Kindergarten

Dear Ryan,

You started kindergarten! 

I cannot believe you are big enough to be in school. You have been my constant companion for over five years and now if feels like I am loosing you. I am glad that you only go in the mornings and not all day. 

You are so happy to be going I school with Grace. 

Your teacher is Mrs. Walters and you say she is very nice. 

Phin is in your class. His older sister Brona is in Grace's class. 

You will be sitting next to each other in class. At the Popsicle party that was held to get to know the kids before school started you and Phin shared a twin pop. 

While you were at school I felt a little lost. I know Connor felt the same way because he wandered around the house looking for you. 

I love you! I am glad that you are growing, but at times I wish you would stay my sweet little boy forever. 

Mom

Girls' Day

Dear Grace,

As I spent the day with you I realized just how much you have grown. You are ten years old and are almost a young women. 

We ate Panda Express takeout in Murray Park. I am apparently going to Asia. 

You had so much fun walking around the park and climbing the trees. 

After getting you new glasses and some school supplies for Ryan we went home and painted you nails. 

I feel so blessed to have you as my daughter. You are patient and so full of love. You are an awesome helper and never complain. Your brother both love you so much and want to be like you. 

I have been impressed how you write in your journal and read your scriptures each night. You push me to be a better disciple if Christ. Our family is better with you in it!  

Love you!

Mom

Marriage at five

Dear Grace,

Several weeks ago you asked me how you tell someone that you want to marry them. Big gulp on my part and then I asked who you wanted to marry.

"Hyrum."
"Hyrum? Well, sweet girl you cannot marry Hyrum."
"Why not?"
"Well, you can't marry family."
"Why?"
Oh crap!! "Well, it is not, ummm, healthy. You can end up looking weird or having problems."
"Ok, I will marry Dad."
Back off girl friend!! "No, Daddy is already married to me."
"That is ok, we can both be married to him."
"No, we cannot. We believe that marriage is between one man and one woman."
"Oh, ok, I will marry Ryan."
"Ummm, no, not him either. You cannot marry family, remember. That includes grandpas, uncles, cousins, brothers and daddies."
"Well, then who am I going to marry?"
"There are a lot of people. You could marry someone from church or from school."
"I will marry Easton from school."
Very large sigh of relief!! "Great!"


Then a couple days later you came home from school upset.

"Mom, I can't marry Easton because Madi says that Easton is her true love. I am never getting married!"
"Grace, sweetie, you have plenty of time. I didn't find my true love until I was 17."
"That isn't very far away!"
"Trust me you have plenty of time."


I hope that you find your true love, but please wait just a little longer!!!

Love,
Mom

P.S. Several weeks ago your teacher sent around the Valentine's Bag. In the bag was a book for parents to write a page about why they love their children. Daddy was gone and I may or may not have gotten a little wrapped up in the project.


Your teacher after she saw the page told you that your mom is a little crazy. (I did warn her with a note stuck to the book so she would not be too surprised.)

Sleep

Last night I crawled into bed just after eight. I fell asleep, but then woke up around nine starving. I figure the reason for that is that I was running around all day and did not really eat anything until dinner. So I had something to eat and then went back to bed. Ryan then woke up at 6:15ish. I nursed him and then put him back to bed. I then woke up this morning around 8:45. That is the most sleep that I have gotten in a long time.

Ryan has been waking up several times during the night for the last several months. I decided I was done and he could cry it out. Friday night he cried a lot. I wonder why I was punishing myself to teach my son good sleep habits.

Since I have been trying to teach him to sleep more than a few hours at a time (which he used to do, but for some reason has stopped) everyone in the house has been a little on edge. Misery likes company. I figure I am finished being the only one that is awake during the hours that people should never be awake. What can I say, I am so nice.

Grace took the top picture.

Snow is Here

Dear Grace,

This morning I opened the blinds and you saw snow on the ground. You ran into the bedroom to tell daddy (who was still sleeping). You were so excited and it was very cute! You wondered if we were going to church because it had snowed. You made up a little song for the snow.

"Snow is here, snow is here.
All the world is white and clear."

Earlier this week you tried to read the Book Of Mormon all by yourself for family scriptures before bed. You read two verses almost by yourself. I am always amazed at the hard words you can read without help. You came across the word iniquities. I told you the word, twice. You then said, "That's a hard word for kids." It was so cute!

I love you Grace!
Mom

Hmmm...

Well, I have not posted for awhile. I have not stopped thinking, but blogging has just not been a priority this summer.

Grace has been in school for several weeks now. It is going really well. Yesterday morning when I dropped the kids off I asked Grace if she was ready to walk to class by herself. She grabbed my hand and told me not yet. She held my hand all the way down the hall. It was so sweet. It is nice to know that she still needs me.

On Sunday we had Stake Conference, but it was broadcast from the conference center. It was really good. President Monson closed the meeting out. His talk was about developing a house of learning, a house of prayer and a house of fasting. It was great! I got a pat on the back figuratively during his talk when Grace looked up and said, "Mom, that is President Monson."

Ryan is growing so fast. He has been into exploring everything. His world is getting bigger everyday. It makes me so happy. Derek and I have a bet. I am totally going to win. If Ryan walks before he turns one, which he will, then I win. And if he waits to walk until after he turns one, which will not be the case, Derek will win. I am thinking of something awesome for my victory because Derek doen't have a chance. Ryan has four months left and I am completely confident in his skills. Derek, I love you!

Your Mommy and My Mommy

Dear Grace,

Last week I put on a pair of your father's black socks. (He is always telling me that I can buy some for myself, but I only wear them two or three times a month. I would rather spend that money on something that I would wear more often. Also, he has a lot of socks. I should know, I bought them.)

Anyway, I put on the socks and you turned to Ryan and said, "Your mommy and my mommy put on our daddy's socks." Ryan of course then laughed at you. I laughed too!

I started thinking about the wording. Let me know if I am reading into this too much.

Do I treat you and your brother different? Well, duh, I have to. He is a baby. He needs attention and he needs it differently than you. And well, frankly he is a lot needier than you.

Do I love one of you more? No! I thought I would when I was pregnant. I didn't know if I could love and hold and smile at another baby like I did and do with you. If anything, having Ryan made me love you more than I did before. I love Ryan just as much as you, but my love for you grew. I am not sure how. Several times a day I tear up (just a little) when I think of you and Ryan. I am so overwhelmed with the love that I feel for you two. I am so blessed!

Is this a possession issue? I think maybe. Lately you are asking me to hold you quite a bit. I love doing holding you. I am trying to make more of an effort to not push you aside, but you don't often complain. You are patient and loving and so sweet.


Love,
Mom