Happy Birthday to ZANE...tomorrow

We celebrated Zane's birthday a day early, since his birthday falls on a Sunday, plus we are planning on going to Stephanie's house tomorrow evening. Zane likes Curious George, Scooby Doo, Elmo and Spongebob and since we had done the previous three in other birthdays, we decided to go with Spongebob. Luckily, my friend Michelle had a cake pan and she let me borrow it. I worked on decorating the cake for 4 hours today. Greg helped with the finishing touches and I think it turned out pretty OK. Zane got a "Belly Bank", a Weeble Town, a Remote Control Train, a Thomas airport, a puzzle set, an outfit, a pair of pj's, a pair of shoes, money, and some other things I can't remember because I was busy putting batteries in some of the other toys, and didn't get to see him open his gifts.

So, two years ago tonight, I was in PAIN. I finally woke Greg up and we headed to the hospital. Zane made his entrance into the world at 10:10 a.m. on March 28, 2008. The moment I saw him I was IN LOVE!!! He was the cutest newborn, I mean even right after he "came out" he was sooo cute. My mom and Greg's mom were listening on the other side of the Labor & Delivery door. They came in to welcome their new grandson. A little later that afternoon we announced that his name would be Zane Nathaniel and everyone was a little shocked. We had not talked about that name with anyone before. But I think it is the perfect name for him. He brings me joy EVERYDAY. I get such a kick out of that kid and I don't know what I ever did without him.

Happy Birthday Zaner.

Olivia=Funny

Today I took the kids to Price Cutter and they smelled the Barbeque coming from Oscar's Rib trailer in front of the store.
After leaving the store Olivia said "You know, mom, if pigs were being cooked on a barbeque, then they should just send out a smoke signal with the smoke that says 'S.O.S.'...Save Our Souls." I told her that if they were being cooked that it would be too late for that. She replied "Oh, yeah."

Olivia

Today...I bit the dust....literally

I did a stupid thing today. Greg and I went on our first bike ride together this year. I was feeling pretty good, riding with the wind, going about 15-18 miles an hour. We rode on the trails by Close Memorial Park. As we went under the bridge at Scenic, I put my feet up to keep them from getting wet. Well there's a sharp turn there...and a concrete wall about 18 inches high. I lost control and went over the wall. There was three places that I could have landed. One was in the water which would have been cold and dirty, one was a giant boulder, and third was a sorta muddy rocky patch of ground on the shores of the pond. Luckily I landed on the shore...face first. My bike also went over the wall. For a minute I couldn't move. My whole body hurt. Finally I got up and nothing was broken, except my sunglasses...and my pride. I have a knot on my forehead (Greg says it's because I'm a knot-head..I know, clever, huh?), My sunglasses cut my nose, I have a knot and what I call road-rash on my hip, a small cut on my knee, and the palms of my hands have small cuts on them. This could have been so much worse. I definitely have some angels watching over me.

Our Trip

Thursday afternoon we left for Columbia, MO to watch Greg's nephew play in the state finals (basketball). We stayed the night there (in a rather gross hotel,by the way-it was pricey too-go figure), then got up Friday morning and headed over to St. Louis. Our first stop was the Cahokia Mounds. This is a place where Indians built giant mounds of earth to build their homes on. The picture of our family was taken at the top of the largest one. There were 158 steps and Olivia and Noah left us in their dust. When they got to the top they yelled "IN YO FACE" at us down below. They also beat us going down the mound.
Our hotel in St. Louis was MUCH nicer. This is where Zane decided to put a pair of Noah's underwear on his head..which were clean by the way. Greg and I got up Saturday morning and went to some garage sales. Let's just say we came home with more than we left with. Our hotel in St. Louis had an indoor pool that wasn't much larger than a bathtub. It was kind of disappointing. The water was cold and there were a BUNCH of kids in it so the kids didn't get to enjoy it all that much. The pool in Columbia was much bigger and we all got to have a nice little swim.
Sorry this is kind of boring....but sometimes my life is just not that interesting.

If you eat this...You will end up looking like this....

Last night Svetlana and I made homemade corn tortillas, which we used to make cheese enchiladas. We also had pinto beans, guacamole with chips, and homemade Spanish Brown Rice. It was pretty yummy.

But, I've noticed since Sveta has been staying with us, she has kind of been packing on the pounds. What do you think?

Remembering Eli

Four years ago today, I was in a labor and delivery room...waiting. The previous day I had gone in for a routine (20 week)OB appointment and the doctor was unable to find a heartbeat. He performed an ultrasound and found a lifeless baby. We were sent to Maternal Fetal Medicine to have some more sophisticated equipment used, but this only confirmed that our baby had passed away. We got to the hospital at around 10 p.m. March 9 to be induced and at around 8 p.m. March 10, our little Eli was born weighing less than one pound. The doctor was able to determine with a fair amount of certainty that Eli had died as the result of the umbillical cord being wrapped around his knee twice and neck once. The nurses brought him in for us to hold and we said our hello's and our good-bye's. The following Monday we held graveside services and he was buried in the Dadeville cemetary.
The good news? We know that he is in good hands. We know that he was too 'pure and lovely' for this world. We know that he is involved in a great work in his Father's kingdom. His brief life in the womb and the experience of his death affected us all and gave us an opportunity to grow closer to one another. He also gives us motivation to endure to the end, and strive to live our lives in such a way that one day we will join him in the eternities.

Whose Kids Are Those?!?!?!

Yesterday was yet another beautiful day. Zane wanted to go outside so I opened the door for him. He quickly came back in stating "Owivia Bye-bye"...Olivia and Noah were in the backyard, but were suddenly no where to be found...Oh yes, there they are, IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE APARTMENTS BEHIND OUR HOUSE! They had climbed the fence and were going exploring, yet again.
I hollered at them to come home. They did (they're so obedient like that). And when they re-entered our yard, I planted my hand on their behinds and sent them to their room. I then went to talk to them and explained that there are disgusting people who would love to do unspeakable things to them and that they would never see me again if they were kidnapped. I also told them that they could have gotten hit by a car, or someone could have called DFS on me and had them taken away to state custody. I made them wait in their room until Greg came home so he and I could discuss their punishment. Oh, by the way, Olivia claimed that the whole thing was Noah's idea and that he made her do it.
Pretty soon, Zane came in to the kitchen carrying a piece of paper to mommy. Zane was their messenger. I was cooking supper. The first note read "We are sooo sory.We want out. We are vary hungrey. We want food. That smeels sooo good. Plees." (I spelled the words exactly how she did. I wrote back "It is not done yet. NO." Olivia's next note stated "Wiy not, Waaaaaa. Wiy are you my mom then you are supost to be nice to me!-Olivia"
My reply "you are my children and are supposed to be obedient."
Olivia's next note "You are crasy. And we love you."
Now how can I not laugh at this?
Anyways, their punishment is that they are not allowed any computer time, any TV viewing, or Wii playing for 3 days...which is not enough. I asked Greg if he knew of anyone whom they don't know who could stage a kidnapping so they could see what it felt like. I don't think Greg liked that idea. Does anyone out there have any thoughts?

Olivia...the bitter and the sweet

Olivia and I got into quite an arguement Friday night. We were both tired. The bigger problem is that Olivia thinks that she is in charge. She told me to turn off my music in the car. I told her that I liked my music and that I would continue listening to it until I was ready to turn it off. She then began to scream at me. So, I turned the music up (to drown her out). She bagan to scream even louder. When we got home, I told her to go to her room, go to sleep, and not show me her face until the morning. Of course this didn't happen. She and I went back and forth for a little while longer and then finally she calmed down (as did I). I laid down with her (as I usually do) and she and I made a deal that we would try not to do things that upset eachother. She was also grounded from all electronics (TV, Computer, wii, etc.) for all of Saturday. Lucky for her it was a beautiful day and her cousins came over to play, but she still felt as if she were being punished so that's what counts.

Funny thing, though, Saturday Zane and I were watching a movie and she came in the room. I told her that she was grounded from the T.V. She immediately comes back with "Mom, you are telling me to NOT spend time with my family." Clever girl, she is.

Sunday was Fast and Testimony Meeting. For those of you who don't know, this is an opportunity for any who want to stand and bear their testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Olivia had begged for about a month to be able to do this, so we prepared her by having her write down the things that she feels in her heart and practicing what she would say. She got up today and did a GREAT job. She didn't seem at all nervous, I think I was more nervous than she was. I'm so grateful for her example, her desire to do what is right, and for her always being willing to forgive me (immediately) when I'm not being "The Best Mommy in the World". (A title she gives me 5 minutes after she has gotten in to trouble).

Just in Case You Ever Wonder....

If you have never read "Just in Case You Ever Wonder" by Max Lucado, I definitely recommend it. I have read it to my children many times, and can still not get through it without getting teary-eyed.
Today I sat and read it to Zane (my little bookworm). It tells the child the story of how he or she was created by God and that He wanted to make that child part of a very special family so he sent them to me. It goes on to talk about how a parent is always there for that child to teach them and to listen to them. I cannot possibly do it justice here, so please read the book for yourself.
A little bit later, Zane was sitting on Greg's lap and Greg showed him a picture of himself with his dad. He asked Zane who was in the picture. Zane pointed to Greg and said "Daddy". Greg pointed to his dad and asked Zane who it was. Zane said "Daddy". Greg said, "That is daddy's daddy". Zane repeated, "daddy's daddy". Zane was less than 3 months old when his grandpa Chapman died. As I listened to Greg talk to him, I was so sad that Zane will not know him in this life. I had this idea, that to me seems like a good one. My kids have been around a lot of death in their short little lives. They have lost two great-grandmas, one grandpa, one brother, two cousins, and an uncle. When Ryan and Grandpa Chapman passed away, Noah was only 3. I fear that even he will not remember them when he grows a little older. I thought it would be a good idea to make a picture book, like the Max Lucado one, and tell a little about the person...adding pictures, and including Noah in the story (or whichever child the book is for). The book will explain what that person was like, what their accomplishments were on this earth, and then explain that Heavenly Father had a great work for him or her to perform in heaven. The book would also assure the child that they would one day get to see their loved one again.
Ryan was Noah's best friend, something I hope he never forgets, but I think a book would be a great reminder to him of just what a great friend he was.

Caps...and Bras For Sale!

It's a little bit scary how Zane knows where a brazier is worn, and it was even scarier when he came in to the kitchen last night with Svetlana's wrapped around his chest exclaiming "Mommy wook! Mommy wook!" I glanced down at him and burst out in laughter. He never ceases to amuse me. He is so smart and funny for such a little guy. He has also grown very attached to his Curious George stuffed monkey. He will feed it a bottle, lay it in his bed and cover it with his blanket, and he even puts it on the potty and wipes its bum when he's done. Zane has started showing some interest in using the potty himself. He has tinkled a few times (and by tinkle I mean like 3 drops) and he even pooped while sitting on the potty, the problem was that when he got up, the poop was still attached to his bum and smeared on the seat a little...the important thing is that he knows what the toilet is for and he is trying. Hey, he's not even 2 yet, so I am not EVEN pressuring him.

Last night we had the missionaries over for dinner and Olivia decided before we began dining that she needed to place all of Greg's hats on top of her head...at the same time. Well, actually this isn't even all of Greg's hats, just the ones that were nearby at the time. She did a pretty good job balancing them, don't you think? It reminds me of that children's book "Caps for Sale"