Mom Remembers

The boys are all eating breakfast together in the kitchen.  (Today it's eternal bowls of cheerios.)  I'm studying the scriptures in the other room, wondering if I should move to sit on the vent, where it's warmer.  Then I overhear this comment, from Carl: CARL: Some people are so poor, they don't have any brothers.  They are so unlucky.  But we've got exactly the opposite of that.  We have a lot of brothers!

I have been blessed in the last year by many experiences that are spiritual in nature.  My faith in God and His miracles has grown as the voice of His Spirit has testified to me.  I know better than before of the reality of an unseen world and the love that reaches out to me from that place. Because of that growth, Easter held extra meaning for me this year.  Christ's triumph is real  to me--and so is the hope I felt this season.   Hallelujah . Our family's celebrations this year included: 1. Soren and I kicked off the season by watching the world's largest virtual Hallelujah chorus , a project produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  That was an amazing way to get into the celebratory spirit. 2. This was our first Easter in our own home.  We set up the Easter table in the dining room.  This is one of my favorite traditions: we decorate a table with symbols that remind us of Christ and keep a candle burning there in t...

I am sitting outside the door of Sven's room, listening to him play with duplos.  He has three little duplo people, two boys and a girl, that he has decided are a family.  I can hear him playing with them, making them talk and driving their little car across his hardwood floor.  Here are some of the things he is saying: "Mom and Dad are getting married!" "Dad is taking us to the temple.  Where is the temple?"  (He says this in a higher voice.  I guess the "Mom" is talking.) "It's too far away."  (This voice is deeper.  Must be the "Dad".) "Hooray!  It's general conference temple!"  (Now his voice is normal.  Does that mean this is the kid?) "Beep, beep."  (That must be the car.) "I'm making a ham and cheese sandwich."  (Then all the duplos get dumped out.) And my personal favorite: "Carolyn, you can call me Scott."  (How romantic.)

1. How he sits on my lap to listen to a board book.  He likes to turn the pages. 2. He also likes to "read" to himself.  His babbling noises are charming. 3. The way he puts his head on my shoulder when he is tired. 4. How ticklish he is. 5. That he can come down the stairs safely all by himself. 6. How pleased he looks when he is wearing Daddy's glasses. 7. That he has learned not to play with the chess pieces. 8. His enthusiastic toddle. 9. The way he smiles at his brothers. 10. That he will eat almost anything--but only if he sees you eating it first. 11. How much he loves Nan.  When she comes, he pants with excitement and practically jumps out of my arms. 12. The way he squeezes his hand to sign "milk". 13. Giving him raspberries. 14. That he likes animals.  He gets excited whenever he notices the cat 15. and enjoys getting licked in the face by Poppy's dog. 16. His smile. 17. And his laugh.  That's really the best. 18. How warm he...

Soren was assigned to read Helaman chapters 10 and 11 (of the Book of Mormon) in school this week.  This is the story of Nephi receiving power from God to do practically anything.  (He prays for a famine, hoping that it will teach the people humility.  It works.) After reading the story, Soren gave me a great narration: SOREN: In this chapter, Nephi receives root permission.  He can do anything.  The root user can even destroy the whole system with just six commands.

Sven has been talking about his upcoming birthday for two months.  He knew it was in March and asked me almost every day how far away March was.  And when March came, he became even more impatient. 1. We ended up having an unbirthday the Monday before to hold him over.  He had woken up that morning, very upset that it was still February and that his birthday was so  far away.  So I sang him the unbirthday song and we made cupcakes for Family Home Evening. 2. His Grandma and Grandpa came up the Friday before and took us out to Monkey Joe's for pizza and jumping.  That's always a good time.  It was especially fun because Grandpa was passing out quarters for the arcade games.  The boys jumped for hours while I talked with my parents and we passed Leif around.  I loved watching Sven run after the big boys, jumping where they jumped and sliding where they slid.  He has gotten so capable in the last year. 3. My parents bought a headboard...

Leif made the switch this week.  You know: the switch to walking. He took his first steps in January.  I didn't see them; I was teaching Sunday School and he was with his beloved Nan.  But he was happy enough to repeat the feat given marshmallows as an incentive. After that, "walking" became a game Leif and Scott would play almost every night while I made dinner.  But Leif would try to get away with as little walking as possible.  He would crawl to Scott, then climb up his pant legs and try to reach the marshmallows from the safety of that grip.  It usually worked so he didn't have much reason to improve. The cutest thing about the process this time was watching the way Sven and Carl responded to Leif's attempts.  Carl liked to playing "walking", too and would offer whatever bits of snack might tempt our little toddler.  We would all laugh whenever Leif clawed up Carl's pants; it seemed like they would both knock over!  As Leif got bett...