Brock sleeping for most of it) Traditional Robinson family BBQ, family counsel on preparedness and really fun family pictures with Rhonda. We're soooo excited to see them! Keep checking her blog to see the preview when she's done editing.

- after pictures we packed up and headed to Taber to spend some time with Cliff's family and extended family who were visiting from Utah and Washington. They have kids the same age as our kids so they had lots of fun playing with cousins for a while.

- Thursday the kids went to a movie with Auntie Kristie and a bunch of the relates. Cliff and I got to leave all 3 kids home with Grandma and Grandpa and went for Chinese food at the Regent and a movie with Preston and Kristin Porter. It was fun and a nice break. The kids were good so that was a relief.

- Friday, Saturday and Sunday we just hung out. It was great. I read a lot, the kids played and we just enjoyed being with family.

- Sunday we met up with my parents in Coaldale and Cliff headed home in one of their vehicles and we headed to Raymond.

The rest of the week the kids played outside as much as they could, terrorized the house, and had lots of fun. They made a friend a couple of doors down (he was visiting his grandparents as well) And it was a new experience for them to have a friend that close! I had to make a trip to the dentist to get a tooth fixed, had a great dinner with Kizzy and Lish and read 9 books over the course of the 2 weeks. It was a great vacation.

And now we're back to real life. And this post has taken me from Sunday night to Tuesday afternoon to finish. So, back to the beginning.... I came home to a disaster. Yep, a big one. Cliff decided to surprise me with tiling the shower in our only bathroom. It looks fantastic....but wasn't close to done when we got home on Saturday....and still isn't finished because we ran out of grout and haven't been able to match it yet. So while I was happy about my surprise I was upset at coming home to a major mess and only being able to take baths. Yuck. I really don't like baths. Maybe I could learn to like them in a big jetted jacuzzi tub, but not our little tiny one. Oh well. His heart was in the right place and I've told him a couple of times that I don't want any major renovations as a surprise any more! Brock and dad just hangin' out after church in Raymond.

Brock trying out the chocolate milk in daddy's cup. A definite hit.

Rhett and Zane at the parade with Auntie Lishie's dog Moe eyeing their candy.

Brock and Rhett tackling Grandpa Dooley

Zane and Rhett trying out the sprinkler air hockey....Zane loved it....Rhett liked the idea but not the cold water!Zane showing off how tough and cool he was by standing in the really cold water!Rhett looking grimy and hot from a day outside modeling his 2 hat look. His Canucks hat was filthy gross so I bought him a new one to wear while we washed the other. He then started to wear both of them.

I have lots more pics but this post is already huge and the kids want a snack! Enjoy.

Brock at 5 months....

- is 14.4 lbs
- rolls from tummy to back
- rolls up onto his side from his back
- has found toes
- DROOLS over everything!
- is only nurses a couple times a day
- sleeps good
- laughs
- sits on his own for a few minutes before toppling
- prefers his Bumbo for sitting
- loves to jump
- chatters all the time
- likes being outside
- hates his car seat
- gets mugged on by his brothers all the time
- is very interested in big people food
- has tasted chocolate milk, ice cream, whip cream, juice, strawberries and water melon...not in that order
- LOVED the chocolate milk, juice and water melon. First taste of strawberries thought I was poisoning him. His expression was soooo funny.
- attacks a cup when you try to give it to him - grabs on and pulls towards mouth very quickly
- starting to recognize his name
- is kinda in between bottle sizes....4 oz isn't quite enough and 8 is too much
- still eats a ton and slowly starting to chunk up
- will chew on anything that his hands can get into his mouth
- is a fabulous baby
- only cries when he's hungry or tired...unless he's in the car seat!