Sweet Taylor

On the way home from our walk today, a neighbors dog greeted us by putting his paws up on the fence. He was a sweet puppy and had a sad look on his face. Taylor turned to me and said, "he misses his mommy."

I wasn't sure he understood what he was saying so I asked, "Do you ever miss your mommy?" He got a pensive look on his face and thought for a moment, then he responded, "I miss my daddy."

Piano

So, I decided to teach my kids piano rather than finding a teacher. Mainly, because I don't want to add another thing to the schedule that will take us out of the house. Plus, it is hard to find piano teachers here. It has been nice to save the money too.....

but....it hasn't been that easy. At first Micah fought against it. He wasn't too interested in starting in the first place (although he wants to learn guitar.) Also, it doesn't help that he is a perfectionist, who likes to give up when something doesn't come easy. Over the last year, he has complained a lot, given up many times, and openly rebelled when it came to practicing. Rather than relying on my teaching experience, I resorted to bad parenting techniques.....like threatening him with "getting a German teacher," if he didn't start practicing.

After a year we have made some headway. We are finally finished with the primer book. He practices on his own now, without me nagging him. Also, he commented to Greg that he favorite song, "is a real treat to play."

I have been waiting for the interest to spark and I am hoping it has. We are now waiting for level one books to come in the mail.

Crazy Winter Weather

We have had snow almost constantly since the beginning of December, (oh except for the week of Christmas when it rained.) The sun has remained hidden most of the time too. Let's just say, the weather is getting to me. I have counted the appearance of the sun 3 times this month. On two of those occasions, I noticed that I was feeling particularly good that day. Then I made the connection between my mood and the arrival of the sun on the horizon. Today was one of those days.

Although we have received about 8 inches of new snow in Bechhofen over the last couple of days, the sun did come out today. The kids and I played outside and enjoyed the ultraviolet rays for the few minutes when they broke from behind the clouds.

I recently discovered that I am one of those annoying people who like to receive gifts better than to give them. I started to suspect something while Christmas shopping and I kept wandering over to the furniture section of the BX. The shoes were looking appealing as well as the clothing.....I resisted purchasing, because I realize that buying your own presents and putting them under the tree is kind-of tacky. However, I did make a mental note of all the things that I wanted to purchase after the holidays.

So, it is after the holidays and my birthday is coming up. So, I am again looking around at all the things I "want." No birthday list for me, I prefer buying my own gifts.....how lame is that.

So, what should it be this year.....a new camera, a set of polish pottery, or a new kitchen table.....

decisions, decisions......

You know life must be good if this is the only thing that preoccupies my thoughts....

Cheese

Sadie: "There are three kinds of cheeses. Chucky cheese, cheese and cheese."

Me: "What is the difference between cheese and cheese?" I ask.

Sadie: "One kind you eat. The other you say, when someone takes your picture. "

But it is Sunday.....

Taylor has come up with a new excuse to show his disagreeance to any proposal that doesn't suit him. It is time for bed. "But is it Sunday...." Let's go pick up Micah. "No, it is Sunday." What does Sunday mean to Taylor? We are not allowed to do something, or participate in a certain activity. Hmm.....I wonder where he got that idea?

It looks like we need to rethink our approach to teaching about the Sabbath.

Silly Taylor

My two year old is a back seat driver. While stopped at a stop sign, he yelled from his carseat, "go, go, go mamma." When it was finally clear and I turned, he added a "thanks." As I accelerated, he encouraged, "faster, go faster."

Happy Birthday

Sadie came home from preschool the other day and declared, "I know how to sing Happy Birthday in German."

I answered, "sing it for me,"

"Heppy Birtsday too you. "Heppy Birtsday too you."

Sounds about right.

Taylor the little helper, thought it would be a good idea to suck up a sock in the vacuum. Yes, he is wearing man-tights.

Taylor makes us all laugh. Just now he expressed himself so well....I have to write it down before I forget.

Mom: "Taylor, we need to go get Sadie."

Tay: "It's snowing out there."

Mom: "But it is time to get her."

Tay: "It is cold and wet." With his hands clasped and pulled up to his chest, "brrrrrrrrr, it is cold, momma."

Mom: "Sadie will be sad, if we don't pick her up."

Tay: "No, momma, I go home......Pleeeeeeeease?"

New Years Resolutions

I have spent the last few weeks linking about what I want to accomplish this year. The task is daunting to me. I have such a huge list, that it is nearly impossible to take on. It seems that the same things appear year after year: lose 10 pounds, read my scriptures daily, keep a cleaner house. You know the wish list we all seem to share.

This year I want it to be different.

I have noticed that my life seems to be center around STUFF. I buy it, clean it, vacuum around it, organize it, wash it, fold it, sort through it and throw it out. If I take a survey of how I spend my time during the day, it usually has to do with THINGS. Even in relationship to the kids. I make their lunches, clean out their back packs, clean up after them, set out their clothes for them, fix their broken toys, and try to keep track of them, the toys, I mean.

This week, I called to get the dryer fixed, sent endless emails to the company that made our now broken TV, spent hours trying to get reimbursed for my son's glasses, took down our Christmas stuff, organized it and put it away.

I took a step back from my busy-ness and took a deep breath and said to myself, "what is this all about?" This is not not how I want to spend my time.

So.....the goal for this year: increase my time being with, doing things for, and interacting with others. Ideally, I want to do an act of service for a friend daily. There are plenty of people who could use a helping hand here. With the amount of deployed spouses. Starting this year, I will have 8 friends whose husbands are down range.

My kids could also benefit from quality time too. I would like to be able to spend an hour of quality time with each kid daily. I haven't decided if that is too much, or too little. I think I can achieve it though. I only have 3 kids and I do have time alone with each during day. Sadie has preschool in the morning and I have Taylor to myself. When she gets home, Tay goes down for a nap and she and I have time. Micah gets home at 4pm. With him it is a little trickier, since he has homework. Doing homework together, isn't that much fun for anyone. But I think it is a worthy goal.

Maybe my time will be better spent on people rather than on things.....

Also, I want to lose 10 pounds.....by exercising 3 times a week, not eating after 7pm and getting all my fruits and vegetable servings in a day.

and......work on my sewing skills......and learn to play the organ........

okay.....I had to throw in that loose weight goal.