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…he's so darn cute.

Anytime you ask him a question these days he says "Ummmm" like he's really trying to ponder his answer.

He sucks his thumb.  Started this summer.  He still gets his binky when he's in bed – and doesn't want his thumb then.  But uses his thumb during the day (because I won't let him have his binky).  And he doesn't discriminate between his right or left – either is fine.

"How old are you?" His answer: "Two – half"

"What's your name?" His answer: "Yamul"

He thinks all secrets go like this… "I love you".  I've trained him well.

He sometimes watches a little show called "Sid the Science Kid".  Sid sings a song during every show that goes…"I love my mom – my mom is cool – but now it's time – to go to school".  The other day Samuel was walking around the house singing "love Mom – cool – go school!"

He is absolutely delightful and sweet.  So easy and fun to have around.  Until 3 pm when it's time for me to focus on the big boys – and time for homework and running to piano and soccer and taekwondo.  Then he's a basket case!

He brings me the phone every other day and says "call Nana" – sometimes he is appeased by me saying that "Nana's at work – she's busy".  Other days he INSISTS that we call Nana. 

He loves my neighbor/friend Donna and my friend Dana, and gets excited when I mention either one.  He has a thing for "D" women.  "Nonna and Nana"

Love this kid.

My family had lots of dogs growing up – the one that was closest to my heart was "Lucky", a black and tan miniature dachshund.  He was my confidante during rocky teenage years.  I loved that little dog.  He had to be put to sleep when I was in college – I cried and cried.

Derek had his own dog as a teenager – "Toby".  He even took him to obedience school.  I don't know what kind of dog Toby was exactly (even though I met Toby on several occasions), I just know he was black – jet black.  And Derek loved him.

Almost every single member of our extended families have dogs – we come from a long line of dog lovers. 

But even with all of the dog "love", I have distanced myself from ever having one.

Nope – no way.

Don't love 'em.

Until now.

Something changed this summer.  Maybe it's because Jacob's approaching 10.  Maybe because my OCD tendencies with cleanliness have seemingly waned.  Maybe because "all boys need a dog" and I've got three of 'em.  Maybe because I want another baby, but Derek is not convinced we can do another pregnancy again anytime soon – if ever. 

But whatever the reason, I've had a change of heart.

We've been researching since the spring and found the dog for us (a soft-coated wheaten terrier – hypoallergenic, non-shedding, great with kids).  Then we looked and looked for a breeder and found one who happens to live about 20 minutes away (RARE!).

And today…

Our "girl" was born.

We are still debating the name – it will either be Molly or Maggie.  If Samuel has anything to do with it (and he usually does) it will be Maggie. 

Maggie/Molly will look just like her mom someday – they get blonder as they get older.

Part of me thinks "what.have.I.done?"

The other part of me is pretty thrilled!

Molly/Maggie won't be coming home with us until mid-November.

You can read more about soft-coated wheaten terriers HERE.  Ours will have the "Irish" coat just like her mom – shiny and wavy versus the American coat which is fluffier.

Is getting dressed for school a chore and a headache at your house?  I have the answer to all of your woes!

Every Sunday night, we sit down with the boys and choose their outfits for the whole week.  And then lay them out (with undies and socks) at the foot of their bed in order Monday-Friday.  Something they don't like – we pick another.  Something I don't like – we pick another.  But we work out all of the problems then, before it's an issue.  Then when they get up in the morning they dress and come straight downstairs.  EASY!  And so convenient…we never have the hassle of discussing/approving outfits the morning of.

Try it – you'll love it!

I have two new favorite things…

1. SQUIRT – delightful citrus-y flavor, love it.

2.  The Greek Gods Honey Yogurt – typically not a yogurt fan but this is dreamy.  I like to eat it in the morning with Quaker Toasted Oatmeal Squares or Wheatabix.

 

Last Tuesday we were about 5 minutes from leaving the house for school when we heard a sloshing sound on the stairs, followed by a glub, glub, glub.  "That doesn't sound good" was my first thought.

The day before I had bought some hand soap for the boy's bathroom.  I also bought a big thing of soap refill.  As usual, I put it on the stairs for someone to take up on their next trip up.  As usual, it was left there for more than 24 hours while we all ignored whatever was on the stairs. 🙂

Samuel has a thing for unscrewing lids.  My guess is that he had unscrewed the lid of the refill bottle, and Jacob was doing some acrobatics that involve soccer kicks on the stairs when he kicked the refill bottle over, which resulted in ANTIBACTERIAL FOAMING HAND SOAP drenching 5 of my carpeted stairs.  And Jacob was in so much shock and panic that he didn't think to jerk the bottle back up as it spewed its messy contents all over the place, instead letting it flow down the stairs before I yelled "hold it up"!

What resulted was Derek renting a wet vac from Home Depot and us spending the next 4 hours wetting, vacuuming, wetting, vacuuming, wetting, etc.  Foaming hand soap is super concentrated, so it just keeps going, and going, and going… 

It was quite the project.  We had to laugh about it (or we would cry).  And we cleaned the carpet in the living room and study while we were at it.

Twice a year we invite the hubbies to Gourmet Club for a potluck – Christmas and Summer.  We had our annual Summer Potluck last weekend at the Hall's beautiful home.  It was probably the best potluck we've ever head – EVERYTHING was delicious and beautifully presented.  Derek wasn't able to make it because he was riding in a bike rally that day, but it was fun nonetheless.  Great food, great company, great atmosphere – I'm so lucky to be associated with these neat people.

Two Friday's ago Derek was out of town – away for a bike ride.  So I said to Jacob "While the cat's away, the mice will play" trying to indicate that we would go do something fun.  Jacob didn't like it.  He was offended and asked me not to talk about his dad like he was a mean cat. :)  Point taken.  Derek is, of course, a friendly and wonderful cat…it's just an expression.  Geez! 🙂

Anyway – me and the boys went out to dinner at La Hacienda since we had two free kids meals coupons.  Then we headed over to a new splash-ground that we had heard about.  It was a lovely evening.

Jack be nimble…Jack be quick:

On August 29 Derek rode in the "Hotter than H***" bike ride in Wichita Falls (we call it the Hotter than Hot at our house).  It's 100 miles in one day.

He has a great group of guys that he rides with.  He went down with three of them the day before, and that night they all stayed together at another friend's cabin. 

I liked seeing Derek get away for a little while and enjoy some down time.  And he loves being on the bike.  Way to go, D!

L to R: Dave, Derek, Greg and Rod

Derek's on the far right

Here are some happy moments from the last couple of weeks that I don't want to forget…

1.  On Thursday night right as the boys were all going to bed a big thunderstorm rolled through with some awesome lightning.  After putting Samuel to bed, I came into the big boys' room to find Derek and the boys laying reversed on the beds, with all of the lights off and the blinds open, watching "the show".  I snuggled in close to Jacob and the four of us laid there whispering about the storm for quite a while.  I loved it.

2.  This morning a friend rang our doorbell.  He was supposed to be with his older brother at another neighbor's house, but they got separated and he rode to our house instead.  We quickly called the house where his brother was, and then dad called us, relieved (they were looking for him frantically).  We made our friend happy by asking about his rock collection and he was ready to stay for awhile when Dad pulled up in the car. 

After he left, Jacob gave me a sweet compliment…"Mom, I think you should be a teacher – you'd be really good at it".  Be still my heart.  Sweet boy.

3.  Often times we have family prayer all standing in the corridor close to the garage – it's where we keep shoes, purses, backpacks, etc.  We all stand in a circle with our arms folded and heads bowed.  We would kneel but it's all tiled and sometimes we're in a hurry to get out the door.  (I say better that than nothing).  Cute Samuel often likes to stand in the middle of our circle and pull us closer as the prayer is said – he will take us one by one and pull us close-in-tight until we can feel each other breathing.  And if we're ever terse with each other or he can feel tension he'll say "prayer" as if to remind us that it might be a good solution.  There's nothing like a 2-year old to bring us all together and remind us of what's important.

I've been nursing a headache migraine since last night.  They are pretty rare for me, but miserable all the same.  The last month and a half I've been having neck issues too…usually starts in the morning and gets worse throughout the day – mostly related to tightness in my shoulders.  All muscular.

All stress-induced.

I'm not dealing with stress well for some reason.

I feel like things are breathing down my neck and I am incapable or inadequate to do them, much less do them well.  I'm got my feet dipped in too many things, I think.  And yet they are all GOOD and wonderful things. 

PTA took about 25 hours out of me this last week.   That's too much.

TREK took very little of me this week, but should have taken a LOT more.  Next week will need to be devoted to it.

Gourmet Club should have taken more too.  Donna and I are hosting on 9/19 a "Fresh from the Market" dinner.  It will be fun, but requires so much work.  And I bet she's worried that I won't get my part done (I will, of course).

I'm doing a rehearsal dinner video for Mark and Anne's wedding…I'm super excited to do it, that is a fun thing, but I am hoping to devote more time to it too.

We're doing our "Women of Light" program again, this time for the whole Stake.  I have a few things to worry about with that.

And of course…

I'm a mom.

I'm a wife.

I'm a sister.

I'm a daughter.

My desire is to be not just good, but great at those roles.  Those are my God-given roles.  Heaven forbids me to fail at those.

And people need to be fed, clothed with clean clothes, made to practice piano, driven to soccer, taekwondo and piano, and nurtured and nourished spiritually and emotionally along the way.

I'm not any different than any other woman I know.  We're all working at the same kinds of things.  All in all, I think I'm doing an OK job of juggling it all, but lately I feel the weight of it on my shoulders the most.

So today, I'm nursing myself.  Derek's taken over – they're all out of the house.  I'm still in pajamas.  Reading a book.  Catching up on the blog.  Sending some e-mails, and heading back to bed again. 

Some rest.  Some quiet.  Some down time – that's the cure for what ails me.