Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Anna Cluff, one of Quincy's best buds came over to play today. For journaling purposes I will note that they play together almost daily and for the most part they adore each other. Just like all friends though they can get on each other's nerves. Since they have only been socialized for four years they just say what's on their minds.

Anna, "Quincy's being mean, I don't like her anymore". - as she sticks out her tongue.

Quincy, " I hate Anna"!- as she tries to hit her, sometimes successfully making contact.

Anyway to the point.....The mommies were watching American Idol and the girls were in the bedroom being awfully quiet. This usually means trouble. Anna was the first one to come running out, giving us a glimpse of what the girls were up to. Quincy was next. AHHHH.... MAKEUP, a girl's best friend. The application still needs perfecting but aren't they beautiful? According to Anna and Quincy they are!

Going Green

Quinn has always been into recycling. It runs in his family. His brother actually owns a salvage yard in Blackfoot, Idaho. I have never been into recycling. I hate junk ("stuff")! It seems I can't get "stuff" out of the house fast enough. I admit I haven't ever paid attention to where it goes or how it might effect my environment. My main concern is ONLY that it is out of my house. My favorite day of the week is garbage day. Recently I have been trying to do my part in the "going green" campaign. I keep the lights turned off, keep the thermostat down or up, depending on the weather, reuse my water bottles, use glass wear vs. paper products for eating.....and the list goes on and on and on. Oh but I will never stop using disposable diapers- NEVER! So Quinn's latest recycling project is copper and oh something else, i can't remember. He advertises to people that he will take their old computers, then he strips them down and recycles everything he can from them. Last week he made over $500- not too shabby. He is all excited because the price of copper is really high. He has been trying to figure out a way to grow his little recycling habbit into a small business- Mean while I sit back and bite my tongue. Seeing all the "stuff" causes me to have mini panic attacks. My kids are learning to love recycling from their dad. I am totally outnumbered here- but at least I can say we are doing our part. Don't panic when you see the picture of our garage. I have cried many many tears to no avail. Someday I will have a garage that I can actually park my car in. Reece is refusing to help in the recycling fun- he is reading his new book, "Diary of a wimpy kid", at least i think that's the title.

Why Bother?????

What is it about the combination of Sunday, church and young children that seem to throw my world off its axis? Take any one of the variables out of the equation and the chaos is reduced drastically. My young children love going to church on any other day Mon- Sat.- we go there for playgroup, scouts, basketball and other activities but come Sunday and you know what, breaks loose. Take church out of the equation and my young children would behave or misbehave, as they do any other day. But try to go to church on Sunday and, you know what, breaks loose. Take young children out of the equation and well....... that's a no brainer, I would have a peaceful Sunday at church! I know those days are coming and I before I know it my kids will be grown and out of the house, yadda, yadda, yadda!
We lasted about 10 minutes this afternoon at church. It's always more challenging when I'm flying solo because Quinn is working. Today, Trey missed his afternoon nap and was so tired the only thing he could manage to do was cry. Quincy, bless her ever little, competing for my attention, heart, had to act up to ensure she received as much attention as Trey and Reece was trying to bargain his reverence for money. PLEASE!
I packed Trey and Quincy up and told Reece he could stay for primary and walk home. To my surprise he enthusiastically agreed.
As I was pondering the afternoon events I felt impressed to blog, for my posterity, the reason why I choose to endure the combination of Sunday, Church and young children. It's very simple- I have a testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. I know that Jesus is the Christ and that he suffered for my sins in the garden of gethsemane. I love the Savior and for that reason I will continue to survive the combination of Sunday, church and young children. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Who is this kid?

Boise weather is so crazy. On Monday it was around 80 degrees and today it's probably 60 degrees. I won't complain as I know it could get worse. I wouldn't be surprised if it snows this weekend. My visiting teaching partner invited myself and the sisters we teach over to her house on Monday to play on a new water slide they bought- it was so fun! I felt so bad for Trey because I could tell he was uncomfortably hot- he had a rash from who knows what and was itching like crazy. Lael, my partner, cuts her little boys hair so on a whim I asked her if she would cut Trey's. She did and WOW! I hardly recognized my own child- hair really does make a difference. He looks adorable! He will be much cooler this summer and his hair was getting out of control. Quinn didn't like it because he thought it made Trey look too grown up- I guess we're both having to come to terms with our "baby" getting older. Nursery, trips to Grandma and Grandpa's w/o mom and now a big boy haircut. What next?

Where does the time go?

Quinn took Trey and Quincy to Blackfoot with him this weekend so I had a lot of free time on my hands. I unapologetically spent most of the time watching movies and reading books. Reece and I did spend several hours playing Phase 10 so don't think he was totally neglected. As I was cleaning out some old stuff I found my Stephen Covey planner- entries were from the year 2003. I can't believe it- 5 years ago. This planner had motivational quotes at the top each page and in the back it had this Act, Plan and Discover Activity that you were supposed to fill out in hopes of achieving your full potential. Anyways, it was interesting to look back at where I was 5 years ago versus today. I am happy to report that I did achieve some of my goals- that was a nice surprise to realize. I rediscovered a quote that I thought was profound and wanted to share. Unfortunately I didn't write the author's name down along with the quote, sorry.

"If you keep thinking what you are thinking you will keep doing what you are doing and keep getting what you are getting".- Very simple yet so profound. Our thoughts are so powerful.
Here's to positive thinking.....

Should he stay or should he go?

Quinn is taking a trip to Blackfoot, Idaho, this weekend, to visit his parents and he really wants to take Quincy and Trey with him. Letting Quincy go is an easy decision- Sinara girlfriend! BUT Trey......he is too little to be without his mummy, isn't he? Can Quinn really care for and sustain him for 3 days without me? I can already hear the comments, what about the Grandparents- they will help. Quinn's parents are 82. Granted they are in good health and fairly active for their age BUT they are no match for a 4 year old AND an 18 month old, are they? I guess Irene knows a little about children- she had 10 of her own and has managed to survive 35 grandchildren and I think 12 great grandchildren. Then you say, why aren't you going with them? Well Reece and I are staying behind because 1. Reece can't miss anymore school and 2. I have prior committments for the weekend. So let's weigh the pro's and cons
pro's- i'll have a quiet house to myself, for the most part, for three days. my quiet house will stay clean, for the most part, for three days. i can finish some painting without worrying about little curious hands wanting to help and finally....absence makes the heart grow fonder, right????My children will gain a greater appreciation for me and I for them in their abscence- surely!
um let's see- now the cons- trey and quincy will survive and i will be left feeling, well, i guess i will be left feeling a little like i'm NOT indispensable and that's a hard feeling to come to terms with.

I guess I'll go pack Trey's bag and write out a detailed day to day instruction manual for Quinn.

Nursery, already???

Now that I am up and running with our new digital camera I am going blog crazy. It's so empowering to know how to download the pictures all by myself. And thanks to Marne- i now know how to actually manipulate the pics on my blog. Anyway, Trey went to nursery for his first official time on Sunday. I had mixed emotions. He's my baby so it was hard to see him walk into that room with all those other "big" kids. BUT since I teach gospel doctrine and Quinn works every other Sunday, it was nice not to have to worry about Trey during class. He did just great. I think it helps that he has older siblings and that he goes to the gym daycare on a daily basis. Don't be jealous of his Flaxseed, omega-3 spinach chips he's chomping on for a snack. They are actually pretty tasty. Food was our major concern regarding Trey and nursery. We just have to pack him a little allergen free snack and all is well.