Good Luck!

Visiting moms with new babies is a great experience. It is great because I love seeing newborn babies with their cute little hands and tiny little feet. They are especially cute when they sleep and do the little wiggle as though they are about to wake up and then.... they settle back down into blissful sleep.

Yes...blissful sleep.

Something I have dreamed about my WHOLE life.

I am still dreaming about it even with older kids. I have decided to begin documenting my night adventures. That sounded a little dirty so let me elaborate before you get too scared or too interested as the case may be. I am referring to the fact that even with my oldest at 13 and my youngest at 8 we rarely get through the night uninterrupted. It is usually Smiley who comes out of his room multiple times a night to pee, or show us his owwies, or tell us about random things like bumps on his head that he discovered (he was born with bumps on his head) and my favorite, that he can't sleep... I don't know why he doesn't understand that I'm not interested in any of these things at 2:30 in the morning. I'm thinking that every time I can't sleep I should go into his room and wake him up to tell him that I can't sleep.

Last night he got up at 11:30 to pee and then he woke me at 2:30. I asked him what the problem was and he said, "after two hours my blanket makes me sad." What????? Not to be outdone by his brother, Giggles also woke up crying later in the night with a nightmare. Brett took that job and went in to comfort him.

I figure that by the time Smiley stops waking me at 11:30 and 2:30 will be about the time Sheriff will be old enough to be out late with friends and girls. So I will still be awake, not getting any sleep. Right?

I met with a friend in our neighborhood this week who had a baby five weeks ago. Her cute little boy sleeps through the night but her two year old doesn't. I didn't have the heart to tell her that it doesn't get any better. Good luck!

I Love You The Most

Growing up I always believed that my dad loved me the most. I don't know why I thought this. It was just always a belief I had firmly secured in my mind. Needless to say I was more than surprised when I discovered that he loved my mom the most. (He later wrote me a letter on my mission telling me he still loved me the most but not to tell anyone. Little did he know that I save all my letters. hehehe!!!)

But now that I am all grown up and married ... well, married at least, I now understand why husbands and wives love each other the most. Brett and I are constantly telling each other this.

In some ways I can't believe that 18 years have already passed. On the other hand I feel like I have been married to Brett forever because I can no longer imagine my life without him. My years with him have been my happiest and best years. Life isn't perfect but life with Brett is made easier because of who he is. He makes me laugh when laughing is the last thing on my mind. He is my permanent Primary substitute when he already has his own calling in the ward. He also makes the best cookies, makes dinner on Sundays (yes, cereal is often on the menu), takes kids out of the house on Saturday afternoons and hands me the remote if I ask for it.

Sharing our anniversary with our kids yesterday was so much fun.

Brett turned the plates into frisbees...

we reenacted a wedding day moment...

and enjoyed the view.

I know that life will have many twists and turns in the future but I'm so grateful to have Brett at my side. We are stronger, happier and better because we are together.

I love him the most.

Brotherly Love

With the end of school fast approaching the boys are cleaning out their desks and bringing home their work. I am impressed and often amused at some of the things they do.

Giggles wrote something that I think aptly describes how he feels about his brother Smiley.

If I Won One Million $$$

First: I would buy electronics & a flying water board. Next: I'll save my money for college, electronics & legos. And the only amount of money I'll give to my little brother is half of a cent!!!!!

He also wrote a poem about his brother:

My Little Brother

My little brother
ran across the street
After we get off the bus
with his very own feet.
He opens his eye
very wide when he gets caught
So if he does he will need to be taught!

Just yesterday I caught Smiley running across the road in front of a car. So Giggles is right... Smiley does need some more lessons on how to cross the road safely.

There are three more school days left and then boys will be home for the summer. They might as well be finished with school because there is no homework and the days are full of fun and activities. At home they are busy riding bikes and scooters which means I need to stock up on bandaids and Neosporin (as well as Kleenex to mop up the tears).

But a week of school with no homework has been wonderful. No projects to help with, no spelling to check, no vocabulary to print up... just daily reading minutes. And there has been less fighting, fewer temper tantrums and more "yes moms".

Is this what heaven is like?

I am not counting on it continuing through the summer but I see my husband with his brothers and how well they get along. Giggles might only be willing to give his brother half a cent now but I still think there is hope for the future. After all, with inflation that half a cent could be worth a dime in just a few years.