Journaling

- Taking Nate to work this morning, Bradley and Erika were the only two with us, they were being so cute!  Erika was showing off how well she can say her "L"'s.  She's been working on this for a while now and I haven't even documented it :).  It started with "LLLLUKE!" (which sounds more like Louk, but she's trying) and today she was repeating the word "LLLUV!" over and over.  Sounds adorable, and she's so proud of herself.  Bradley piped in with how amazed he is that she can say her "L"'s.  "I couldn't even do that when I was 2!"  My only hope is that she doesn't quit saying, "Me wuv dis" or "Me wuv dat one".  Those are my favwits :)  8-4-12

- We've been watching a LOT of the Olympics as a family.  It's been a lot of fun to see the kids get so into it!  I LOVE the Olympics, always have, and Nate, I've learned, loves it even more than I do!  We've had a lot of fun watching all the new world records in swimming, and cheering for our Volleyball team.  It's been cool! The kids seem to really love it as well.  The other day though, I asked Luke if he was going to be in the Olympics someday and he said, "No, I'm gonna be an American Ninja Warrior!"  How cool is he :).  He can already do the spider wall obstacle :).  I wouldn't put it past him.

- I love how Erika calls Buddy (and other beings) her "Feetie-pie"

- Today is Sunday.  Today went well.  I was very nervous for today and all things considered, I think it went rather nicely.  My boys need new Sunday pants (which I keep forgetting to buy) and shoes, apparently, and they looked really funny today with their too small stuff on AND "spiked hair" (courtesy of Kelly), but now I'm just nitpicking :).  The kids got ready really well.  Noah went to his class so well. So did everyone for that matter, but they always do, except Erika.  She was so excited to go to church and her class today, all morning, she even gave everyone permission to be the ones to take her to class- that was adorable, arms outstretched, "evwy one can!" when Charity asked if she could and Kelly felt left out :).  Funny girl.  But for some reason, when it was time to go, she started getting tired.  She insisted that that "my class make me ti-ohed" (her class makes her tired).  How creative is that?  She did seem really tired all through church though. I gave in and let her come to my classes with me (this may have been a bit of insecurity on my part as well... I saw her as a good little friend, and possible excuse to leave the class when I got restless.... I can admit it).  She sat there next to me all through Relief Society, hardly made a peep and then did about the same all through Sunday School, until she wanted to go rock.  Seemed like a good idea to go rock her to sleep then, rather than waiting for Sacrament meeting to start and have to leave the kids while I rock her.  Didn't quite work that way though, when we got in there, she wanted to go back, so we walked around, picked up the kids and went to the Chapel.  They all did SO WELL today!!  I really was proud of how good they did.  We must have given it to them good last week.  Erika had a few moments, then fell asleep on my lap, then woke up with her foot asleep, and then sat through the last few minutes.  It was miraculous really.  The big kids all jumped up and bore their testimonies as soon as the Bishop was done.  They're so awesome!  I totally wish I was as fearless as them.  They did very well, and I was holding back the tears this time.  It's touching to watch your kids make such decisions without any prompting on my part.  Good times.  We made cookies when we got home, since Erika had become fixated on the idea after seeing Noah's cookie from his teacher... we'll finish those tomorrow I suppose :) we all took a nap, and then ate Nate's yummy dinner that he made for us and headed out to the Walk-About.  I had a good time talking to people who I haven't talked to either in a while or ever.  It felt really good.  Socially.... I've been a little off lately.  I learned the other day, at the swimming pool that it's been a while since I sat and enjoyed a social situation.  It had felt new and different to look around at people and just smile and enjoy watching people with their kids.... that kind of thing.  I used to enjoy that so much and lately.... well.... the way Nate put it, when I'm pregnant I have so many things going on within my own body, pains and just crazy things, that I become very inwardly focused.  And I agree.  It's been a while since I really thought outside of me and my family.  It's too bad I just barely figured that out, but I'm grateful for the reality check.  I need to get back out there.  Sure makes it easier to forget what's going on inside (the crappy stuff, not the sweet little baby we're making :) ), and that is a good thing!  So anyway- it was a good Sunday.  Only 3 more weeks!  8-5-12

- Kelly got bored today, most of the kids had a friend over, or were at a friend's house, and I was jut sitting there, so I suggested we play a game.  Kelly went and got Nate's Bass Fishing Monopoly game and insisted that we both play it with her :).  Charity joined us and we had a rousing game of Monopoly for most of the evening.  It was a lot of fun.  I was totally losing most of the game, Charity had most of the properties.  Nate won some money for having the "largest bass", that made me laugh and for some reason sent this shooting pain up through my body (I guess I shouldn't give specifics for where it was hurting, but let me just say, I think Wormie has a crochet hook or something with him in there and he's been attempting to break my water himself!  That's all I have to say about that.)  It hurt like no other!  After a while Lukey found himself upstairs and bored also, so Nate sacrificed his spot in the game to let Luke finish it out for him.  Luke pretty much won, though we had to just quit before Kelly, Luke and I were out of money.  Charity had run out and ditched us.  It was getting late and time for dinner.  But we figure Luke probably would have won.  He had the most money and the better properties.  I think I would have been next to go, even with all the railroads (or whatever they're called in that version).  It was a lot of fun though!  I enjoy a good board game every now and then.

- Kelly was our lesson tonight for FHE.  She taught us about being kind, generous, and thinking of others.  There's really no better teacher of these attributes than Kelly.  She did it with a series of acted out scenarios with her sibling helpers.  She had some really new ways of thinking about it and I was proud of her creativity.  Things got a little stressful for her with helpers not helping as much, and it took a little more patience on Kelly's part.  I thought things went well though and she got her message across.  It took a minute or two to reassure of her good job, she's awfully hard on herself, but she came to.  Things got really funny during the treat tonight too, we all got a good laugh about Noah and his "eating the bottom of his ice cream cone" and it "getting a crack in it".  We were seriously all giggling and doubled over with our little ice cream cones in hand.  I love those moments.  When we're all on the same page, just having a good time.  Erika traded with Nate to be the opening song again :).  Just had to make note of that.  I think she's been the song every week for a couple of months now :).  Funny girl.  She did Head Shoulders Knees and Toes this time though, not the fast/slow leading.  Erika came up to me with chocolate all over her face, points to this little spot on her lip and asks if it's blue.  I told her it was brown from the chocolate and she proceeds to lick and then ask, "Still?" over and over again.  Really fast, "Still?", lick, "Still?", lick, "Still?", lick..... hilarious.  My kids "crack" me up.  (the "Crack" jokes will be funny for days, now, I'm sure ;) )  Overall, it was a good night.  8-6-12