Handling it like a man

I was accused today of handling this problem like a man.

With a smile and a chuckle immediately following that statement.

You see I want to fix it.  

I want concrete things to do so that I know I am doing my part.  

And with this it seems like there are solid things I can do to make it better. 

I you see,  well it is obvious.

that I am a woman.  

I want to handle things like a woman.

With emotions and listening and understanding. 

and then follow through with change and evolve into something better.

Although I do wish that these small and crazy problems 

in a relationship would just go away.

That I could fix it.

And go on my merry way with everyone feeling better.  

Does it really matter where and what we hang on the walls?

It should feel like our house right?

Silly silly and I know we all know it.

The real problem is that,

 I want it to be hung my way. 

Car Games

Noah and I like to play a lot of games in the car.  Noah is very very creative with these.  So I wanted to document these fun adventures we have daily

OCEAN

We pretend we are in a submarine.  And all of the other cars are sea animals.  And we see how many we can find.

For example
Black cars and trucks = Swordfish
White cars and trucks= Sharks
Blue Cars = Dolphins
Little Red Cars = Crabs
Big Red Cars = Lobsters
A Bus = Stingrays
Gray or Silver Cars = Silver fish or a school of fish
Orange Cars = Clown fish
Brown Cars = Puffer Fish
Yellow Cars = Piranhas
Semi Trucks = Whales


There are variations of this game.  For example we will play Star Wars Ocean
where we are fighting some of the bad guys in the ocean and we have to get out and swim and fight

Big delivery trucks = Goober Fish
And other various Star Wars sea animals that he makes up and otherwise.  It is super fun you should play it

FLAG HUNTING

One of Noah's various professions is Flag Hunting.  If you ask him he will tell you it is a really hard job.  Just last week Sofia and I are now flag hunters in training.  We search for Flags on our way to any location.  You win the most if you find a really big American flag and it is waving in the wind.  You also can count construction flags, our state flags or any flags that announce a car sale or apartments for rent.  We count how many we can find.  Noah always finds them faster and says that I will get better and better as I practice my flag hunting.

HE IS A WARRIOR

If he is not in the mood for ocean or flag hunting we are always playing some kind of game.  We play Star Wars all the time but he will mix it with other games too.

Star Wars/Mario-  We can be in a Car from Mario Cart and we are saving Princess Peach.  He is Anakin and I am Princess Daisy and Sofia goes back and forth between Princess Leia and Yoshi.

Halo 3-  He is Master Chief, Dad is an Arbitor, Sofia is Cortana and I am Commander Keys.  He remembers all the names of the vehicles and weapons which are numerous and I can't remember, things like Warthogs, Mongoose and we fight the bad guys Aliens Grunts, Jackels, Brutes, Hunters and Elites.  And yes,  my husband plays video games with my son.

Call of Duty-  He loves playing army.  So he plays either Captain Price or Soap.  And he is fighting at first he called them the "Rush mans"  but now he says the Russians.  But only the bad guy Russians because Russians can be good guys too.  He is a smart boy.  And this is basically like playing war.

In all of these games I am usually just the driving and I call for back up if we get over run by the bad guys.  I also sometimes push the buttons to man the guns.  I feel honored that he even wants me to play with him all the time.  I love watching how the game evolve and he changes them to work for where he wants the game to go.  For example sometimes he is Good guy Darth Vader or a Good Guy Elite.  So that he can play the character he wants to play and still be the good guy and save everyone.

Interviews

What's your name:   Noah Lawrence F
How old are you? 5
What grade are you in: kindergarten
What's your teacher's name? Miss Emily
What is your favorite thing to do in school?  Recess
What is your favorite thing to learn in school? I don't know yet
What's your favorite thing to eat? pancakes and cookies
Who's your best friend? Heber, Dylan, Josh, Spencer and Lily
What's your favorite thing to do? Play Star Wars
What's something you're good at? play video games
What's something you've done that you're proud of? proud of making my turkey
What's your favorite color? blue
What do you want to be when you grow up? Dad, policeman, eye doctor and ocean photographer
What is your favorite book? Star Wars 
What's something you like to do with your family? Family Night

What's your name:   fia
How old are you? a collar (color)
What grade are you in: no
What's your teacher's name? mine horsey
What's your favorite thing to eat? fish ish
Who's your best friend?  nah pink
What's your favorite thing to do?  ply bebe, mommy
What's something you're good at? color picture, peese picture
What's something you've done that you're proud of?  shoes
What's your favorite color?  pink
What do you want to be when you grow up? mine colors picture
What is your favorite book? princess pink
What's something you like to do with your family?  rosies (ring around the rosies)


Thanks Carrie and Emily for the ideas.  So so much fun

For Kieran, Pillow and more Daffodils

I promised Kieran I would post a picture of what I wore today.
So here it is.  I hope you all enjoy
I love my orange pants.

I won a pillow on Emily's blog.  The first thing I have ever won on a blog.  And really on anything really.  It is super super pretty and I love love love the ruffles.  Sofia says that it is "Mine, pillow"  I keep reminding her that it is actually mommy's pillow.  I really do love it a lot, a lot.  Thanks again to a super cute and talented woman.  I do really love it Emily.

Here is a picture of the most daffodils that sprouted on Noah's plant.  It has been so so fun to grow something together.

Grateful Sunday - February 7, 2010

It has sure been way to long since I have done a Grateful Sunday on my blog.  I still feel grateful (most of the time) if I want to be honest. But I see my Heavenly Father blessing my family and me from so many angles that I would be truly ungrateful if I did not start this up again.

Girls Day Out-  I went to lunch and a movie "Dear John"  with my dear friend Kieran on Saturday.  I loved the movie even more than the book.  It ended so much happier so it was much more satisfying. Being with Kieran always lifts me and inspires me to be better.  It fills my cup to push forward.  And I HAVE to see Nicholas Sparks movies with her.  It is a tradition.  Ever since we saw the Notebook together as I sat there crying and lactating all over right after Noah was born.  It was wonderful.  I am so glad she is my friend

Kersten's School-  It seems like it will never end and I appreciate his diligence and perseverence.  He has struggled a bit in his class this semester and was worried about his last test.  Which he aced... way to go Kersten.  Another evidence that the Lord is blessing him and us.  He is in the top 10% of his class and I am so so proud of him

Pal and Monkey- My kids have both attached themselves to a favorite animal.  Noah has had his dog Pal for years now and he is a member of our family and in the last month "Monkey"  is just as important to Sofia.  I love watching my kids play and care for their "pets"  and watching them love something so unconditionally.

My Mom's Job-  Okay this one feels a bit selfish and materialistic.  Since my Mom started working it has been so so fun because I have been able to get some hot fun new clothes at more than killer deals.  And it is just fun to feel fun, spunky, stylish and a bit more like I feel inside instead of just like the usual.  Thanks Mom for looking out.

Projects-  I am now the leader for achievement days in our ward.  And it has inspired me to start doing things again in the realm of creativity.  I have not got my workspace organized and fashioned yet so that has been on the backburner and a part of me was starting to wilt.  It has been fun to have paint on my fingers again, glue on my clothes, pen in my fingernails and wood dust in my hair.  I am indebted to Al for cutting out the wood for me.  I would never have been ready for tommorrow without your help.

Treasures #4- Knitted Jumper

Kersten's Oma Christel knitted this cute blue jumper for Sofia.  She found some yarn and just wanted to make something for her.  The amazing thing is that Christel is legally blind and has not knitted in a very long time.  She asked  that I don't look to closely at the stitches.  It really is beautifully done and something I will treasure always.  It is made with love and patience in every single stitch.

This girl has become very opinionated about her clothes and I am glad she will wear this.  It really is so soft and we love it and am so grateful to Oma for loving Sofia enough to make her something so lovely.