Life's Mosaic

This mosaic challenge was given to me by Carmen. I was bored and thought, "Why not!" It's supposed to represent me.

1. my name

2. my favorite food

3. school I went to

4. my favorite color

5. my current state

6. my favorite drink

7. my dream vacation (London for art)

8. favorite dessert

9. what I want to be when I grow up

10. what I love most (FAMILY)

11. a word that describes me

12. my nickname

The following is the credit for the photographers. It is not what I label my answers. So no, on #6, I have never been drunk! I just liked the picture of water.

1. Hurricane Katrina from Space (hurricanekatrina), 2. this kind of pasta ..., 3. The Y, 4. White flock, 5. pregnant silohuette, 6. Drunk water, 7. Golden Times, 8. homemade berry ice cream, 9. Mary Cassat, 10. Day 27/365: Two years, 11. With Love..., 12. katiedid

Family Home Evening Funnies

Last Monday we had our regularly scheduled Family Home Evening (hereafter mentioned as FHE). Walt was in charge of the lesson, and Ethan was in charge of sharing a scripture. Ethan is learning to use the index and asked Walt what the lesson was about. Walt replied that it was on obedience. I knew full well why Walt chose this as the topic of our lesson. The last few weeks have been fraught with bickering and talking back. Sometimes FHE is a great place to address our concerns as parents. So Ethan looked up "obedience" in the index, and he chose the first scripture that it sited. 1 Nephi 4:18 "Therefore I did obey the voice of the Spirit, and took Laban by the hair of the head, and I smote off his head with his own sword." Walt and I could not contain ourselves! It was so funny. It was completely the opposite message we were trying to send. There is already too much violence in this house, and that was part of Walt's lesson on obeying. The kids demanded to know what was so funny, but we had no way of explaining it to them. So we forged on, and Walt gave a nice lesson on obedience. We finished and the kids rushed off to the dining room to have the treat Cameron chose, when Walt began counting. "3,2,1" and sure enough "HEY!!! That's my spot!" yelled one of the kids. Apparently, the part of the lesson about treating each other kindly, and speaking gently didn't last. Walt was right. It only lasted a few joyous, quiet seconds. Tomorrow, we will see if FHE will as much of an adventure, but it will be hard to top in humor, I'm guessing.

Ramblings

WARNING!!! The following blog is a therapy session I needed to get out today. Read at your own discretion.

Oh, my! I don't know what to say, but that I am just in a weird mood. I feel so frustrated by so many things, and yet really I have no reason to complain. I really just create problems in my head for myself, and then I pull out of my strange moods and feel so optimistic about things. It has just been busy lately. The more tired I am the more likely I am to feel down. But strangely, I am starting to feel less down as I write.
Today I truly enjoyed a few things. Luke muffledly said, "I want to see that!" He has a few phrases that he says. Walt and I can understand him, but really no one else. His phrases are truly rustic but he can say "What's that?", "Let go", "Let go, Mom!", "Hello", "Go".
I also enjoyed that Ethan was so good today during Stake Conference. Stake Conference is very crazy for me. Walt is in the building, but not available to me seeing as how he is the heart of the conference's broadcasting to other outlying wards. So, it was delightful that one of my 4 children did not make a fuss, run away from me, or ask me for anything during the 2 hour session this morning. I had people, thankfully, helping me with my brood, but the other 3 children were still a challenge at times. I have to remind myself that they are normal, active children. That their independent natures, which I am trying to mold and foster, will be a great asset in their lives. However, at times I just want them to do what I ask them to, just BECAUSE.
Yesterday, our family had the privilege to travel to the Seattle Temple to see Walt's sister sealed to her husband and 3 of her children. Truly, these types of experiences are what makes life magical sometimes. I have seen other sealings: live couples, proxy couples, and proxy children being sealed to proxy parents. This, however, was the first live sealing of children to parents I have ever been invited to attend. While all the words are the same as before, I was so touched when the children were sealed to their parents. I will not recount the exact wording, but share that I love that the Lord loves all His children so much that he denies them no blessings regardless of the time in life that the blessings are sought. All His richest blessings are available to each of us if we but seek them, and time seems to me to be more fluid for our Father in Heaven than our finite minds can comprehend. He blesses us even when circumstances beyond our control may have kept us from those blessings, if like those children we finally are able to receive His blessings it is as if we always had them. How wonderful and glorious!
Now that I am feeling better I should turn my attention back to my children. My wonderful husband is off again today to fulfill his calling and responsibilities. I know he would rather be home, but I am thankful that he is willing to be faithful. I WILL pull myself together and show these children that they are not alone (they have been foraging for food for a little while now) and that they are so dearly loved! Yes, I can do that today, and so I will.

Valentine Romance

Valentine's Day came early this year for Cameron. On the 3rd he just had to get flowers for his little friend. Cameron has really been into giving gifts to people lately. Practically every other day he takes small "gifts" to his teacher. He's always wanting to deliver these tokens of friendship promptly, so ALL day I heard how he needs to give her a present. "And girls like flowers," he kept telling me. For the first time, I truly wished there were dandelions in the yard! None to be seen after a cold, snowy, frosty winter! So I tried to get him to draw some flowers. Nope. Not good enough. Then I suggested he make some out of his hand prints. No way he was budging! It had to be real flowers.


I decided that I indeed needed to go to the store for provisions for dinner. I explained that he could chose one flower. Well, turns out Laurel wanted one too as we began to look at the roses (All they had! Where are the daises?! We are going for friendship here!!!!) I decided on buying the 3 on sale instead of 2 individual because it worked out cheaper. Then Laurel got a pretty rose and Cameron's friend got a small bouquet with 2 roses. By the way, Cameron has good taste in flowers. He's off to a good start with the ladies. As we neared the little girl's house I remembered that I forgot the camera. (Arrr.) But when they opened the door the girl's mom was taking pictures (which I keep forgetting to get). Cameron handed the flowers to her and said, "Here." Then he just started to walk away. We pulled him in for a few more pictures and a gracious, "Thanks," from his friend.

A few days later we had her ride the Kindergarten bus home with Cameron. They played so well together, but close to the time she was to leave they came down the hall dressed like this scooting around together on a Laurel's pink pony. I asked, "What 'ca doin'?" "We're going to the airport to go to pretend Hawaii to get pretend married in the temple!" Smile #1. Smile #2. "Oh!??" I said. Then Laurel was jealous, so they dressed her up too so that she could be the officiator of the wedding. What was I to do? So I grabbed the camera. Love at 5? I'd say he's got an earlier start than I, but maybe by the time he actually does get married in the temple to a girl, he will be well trained on how to treat a lady.

So just an FYI: Both love birds have been spoken to about not kissing anyone not in their REAL family. They never did, but they said they were going to "pretend kiss." We didn't have time for that, thank goodness!

Glimpse of Williams baby #5

These are the ultrasound pictures from January 5th, 2009. I haven't really posted them, because after I made the last post about one baby I got a phone call that has made me worry for the last month. I was told that I had two large blood clots that may or may not be harmful to the continuation of this pregnancy. I had another O.B. appointment yesterday and feel much more encouraged.

This pregnancy and it's small scare so far has really made me appreciate the small things, like feeling the baby kick and hearing a heartbeat at appointments. I have never gotten over the marvel of these things through other pregnancies, but this time I am really relishing it. It's as if I truly acknowledge the amazing miracles that come with pregnancy and motherhood.

Keep growing little one. I can not wait to hold you, hug you, and call you George! (Well, not really George, but you now what I mean.)

Baby news!

I am having one big beautiful baby! For anyone who wants to know.

Update

I have been avoiding this blog. I have wanted to update it, but I haven't been feeling to well. I am starting to feel better. The last 3 months or so have been full of so many things. Ethan's 7th birthday, Hawaii over Thanksgiving, and Christmas. And in the middle of all that, I found out I am pregnant with our 5th child, only to feel completely nauseated night and day for almost 2 months. Now that I don't feel bad all the time, things are starting to get pulled back together: me, the kids, the laundry, and the house. This is surely a good thing!
Walt and I are nodding our heads in disbelief that is it almost 2009. We will have been married for 10 years in May. That means we have been a couple for over 10 years, and we are still so happy together and love to spend lots of time with each other. I always think that it is the great test of marriage to still feel that way even after the kids are gone. Well, we still have roughly 20 more years till that may happen, so the great experiment will continue.
This is all for now. I will have to make time to make a picture post. Hope any reading this (if any) had a Merry Christmas, and that you have a very happy New Year!