Little Drummer Boy

Our little man has always had a thing for music, ever since he was born.  When he hears music, his body just starts moving fantastically.  He likes all types of music and never ceases to amaze us with his recollection of songs from movies and shows that he has seen.

When Daddy is sleeping in the living room, he will tink out a little song on the piano to wake him up slowly.  It isn't pounding, but some song he hears in his head.  He likes to make up words to songs, I fear both the children have learned that from their Daddy.  I find it adorable.

We spent friday night in Minnesota at some friends and their son took the time to show the kids how to play the drums.  This was the end result of lots of loud banging.

It shows some promise, but not enough to get the set of drums that he was sure he needed after that lesson.

I apologize for the poor lighting, but it was out of my control.

We also got to spend Easter with some friends of ours.  Well, it was someone from my hometown and her familyg.  The funny thing is that I don't remember her, but Mr. Finn was friends with her.  The bigger kicker is that they lived 40 miles north of us about 2 years ago.  They were even in our Stake.  Small world.  Now I get to be friends with her.  We had a great time, good food and fabulous conversation.

Just goes to show you what a small world we live in.  They even hid eggs for our kids to find.  They loved it.  So grateful they were up for having us.

Trip to the frozen tundra

Miss Boo celebrated her birthday in the land of the frozen tundra.  We tried to make sure they/she had a good time.

Our first trip was to Lego Land.  How can you go wrong?

I think it is amazing what you can do with legos.
And lots of time.
And money.
Have you seen how much legos cost these days?

 The Dude was so excited about all the lego computer games.

 What a fun place for kids.

 This was hovering above us.  Totally cool!

 Even Mr. Finn found his inner child.

The Dude could hardly handle all the fun and passed out.  It reminded me of when he was little and he would slump over in his seat.  So precious.

 Miss Boo decided to eat at Red Robin for her birthday.  She anxiously waited for them to come and sing her happy birthday.  They didn't disappoint.

 They brought her a sundae to celebrate and she couldn't stop talking about it.   All night long after we had left she would say, "Can you believe that they brought me a sundae for my birthday?  I love sundaes.".

 Since it was close to Easter, all I could find was easter cakes at the store.  She was so excited because the Grandma's sent her money and she used it to buy a pillow pet.  And the cake matched.  Too funny.

 We went to visit the lockes between the Twin Cities and it was a bit colder than we had anticipated.  Miss Boo borrowed my scarf and Dad's gloves.  What a sight!

 Dad showing them the falls.  Kids love water.

 I drug the kids to the zoo on the only day that could be classified as "warm-ish".  It's a good thing the zoo was small, because it was a bit chilly.

I am fascinated with gorillas so you get to see my favorite pictures.  He is magnificent.  They were throwing mud at each other, which was amusing for me.

 The Dude is part "vampire".  He really doesn't like the sun in his eyes.  Can you tell how much there was that day?  Not much, but apparently those baby blues just can't handle it.

It was good to spend time with Mr. Finn, but we are so glad to be home.  It is a cold place up there and the hotel isn't big enough for a 5 and 7 year old that are very full of life.

I can't believe our children are so grown up.  They are great kids and I am so glad they are mine.

Even on the days that I am not so happy with them.  And them with me.

I do realize this isn't that entertaining, but someday my children will be happy that their Mom recorded all these events in their life.  That is what I tell Mr. Finn when I am snapping all those pictures.

Knock, Knock...

As history goes, I was married before.  Yes, it's true!  It didn't even leave any marks.

Well, not according to Mr. Finn.  There is no way to not come out without any battle scars.

Not the best decision I ever made and not for the right reasons, but out of that marriage came several things that have brought great and lasting joy.

One evening as I was silently having a meltdown in my kitchen, wishing for an end to all the unhappiness, I heard a knock on my door.  It wasn't something I was used to hearing.  I was living in Virginia far from family and friends.  I was lonely and had been praying for a friend.  Someone to help me deal with my life and help me get through this day.  Just this day for starters.

The knock again.  I finally mustered the strength to mask the feelings that were screaming all over my face.  I opened the door to this lady I didn't know.

"I brought you a roast for dinner." she said.

"Uh, o.k.", I stammer.  Why would she be bringing me dinner?

"I felt like I should bring you the dinner I prepared for my family." she answered.

"Thanks, but you didn't have too." I reply.

"Yes, I did!' she says.  'I am your visiting teacher and felt like I needed to bring this to your home right now and so I am following that feeling.'  'If you need anything else, please call me."

She left her number and she was gone, but she didn't take the warmth and love that she had brought into my kitchen.  I went upstairs and cried.

I didn't need that roast.  I don't remember if we even ate it, but I did need her and she followed the spirit in a moment when I really needed someone to care about me.

A short time later, I was asked to be a visiting teacher.  I replied that I would only be one if I could be her companion.  Not really the way you are supposed to accept a calling, but I was struggling and I knew that she followed the spirit and that she cared.

I wanted to spend more time with her.  I wanted some of what she had.  I craved it.

We became friends.  Really good friends.  Like grade school friends that can drive.

She empowered me with her kindness and strength.  She was/is the strongest person I have ever met and is unflexible in her testimony and drive.  I was amazed at all that she could do and was doing.  Raising seven kids and working full time in a marriage that was challenging.  And still doing her visiting teaching faithfully.

She taught me to run.  We did that almost daily around the lake.  It was easy because we talked about everything and then we would stop at the back of her house to talk some more.  (O.k., so it wasn't easy to run, it was just more fun being able to talk the whole way.) I had no desire to go home and it was fun when her kids would come out and talk with us.  It was peaceful.

It was a sad day when I had to move away from Virginia to the West Coast.  I didn't know how I would survive without her.

The best part is, she followed me in spirit.  I called her constantly and was able to walk taller and handle things better.

I love my dear friend Margaret and cannot thank her enough for being the answer to my prayer.  She always says I was the answer to hers, but I know that Heavenly Father knew we would need each other.  She has blessed my life in so many ways.

She wrote a book that is full of humor about lessons in her life.  She is a HAPPY person that has a great sense of humor.  Perfectly content with herself.  I strive to be that way someday.  She does it through honesty with herself.  I am still working on that.  I tend to lie to myself a bit when I don't want to change or work through something.

One day, I want to be just like her.  My hero!

Check out her website, In His Footsteps.  Her blog.  Her Book.  It is fabulous.  There may or may not be a part in there about me.  That isn't the reason to read the book, but it helped me to see what she was going through during that time.  They say there are two sides to every story and it's fun to read the other side.

By the way, it was her birthday Sunday and I forgot to call her and wish her a day just like herself. FABULOUS!

I love you Margaret!

Lucky Seven

Today is Miss Boo's Birthday!

SEVEN Years old already!

When did that happen?

It just seems like yesterday we brought her home from the hospital.

And she screamed all night long.  I would call it crying, but I would be lying.

Thank heavens for the baby whisperer that took over around 2 in the morning.  he finally got her to sleep at 6 am ish.

She came into our lives larger than life and has always been that way.

I found a lot of pictures that the Dude had taken.

Some things about her:

1.  She is funny.
2.  Extremely smart.  Already into her 3rd math book for the year.
3.  Tender hearted and loving.
4.  Kind to others.  She is so compassionate and wants others to feel good about themselves.
5.  Very fast.  She can certainly move those legs of hers.
6.  Loves to read.
7.  Imaginative.  I love to hear her play.

She has brought us so much joy while challenging us to be better people and parents.

We love her so much.

Life would NEVER be the same without her.

For your amusement

While we are away.

Well, mostly mine.

This is what happens when you record after your son has used the camera.  Who knows what was on that lens.

After cleaning.

This little boy is full of so much energy and life.  He brings a great amount of endless joy into our lives.

See you soon...

Mr. Finn left us last Sunday.

We knew it was coming.

We dreaded it.

It made us a little sad.

We thought about how hard it was going to be without him for three weeks.

The time was going to go so slowly.

We wouldn't know what to do with ourselves.

We were all in agreement.

That we would miss him very much.

So...

He took us to play in the sun.

In this remarkable City that we live by.

And even made some new friends.

But we would still miss our Mr. Finn.

heee heee heee

So...

We are leaving on Friday to be with him until after Easter.

It won't be this warm, but it will be FUN!

See you soon Mr. Finn.

Spring Fresh

Many years ago my friend and then visiting teacher gave me a beautiful birds nest with chocolate eggs in it.  I have loved it for years.

Last week the Dude was playing in the yard and found this nest lying in the grass.  I ran to the store and bought some chocolate eggs.  It looks so real and the Dude keeps asking me when the eggs will hatch.  Maybe I should have explained better, but it is so beautiful to me.

The children have decorated their tree for Easter and I love how sweet it looks.  I love that they get to have something that they can do to remind them of the holidays and feel part of the decorating process.  And, it doesn't help that it isn't messy.

The little rugrats the day they decorated the tree.  They are good little helpers and make the holidays so much more special.  This year we are going to the frozen tundra to spend it with Mr. Finn.  He had to go back a week early and would have to miss his daughter's birthday, so we are going to pack up and spend it there.

I am so disappointed.  Ha!  Maid service, little cooking, hotel pool, breakfast provided.  It's a "win, win" situation for me.

I am looking at is as a vacation.

A day in the life of a 5 yr old

Miss Boo and I surprised the Dude at his school with balloons.  He had specifically requested NO balloons, but I knew in his heart he would be excited to get some.  Especially if it was Spongebob.
Certainly you can see that he is smiling on the inside.

Miss Boo was able to get out of class to see her brother do Happy Sack.

This is not small thing to the Dude.  He has REFUSED to do it this entire year.
We held out hope and used his turning five as a reason to share with his class his favorite items.  He chose five Kung Zhu Pets claiming they were his friends.

I was o.k. with anything as long as he got up in front of his class.  Mrs. Howerton is so good with him and helped him along until he got warmed up.

Then we went home and created his birthday cake.  He told me what he wanted and this was our creation.  The frosting is very light blue, but Mr. Finn says it is more on the gray side.  I say, "Whatever".  My baby was happy and that is all that matter.

He loves being five.  Can you just feel the pride?

His shirt says "Mummy's Boy".  This is the first time he has chosen to wear it.  Sniff.

And as for candle blowing... he was up for the task.

yes... he does need his hair trimmed.

Some things you all should know about this fabulous little boy.

1.  Loves to cuddle.
2.  Will give in to stop the fighting and contention.
3.  Is a belly laugher.  He can make anyone smile.
4.  Very compassionate.  Is always concerned about others feelings.
5.  Is full of energy and has an amazing imagination.

We are so blessed to have this little boy in our family.   I truly can't imagine the Dude not being part of our family.

This trip down memory lane is for my benefit.  I just want to go squeeze him.
OK... I am headed into his room right now.

Couldn't you just eat him?

Going back for another squeeze.

As Mr. Finn said, "He completes us".