I'm Glad the Day is Over

Wow, today has been nuts. I forgot to go to my visiting teaching appointment this Thursday, so I woke up early to make some cookies as a peace-offering. Nathan woke up in an extremely foul mood and started the day by throwing temper tantrums and hitting me.

I grabbed a batch of cookies out of the oven and raced out the door to a 9:00am choir practice. I had to race back at 9:30am because Mark volunteered to play his viola at a retirement center at 9:45. I finished getting the kids ready for church amidst more tantrums and hitting. I looked outside and the overcast day had turned into an all-out blizzard! Yikes - I drug all four kids to church by myself, managed to sing in the choir with the three boys sitting relatively quiet in the pew. Mark joined us after he helped sing in the choir.

Nathan decided he was hungry and he threw more tantrums and hit me some more. I told him that little boys who hit cannot go to primary. I told him I was afraid he would hit the other kids and the teacher. He was so upset. It was a lot harder to sit with him than to send him to class, but I think I got the point across. It was really sad to hear him cry that he was hungry. I had to tell him that he could eat after church and he was still so upset.

Oh - I forgot to mention that it was Zeke's turn to bring snacks to nursery. In the middle of this, I had also volunteered to bring an Almond Puff Pastry to Amy's birthday party. I made hamburgers for lunch after chasing the kids into the car and back home. Nick said he didn't like his. I was in the kitchen for the rest of the afternoon and then we ran out to Amy's party. The party was pretty nice, but I am glad to be home now. It was just a crazy day and I'm glad it's over!

Aleza's Ears are Pierced

Erica and I took my nieces and our kids to the Children's Museum on Thursday. I decided to get Aleza's ears pierced. I felt so nervous and then wondered if I made a mistake as she screamed and as sweet Nick cried for his sister.

But they do look so girly! It's fun to have a girl. (Pictures will come soon. I just need to make sure I get this written down before I get distracted.)

I Don't Want a Pony!

I love to watch horses - they are so beautiful and graceful. I've ridden them a handful of times, and I remember loving the way I felt as the horse galloped over mountain paths.

Well, our close friends Becky and Guy have horses and I thought it would be fun to take my nieces who are visiting from Arizona to play with the horses. I had so much fun helping Guy brush one of the horses (Rose) that I decided it might be fun to have a horse some day. I could envision myself out galloping around and I got so excited that I asked Guy if I could take Rose out for a run. He consented, but warned me that sometimes Rose gets excited and will run faster instead of stopping. I figured I could handle it.

I figured wrong.

We got halfway though the field when Rose decided she was ready to go home and bolted. Just as Guy warned, she went faster instead of stopping. I found myself praying as hard as I ever have that somehow I would live through the experience. My prayers were answered as I ungracefully fell off the running horse. A week later, I still hurt. But, nothing is broken and I am safe. What can I say other than ...

I DO NOT WANT A PONY!

My Grandma's Tree

We recently moved into the home that my grandma raised her kids in. There is a tree in her yard that my girl cousins and I always climbed up into to talk and tell girl secrets. Grandma made yummy apple pies from the apples that came from this tree. I miss my grandma, she has always been one of my heroes.

Ashley in Grandma's apple tree.

Aleza is Here

Well, our beautiful baby girl is here. I am so happy. She was a month early. I went in for a routine visit, and had developed a random case of Toxemia. I guess it's pretty rare to have Toxemia on the fourth baby when all others have been delivered with no problem on my part.

It was funny. So many of the nurses asked if her father was the same as my boys'.