Plum Tuckered Out

This is what our struggle with naps has come down to. Lately this is becoming the norm at dinnertime for Nathan. He is so cute - but in a way it makes me sad. He just plain COULD NOT finish and had to give in.

Parade for Sally

There is a lady named Sally who I used to visit teach. She has been a real inspiration to me and everyone around her. We found out recently that she has breast cancer. She was scheduled to go in and have a double mastectomy last Friday. Well, a little girl in our ward had the idea that we should go over and cheer her up. The lady can't leave her house right now because of the risk of germs, so the little girl wanted to have a parade in front of Sally's house to cheer her up. Last Monday for FHE, the girl's family organized a parade with everyone Sally knows in the area. I thought it was a wonderful idea and I'm thrilled that we could take part in the parade to support Sally.

I forgot my camera, so I had my friend take some pictures of us and send me them so I could post them. The parade was a really good experience for me and the girls. Jeremy ended up not coming because Nathan was asleep and he wanted to let him sleep.

We all walked past Sally's house and she was in the window watching and waving. I could tell that it made her so happy to have everyone come and support her like this.

At the end of the parade there was someone with a video camera and everyone in the parade had a chance to individually give Sally a message.

I think it's really neat how that little girl's parents took her idea and allowed her to turn it into something so wonderful. This past Sunday in our ward's church program was a poem that Sally wrote to show her love and appreciation. This is what she wrote:

Words of Enormous Thanks

I'm awed - amazed - overcome now with joy!
What a dear, grand parade - with each girl and each boy . . .
Each precious form; each precious face!
I hope each of you felt my "non-touch" embrace!!!!
The love that you gave me will in my heart stay
To make "scary Friday" now a heaven-blessed day!
I will think of each face that passed by - Oh! So dear!
So how can I worry? How can I fear?
"Thank you" in words can't reflect what's in my heart!
I'm so grateful each of you in my life's been a part!

I think it's so wonderful how we are put here on this earth to be with each other and to learn to love and help people. This experience really helped me to feel how much we can be a part of each other's lives and make a difference for the better - even by small and simple things.

Swimming During Spring Break

On Friday of Spring Break, Jeremy took the day off work and we took the kids swimming at the Lehi pool. Grandma Lynda also came with us to watch the kids swim. We all had so much fun! The Lehi pool is indoors and the water is nice and warm. They also have water slides and things for the kids to play on. I'd have to say the drive was worth it for a good cold-weather swim.

Last year Nathan was doing so well in the water, but this time he was freaking out if he got splashed on or if he went under the water. We will have some catching up to do. I'm going to also put him in swimming lessons for the first time this year. He did like playing in the water as long as he didn't go under.

Alexandra LOVED standing up in this shallow part of the pool. It was so shallow that she could stand up and just hold onto the side. She didn't want to get out. Every time we would put her out of the pool on the edge she would quickly crawl back over to the water and come right back in to us.

Samantha and Athena are fish in the water. At least compared to me! They love to swim under water and see how far they can swim without putting their feet down. They are doing really well!

Grandma, we wish you would have brought your suit! We were still glad you came - even if just to watch.
Thanks to all for a really fun afternoon! I can't wait for summer when we can all go swimming more often. :)

My Typing Speed

Maybe I'll try to up my speed later.

82 words

Speedtest

Daffodil

A couple of days ago I gave some bananas to my neighbor that were ready to be made into banana bread. I had Samantha run them over to her house. In return, my neighbor gave Samantha a daffodil. Samantha brought it home and was thrilled to death. I got out a jar and put the flower in water and placed it on the table. It's really pretty and surprisingly hasn't died yet.

Yesterday I watched Ashley and Katie for Cathy. Ashley was up to the table admiring the beautiful flower. I said to her, "Do you know what kind of flower that is?" She proudly replied, "Yes! It's a Laffy Taffy."

Little Toy Car

I love how much fun the "older" kids enjoy playing with Alexandra. She has become a great source of entertainment in our home.

I recently was looking for new toys (amongst our SAVED baby toys) for Alexandra to play with when I came across this one - the little car that turns into a walker. She has 100% accepted this toy. She loves it in all its various formats. She holds onto it and walks across the floor with great pride. She will also climb up and sit on the car by herself and wait for someone to push her.

Yesterday she and Samantha were enjoying this game together. It was cute how much fun they were having together - so I will let you share in our joy! Here is Alexandra waiting for her ride.


They are so cute together! Alexandra holds on for dear life for most of her rides.

Here is a video of a normal ride.


Here is a video of a FAST RIDE! :)

General Conference

PSHWEW! We made it through! I really enjoyed General Conference this weekend - or rather, I really enjoyed what I heard of General Conference this weekend. I think I'm still recuperating.

I love listening to the talks that are given and yes, I had my favorites this weekend. However, I missed out on a lot of the loving feelings of the spirit due to the many blowups and meltdowns that it took to get through conference. It is so HARD with 4 little kids to listen and enjoy. We did have the little "conference packets" for kids to do, and they worked perfectly for the first half of the first session. After that we were on our own.

Anyway, I think what I'm trying to say is - I'm grateful for General Conference and the blessings and spirit it brings. I'm also quite grateful it is done and I hope that I can get back to normal.

I had my own little scare Sunday through Monday. I started having really bad chest pain that wouldn't go away and it was affecting my arms and legs and making me a little dizzy. I made arrangements (thanks Daddy for watching the kids) and went to the Dr. Turns out, thanks goodness I'm not having heart problems - but my cartilage and tissue around my sternum is all inflamed and this condition is often mistaken for a heart attack. So, I guess now I know a little about how an attack would feel - those poor people who have them! OUCH! Anyway, the Dr. said the pain will persist for about a week. That's what I have to look forward to. The inflammation might have been caused by the bad cold I had for 6 weeks and it just spread downward.

Then, yesterday when I got home from the Dr. I had to go pick up the kindergarten carpool. On my way out the door, I was still a little dizzy in the head and I slammed my finger in the outside door to the garage. It hurt so bad and I was shaking my finger around. When I got in the car I looked down and there was blood on the seat. I looked at my finger and it was bleeding like crazy - the door had spliced it open. So now I also have a big cut down my finger.

I figure, since I'm down this week for the chest pain it will also give me time to nurse my finger back to health. I'm sure grateful also for my physical body. Without weeks like this I wouldn't enjoy the good weeks, right? :)