Current Reading

I like to be reading from a multitude of books at a time. That way if I need a change I just go to another book, then later pick back up where I left off. I tried to be clever and put pictures of the books in too, but it didn't always work. :)

Right now I am reading "Matilda" to the kids.

Personally I am enjoying:

The Kolob Theorem

VERY interesting!

Also a good insight! Helps me with choosing what curriculum to teach them right now and neat tips on how to do it. It is an older book.

I am LOVING this book!

An easy read, but love the insight too.

And I couldn't get a good picture, but I'm also reading "A Patriot's History of the United States" I love learning all this history!

creations

I've been having fun making lots of things I need (ok really want, and are convenient to have).


A nice wet bag with a pocket in the front to hold wipes and clean diapers, with straps to tie up. :) I like this one.

New placemats, as ours were very old and falling apart.

adorable baby shoes for a friend.

adorable hat for a friend.

and more adorable baby shoes. Did I mention I loves these things! ;)

"Queenie"

Queenie with Handsome after his baby blessing

Kent's grandma, as I mentioned earlier, just passed away and we were able to attend her funeral with the children. She died at age 98, and I meet her when she was a young 91.

Just some special memories of her:

* She flew up to attend our temple wedding, which was actually the first time I met her.

*Just after Kent and I were married she decided to throw me a bridal shower in Utah for her side of the family to attend.

*She insisted on seeing where Kent and I lived in Utah and didn't let 3 flights of stairs keep her away (and as I mentioned she was 91 years old!). She said she always liked to see where everyone lived so when she thought of you she could picture you in your home.

*She flew up to attend Handsome's baby blessing at age 94!

*She flew up to attend Gorgeous's baby blessing at age 96! And of course she insisted on seeing our home so she could picture us there. And she took the kids and I out to the kids favorite restaurant.

*Whenever she saw any of her grand kids or great-grand kids, she would give them money, insisting that they had more to spend it on than her, and refused to take it back!

* After Gorgeous' baby blessing she was so sad to have to say that she didn't feel she could fly anymore. But she looked forward to visits from family when we went to Utah.

*Luckily we were able to visit her once more with our trip to Utah 2 weeks before she passed away. At that time she was walking about, cooking, etc. living on her own. She even played a beautiful version of Book of Mormon stories on the piano that she improvised for the kids.

She was a dear grandma. I feel so fortunate that Handsome and Gorgeous had a chance to meet her and I am so blessed to have known her myself.

Utah Again!?!

Yes, 2 weeks after arriving home from our Utah visit we had to turn around and do it all over again. I felt like I just barely got back into our true family routine and then off we were again. Why? you ask. Kent's Grandma, the one the kids and I just had visited, passed away. She was 98 and ready to go, but it still is sad to know that she is not with us anymore. I'll do another post later about Kent's dear grandma, she really was a sweet woman and a pleasure to know.

So our trip was a bit different this time, as Kent was with us and we were part of a caravan with his siblings. So no stopping to visit with family and friends this time. That meant we shared an RV. Which I'm not so sure I like better than just a car, perks and drawbacks, and I think my car has won. We left Thursday night after the guys got home from work. Gorgeous screamed most of the way because she was so beyond tired and couldn't sleep in a moving vehicle. It was a LONG night drive with a 3 hour rest for adults/drivers. Then on to Utah were we arrived just in time for the viewing. Then there was cleaning and organizing Grandma's home (where we were staying). The next day another viewing, the funeral, the graveside burial, and a meal, then swimming and a movie for kids, cleaning for adults, sleep. And the next day was a drive home all day. Gorgeous did better but threw up once, and I felt like I would as we hit the windy Snoqualmie pass in the big RV.

It was good to see more of that side of the family, although most of them I just know from stories and one or two meetings. It was sweet to be at the funeral and to know that Grandma's wishes were kept as no one was to talk about her and her accomplishments, all were to preach the gospel. And all obeyed her wishes and it was such a wonderful funeral!

I took my kids along of course, I know there are mix debates over this, but I want my kids to see and learn the gospel when it comes to death. And to not have to be faced with it suddenly with a tragic close family death. If it wasn't for Kent's other grandpa passing away before my father, my own dad's funeral would have been my first. So it was my second and it was still hard, especially since I was a grown woman and had practically no idea what to expect from a funeral.

It was so sweet at the viewing to have Handsome tell a family member "we are here to see Grandma's body." I knew the glove lesson had worked. And to have Gorgeous want to touch Grandma, which she did, she touched her hand. Which prompted an older cousin to do the same. and before they closed the casket Gorgeous said "Bye Bye, Grandma" as I had told her this was our chance to say good-bye even though it was just her body left. At the burial Handsome mentioned that he would save a flower petal that fell off of Kent's boutineer to give to Grandma when she came back in the resurrection. I know the concept of death is still an abstract one that they don't really grasp, but every experience and lesson counts in my opinion. So far at their young age my children have attended 2 funerals.

You ask about what if they are loud during the services? I agree, Gorgeous had to be taken out, where she immediately feel asleep on my lap (from not getting any sleep the day before in driving all night) So she slept on my lap as I listened to the services from the foyer. Handsome had his Sunday toys and knew he had to be even more quiet and reverent. It all went well, and I wouldn't have traded the learning experience for the convenience of not having them with us.

Family Reunion Fun!

My family reunion this year was in Utah and boy did we have fun! It started by me loading the 2 kids in the car and driving for a day to get to Idaho. (Kent was not able to join us as he needed to work). In Idaho we stopped and stayed with a cousin of mine (ok, second cousin once removed :) I think. We hadn't seen each other for YEARS. And it was so nice to catch up and see our kids play together and have fun.

Then it was on to Utah the next day where I stopped and visited with Kent's Grandma. It was so nice to see her, and fun for her to see the kids. She kept saying that Handsome was just like his daddy at that age. I am kicking myself for not taking any pictures of them together.

Then a tire blew out on me before we got to Spanish Fork for the reunion. And thankfully a kind passer-by pulled over and changed my tire for me. The kids were oblivious to the excitement as they were totally into the movie playing on the DVD player.

We arrived safely to our destination. The next morning was BYU Bean museum, and fun chatting and catching up. It was fun to see my two big brothers and their families again.

Thursday we did temple square. It was so wonderful to show my kids the temple, to have them touch it, and to show them the conference center and explain that that was where the Prophet stood to talk to us each conference.

Salt Lake Temple doors

Yes! They held onto the Iron Rod.

And picked the fruit of the tree of life!

The next day was the start of the real reunion and my mom was able to join us for the day, and my big sister joined us for the rest of the reunion. First was a visit to the Krishna Temple in Provo. There both Handsome and Gorgeous got to feed the llamas, walk the llamas, and ride the llamas.

Later that day we went canoeing. Handsome even got to row a little. Then feeding ducks and playing on the play ground.

The next day was the Family Olympics. I thought that by having the smallest and almost youngest family that we didn't have a chance. But that actually gave us an advantage and the Rowleys won! A clean sweep. Below my older sister has joined our team to make it more even. :)

We held onto our kids' medals and torches as they played, but then again we raised them, so don't we get some of the credit? :)

Cousin fun. I hope my kids remember this fun time. It was so wonderful for them to have time to just play with cousin's their age. I already can't wait until the next reunion for them to get together again!

All the cousins (minus 3 in Oregon) at the reunion. What a cute group! Too bad my oldest brother and family were not able to make it, as well as a niece in Oregon.

On our way home we stopped in Idaho again and this time stayed with an old college roommate. She had kids close to my kids' ages too. So more fun and catch up time. Then we were on the way home. Ready to be home, yet enjoying every minute of the fun. To get home we went over Mt. Rainer and after more than a week in the hot sun we got out and the kids touched and enjoyed the snow for a few minutes. Then home to see daddy once again. :)

Treasure Box Fashion Show

The other day I was cleaning out my closet and came upon my treasure box. I found my clothes in it from when I was little, including what I think was my baby blessing dress! If I had looked sooner I would have used it for Gorgeous. But oh well. But a lot of the other clothes that I wore, that my talented mother made for me, fit on Gorgeous. So we did a fashion show of Gorgeous wearing my clothes from when I was her age. I even had her wear one today to church. She was so adorable in it! Enjoy the show. ;)




This dress is the only one that I have a picture of me, when I was 3, but too bad I don't have a scanner to do a side by side. :(


This one Gorgeous wore to church today. I just had to add a white shirt to make it modest. :)



It is funny, but I actually remember wearing this one. I vaguely remember it, but I have this memory of my mom picking me up from what must have been nursery and talking to a lady about the dress I was wearing and how my mom had made it.

And this last one I just threw in for fun. This is what Gorgeous decided to wear when I let her dress herself. :)

A Good Day

Usually I end the day looking at my list of to-do's and realize that I only accomplished half and felt that the day went too fast. I usually am frustrated that I didn't do all I set out to do. But today I feel happy! No I didn't get the to-do list marked off, I think maybe only one out of the eleven got done. I did not clean the bathrooms, nor vacuum the floor.

Today I played with my kids. First came breakfast and scripture time as usual. Then as I started exercising it turned into a game of tag as the three of us chased each other around the house. As it continued to POUR outside, we decided on doing story time, to read all the fun books we just picked up from the library yesturday, that the kids were dying to read. Next, silly songs and dancing. Then lunch and after, making a turttle for our letter T. Then drawing random pictures. Next puzzles as I read Charlotte's Web. Then playing Wii together. Ending with Georgious falling asleep in the chair as Handsome continues playing as I prepare dinner. Today I played with the kids and feel very satisfied not regreting a thing on my list that didn't get done.

I guess a very structured, task oriented person like me, just needed a day like this to realize that what really matters is the people, not the tasks. :)

I'm sure you guys already knew this, but I thought I would share my joy in the day with you. :)

Crack Problem

We have a crack problem at our house.... ok, well Gorgeous does. When ever she bends over, all can see her lovely crack! I never had this problem with Handsome, but I have learned that girl pants are made different from boy pants. I guess I should have seen it coming, but I just figured since I had Gorgeous in a cloth diaper that was the reason the diaper cover would show, and I didn't mind the diaper showing, but I do mind the crack! So we are having to have a modesty lesson already. But I am still unsure on how to solve it. So those with older girls, what do you do? Where do you find good pants that stay up and aren't low cut. I am so use to garage sales and second hand stores, but now I know I have to be careful, but even stretch pants are having a problem, it's not just jeans. Please anyone have advise for me as to where to go, and what to do? I'm starting to think that I have to have her try on every pair of pants now before we buy it.

Rainbows

So during Gorgeous' extended family party we looked out our kitchen window to see these wonderful rainbows! One was very bright and vibrant, the pictures don't do it justice. But really we were able to see 3 of them. But in this picture only 2 show up well. The third was right under the bright one, only fainter. Can you see the faint one on top?

I love the position of our house because often we see rainbows out of our kitchen window in the evening! It is wonderful. And after studying with the kids about Noah, it just hit me at what a security the promise was from God. If I had lived through the flood I would have panicked every time it rained, but God promised not to flood the earth again, and a rainbow was a sign of his promise. Plus how cool is a rainbow! Light shining through rain to make such wonderful colors it is just awesome!

Gorgeous Turns 2

So Little Girl just had her 2nd birthday. But if you ask her how old she is, her reply is "3" if you ask if she is 2 she will insist that she is not. I guess girls start early in trying to grow up fast. On her actual birthday we had a family party for her with cake, she picked pink, and presents. Here she is in her birthday crown, cuddling a new stuff bunny. (ok I have to admit that her family presents were the ones that she didn't open on Christmas that I saved; thrifty I know. :)

Again, her enjoying all of her presents on her actual birthday.

Later that weekend we had an extended family party. It was fun, and Gorgeous got Elmo and monkey stuff, her favorite!

I'm so grateful to have such a sweet, wonderful daughter in our home. She is so loving and happy. What a blessing she is to all of us.

Growing!

There has been a lot of growing going on at our house! Hansom has now memorized the 4th Article of Faith! So now my 4 year old has memorized the 13th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Articles of Faith! Way to go Bud! Hopefully you can hear him, he talks quietly to begin with, and trying to have him talk louder didn't work.

And Gorgeous has grown tons too! A month ago she just started singing with us, usually getting the last word in each phrase of the song. She also started repeating after us in her prayers. (which means her and Hansom argue over who gets to say the meal prayers). And of course she went from saying one word to convey her meanings, to short phrases! Way to go. And that's not all.

One day as we were getting read to go. Gorgeous came to me saying "pee pee" which usually meant she needed a diaper change. I said ok, and took a minute to get to her. When I went looking for her I found her in the bathroom, diaper off, standing next to the toilet, with a puddle under her legs. Yes, she wanted to go pee pee in the toilet. So I set her on, and she finished her business. We clapped and cheered. Which meant she would constantly want to sit on the toilet. After 4 days of taking off and putting on her cloth diapers, which seemed like 100 times, I had had it. I wondered about investing in cloth training pants. But in the end, and after prayer (I know it seems silly to pray about potty training, but hey, why not I could use the help!) I decided not to spend the money, and instead went straight to big girl panties! She was just so easy to potty train, it's been less than a week! What a big girl! Not even 2 yet and potty trained!

Baby Things

Thanks to all my friends and family having adorable babies, I have had so much fun making cute baby things. I recently made these and thought they were adorable and had to show them off. :)

If you don't know what these are, they are Pee Pee Tee Pees, for little boys when changing diapers. I never actually used them. Didn't know about them with Hansom, and he actually only got me a couple of times. But next baby boy I will have to try them out.

And just a taggie crinkle blanket. Couldn't resist.