Pregnancy and meat works do not mix!!

I think its really hilarious that my in laws live a few doors down from an abattoir / meat works. Its summer too so the windows are open and then the evening kill commences and the smell wafts to my room. Its not nice even for non preggy people so it makes me laugh that its doubly yucky for me.

I have been reading Twilight 'Breaking Dawn' for a distraction of the mind when I'm sick but dont want to sleep. I'm not a fan of the book, personally I think much of it over the top, too coincidental and things happen too perfectly too easy (ie skipping the whole newborn phase, Charlie not asking questions, Jacob being able to overide anything basically make up his own pacts). I dont find it romantic, I hate anything to do with the cottage and its perfect description.

But I am interested in what happens next and how Meyers will make things work. I do identify with some aspects i.e. pregnancy and eggs for breakfast and I think maybe I have super vampire smell and touch powers. The other day my husband walked into the room. I smelt rubber. I asked did you take off your new shoes (synthetic leather). Yes. Yuck get them out. It was like smelling wolf or something. lol

I know there are a lot of people totally into the series but I just can't get there. I think I prefer the classics. I also think I am rather critical. But I find myself skipping so much in the book just to get to the guts of the book. I am up the Volturi bit now and I'm enjoying more the introduction of new characters besides the Cullens and the wolves.

Thanks to all my blog friends.

thank you very much for bringing a smile to my face. i just finished reading your well wishes for me and baby four. I haven't written for fear that i might portray too negative a picture because night sickness (not morning sickness in my case) consumes me. After feeling a little boo hoo and oh me oh my, etc i read your comments and i felt loved. i barely go anywhere so its nice to have friendship come my way. It's a weird life i lead right now, so different to a couple of months ago. I feel like for all the challenges thrown at me I have an equal amount of blessings and I just gotta keep looking at the glass half full. Upon measuring  the glass I bet I'd find its probably close to the brim with blessings. but the glass smells nah just kidding... bad pregnancy joke.  I have a super amazing husband who is doing pretty much everything. I hope his uni results dont suffer too much. his says its like I dont exist. Most days I am in our room by 4pm and asleep by 6. its been a blessing thst the in laws are company for my family seeing as I am literally MIA. So if I am MIA as a blogger you'll understand.

We're having another baby!

I'm really excited to announce that we are having another baby. I am very sick so I have no funny interesting stories to share. I just thought I'd make it blogspot official. It was planned and suprisingly (well not considering our record) it took only a month to fall pregnant. I hate this morning sickness and this one is the worst pregnancy yet. Everything smells, I smell, soap smells, my children smell, its all making me sick hahaha. Bring on the second trimester.

Our HALF move

We have just moved out of our unit and waiting to move into our new rental house that is not quite finished being built. So we have put of our stuff into storage and we are living with my inlaws. What makes me amused is a couple of posts ago I said the boys must separate. Well not only has that not happened (yet) but the rest of us have joined them. Yep all 5 of us sleep and share the one bedroom. Its not proving good sleep but its fun for the most part. The boys are still silly as ever and jump from mattress to mattress, and its still are struggle to get them dressed but a good routine is helping to make the adjustment improve.

I must say moving makes you realise how much stuff you have and how much it really is just STUFF. Not that I want a fire or disaster to take it away. But I can live happily with out a bunch.

It reminds me of the song that I play for the boys from Jungle Book - The Bare Necessities.

Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
Old Mother Nature's recipes
That brings the bare necessities of life

And don't spend your time lookin' around
For something you want that can't be found
When you find out you can live without it
And go along not thinkin' about it
I'll tell you something true
The bare necessities of life will come to you

I plan to be better at not hoarding, and the three Rs reduce re-use recycle.

1 Hypochondriac; 1 Vegetarian; and an OCD bub.

I love the colour that children bring to my life. I love how their little personalities blossom and it seems to me that we must have lived before we came to this life. The funniest things happen when you are a SAHM. Things that only you get to discover and watch. No one else will live these moments with my toddlers. And no matter how much I try to blog or tell others about it, these moments will never be described adequately to portray the wonder of my 3 sons. Just as other children bring their own sense of wonder to their own parents.

Of late we have some real characters hanging about in my house. Baby Bunny is a little OCD about being clean. He hates the feeling of dirty hands or especially sandy hands. When he sees someone using the antibacterial wash he calls out for a turn (by rubbing two hands together to signal washing). He often motions with his finger in his teeth and roughly says teef to tell us he wants to brush his teeth again. He loves a bath. And I don't mind any of this at all. In fact OCD is a large exaggeration for a little boy who just wants to grow up as fast as he can.

Bunny's brother Moo Moo is very fast becoming a vegetarian a rather surprising transformation for our little meat and potatoes man. I think he is not enjoying the texture of the meat but I suspect the real reason belongs to his realisation that meat are in fact animals. Someone tell me why we never came up with a culinary alternative name for chicken or fish? After all parents can get away with saying beef or pork or even bacon and ham. Lamb is even dodgy. Why didn't we ever say fowl or fin or something. I am also suspicious that since Grandma got Sophie and Sam, the pet laying hens, Moo Moo is highly suspicious of the origins of his meat. We try to explain that there are pet chickens, laying chickens and eating chickens but this vegetarian is persistent at the moment. And he only just turned 3! So I am figuring this smart cookie will grow out of it.

Monkey is quite the hypochondriac. If something is a little too overwhelming and he prefers not to try anymore, Monkey will mention a random ailment that is the REAL reason why he can't proceed. A situation might play out like this -
Mama - 'Monkey would you like to say the prayer?'
Monkey - 'I'm not feeling well, I have a sore leg'.
Or Mama - 'Monkey please walk on your own'.
Monkey - 'My legs are bandy'.

Its humorous to watch, but a little lie on his bed is all it takes to cure his sicknesses. If we made all the trips to the hospital as requested they'd think he'd suffer from neglect.

Mothers Love - a beautiful poem

Mother's Love

Her love is like an island
In life's ocean, vast and wide
A peaceful, quiet shelter
From the wind, the rain, the tide.
'Tis bound on the North by Hope,
By Patience on the West,
By tender Counsel on the South
And on the East by Rest.
Above it like a beacon light
Shine Faith, and Truth, and Prayer;
And thro' the changing scenes of life
I find a haven there.
-Author Unknown

I used this poem for part of a photo book I made of my mother. When I read it I feel grateful for a wonderful Mother and I feel great sense of purpose as a mother to my own children.

The boys must separate.

I once said in a talk- "I have good children but they are really active boys and egg each other on like you wouldn’t believe. It’s like everyday is a sleepover party with their best friends." Well things have not changed, in fact they have escalated. Literally while I type I can hear my oldest boys, who are meant to be asleep, chatting away in their room, rather excitedly. I've already been in there to tell them to go to sleep. Moo Moo responds 'but Mum we want to talk'. I softened and said 'ok ten more minutes' because its so adorable to see them enjoy eachother's company.

But back to the point I was wanting to make - it's time to separate Monkey and Moo. These bestie brothers can only remember life with each other, they are so close in age (14 months apart). From early on in Moo Moo's life we moved Monkey out of his cot into a toddler bed and put the boys in the same room. So as you can imagine they are pretty tight. Too tight for my liking lately. I find myself wishing I could say- you go to your room and you go to your room. At bath time they hype eachother up so much that after they make it impossible to get their clothes on. So we now put Bunny in his gated room, Hubby takes Moo Moo to our room and I take Monkey to his room. What's interesting is Monkey will actually put on his own clothes if his brother isn't there to distract him.

They can be found pulling all their bedding off their beds and having what they call a "Wiggly Party" amongst the mess. Thanks Wiggles for somehow inspiring this very different past time.

Side story - Henry the Octopus came and visited my house the other day. And I had to feed and care for him. Yes he was Moo Moo's imaginary friend.

Well back to the point - we are soon moving to a house with an extra bedroom and for a while all the boys will have their own room. This goes against my natural grain where I feel like I should somehow live more like a humble pioneer. You know like they didn't even have separate beds in the old days. I know I have weird issues with progression. Maybe I will elaborate on that one day.

Will I ever get to my point... I cannot wait to have separate spaces for my little bestie brothers for a little peace every now and then. Fingers crossed it helps.

Flying with One Wing Clipped

"God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage: if he brings you to it, He will bring you through it." - Helen Traves Smith (Mater's 100 Stories page 52.)

Helen shares her experiences with the Mater Hospital whilst battling breast cancer. At the close of her experience she relates the above expression. I thought it was a wonderful saying and wanted to share it too.

Moo Moo the comedian

Our boy Moo Moo is quite the comedian. His latest joke he made up was funny to hear as he was literally cracking himself up as he tried to tell his brother and I.

Moo Moo - "I spy with my little eye something that (giggle) that begins (giggle) just with the letter I (more giggles) .... Its just an eye (roar of laughter).

Maybe you had to be there but it was pretty funny.

This 2 year old really comes up with some good one liners.

What do you wake up to?

Hubby is looking for a good alarm song on his mobile phone for tomorrow morning. He's found it - Bob Marley's 'Get Up, Stand Up.'

Too funny!

Baby Bunny not so small

I don't often get to write about Baby Bunny even though his personality is beautiful he often gets overshadowed by his bigger brothers. But I wanted to record mostly for my own benefit that I am so happy that he is a part of our family. He is an affectionate little boy who when he hugs gives you these cute little pats of the back. Mimicking me I guess when I comfort him.

Of late he has been doing this funny laugh that sounds like a loudly forced harrghh harrghh (that's the best I can do to describe it). But its so funny because he seems like he's trying real hard to laugh with real enthusiasm. He also has a natural belly laugh but the other forced laugh seems a little put on so he can get a reaction from us. Of course this works!

Bunny is not a huge talker and his vocab is mostly - Mama, Dadda, Nana, bye, ball, bir for bird, gog for dog, car, mama for banana, maow for cat, moo for cow, Bob for Bob the Builder, and a little more. His clearest and most frequent word except for Mama and Dadda is 'MORE MORE' for food.

For whatever he lacks in talking, he makes up for in moving. Bunny has no fear and is down right dangerous. I believe he thinks he is a 3 year old when in actuality he not long turned 1. He's a climbing machine. Our dining chairs are constantly stacked on the table out of reach. He opens the oven and stands on the open door. As soon as he could climb the stairs, he would repeatedly climb up them, climb through the rails and then do a forward flip onto the couch. All for a reaction of course. In such cases my reactions are not as approving.

He loves his brothers so much and voluntarily gives them hugs when they are upset. He's also tough and gives them a run for their money. I think they better watch out when they all grow up.

We love you Bunny.

Quote to remind us to be careful when criticizing children

Are you guilty of constantly criticizing your children? Two young boys were closely examining a work of art on exhibit. Suddenly they heard footsteps, and one exclaimed to the other, "Let's go! They'll think we did it."

Anonymous (cited Thomson, L., 'Somewhere I've Read...' pg. 46)

Our first pet.

Last week our lovely neighbour now hailed as Aunty brought over some strawberries for the boys. As I prepared the fruit for eating I noticed a little dark brown grub. I showed our excitable Monkey. He didn't fail to get to get excited and squealed with delight. "Oooooh our first pet!". We cracked up laughing and my neighbour said oh that's pretty bad if a grub is your pet. We laughed some more and I contemplated getting the children a fish.

We cant have a pet at the moment because we rent in a complex. I can't wait for a little pet for the boys though. I have always thought that I would get Monkey a puppy when he gets baptised. At the moment the closest thing we have to a pet is the chicken we host at my mother's house. There are two laying hens whom the boys named Sophie and Sam (borrowed names from a story book). I love to save all my scraps for the chickens in my fridge. When Mum and I cross paths we trade eggs for scraps. Even though we take turns buying chicken feed, I'm always tempted to give them special foods. But I remind myself that I don't want to turn these free-range eggs into super expensive eggs.

I often think too many modern children miss out on the joys and responsibilities of pets. Renting, smaller yards, registrations costs and desexing practises are factors that all contribute to many children missing out on having pets. As a child I loved our family pets and it was amazing to see them have babies. We try to expose the boys to the wonder of animals as much as possible. We visit theme parks, pet shops, family with pets, and stalk that Baby Barnyard organisation that visits shopping centres with all those adorable baby farm animals.

Anyways I got a kick out of Monkey's simple and positive outlook on life. Its a shame my hubby threw our first pet in the bin. My thoughts were more brutal - give it to the chickens :)

Jesus healed me mum.

In the middle of the night I was putting Moo Moo on the toilet because he had the runs. Previously he would complain a heap about getting his bottom wiped because his bot was tender. Well this instance he said 'Jesus healed me Mummy and my bottom isn't sore'. Then he said ' I need to say thank you to Jesus'. After we finished in the bathroom we went back to his room and said a prayer of thanks. I was very touched by this 2 year olds faith in the Lord and the gratitude he displayed.

I love you Moo Moo.

Super Monkey

Thursday its was close to the boys bedtime and the older two were in their room. I heard a muffled Moo Moo crying out for his dad to come and help him. My first assumption was that Monkey was somehow squashing his little brother. I decided rescue Moo Moo and reprimand Monkey for harming his little brother.

Well the picture I had conjured was not the situation I found. Instead Moo Moo had crawled under his bed to get something but was now stuck and couldn't get out. Hence the calling for help. As I reach their bedroom door I see and hear Monkey say "I will rescue you" then lift up the bed for his brother to escape. This newly four year old did a great job but I have to let you in on his super strength secret - their beds are actually toddler beds and light as a feather. Still it was the cutest thing I've seen in a long time. love Brotherly Love it melts my heart.
These were taken a while ago but these guys have always been great mates.

I want to blog!

I haven't even touched my computer for so long which is a real contrast to a couple of months back. I can tell its bee a while because there are a whole bunch of blog posts from other blogs I follow that I haven't seen at all.
A combination of things has kept me away. I have really been trying to go to bed early because we still have lots of sleep interruptions. So I've been trying to be in bed before 9:30pm. Plus I'm trying to read my scriptures more diligently. I'm trying to make sure my husband feels loved and that we spend night times together because he is back at uni. Anyway this is a little hum drum to others maybe but I really do want to BLOG!!!

A snapshot of my life as a mother of young children

On Saturday the 24 July 2010, I was asked to present a talk for our ward Relief Society Womens Conference. I was to give a snapshot of my life as it is now as a mother of young children. I was asked to share my challenges, highpoints and to end with what I am grateful for. Upon the request of my husband, I am posting it on here for our future reference. Its a rather long entry so if you choose to read it, it is under my pages section on the left side of my blog homepage.

Sharers are Carers

I feel so blessed because I have wonderful family, friends and neighbours. Lately we have all been doing a bit of swapping and sharing of food and other great things. I can't believe how much Heavenly Father is blessing my family through others. In turn I am trying to spread the good fortune to others. I am totally convinced that if we share things around we will all benefit far greater than if we kept things for ourselves.

For example last week my Sister got us a deal of 13 kilos of good bananas for $5. I took a bunch to my Mum who in return gave me sweet potatoes, lettuce and spinach from her garden. I gave bananas to my neighbour who the next day brought over a paw-paw from her tree, mandarins and colouring books for the kids. My other neighbour brings over Grug books for the children and asks to borrow cooking scales. So I give her the scales and a bunch of bananas. She returns the scales and shares some cookies she's made. And so it continues on like that. Our family has also been blessed with toys, clothes and money from other generous friends. Sharing really is caring and it enriches our relationships, and our pantry for that matter.

"Three keys to more abundant living: caring about others, daring for others, sharing with others" - Willam Arthur Ward

A big shout out to all the Student's Wifes

Hi to all you wives of students. I just wanted to say that I am thinking of you all. Many of your husbands were working over the mid year break. As for me, I had Hubby around a fair bit to help out. I have been a little anxious about going back to doing it all alone on my own. I feel slightly cheated because Hubby thought he had another week off but after talking to some guys at church he realised he started back today. It was a shock to him but a bigger shock to me.

ALERT, ALERT. This not a drill. You are on you own tomorrow. I repeat on your own. hahaha!

I am happy to report, I am doing well enough and the kids are not lacking too much. I've even tried out my new-to-me (second-hand) breadmaker and I've prepared dinner to go in the oven later. Sure the floor is super dirty and there's washing to be done, but I am happy.

The Crab and Her Mother

'Don't walk sideways,' said a mother crab to her child, 'and don't drag your sides against the wet rock.'
'Mother,' the young crab replied, 'if you want to teach me, walk straight yourself. I will watch you and then I will copy you.'

When one reproves others, it is just as well to live straight and walk straight oneself before starting to preach a lesson.


This is a fable from Aesop. When I was little I was given a children's version of Aesops fables and loved them. Later as a young adult I was given 'Aesop - The Complete Fables' translated by Olivia and Robert Temple and published by Penguin 1998. I enjoy most of the fables and being a young mother I particularly appreciate this one.

"Anything from the trolley, dears?" - —Trolley lady to everybody on the Hogwarts Express

We had the funnest time recently at our Harry Potter Birthday Party for Hubby. We are big fans of the books and movies so it seemed like a great theme. Now I could have really got carried away with costumes, decorations etc but I decided to try and keep it simple.

We concentrated on the food and games side of Harry Potter. We had a potluck style dinner which included Cauliflower Mandrakes, Meatball Bludgers (mostly because I overcooked them and they reminded us of bouncy balls in gravy), savoury Pumpkin Pasties, and Mrs Weasley Rock Cakes. For drinks we of course had to have Butterbeer and Pumpkin Juice. I tried my best to make a real version of Butterbeer by using some kind of butterscotch essence or syrup but I searched high and low and couldn't find anything. I even attempted making butterscotch syrup and mixing it with fizz but the butter in it kinda put me off. I did have thoughts of making Butterbeer Aragogs (translation butterscotch icecream spiders) but thought with all the other sweets it was too much. So for less fuss Hubby found Schweppes brown-coloured creaming soda. We took the labels off the bottles and the creamy flavour worked a treat. As for the Pumpkin Juice well I boiled some pumpkin up and strained the water and pumpkin through a sieve and mixed it with apple juice and lemonade.

Now you can't visit Hogwarts without sampling something from the sweets trolley. Even though we didn't ride the Hogwarts Express I did manage to have 'Platform 9 3/4' displayed and sweets typical of the Hogwarts Express food trolley were served. Including Cochroach Clusters, Cauldron Cakes (mini), Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans, Licorice Wands, and Chocolate Frogs.

The games had us in stitches! We started with sorting everyone into houses and birthday Hubby had to be in Griffyndor. Each guest sat out the front and wore the Sorting Hat on their head while I acted as the hat's voice. I read a little humorous or encouraging line about the guest and told them which house they belonged to. This way I could team up Wizards (guests who read the books or watched the movies) with Muggles (guests who hadn't much of a clue) for a more even competition.

Then we played our 3 games:
1. Buckle Buckle Bean Stalk or find the Snitch,
2. Dumbledore's Army Challenge - give definitions for spells and charms,
3. Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans taste testing face off.

Game 3 was the funniest thing I've witnessed in a while. Jelly Belly make a box of jelly beans called Beanboozled that are just like Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans. For example two jelly beans looked identical but one was juicy pear and the other booger flavoured. No one knew until they tasted them. I can't tell you how funny it was watching everyone's reactions. Like the sigh of relief when it was plum or the screwed up facials from tasting black pepper. Sometimes both contestants would get a yucky flavour and that made us laugh all the more.

It was a great night and I'd like to have another theme party again. I think the secret to my success was to keep it fairly simple so I could enjoy the night also. Instead of making the preparations so grand that I was too tired of a host to enjoy it.

I will put up some recipes, games, websites and books references to check out if you are ever feeling like throwing a similar Harry Potter theme night. Remember the sky is the limit especially if you have a Nimbus 2000 or a Firebolt.

Mum and Bubs Cafe in the middle of Southbank QLD

Hi Mums and Bubs and Friends.
I saw a really wonderful concept cafe in Southbank today. It only opened up last week but its this Mum and Bubs Cafe that caters for well that kind of niche. As a mum of three, Cafes have always been more of a nightmare then a meeting place. But I am thinking this place might be a goer. They have the usual cafe menu with standard cafe prices (I only looked through). They also have purees, baby food and children's food which is a good option for our darlings.

They have a pram parking area, a small children's play area (targeted at
before-school aged kids mostly). So I think this place could be a wonderful meeting point for friends. What makes me most excited about this concept is the owners/management would be expecting children behaving like children and I feel welcomed and comfortable with that environment.

The establishment is a good size but I would recommend meeting in a group of about four parents max depending on how many children. A bigger Mothers' Group is more ideal for Lollipops or MacDonalds. I've tried to find a link (about this cafe) on the web but haven't been successful yet. And I am yet to eat there, so I may have to give a rating later.

The more I think about it, the bigger it gets.

Quote seen on the under side of a Brisbane city bridge:

The more I think about it
The bigger it gets.

Yesterday Hubby and I both saw the above quote painted on the under side of a bridge, and after a few seconds of pondering, we agreed this is true. I personally find it profound. I have since tried to apply different topics to this saying and have found it to be true. For example sometimes the more I dwell on the 'so-called' negatives in my life, the bigger they seem to get. In contrast the more I think about the real positives in my life, the more I think WOW - I am so blessed, grateful and happy!

I recently read an article in the June 2010 Ensign 'Your Mission in Life is Now' (PDF Version) alternate plain text version.

Author Jan Pinborough discusses how 'three principles can help us step into the future with greater confidence, energy, and faith.'

I especially like how she relates the story of the early saints (1831) who were commanded to stay in Kirtland, Ohio for a little season knowing they would soon go to another land but not knowing when or where.

'And the hour and the day is not given unto them, wherefore let them act upon this land as for years, and this shall turn unto them for their good” (D&C 51:16–17)

Jan explains- 'I like to picture those early Saints hearing the Lord’s instructions and getting right to work. They plowed fields they didn’t know they would harvest, planted trees whose fruit they might never eat, and built a beautiful temple they would ultimately have to leave. I picture them living busy, productive lives, not peering endlessly into the unknown, wondering where they would go next and when. They acted “as for years,” trusting that their work would not be in vain.'

How I relate to this, and the above quote? I realised that sometimes I may think too much of the future and forget to live in the day. The more I THINK or WORRY about how I am going to get to a certain point the BIGGER my worry may get.

Instead, I would like to THINK more of my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, so the BIGGER my faith gets.

I'd like to THINK more of the scriptures, so the BIGGER their value will be to me.

I'd like to THINK more of about doing good, so the BIGGER my good works will be.

I'd like to THINK more about sharing the message of Jesus Christ, so the BIGGER my missionary efforts will be.

Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God

Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God

Sleepy J

For years now I haven't had a good night's sleep. Now that is to be expected with babies but I really thought that by now, I would be enjoying a couple of nights a week of uninterrupted sleep. No such luck Lady. I LONG for an uninterrupted nights sleep. I joke to my friends that I DREAM of a getaway in a fancy hotel, not for a romantic getaway, but for an uninterrupted night's sleep.

I love my children and that's why as tired as I may feel, I can't ignore the little calls for 'Mama' at night. If its not my toddlers coming in to me, its my baby Bunny waking and crying through the night. He still can't settle himself to sleep when he wakes. He cries and kicks the cot. The older he gets the more I try to let him cry it out. But I'm still lying there awake, listening, wondering, interpreting what that cry means. I usually go in.

Another thing, I never used to let my boys into my bed because I had this strong belief that if I let them in once, then its all over. Well they got the better of us! Now we have Monkey or Moo Moo coming into our room regularly. Sleep deprivation does funny things to people. When its in the middle of the night and I've had several wake ups, I start imagining things. I imagine what it would be like to have a secret Harry Potter's bed under the stairs where no one can find me :)

We do try to tell our sons to go back to their own beds but some nights they just keep coming back. They know how to wear a tired parent down until you shuffle over and let them in. I admit it feels cute when they snuggle into you, you feel loved and wanted. Then they start sleeping sideways, kicking you, and making funny sleep noises in your ears.

The other morning Monkey and Moo Moo were both in our bed at the same time. I became so uncomfortable and as it was almost time to get up, I went and lay on the floor at the end of my bed. Hubby thought that he would rather lie with me and cuddled next to me on the floor. Well it turns out that the children also would rather be with us on the floor. So there we were, all four of us lying on the hard floor while there's a perfectly good bed left empty bed above us. I thought that was SO FUNNY.

Family Home Evening

Tonight was a fun Family Home Evening with our three sons. I have often wondered if we've been directed to have Family Home Evening on a Monday night to back up our Sunday meetings. You know lift, learn and worship as a congregation on Sundays and then lift and learn as a family on Mondays. I really feel that by doing both in that order we really are helping our families to have stronger faith to meet the challenges of the remaining week. Just a thought I've had.

Well our Family Home Evenings are coming along pretty well. We usually start after dinner and rather then tell everyone to get to the lounge we sing "Family Night" from the children's songbook. It gives us a chance to let the children get excited while we grab our bits and pieces, or clear the dining table and wipe up the half of the dinner that is spilt on the floor. It's nice when we hear Monkey and Moo Moo join in and see Bunny do his shuffle dance.

We then take turns standing up the front (against the t.v. cabinet) to do different things. Tonight Monkey stood up and said "Welcome to Family Home Evening" and sat down. Moo Moo conducted our song "Nephi's Courage" while Bunny stands next to him doing his strong pose (putting his fists up and clenching his whole body). Then Mummy said the prayer with Bunny still up the front now folding his arms (its amazing what one year olds can learn by example). Then Monkey recites the first Article of Faith with the help of Daddy whispering in his ear. The lesson was short and sweet by reading the birth of Jesus from the New Testament children's scripture reader. Then question time with teeny lollies to prompt a response from the boys. Mummy then teaches a new primary song "Jesus Once Was a Little Child" followed by action songs. First we did "Do As I'm Doing" and everyone got to choose a different action to do. I had to laugh (silently of course) when Monkey picked 'be a tree growing like a seed'. So we were high growing trees and low growing trees, fast growing trees and slow growing trees. Very imaginative I thought, usually its an action like jumping or shaking. We finish with "Snow Man' and "Scarecrow" songs and have Milo and biscuits for our treat.

I love a good family home evening!

"We call upon parents to devote their best efforts to the teaching and rearing of their children in gospel principles which will keep them close to the Church. The home is the basis of a righteous life, and no other instrumentality can take its place or fulfill its essential functions in carrying forward this God-given responsibility. We counsel parents and children to give highest priority to family prayer, family home evening, gospel study and instruction, and wholesome family activities."
(First Presidency letter, 11 February 1999 — Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson, and James E. Faust)

From Dickens

I love little children - and it is not a slight thing when they, who are fresh from God, love us. - Dickens

Just do your best

A few Saturdays ago I had an appointment with my church Bishop (tithing settlement). It fell on the same day as my husband's first university exam but I decided to keep the appointment rather then try and arrange another time. I also felt that this was another great opportunity for my young sons to see Mummy devoted to Christ and his gospel. Like most outings where I take my 3, 2 and 1 years old out on my own, its quite an effort.

Hubby had gone to Uni early to get in some more cramming, so I was on my own to get everyone ready and present in time for our 9:45am appointment. You'd think that any appointment after 9 would be pretty easy to get to, but I can't explain WHY it takes so long to get everyone ready and out the door looking presentable. Well that day I got everyone there safely but some of us were not as presentable as I would have liked.

Not being a very good early riser, I again didn't make the effort to rise before everyone else to have my shower. So after giving everyone their breakfast I put ABC kids on the t.v. for Monkey and Moo Moo. Then I jumped in the shower with Bunny and look down at my legs. Aaggh they are hairy but there is no time! What's most annoying is that my life is so focussed around caring for others that I forget to even check the status of my own legs. It's unbelieveble how it seems that without my noticing I suddenly have cactuses where my legs used to be. I consider wearing pants, but I want to set a good example, so its a skirt for me and I resolve to tuck my legs under the chair when I sit. After Bunny and I are dressed, I go get the rest of my things ready.

I wanted to head to my in-laws after the appointment so that I would have help and company while Hubby is in his exam. This meant packing up a whole bunch of stuff that we would need to survive the day. You know the usual stuff - extra food, bottles, clothing, and nappies. I grab a laundry basket and chuck everything in it because my nappy bag wont hold it all.

In the mean time Bunny is playing in the food pantry and is pulling out packets of pasta and giving them to his brothers (who needs toys when pasta provides entertainment). Moo Moo then decides that he wants me to make pasta. I tell him that he can bring his pasta and I will cook it at Nana's house for lunch. Monkey wants to ride his trike (the little 3 wheel plastic kind) so I tell him that they can ride their trikes at the chapel after we see Bishop. Time had run out and the older boys are still in their PJs and slippers. So I grab their day clothes and shoes and throw them in the laundry basket for later. Moo Moo looks the cutest in his converted dressing gown (which is actually one of those sleeping bag outfits I cut off at the bottom, waste not want not). He is still carrying his pasta and in fact carries that pasta for the next hour as the boys run up and down the empty church hall ways until its our turn to see Bishop. Others who are waiting to see Bishop are laughing at my PJ wearing, pasta weilding sons running all over the place. A while ago I would have been embarressed that I didn't have my children looking presentable but I'm learning to go with the flow and just try my best.

Once in the interview I'm trying to convince the boys to sit down and stop touching certain things. Bishop, looking for a teaching moment, asks them do they know why they are there? They look back at him blankly because all they want is to get a hold of the whiteboard markers and make their mark. I then have a nice chat with Bishop and start to feel good about my efforts to get there. However the appoinment is called short with Moo Moo announcing he needs to go to the toilet. Bishops asks if we can say a prayer together but I know Moo Moo can't wait and dash to the toilet leaving the other boys with Bishop. After its all over I take the boys outside to ride their trikes. I take the opportunity to ring a friend of mine and let them ride on the pathways. This lasts for a good while until Monkey and Moo Moo decide to ride IN the garden and put bark and dirt all over the paths. Aaaggh! I try and sweep the mess off the path back into the garden beds using my shoe with little success. Feeling guilty that the path will look messy for the Sabbath day tomorrow, I realise its best to leave for Nana's and cook that pasta like I promised.

Life lessons from Winnie the Pooh

This morning my husband passed on a message from someone close to me. The details of the message I will not share but I was left very annoyed and I guess rather angry. I became offended by this person's lack of change in behaviour that they themselves admitted they needed to improve in. Now I love this person to bits and admire so much about them. I am totally grateful that they are in my life. But I just got so fed up and felt I guess justified in my passing of judgement. I knew I was wrong, my husband reminded me I was wrong but it took a Winnie the Pooh story to teach me a lesson.

After venting to my husband, he preceded to read 'Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too' upon request from our son. The story opens with Tigger going around bouncing his friends to the ground with a WHUMP-BUMP-BUMP. Firstly Tigger interrupts Pooh who is trying to think, then Tigger scares poor nervous Piglet, then Tigger saved his best bounce for Rabbit. I actually felt sorry for Rabbit because he just finished his garden (I'm a beginner Gardener) and Tigger bounced him so much that his whole garden was a flattened mess.

Rabbit - "Oh Tigger, why don't you EVER stop bouncing?"
Tigger - " 'Cause bouncin' is what tiggers do best!"

Later, Pooh and Piglet went to Rabbit's house for a special Tigger protest meeting. The plan was to find a way to unbounce Tigger. The plan was to take Tigger into the wood and lose him and come and get him in the morning. Rabbit felt that this would take the bounce out of Tigger. It turns out that Rabbit, Pooh and Piglet were the ones who got lost whilst Tigger was his usual chirpy self bouncin to his hearts delight. Rabbit decides to find his own way and leaves Pooh and Piglet, who incidently find their way by Pooh listening to the voices of his honey pots. The story continues with Tigger bouncing into Pooh and Piglet who explain that Rabbit is lost. Tigger goes off to find a very panicky Rabbit. Once Tigger finds Rabbit the story ends with the following -

So the two started back. Rabbit was not a happy Rabbit. He was a tired Rabbit. A lost-and-found Rabbit. A why-oh-why-do-these-things-happen-to-me Rabbit! But Rabbit had learned his lesson. Never again would he try to change his friends. He was lucky to have them just they way they were.

And hopefully I will learn mine.

Testing

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