Chores

We don't have a lawn mower, but we do have grass thanks to the monsoon.

Sooooo, what to do, what to do??

Send them out with scissors to "mow the lawn".

Nature vs Nurture

I always love it when people proclaim that "girls aren't born loving pink sparkles" and "boys aren't born liking trucks.  We teach them to like those."

WHAT A BUNCH OF HOG WASH!!

I can assure you I did *NOT* teach my boys to destroy EVERYTHING in their paths. I didn't teach them that anything can be a weapon. I didn't teach them that the pretend food in their play kitchen should be used as bombs...with accompanying  sound effects, of course. I didn't teach them to throw their babies across the room and nail their brother in the head with it. I didn't teach them to propel themselves off any and every elevated surface they can climb on. I didn't teach them that a doll cradle is best used up side down as a "hiding place" while playing war. I most definitely didn't teach them to wrestle with anyone that was willing. I didn't teach them to ram the doll stroller (a favorite for all of them) into each other, the walls, the doors, or OUR ANKLES.

Then along came Lynneah...a GIRL. I thought, "Oh how I hope she's at least a little bit feminine." I didn't teach her to arrange the fake food on a plate and serve it, but she does. I didn't teach her to pick up the baby doll and pat it's back, rock back and forth or bounce it, but she does. I didn't teach her to swaddle said baby and lay it in a swing/car seat/cradle, but she does. I didn't teach her to look in the mirror and giggle at her cuteness, but she does; and I hope she always feels that way about herself.

 (Assembled by her throughout the day. Sparkly princess crown hair clip, 2 "jewel" necklaces, 1 "jewel" bracelet, Garrett's monster socks, favorite pink sparkly shoes.)

Heavens knows my haggy self didn't teach her to accessorize, but boy does she ever. I didn't teach her to LOVE shoes, but dang that girl does! She giggles and jumps up and down with excitement when a new pair shows up. Her favorite ones are the SPARKLY pink ones.

I have nursed and pumped for every single one of these yahoos. I don't hide any of it...mostly for safety reasons. If I hid while I fed a baby or pumped these boys would blow the house up. Lynneah is the ONLY one that has run up and grabbed my nursing pad and tried to put it under her shirt. I thought it was funny and proof that girls are girls. THEN I walked in and caught her "pumping". She actually had it turned on and everything. The pump has always been out and used on a daily basis, but it was the GIRL that plopped herself down and mimicked it's use.

They are born different. Is there overlap? Of course!

I've had boys that liked pink for years, glitter, cute hair things, and show empathy. Lynneah plays with dinosaurs and roars for them. She crashes hot wheels and wrestles with the best of the boys.

 Boys are wild little critters.

Girls are nurturing, care-taking little critters.

It's their nature, our job is to nurture their nature while they're under our care.

Easier said than done...

Spelling

Lincoln is such a big boy legend in his own mind. Good thing he's SUCH a dang cute legend.

He's been going to preschool for a month now.

His copying/writing his name is getting better and better every week.

Tonight he spelled it to me; it went like this:

L -  I  - a lump - G(C) -  O -  another L -  then another lumP (with lots of emphasis on the last P)

Welcome Home Mommy!

"My pancake fell off my fork!"

"Mine did too!"

"And we're both so tired that it's the end of the world..."

Good news after managing to get a few bites in they're doing much better.

This weekend I was at an Interpreting Conference in Phoenix. It's always hard when one parent has been gone and comes back home. I wasn't going to go because I just didn't know how to pull it off with a nursing Kenzie; and what do you do with 5 kids while Mom runs off to a conference? Well, last minute (as in the day before it started) we got it figured out. Thanks Ashleys (both of you)!!! Turned out Ashley here in Tucson was willing to let the little kids play at her house and Ashley in Gilbert was willing to let Kenzie stay there so I could be close enough to still feed her. Seriously, never would've happened without them. The conference was fabulous! So fabulous that I'm still rolling some of the things I heard around in my head. Sign of some great information there. Good stuff for the working side of me.

During one quick break I was talking with Ashley about kid stuff. I've been frustrated that consistently reading and praying with the kids seems to have NO effect on them. (There's some insight into my evil little mind.) I thought after so much time we should see at least a little improvement in behavior and a reduction in the mouthiness...yet they're still as naughty at home as ever. They are super well behaved at school so I know they have the ability to behave. As I was telling Ashley about it in a "what the heck" kind of tone she said, "Maybe they are better, imagine what they'd be like if you weren't." And that, my dear friend, is why I need you close by. You've always provided that perspective I need. I'M SO GLAD YOUR BACK TO ARIZONA!!

OH. MY. GOSH. what if this is improved? What if we are being blessed? But they're still so naughty...and this is the blessing?!?

Told ya I have an evil little mind. ;-D 

That continues to roll around in my head. What have I leaned from it so far? 

You can't order the blessing you see fit for obedience.

Doing something in order to earn a blessing isn't such a great idea.

Even though I was completely off in my reasons, the kids are learning and growing from daily study and prayer.

Just because it wasn't the specific blessing I had on order doesn't mean I've been missed.

Maybe behaving at school is the blessing? Maybe an unrelated blessing or two has come our way?

Just imagine what they'd be like if we weren't consistently doing it...

Be grateful for what you get. 

Such a good weekend of learning and growing in so many aspects of my life.

Now, back to the exhausted little yahoos that really need to go down for naps right now, but have to wait till we get home from school pick up. Should be exciting... 

In other news:

The whole reason we bought this house was so we could take care of Stephen's Mom. I had planned on 6 months to a year to get settled in the new ward. I struggle mightily with things like that. Looks like it'll be sooner. I have very strong feelings on the the VA that I'll keep to myself. There's some SERIOUS flaws in protocol! To all of our service men and women...FIND AN AGGRESSIVE ADVOCATE *before* you pursue care through the VA. It's not all the recruiters claim it is...bunch of liars.

We'll be nice for a couple weeks, then we'll just camp out till they get their heads out of their rears and provide some care. I'm pretty sure the crazy lady waiting to be seen, with 5 kids in tow, will elicit quicker service. :-D Most of the time I feel weirdly at peace with it all. I'm still terrified of the logistics of it and the strain that our marriage will have put on it, but weirdly ok. Knowing we are both fiercely dedicated to the preservation of our marriage will help in making decisions. That will be the priority in each and every decision. Fun times...I hope to get completely unpacked by....the time we die.