Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, How Does Your Garden Grow?

I am so excited to say that our garden has actually produced something!  I have this awesome friend in Utah who seems to be the master of the garden and produces tons of beautiful things.  I am learning the art and have yet to have a bumper crop.  This year, as I'm sure I've posted before, we have planted tomatoes, basil, parsley, lettuce, carrots, red onion, yellow onion, bell peppers, peas, beans, raspberries, zucchini, and sweet pumpkin.  I think that's it.  So far, the yellow onions failed to sprout.  The red onions only became green onions, which we never use.  Half the carrots got eaten by ants and the others are probably too crowded to become anything.  The parsley is growing great, but remind me WHY did I plant parsley?  I never use it.  I wish I had planted oregano.  The basil looks a lot like these weeds I'm constantly pulling so I think I pulled most of it.  The raspberries seem quite stunted in their growth.  The peas have been abused by the rains and winds and look quite pathetic, though we do have one flower!  The pumpkins just sprouted a week ago but look good!  The zucchini also just sprouted and then two got eaten by some creature.  I put a fence around it today.  The 20 tomato plants are still small.  Only three have grown to about 18 inches.  The rest are about 12 inches.  I dont' think we'll be harvesting those any time soon.  The beans are growing, and the peppers are going to take a LONG time. 

BUT, the lettuce (though nothing to look at) is pick-able!  And good!  We've been using it in salads and are quite enjoying it!  I love being able to go out and pick a few leaves.  I am so amazed at how much better it is than store bought.  I mean, duh.  Of course it would be better.  But the difference is quite astonishing to me.  Very yummy.

We'll see if anything else can pull thru!  I'm sure hoping to be able to can the pumpkins this year.  I think that is my #1 hope for the garden.  If that happens (and is good), I'll consider it a relative success.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Fun Books!

We've been getting tons of books from the library lately.  I really appreciate your input on your favorite books.  If you haven't shared yours, please do! 

A few that we've gotten lately have been a lot of fun and I wanted to share them with you.

We got Curious George Rides a Bike.  I love Curious George, though I've realized that each book is the exact same, just with George getting into trouble a different way.  Have you noticed that the man with the yellow hat is kinda slow?  He obviously has never learned to NOT leave George alone! 

Anyway, this book shows George turning a whole bag of newspapers into boats.  And it gives step by step instructions on how to do so.  Today we made a few paper boats!  So fun!!

Another that we got was Frog and Toad are Friends (I think).  It has 5 stories in it.  One of them is about some cookies that the two friends just can't stop eating.  I loved it because it reminded me of ME!  So here they are, eating cookies that Toad made and finally one says to the other "We need to stop eating cookies or we will make ourselves sick!"  The other suggests they have just ONE more cookie.  So they do.  But then, one friend suggests that they have one VERY LAST cookie.  So they do.  Then they just can't help it, so they resolve to find will power by putting the cookies in a box and closing it.  "But we can open the box and get the cookies."  That is true, so they tie a string on it.  "But we can cut the string and open the box and get the cookies."  That is true, so they put it up on the shelf using a ladder.  "But we can climb up the ladder, get down the box, cut the string, open the box, and get the cookies."  That is true.  So Frog takes the box outside, calls the birds, and they come and gobble up the cookies.  Toad is not too pleased with that the cookies are gone.  So he tells Frog "You can keep the will power.  I'm going home to bake a cake."  I loved it!  I do that ALL the time!  Give away the cookies so I can stop eating them, but then turn around and make another dessert or treat.  I thought it was funny.

Another that we got was called "Jim Copp, Will You Tell Me a Story".  I guess I should say here that all three of these were both in book and CD form.  This one was recorded 50 years ago by Jim Copp.  He does all his own sound effects and does all the voices.  It started out on reels, then records, then tapes, and now CD.  It is a riot!  There are three stories "Kate Higgins", "The Gorilla", and "Martha Matilda".  The book itself is funny (two are poems and the other is a short story), but the CD makes it great.  We have listened to it about 20 times today and I still love it. 

Some others that we got from the library that I need to add to the list:

*Amelia Bedilia (though the girls still don't get WHY they are funny)
*Angelina books
*Arthur books

Did I already have those on my list?  I can't remember.



Sunday, June 27, 2010

I Wonder if I'm Growing...

My baby is growing up.  TOO fast.  She is so sweet and so incredible and we are all in love with her.  But we need to figure out a way to slow down how fast she is becoming a big girl. 

First, she's crawling.  She started scooting backwards about a month ago.  She didn't like getting stuck in corners and under couches.
So a little after that, she started trying to figure out a new way to get around.  But that wasn't too effective either.
Then she mastered the army crawl, and finally, about two weeks ago, she mastered regular crawling and can now actually look like a normal child.

Soon after, she started pulling herself up and standing.  This has opened up a whole new world to her.


And now we're trying to break her of this habit:
Do not be fooled.  That is not just a sleep sack.  Notice how the arms are tied?  Under this sleep sack, Avery is wrapped as tight as can be in a blanket.  Then, we put her in this sleep sack, zip it up, and tie the arms.  She refused to sleep without it, until...

...more sleep training.  Now, my baby's sleeping free!


And why not a few more pictures of the cute baby?

One day, Avery wasn't feeling well.  So she just plopped herself down on the couch (with Keara's help) and laid there without moving for a good 10 minutes.

We found this adorable mini rocking chair at Goodwill for $2.  I couldn't pass that up.  We found some fabric on clearance that I'm going to use to reupholster the back and seat to make this beauty like new.  For now, the girls love sitting in it and Keara thinks it is great to feed Avery in it.  This was Avery's first time with a bottle in about 6 months.
I did have a weird realization that Avery has had about 4 bottles in her life.  My other girls were much more versed on bottle feeding, which means we went out on more dates.  So either we're going out less, taking Avery more, or not feeding her as much.  I don't know which.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Memorial Day...Have I already posted about this!?!

My mom, dad, sister and family came up for Memorial Day.  It was SO fun!  We went to a splash pad for all the kids to enjoy (free and just near our home!) on Friday,

then had fun shooting air rockets and playing kickball at a park on Monday, and went to a GREAT outdoor park on Saturday.  I love that I got three pictures of my mom with my girls.  I LOVE how much fun she has with them!  And they love her too!
It was so great to have them.  AND, since I didn't get enough time with my sister, she's coming again TODAY!!  Hooray. 

Friday, June 25, 2010

These Things are Fun, and Fun is Good

We've been having so much fun lately.  I can't tell you how glad I am to be able to say that.  Life has been transformed and it is glorious.  We've been going on so many fun adventures together and enjoying the beautiful sunshine.  Between Monday and Tuesday of this week, we went to a magic show at the library, the splash park, and the beach TWICE.  SO FUN!  The girls just run right into the water and have huge smiles on their faces the whole time.  I can't wait to go back.  And next time, I'll take the camera.

We also put up this tent in the girls' room when Braden went on the Fathers and Sons' campout.  They thought that was pretty cool.

And then the other day, we made these goofy glasses made from egg cartons, as seen in the Parent's Magazine. 

We've also discovered the joys of perler beads again (again for me, first time for the girls) and I seriously need to invest in more.  More of those and also of the pony beads.  The girls love them!

Thursday, June 24, 2010

A Few Things I've Made

I've been having a blast making things lately.  I haven't taken a picture of most of them, but here are a few things. 
I made this shirt for me
I made this shirt for Avery

I made this dress for Taryn and Keara
I made this dress for Avery plus matching ones for Taryn (in purple) and Keara (in pink) but I never took a picture.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Best News!!

Taryn is potty trained!!!  YEAH TARYN!!!

Whew! That was a long road.  Not as long as most people's but we started in January and here it is June.  Yeah, we took breaks in between here and there, but I can't tell you how glad I am to be done.  She hasn't had an accident in over a week and is also not wetting the bed, as of two days ago.  She ROCKS!!  Or, as she says, "I AM AWESOME!"  Yes, she is.

(I hope I don't jinx us by posting this...)

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Happy Father's Day


Why is it that on Mother's Day, dad's try to do all mom's work, by doing the chores, making dinner, cleaning up, taking care of the kids, but on Father's Day, we try to pack in as much family time as possible?  It's Father's Day?  How much can we do together as a family!?!  I guess its because we never get enough of daddy, but mommy has always had enough!

I am so grateful for Braden being the dad that he is.  On his birthday, I write about the person he is.  On our anniversary, I write about the husband he is.  And on Father's Day, it's about the kind of dad he is.  He is awesome.  He is so good about getting down on the ground and playing with the girls, reading them books, doing puzzles, playing games, being the jungle gym, being an elephant, running errands with them or working on a project with them...he usually tries to have at least one of them with him.

He is SO patient.  Where I fall short in patience, he makes up the difference.  And he NEVER makes me feel bad about my bad days as a mom.  He is creative in his parenting, coming up with better ways to handle situations.

He is the one to be trampsing all over the playground equipment with the girls and coming up with games to play.  And he'll be insanely goofy, just to make the girls laugh.

He makes Keara's favorite breakfast as often as he can, and loves to surprise her with it, just because he knows she loves it.  Taryn drives him batty, but he also adores her to pieces.  And then there's the Goose.  Braden is in love with Avery and just can't get enough.

He doesn't like cleaning up messy underwear, but he's always there to help Taryn get to the potty as fast as can be.  And he loves finding things he can fix and tinker with around the house. 

I am so grateful that he completes me so well becuase it is what makes us 'work'. 

I love you, babe!

Love Tank

Have you ever read Gary Chapmans book about the Five Love Languages?  If not, you should.  It is great.

Here's the truth about the Moore Household:  Since moving here, we having figured life out yet, which has made life a little difficult. That, and the fact that it literally rained for a complete month until today.  The girls and I are all going a little crazy.  With no car and no friends around the corner, the girls are behaving worse and worse on a daily basis.  It's been a huge challenge for me to keep my wits about me when I want to run away, too.

On Monday night, I just about had a break down.  But then, a tender mercy happened.  I grabbed that love languages book and was thumbing thru it.  Braden came in and we started talking about the love languages of our girls.  And then the inspiration came.

If my girls' love tanks are empty, they are going to be begging for that love fill-up over and over, and more and more until their tank is full.  But because their way of begging is driving me insane, I'm less likely to be responding in the way they really need.  I was beginning to feel so overwhelmed because I felt like they had so many needs that I couldn't figure out where to start.  But then, it all fell into place.  If I focused on meeting that core need, speaking their love language, maybe the other behaviors would fall into place.

You know what?  It's working.  Keara's love language is Quality Time (as if anyone out there who has spent a minute with Keara didn't know that).  She is asking all day, every day for someone to play with her, be with her, talk to her, sit with her, tell her stories, play a game, etc.  And if you give a little time, she'll ask for more and more and more.  Why?  Because her tank is empty and she's just trying to fill it up.

Taryn's language is Physical Touch.  She is my "hold me", "rock me", "hug me" kid.  She loves to be read to, not only for the reading, but also for the holding.  She gives the best hugs all day long. 

So I've been trying to "speak their language" by doing more concentrated time with Keara and holding/hugging/rocking/kissing Taryn more.  And by having this new perspective, suddenly, their begging isn't quite so overwhelming.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

More Books to Add to MY List

I thought of a couple more books that I love:

*The Monster at the End of This Book
*Go, Dog, Go!

More to come, I'm sure.

Life Put to Song

I wish you could know Taryn like I know Taryn.  She is just the sweetest thing. And one thing she LOVES is to sing.  I thought I took a video of her singing, but I think I just thought about doing it.  Her favorite movies are musicals because she can learn the songs and then go around singing all day long.  If her thumb isn't in her mouth, she's usually singing.  She gets lost in this little world of song and walks around (or runs around) with her head cocked to the side, very deep in thought as she sings and sings and sings.

On Sunday, she and Keara sang "I Know that My Savior Loves Me" in Relief Society.  Keara couldn't stop swishing from side to side and kept putting her necklace in her mouth, but Taryn just stood there, as serious as could be (besides every once and a while staring at the ceiling) and sang her little heart out.  It was adorable.

Most of her songs, however, are made up.  She just sings about whatever she is doing.  Songs like, "Put my foot in my shoe, my shoe, my shoe.  I like my pretty dress.  It is so pretty.  So pretty!" 

So the other day, after we had read in our scriptures about the Lamanites, Taryn took her little illustrated Book of Mormon in the car while we drove daddy to work.  On the way home, I hear her singing:

T: I am naughty, I am naughty, I am naughty, I am naughty, I am naughty, I am naughty…

M: Why are you naughty?
T: I’m teaching the Lamanites that they are naughty.
M: Oh. Okay.

Thankfully, she could distinguish between the Lamanites and herself when a few minutes later she started singing:

T: I am great. I am great. I am great. I am a great kid, I am a great kid…

You are a great kid, Taryn!

Friday, June 18, 2010

Love of Reading

My girls love to read.  And I LOVE that they love to read.  Whenever we go to the library, though, we grab books that we've never read before, bring them home, and find out that half of them are duds.  So I've been much more selective of my reading choices with them lately.  I know there are a ton of other books out there besides the Berenstain Bears, Curious George, Arthur, and Clifford.  That's where you come in.

What are you top 10 (or more) favorite children's books?

Here are mine, in no particular order:

*Click, Clack, Moo
*Pinkalicious (Purplicious doesn't even come close)
*The ABC book by Dr. Seuss
*The Tooth Book
*Moose's Loose Tooth
*Almost any Berenstain Bears Book
*Oink

Hmm...only seven off the top of my head.  See how much help I need?!

What are your favorites?

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Deep Thoughts

How is it that a 2-year-old can never remember which shoe goes on which foot the right way...

...and yet they can manage to put them on the WRONG foot EVERY time?!

Deep thoughts...

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

It's a Match!

At Christmas, my sister introduced us to a game.  A marvelous game.  My new favorite game.  It's called Match-Ability and it's from the 80s or 90s.  It's out of print now, so you can only find it on ebay for between $50-$75.  Believe me, I've looked.

Yesterday, I was at Goodwill looking for something for Braden for Father's Day...tacky, I know...when WHAMO!  There in front of me was Match-Ability!!  I couldn't believe my eyes.  I tore it off the shelf like it was Christmas, opened it to find it was missing a few pieces and quite a few cards, but WHO CARES!!  It was $2.99...and I bought it. 

Happy Father's Day, honey.

Monday, June 14, 2010

It is Done.

Just over 4 years ago, we moved to Arizona.  In July, we signed on a home on Love Rd in Queen Creek.  On September 23rd 2006, we moved in.  Keara was just 6 months old. 

Flash forward...

On March 15th, 2010, we moved out.  Keara was 2 weeks from her 4th birthday.  Taryn was 2 and Avery was the 6 month old (well...almost 7 months). 

Flash forward...

On June 11th, 2010, our home officially sold as a short sale.  It is done.

Breathe in.  Breathe out.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Mirror, Mirror...

I've always been amazed by the need for people to identify who babies look like.  Now, if your child truly looks shockingly like your husband, yeah, I can understand the comments.  But I've never understood when EVERYONE, and I mean everyone, says that each of my children look like Braden.  How is that possible when a) my children don't look like each other, b) they are referring to the adult Braden, not him as a child, and c) I had a major part in this creation process?!

So, here's some evidence that my children do indeed look like me.  As well as the fact that Taryn does indeed look just like her daddy...when he was a child.  Be prepared to be shocked.

Here's me as a baby:
Here's my Avery Goose:


And no, it's not just bald part...

And here's Braden as a kid (none of our kids look like him as a baby):



And here's Taryn (it was next to impossible to find one of Taryn NOT smiling...she definitely doesn't get her constant smiles from her look-alike):

It's the eyes...and the head, and the hair, and the face, and the...

Notice, there are no comparisons with Keara.  That's because I think she's a perfect blend.  She takes after my family in her body and has my eyes (like Avery), but she has Braden's mouth and nose (like Taryn).

What do YOU think?

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Was That REALLY Necessary?

I've been amazed by the things people feel the need to say before.  Like those who comment on how you look when you're pregnant.  Or if you haven't lost the baby weight.  You know...THOSE people.  Lately, I've realized that being 27 with 3 little kids is an anamoly here.  In AZ it was the norm.  So lately, I've been getting a lot of "Wow, you must be busy."  "You've got your arms full."  "They must keep you running." 

But today, the electric guy came and said "Hi!  I hear you have a problem with your lights."  Then he saw the girls and he said, "Oh, I see you have a lot more problems than that!" 

I should have said, "Wow, that was rude."  But I didn't.  But I should have.

Friday, May 28, 2010

All in a Day's Work

As I was getting ready for bed last night, I thought about my day and stood there amazed at how much I was able to get done.  I don't post this as a "look at me" because these full days happen in every home where there is a mother.  I post it because I am amazed at the gift God has given women to do so much in a day because, afterall, much is required at our hands and we need the added blessings to do it all. 

So, yesterday, I fed Avery at 7:30 but was exhausted from going to bed at 1am the night before that I asked Braden (who didn't have to go to work until 11) if I could lay down for a little longer.  He took care of the girls until I got up at 8:30.  I put Avery down for her morning nap, got dressed, had breakfast with the family (which Braden had made), then ran to the library with Taryn to pick up some books we had requested.  We got home, said goodbye to dad, and read a dozen books.  They took their bath, got dressed and ready, then they went to read and play for a while.  I defatted my beef broth I made the day before and bagged it for the freezer while they played.  Then we had lunch, read more stories, and I put them down for naps.  Shortly thereafter, my visiting teachers came and stayed for about an hour.  After they left, I started cleaning up the house which was in shambles.  I cleaned the bath tub, toilet, vanity, and floor in the bathroom, then tidied Avery's room, the basement, the living room, and the kitchen.  When the girls woke up, Taryn went and played while Keara and I prepped everything to cook a whole chicken fryer and broth.  Then we went upstairs sand organized my sewing supplies which had gotten quite out of hand lately.  I finished cleaning the dining room and then we picked apart the chicken and finished the broth.  Then we started making dinner, ate it, cleaned up after it, got in pajamas, and then started making cookies.  First we made sugar cookies, then chocolate chip, then reese's pieces, then oatmeal, then oatmeal raisin (company is coming today, hence the cleaning the house).  In the middle of it, I made frosting and we decorated the cookies.  I put them to bed, fed Avery and put her down, then finished the rest of the cookies.  In total, we made 150 cookies in about 2 hours.  Amidst all this, I did 4 loads of laundry, which I folded after putting Avery to bed.  Then I cleaned up the house again, mopped the floor, did the dishes, put the laundry away, and finally plopped on the couch with Braden at 11:30 pm to watch the end of the Suns' game.  (NOTE: he works late on Thursdays and then plays basketball from 9-10:30 pm)  It was completely disappointing to see them lose when they had fought to well to win, but oh well.  Woven into all of that was also taking care of 2 pooped pants with my potty training 2 year old, nursing my baby 4 times, and entertaining the three girls while trying to be superwoman. 

So, as I stood there in the bathroom, brushing my teeth, I had two thoughts.  First, it is a good thing God created women because if there were only men, only a couple things would get accomplished each day.  And second, I'm pooped.  Thank goodness for sleep.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Blog Updates Updates

I have decided that going private has its advantages and disadvantages.  But the biggest disadvantage I've found is that no one knows when I've updated if they rely on google reader or their blog list to tell them that I've updated.  So, instead, add http://www.bradenandcheri.blogspot.com/ to your google reader or your blog list and I will post there when I have updated.  So you can either just come here to see the updates or you can go there and click on the link to redirect you here.  Does that work?  Let me know if you have a problem with that. 

Friday, May 14, 2010

Size Matters

Not really.  And in our family, size doesn't mean a thing.  We just have small babies who are dwarfed by their peers.  I watched my friend's daughter the other day and I have to keep reminding myself that she is just 6 weeks older than Avery.  She can crawl, stand with support, and cruise.  Avery...can't.  Not yet.  I think she's on the brink of crawling.

One thing Avery can do is EAT.  She loves eating all our table foods now.  We hardly give her baby food at all.  And she got a tooth in last week!  Well, not really IN, but it has broken the surface!  For now, she just has really strong gums.