Random Stuff - April 2015 and a little bit of Mother's Day 2016

Easter 2015, we tried dying eggs with vegetable matter. It didn't work very well, but this is a cute picture, so I stuck it in here.

Our neighbor is from Bangladesh and actually spends most of his time there while his family is here working and going to school. He brought Stan and me some Bangladeshi clothing back one time.

I pointed out to Stan that he looked a lot happier sitting next to Huda than to me, but he said that was because in the first picture, he was looking at me. :)

Now, to Mother's Day 2016. Summer and Jake are here and brought presents for all the family members whose birthdays they had missed. Summer made the cutest little doll house for Naomi. The rugs are cowhide, the pictures are postage stamps and it even came with a little plant.

Kelly, with help from the family, made an amazing Indian food dinner with aloo gajar, chicken makhani, homemade naan, spinach salad and mango lassi. We had French macaroons for dessert.

Our Mothers

Stan and I have wonderful mothers. I thought for today (Mother's Day) I'd write a little about what we've learned from them. It would take forever to write all the wonderful things they are to us, so this isn't everything. Just a taste, a smidgen, a whiff, a dash, to remember, and to say, "Thanks!"

 

Here is my beautiful mother, Dorothy May Thompson Chadwick (that's me in the blue dress).  She was a ton of fun to have as a mom. My parents first baby, my sister Heather, died when she was eight months old and my parents made a conscious decision to be careful to not be too overprotective of me and my younger siblings. It must have worked because I remember a childhood filled with adventure. She let me run around naked as a toddler in the park, wander through the woods by our house in New Hampshire, ride the NYC subway to high school on my own, and visit Israel when I was a senior in high school.

 

My mom always believed in me. She pointed out good qualities that I didn't realize I had and made me feel talented, smart, interesting and beautiful, even in my awkwardest phases (some of which I haven't outgrown yet!). She made me the most beautiful clothes - prom dresses, swimsuits, wool skirts, PE clothes, school clothes, church clothes and an adorable mauve pantsuit (it was the 70's) that I loved. She patiently tried to teach me to sew, which I didn't appreciate until I had kids of my own to sew for. I still call and ask her for cooking, sewing and life advice.

  

 Something that I always appreciated as a kid, that I am grateful for even more in retrospect, was how quickly my mother was to forgive. One time I burned my favorite polyester (70's!) dress while I was ironing it to get ready for a piano recital. My mom responded with sympathy and reassurance even though I probably ruined the iron in addition to the dress. That pantsuit I mentioned above - the first day I wore it to school I felt so chic until I fell and ripped the knee out. She didn't get mad, just kissed it better. One time, I thought she was my brother, following me out to the garage and surprising me. I got so mad at "him" that I whirled around and clobbered her right on the chest. After she caught her breath, she laughed it off. I always felt safe, encouraged and loved at home, which made it easier to face the world.

She is my heroine, a wonderful friend and the person I want to share my thoughts with. When the bishop asked me to be Relief Society president, I called home to cry on her shoulder because I knew she would understand how overwhelmed I felt. I relish telling her about my kids because she gives her grandchildren the same acceptance, encouragement and love. She is the best!

 

 

Here is Stan's beautiful mother, Melva Cox Spencer. I'll turn it over to Stan to write some memories. 

When I think of my mother, two things come to mind: love of family, and dedication to the Lord.

She came from pioneer ancestors, and she could have walked across the plains herself, with faith in every footstep. She loves the Church and she loves her Savior. And she taught--and still teaches by example--her children to put the Lord first in life, to keep the Sabbath, to pray, to read the scriptures daily, to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in every important decision.

She seems to have always had a sensitivity to spiritual things. She would tell us stories of angels and devils, and of the immense love of God for us. She is a descendent of Joseph Millet and seems to have inherited some of his ability to see what most of us do not.

She has always dedicated her life to her family. When we were all piled into the station wagon--two parents and 8 kids--on vacation or just around town., people would see us all and comment on what a lot of kids we were. Mother would say, "Yes, and we sure love them." 

To her siblings, nieces, and nephews, she has always been the friend and counselor they could always call. Now she extends that love and concern to her grandchildren and great grandchildren as well.

Thanks, Mother. You're beautiful, and the best mother for me!

Hey, haven't I seen you before?

Yesterday, I dropped the two biggest girls off for seminary and went to get gas. I filled my tank and went to stand in line for my change, when another lady stepped just in front of me. She was there for a couple of minutes while she put some money on a gas pump and bought a pack of cigarettes. I stood behind her and noticed the color of her hair.

After I got my change, I mailed some stuff at the post office, went home to feed the three youngest and the four of us took off. We dropped off Kelly to take her standardized tests for school and Michael, Mo and I went to Walmart where we bought freezer jam pectin, a cake plate with a dome on it (I've been wanting one for a while) and a Mothers" Day card. We drove back to school for Kelly, returned some books to the library and picked up a quarter yard of green lycra to alter a swimsuit with.

As I was leaving the parking lot, Summer called. "Did you know I stayed home sick?" (I had no idea.) "When are you coming home?" I told her I was on my way and why didn't she clean up after breakfast for me so that we could eat lunch as soon as I got there. Poor girl, there is no rest for the down and out around here!

I fed the oldest and three youngest and, taking advantage of my newly discovered babysitter, took off on my own to run a couple of errands before I had to pick Rachel, Heather and Gwen up. I rushed into our doctors' offices to get something from the pharmacy and ended up in line behind one lady while I waited for my turn to pay. Her shirt looked familiar. I had seen that hair somewhere. It was driving me crazy. I had to mentally go over every place I had gone and every line I had stood in when I finally realized she was the same person who was in front of me at the gas station. I was so excited when I remembered, that I blurted, "Did you buy gas at Food 4 Less this morning? I was in line behind you twice today!" She said, "Yea, I remember you now!"

After all the places I went...isn't that funny?

Weird Momma

The other day, my sister Sara overheard a snatch of conversation while we were on the phone and asked me if my daughter thought I was weird.

I told her ALL my daughters think I am weird.

I recounted the conversation at dinner that night and Heather was horrified. "I don't think you are weird!", she said.

I decided a poll was in order. Here is what each child said when asked if they thought I was weird.

Naomi - No.

Michael - No! (I knew he'd say that.)

Kelly - No.

Gwen - Nope.

Heather - see above

Rachel - Uhhh, yea.

Summer - Yes! But mostly in a good way.

p.s. Summer did my hair in this last picture ;)

A Lovely Valentine

Heather gave me this Valentine today. I love all the pastel colors and the roses she painted.

Not a Baby Anymore

This morning, while I was drying my hair, Naomi didn't want to be left alone, so she brought her project into the bathroom.

I turned around to see this...and was struck by how grown up she looked, like a kid, not a baby.

Pushing on the stapler took two hands, but she got the hang of it pretty quick.

Here is some of what she accomplished with all that effort.

Prayers

This evening, I was helping Naomi say her prayers and asked her what she would like to thank Heavenly Father for. She replied after thinking about it a second or two, "Mine Jesus, and Him died."

She likes to look at pictures of the Savior. I asked her the other day if she remembered being in heaven before she was born and if she remembered Heavenly Father and Jesus. "Yes, "she said. I asked her what they told her and she answered, matter of factually, something that sounded like, "They get rowbeetoo."

I wish I knew what she meant :)

Hodgepodge Part 2

While the older kids have been developing their brains and discovering their talents, there have been exciting things going on at home. Naomi, aka "The Caboose" has been learning to use the potty. One of the selling points I used with her was pointing out that her panties are so nice and soft. She really took it to heart.

She loves her panties!

Also, I have been honing my skills as a dish drain sky high stacker. I wish it was an Olympic event.

Hey, that's a good idea, the Mom Olympics. Any suggestions for "sports"?

Happy Mother's Day

I love being a mother. Even though some days it seems like a thankless job, today it sure doesn't. I am being spoiled rotten.

I said that out loud when I wandered into the kitchen while Stan and Summer were cooking dinner and Stan said,
"No, you were rotten when we got you."

The spoiling started Thursday when Stan brought me flowers. Being a botanist, he has superior taste in flora :)

Then, on Saturday, he said he would take care of everything and I could do whatever I wanted - bliss! I sewed. I wanted, optimistically, to finish my entire mending basket, plus a couple of projects. I didn't get all the way there, but I had a lot of fun trying. I made a curtain for the little bathroom...

...a pillow from some embroidery Heather made for me , a skirt for myself...

... and everything from the mending basket that took thread that wasn't white.

Mr. Amazing really did handle everything AND he painted the laundry room purple, with the kids' help, for a Mother's Day gift.

Today, Heather made pancakes all by herself (they were delish) while Stan made bacon and eggs and everyone brought me breakfast in bed. Stan bought real maple syrup to go on them, which I haven't had in years. It is a treat that brings me back to my childhood in New Hampshire.

For dinner this evening, Stan and Summer did all the cooking. I wandered around the house taking pictures for the blog. Summer did not want me to take this picture, but after much negotiation, she agreed to let me blog it :)

They made Ham a la King...

...and cranberry almond salad...yum!

All the kids gave me cards, Heather and Kelly each gave me books of artwork and the kids gave me one box of chocolates and Stan gave me another one. See what I mean about being spoiled?

Thanks, family, I love you all!!!

It is so hard to get good help these days.

This morning before breakfast, some of the kids were in the back yard. Naomi found her jacket, which she had left out overnight, muddied and soaked in sprinkler water. She brought it to the kitchen, handed it to me and said, "Dirty."

Then, while we were eating breakfast, she dropped a blog of Cream of Wheat on the table. She looked at it, looked at me and said, "Clean this."

I scooped it up with her spoon and holding it up to her mouth, replied, "My, you are imperious, aren't you?"


She said, "Yeah," and ate her bite of Cream of Wheat.

My kids are SO OPPRESSED!!!

Almost every Saturday morning, I get up and make a batch of muffins. I use a recipe that calls for 1-1 1/2 cups fruit or vegetable. I usually use pumpkin or banana, sometimes apple or zucchini.

Okay, flashback to Thursday. I'm at Costco, looking at the spinach, wondering if I should buy some. I pick up a three pound bag of fresh spinach and stare at it for a minute. "No" I think, "we'll never finish this before it goes bad." As I lower it back into the box, I hear a faint ripping sound as the perforated plastic top rips off. I put it in my cart.

So...I've been trying to figure out how to eat this up and muffins came to mind. As I told Stan, "Anything tastes good if you mix enough sugar and oil in with it."

I kept the kids out of the kitchen so that they wouldn't see the blender when it looked like this.

They thought maybe I used the new food coloring I bought at Michael's. I wouldn't tell anyone the truth until after they ate at least half a muffin. Rachel was even more appalled when she found out they were FRESH spinach muffins. She said, horrified, "That is like LETTUCE muffins!"

Stan liked them. I thought they were okay, but a bit bland. Summer was frightened that I would even attempt spinach muffins. Rachel's reaction is noted above. Heather liked them. Gwen didn't. Kelly liked them. Michael liked them. Naomi loved them. I guess they were a semi-success, depending on who you ask, but I think I'll give the spinach a wide berth a Costco from now on!

A Chocoholic is Born

I got all set to feed Naomi, read a novel and eat a See's raspberry butter cream (my favorite), but the baby wouldn't cooperate. She kept looking at my chocolate and I could see her thinking, "This milk is good, but it's like manna and I'm tired of it. That stuff you have looks like it would be delicious. C'mon, Mom, let me have some!"


So...I let her taste a sliver of chocolate and this face was her reaction. You can even see that half her tongue is brown from letting that yummy See's chocolate melt all over it.

Rachel lost a tooth this week.

It got pretty loose before it fell out. It was hanging by one tough thread for a couple days and she wouldn't let the resident tooth fairy get near her to facilitate the process. This is understandable for two reasons -

One - the tooth fairy around here has been known to go to great lengths to remove teeth from mouths. Lengths that can make a sensitive girl squeamish.

Two - Once the tooth fairy helps get the tooth out, she sort of slacks off. Teeth have a tendency to sit under pillows for nights, if not weeks with no action.

It was not as if Rachel could count on getting some moolah in the near future if her tooth came out, so it was easy to procrastinate. The tooth fairy bothered her enough with promises of, "Just ONE try," that she finally gave in and let me...I mean the tooth fairy...at her.

As anyone in this family who has lost a tooth would have predicted, there was no money in the morning AND we swept together and picked up Rachel's room the next day AND the tooth went missing into a trash bag full of soggy ice cream napkins and dirty diapers. Needless to say, no one wanted to go after it, so all pretense flew out the window just like a gallionic tooth fairy and I gave her the money in the light of day. It was the least I could do...

P.S. Naomi says, "Hi!"

Multitasking

Heather will be a good mother. She already has down one of the most important skills - multitasking.

Success!

Both of my nappers down at the same time :)

Introducing...

Here she is in my arms, just moments after she was born. I am so happy to have her here!

Here is the nurse getting her footprints.

Stan brought the kids in to see her at six yesterday evening. Isn't she pretty? She has a little pointy chin, reddish blondish hair and dimples, which you can see if you watch the video.

Here is our little cow holding his newest sister.

That Stinky Diaper

Whoosh...he's off!

Michael LOVES his nursery leader, which is understandable. She is very nice. He asks about her all week, "I go class with my teacher?" I like when Sunday comes around and I can answer in the affirmative, "Yes. Today you get to go to class with your teacher!"

I gave him the good news this morning at breakfast and he asked about her at least three times during sacrament meeting, so when I saw her go up onto the stand to give the closing prayer, I pointed her out to Michael. My mistake was not getting a good grip on the waistband of his pants before I did.

He was gone so fast, that I would have had to go up the steps to the podium to catch him. I decided that Michael, without his mother waddling after him (believe you me, I waddle these days) was enough of a spectacle, so I let him go. He pulled on her skirt halfway through the prayer, got a big hug from his teacher and a big smile from the bishop when it was over. Life is sweet when you're fast enough to get away and cute enough to charm everyone when you misbehave.

Little India

I've been busy getting ready for Christmas, but I took the day off (except for writing on Christmas cards in a parking lot - story to come later). First, we all went to the dentist for Summer to get her tooth pulled (I plan the funnest things for school vacations, don't I?) and then we headed to Little India - four blocks of restaurants and shops that took us five hours to get our fill of.

The first place we went into was an aquarium store.

Then, we wandered around trying to decide where to eat lunch. A buffet sounded fun, but the ones we could afford looked icky and the Health Dept. thought so as well. We ended up ordering three meals, plus extra naan, rice and two lassis - rose and mango - to share. We asked them to make it mild, but we were still grateful for the lassis to cool our mouths.

We walked and shopped, buying beads and bangles until we made it to a shopping center that had stone elephants at the entrance to the parking lot. We were there to get dessert at a place that served saffron and mango ice cream, among other flavors.

This is why Michael wasn't in the elephant picture, but he woke up in time to share my ice cream.

So, if you've made it this far, you maybe are wondering about the Christmas card story. Here it is. Well, OK, let me preface it with the lame excuse of being perpetually exhausted combined with being pregnant and the baby living off what few brains cells I possess. We got to Little India @ 10:30 and most of the places we wanted to go didn't open until 11, so I told everyone to sit tight in the car while I wrote in Christmas cards. I had most of them done, when Gwen asked me why I was writing 2007 in the top corner of each of them. Good question!

Hiking in St. George

It has been a while since I've sat down to blog and I've missed my creative outlet. I looked at all the pictures I've taken in the interim and there were only a handful (so that's two creative outlets I've been neglecting). Here are the best ones.

We went to St. George to visit family over Thanksgiving and one of the things we love to do whenever we are there is to hike with the cousins. This time, we went to a place in town called The Narrows. It has lots of unearthly (at least to this East Coast raised girl) red rock formations for the kids to explore. Rumor has it that the local boys take their prospective fiancés there to see if they can squeeze through one long crevice in the rock. If they can't, they are supposedly not marriage material. I wisely decided to sit it out this year, as I am as unmarriageable as they get and I would have gotten stuck fast by the belly. Michael had fun picking up and throwing rocks while he kept me company.

Here are the kids, ours and some of their cousins, working up an appetite in preparation for the turkey and pie the next day.

Here is Stan, just as he showed up on a hill overhead. Isn't that blue sky beautiful? I would love to be able to live in St. George from November to April. Maybe when I grow up I can be a snowbird...