Being There

"My Muda"

Great mom & super grandma.

{My Grandma} 

She is so great.  If you met her you'd be sure to love her like I do.

{The Makings}

And me?  Well, here are the 2 life changing reasons I am a mom...and I love them.

All roses? Easy Peezy? Nope. 

Worth every minute?  Yep.

There are always dishes in my sink and there is always laundry waiting...but my boys will only be little once.  I'm not going to miss a minute.

{Wish Granted!}
Remember in my last post when I said I was hoping for a heart felt note?  Got it.

Love it.

I don't know if I could love this silly, sweet, super fun 6 1/2 year old more.  I ask myself everyday how I got so lucky.

And who woudn't love him when he writes things like this...

or especially this...

or says "You're the best mom in the whole world." 

Love it.  Love him.

{Little things}
For me, its those tender moments that just fill up my heart.   I think one day I might actually burst.

It's those little arms around my neck {or leg;)}, that unexpected hug or kiss on my cheek, that sweet little hand touching my hair in the morning to wake me up, and that sweet toddler voice yelling "ma" just to make sure I'm there. 

It's the playing around my feet in when I'm in the kitchen and watching the excitement of getting a favorite afterschool snack.

Kids need so little to be happy.  We think they need so much, but all they really need is for us to be there...be right there in the moment with them. 

I always want to be there.  Always.

Ah, I love the heartfelt belly laughs and non-stop wrestling, lego building, & light saber duels. 

Well, most of the time.

This pretty much sums it up:

One day on the way home from school Ethan and I were chatting and he told me something that actually really helped me understand my real role as a mother.  

"Mom, when I feel sad I think of you and Dad and Aidan and how much you love me."

That's it.  Love. 

And I hope he never forgets it.  Darn this crazy world.  I'd better shop now before I need a box of tissues.

Happy Mother's Day.

Playdough & Progress

{Giant Gumballs}

Ethan: "Wow, that's creative Emily.  They look like giant gumballs!"   

Now that's a actually a great idea!  Who wouldn't love to get a sore jaw from chewing a gumball that size!:)

{And yes, sometimes Ethan and I are on a 1st name basis.  Although its usually when other moms are around because he thinks its less confusing and he knows he'll get my attention.  My dad doesn't really like it, but I don't mind.  I just told Ethan only 2 people in the whole world can call me mom and he's lucky to be one of them...;)}

{The Playdough Recipe}

What do you do when you miss your cousin's 3rd birthday party?  Make something fun for him of course!  {Oh, and sorry we haven't mailed it yet Greyson!  We'll get it to you soon!:)}

If you've never made playdough before.... well, you've never done anything so easy that is so much fun.  You just mix it all up and heat it on the stove.

At first I thought it would be fun to send the playdough balls all wrapped up like this,

but then I remember I had this empty, clean ;) plastic mayo jar! Oh yeah!

This is what happened next...

And yes, another random printable to save the day. Want one? It would actually be pretty darn cool around a 2 Liter of pop too! 

{PS I just have to warn you that the paper was about 1/2" to short when I put it around the jar.  I just tapped it that way and it turned out fine.}

Click Here to get yours!

{Batman Baby}
And since Greyson was having a Lego Batman party... how about some memory/go fish/old maid/ or whatever else you can think of cards!  I just googled the pictures, made 2 of each, and pulled out that laminator...

And what kid wouldn't be happy with this combo?!:) 

Could I be any more random? Really?:)

{Open Eyes}
And on a different note...sometimes its hard for me to see how things or people close to me change over time.  I think its partly because I've lost a few brain cells during pregnancy and I have a terrible memory {really, i'm not kidding;)}, but mostly because each day I'm so focused on the boys and trying to keep some sort of balance in my life.

However, these last few weeks my eyes have been opened to some great progress happening in our home...

{The John}

Ethan is totally growing up.  Boo. 

As I stood at the door of the men's bathroom at Costco yelling, "Are you Ok?!" over and over, I couldn't believe he was brave enough to go into the men's by himself.  This was the 1st time in a public place I let him do it, but I guess any mother passing by could have told you that.  Boy that makes me nervous. But we he did it. 

Boo hoo hoo...

He's also been  praying "the bad guys turn good" and "that the good guys will be happy."  His teachers at church told me that in one prayer he asked that Satan will turn good.  Hmmm...once again I'm schooled in understanding why we are commanded to become like little children...

And talk about growing up...he's also starting to really grasp the concept of money.  As we left Costco he thanked me for spending my money so that we could have food. I know.

He is also trying terribly to save up for a remote control R2D2 so he's been trying to add items to his little Etsy shop.  I can't tell you how thrilled he was when a cake decorator in AZ ordered some sticks.  {Okay, I have to admit I was excited too...}

And here's the latest product added to Sticks and Things!  I mean what pre-schooled aged crafter couldn't use a set of these!:)

{Hey, I wouldn't be a good mom if I didn't "plug" his shop...right?:)}

{Mountain Climbing}
Progress for this next family member has come in a different way.  Aidan is 2 1/2 and is about 9 months behind in his speech development.  The last few months have been full of testing, speech education, and many breakdowns for both of us. 

Turns out even without any major physical, emotional, or cognitive issues, speech delay is somewhat common for boys these days.  Aidan scored in the 90th percentile in his fine motor and problem solving skills and 1% on his speech.   I've been learning a TON, but one of the most important thing is that early intervention is so important.  By the time kids are 3 they won't qualify for help from most community programs...thank goodness for my Aunt Diane who encouraged me to "just get him tested."

And if I didn't love him so much...

Our frustration levels have been high.  I'm trying desperately to understand and help him form new words, and he is doing his best to let me know what he wants and needs...

My empathy for parents with special needs kids has multiplied by a million.   I think God blesses them with gifts the rest of us don't have or need to have.

Using the techiniques I've been learning from our awesome speech therapist and from my own reading and studying we've seen great progress.  Aidan has gone from about 10 words to 35 in a matter of weeks.  We still have a ways to go, but we've started hiking the switchbacks that will help us conquer this mountain.

{The Husband}
And I wouldn't be a good wife if I didn't tell Bob what great progress he making with his "lifestyle" change!  He started on Nutrisystems in January and has lost about 18 lbs!  Healthy? Yes.  And look at those jeans starting to get a little baggy...;)

 {Me}
And as for me?  I've become a historian. 

Okay, maybe not officially, but I've been compiling and editing the life history of one of the greatest examples in my life, my Grandpa Johnson. 

Its taken many late hours and naptimes to work on it, but I just finished the 1st rough draft.
 

I'll be headed to visit him next week and we'll work out more details.  By our next family reunion his posterity should have a book for the ages.

(This pictured was taken in 2006 at his 90th birthday party and family reunion.)

{Shy guy}

And as far as project progress goes...this little friend is just about ready to make his big debut!  I'm in the final "pattern and tutorial" stages, and I'll see if I can't convince him to come out soon!

So in conclusion...

May your March days be full of "giant gumballs" and "opened eyes" as you recognize more progress than you know what to do with!:)

Loves Ya,

Toady

Rumor is true

{Heard a Rumor}

So I heard a rumor that if you just add a can of pumpkin to a spice cake mix {just the mix...no eggs, oil, etc.} it makes some good pumpkin bread cookies/muffins. So being a pumpkin cake/cookie/muffin lover,  I had to try it for myself...

 And the rumor was true.  These were pretty darn yummy. Thanks Shelli!

 {Although, I still LOVE my pumpkin bread recipe from scratch!}

{Barefoot Pirate}
If you could chose between being Buzz Lightyear or a rowdy pirate what would you be?

Aidan chose Buzz for the church and school parties, but then opted to be a fierce pirate for Halloween festivites...

And like most pirates he had some good 'ole belly laughs...

shed a few manly tears,

and shed a few more manly tears when he was really mad at his mama. 

But overall our little pirate was a good little 'matey.  One his grandpa would be proud of.

{Skywalker}

 And I felt completely safe all Halloween knowing we had the best Jedi ever on our side.

This Jedi is not only tough, but full of love. 

{He gave this to me the other day...we are saying that we love eachother.  Man I love this kid!}

Our resident Jedi also helped set the table without being asked!
{Bless his Sunday School teacher for teaching the kids about how Jesus served and how great it is to just help without being asked!} 

And I'm not complaining one bit about the napkin...

So from our little galaxy to yours...the pumpkin spice bread recipe rumor is true...and we hope you had a Happy Halloween!