Thoughts for a Sunday

1st grade Kaj

I am home from church for the second week in a row due to sick kids. Rowan is still recovering from his sickness from the week and it is taking him a little longer to put the smack down on it. For the past month Sam and I have decided to read my grandpa's book, "Reflections." My Aunt Anita lent it to us and it finally made sense to sit down and read it on Sundays so we can, of course, finish it and then return it. We do try to read it with the boys though their attention spans last a page of two, but we feel it still important to try. However, Sam and I are loving it. I have read parts of it in the past and I would skip around the pages but I have never read it consecutively like this. As we read it this morning I felt so thankful that he took the time to do this. I am learning a lot more about him and appreciating the history that is portrayed. I also love that I can really hear his voice when we read it. 

A part that we read today Grandpa was talking about communication and the ability or inability to express feelings. He  told the story about a farmer whose wife had died and when friends and family were visiting after the funeral a friend made the comment to him: "That was a very good woman that was buried today."He replied, 'Yes, she was. I almost told her that a time or two." It reminded me of a talk I read recently from April 2014 General Conference called "What were You Thinking?" It also talked about the way we communicate with each other, and how a "soft answer can turn away wrath." I feel I am decent about communicating and expressing feelings. I also don't think that I raise my voice too much?? But, I do want to pay more attention on how I speak to my kids and others. Do I take time to answer "softly?" I definitely want to try. I want to compliment easily and hope others will  feel uplifted and positive. I want my kids to also compliment their own peers on their accomplishments knowing it does not diminish their own. That you can be happy for other people. I hope I can teach that. 

Reading my Grandpa's book made me think of my blogs and blog books. I wonder what kind of impact my words will have on them. If it will have an impact at all. I will continue to write the stories of our lives down (if I could help it) and hope for the best. 

A Croupy Halloween

First thing to do at DD Ranch

A recovering Jonah

A little glimpse of our fall in a nutshell. There was some major up moments and some major downs.  So we are coming out of it "Even Steven." Of course, one of the greatest traditions we enjoyed was visiting the pumpkin patch. There are two pumpkin patches to visit here and they are 5 minutes away from each other and I have confused them before. We went down with the intention to go to one of them. The Smithrock Ranch. But with the thousands of cars in the parking lot we switched gears and went to the DD ranch one. We had gone to the DD ranch last year when my parents were visiting and loved it. We loved it again. It just has a real country feel to it. I am no farmer but I appreciate the farm life apparently. I like the chickens wandering around as well as the old farm dogs, and the little folk band playing. It's delightful. This year there was a man who was making balloon transformations right as we walked in. We let the boys pick out what they would like. Josh and Rowan both got themselves swords and sheaths and Kaj asked for a dog. He loved this dog more than I knew. I did know when the hind balloon legs popped in the car on the way home. Kaj burst into tears. He was legitimately heart broken. I had to remind him balloons pop and "look- he still has his other legs." Before the ride was over the balloon dog was just a head and Kaj was holding the sad balloon remains close beside him. He drew a very accurate drawing of the balloon dog when he got home. It was pretty sad and sweet and honestly a little  humorous all at the same time. 

The past 2 weeks have been sick filled. Sam was the original owner of the sickness. As soon as he felt the sickness come on he slept on the couch so not to get Jonah sick. Very thoughtful I thought. For a week Sam felt lousy and just as he was pulling out of it...Jonah was sick. It has been a very hard past few days. Jonah had croup so it has been more sleepless that when I first brought him home from the hospital. 

We did all go trick or treating around the neighborhood Halloween night. I dressed Jonah like the cutest little monkey ever and carried him in the Ergo until I had to hurry him home just to make him more comfortable. Rowan was hilarious as Ironman, and Kaj and Josh were so sweet. They said thank you to everyone, and wished them all a Happy Halloween. I was very thankful to have such polite boys. It was that night when we got home that Rowan started coughing. (NO!!!!) So Monday night I got even less sleep and woke the next morning to have Rowan Jonah sick. There was A LOT of crying that day. Me included. In public too. That was nice. If you cry in public more than once--it's a pretty bad day. Where?? Oh, at the doctor's office and the grocery store. The doctor's consoling words saying this stage of motherhood is "a hot mess," and then at grocery store where people just stopped to just stare for a minute. Move along people. When the check out guy still asked: "How are you doing today?" I just wanted to say: "Really??" I don't know if I have ever been so much on the brink of sanity or plain running away ever before. Sam came home and calmed down Jonah who had been crying for over an hour straight and told me to take a walk which I desperately needed. I cried some more. But, miracles happen and I got some sleep that night. I felt a million times better today, and so happy. The boys are both getting better, I got to straighten my house even do some light cleaning AND I took my Halloween decorations. (It's really the little things) I have to mention the things I am thankful for in this. I am so thankful that Jonah didn't get more sick. With how young he is it could have been a lot worse. I am thankful that Sam was feeling better. I am thankful that Kaj and Josh were so concerned and sweet and helpful. They are really good boys. Today I was happy to be at home with them. 

Not sure what to think of the sword yet

RIP balloon dog

Cutest brothers