Cold Showers

It's been about six weeks since I did this, something that I'm somewhat proud of.  Not because it shows you what a stellar mom I am, exactly the opposite of that in fact.  But, because it shows that sometimes extremes are needed in extreme cases.  For those that remember, Tyson decided in March that he wanted to be potty trained.  I was not ready for this because we were about to embark on a LONG road trip up to North Dakota, over to Michigan and Wisconsin, and then home through South Dakota.  I was not excited that he REALLY wanted to wear his big-boy undies.  However, he did awesome.  He was even really sick and he still did awesome.  I was super proud of him.  When we got home and the good luck continued, we felt like it was just a dream that he did it all by himself.  Fast-forward a few months; enter Bella.  Tyson decides that he's going to start peeing on the carpet like her.  Not my favorite.  For months we've been fighting with Tyson to stop peeing his pants.  One day I'd had enough.  Raquel and I were at a girls' house to welcome her into the ward and then were headed back to her house to do more stuff for Birthday's.  As we were leaving the first house I discovered that Ty had peed his pants.  We went to Raquel's house where she let me borrow a pair of Lincoln's clothes and started on our other stuff.  As we were leaving her house, I once again found pee all.over.the.floor.  And of course, we were both in a hurry to leave.  Of course!  That was it.  I'd had ENOUGH!  I brought him home and threw him in the shower, clothes and all.  It was cold.  He was ticked!  I was talking quite forcefully (some might even call it screaming) telling him I was sick and tired of him peeing his pants and that he'd get this same treatment each time he did.  I shut the water off, threw him a towel and told him to dry off.  He sat there stunned that I wasn't helping.  He tore off his cold/wet clothes, dried off and got dressed.  I'd love to say this was the only time I had to do it, but it wasn't.  It took about 10 showers before he got the message.  I felt like such a witch, but when your son has been potty trained for months and decides that he's going to start peeing, it kind of gets to you.  Especially when you walk down to see your baby stark naked standing on the back of the couch peeing off the side.  Onto the carpet.  With a wicked grin on his smug little face! 

We walked into a truck stop to go to the bathroom (so he wouldn't pee his pants) and went into one that also had a shower.  He looked at it with fear and said, "Mom is that were people get cold showers if they pee their pants?"  And to my great shame, I said "Yes."

The Market

With Randy being in Sales, we've always known it would be better to stay mobile.  So, when Danen and Kimberly found out they were going to Utah and said they would rent their house, we jumped at the offer.  Today we put our house on the market.  It felt good to hear three brokers say that it was good that the only thing they would suggest I do is clean a basement window.  They were all praise.  I was all smiles.  It felt good to hear from someone other than family that the house looks nice.  That the work that I've done while feeling like I wanted my head to burst was actually a good thing.  The best part was when they were walking out and saw my family picture on the wall.  One turned with shock written on her face and said, "You have FIVE?  I thought these two (meaning Brennon and Tyson) were your only ones.  Well, that just adds a whole new level onto my respect for the shape and appearance of this house!  It looks GOOD!"
And then I did a cartwheel in the front room.

Blank

While putting on my make-up this morning, Shelby was asking me to do something for her.  I said, "Just a minute, Shelby.  I'm almost done."  She said, "Mom, you know, you're beautiful even if you're blank!"  So, I stopped what I was doing and helped her that minute.  Practically blank face and all!

All About Me

 While at Keilie's goal setting meeting with her teacher, I noticed this picture taken on the first day of school to go with her "All About Me" poster.  I was telling her how beautiful I thought she was when her teacher said, "That one is cute...

But, this one is my favorite!"

In a collage of all of the kids in her class holding a sign saying what they'd like to be when they grow up, this is what Keilie put.  Look how beautiful she is.  Look at what she wants to be.

Keilie Ann Dirks

August 21, 2012

4th Grade

Mrs. Dye's class

Insulted

Today I made a trip to the mall after picking up both boys from preschool.  I don't go to the mall often, so I was kind of excited for the trip.  I stopped by some stores looking for a nice shirt, bought some candles from Bath and Body Works that are perfect for the fall season, took the boys to Pretzlemaker, and was on my way home.  While a little stressful with two little boys, the trip was turning out great.  Then... I got distracted by the boys and roped into a shpeal from a kiosk vendor.  I listened with respect to her about face washes, moisturizers, nail buffers, and bath salts from the dead sea all while trying to keep the two boys from knocking over her cart and running into oncoming mall walkers.  She wasn't taking a breath!  She kept right on talking and asking questions.  I should have just walked off. 

"How old are you?"
"31."
(Insert dumbfounded voice) "Wow, has anyone ever told you you have the dark under-eye circles of a 50 year old woman?"
".........."

I stared at her for what seemed like the appropriate amount of disgusted time and turned and left.  If this woman knew how self conscience I am about my dark circles (my raccoon eyes as I call them), if she knew the kind of day I'd had, if she knew how incredibly sick I've been this year, she would have kept her BIG mouth shut!  I was almost in tears leaving the mall.  All memories of the great time were extinguished the moment she spoke those unkind words.  To quote Thumper on Bambi, "If you can't somethin' nice, don't say nothin' at all!"  P.S. This was all said after I'd already purchased a face wash!

Stewart

Our computer is still on the fritz, so I'm not able to download any pictures from our camera.  My cell phone is also on the fritz, so it's rare that it will actually send pictures to my email.  I got this one sent!  Yay.  Since it's getting colder and the leaves are starting to change, I got to get my fall decorations out.  I LOVE this time of year.  I have to tell myself to hold off getting the decorations out in August:)  This will be the third year with our scarecrow protecting our porch.  I didn't realize that Ty wouldn't really remember him.  So, when I pulled him out, Ty started to cry.  Tears!  Big Ones!!  He was so scared to go up on the porch.  After the long discussion about how he's not real and is nice, I finally got him to go up on the porch.  I told him I'd take a picture of him if he could be brave and sit by him.  If you look at his eyes- they're closed!  He was terrified!  He's warmed up to "Stewart," but I wanted to capture this sweet moment.

No Kids!!!

Kimberly has Jonathon in a Preschool on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, so I thought I'd get Ty into it as well.  I dropped him off for his first class yesterday!  It was so nice getting into the car and listening to my favorite music, silence!  No kids' movies playing in the background.  I went to Kimberly's and talked for a whole two hours without having to check on the kids to see how they were doing.  It was heaven.  Then I went to pick up Brennon from his preschool.  I was talking to his teachers, telling them how fun it was to have no kids, and generally being giddy about the whole scenario.  I got Brennon and another little girl ready to leave.  In this time, my mind forgot that I didn't have Tyson, so when I didn't see him in the class I automatically thought he'd gone outside.  I hurried Brennon and Sara out of the room and started briskly walking to make sure Ty wasn't running down the hill into the street.  When I couldn't see him there, I started frantically calling his name and picked up my pace to a run.  Then my mind remembered!  And I felt like a dork!  The teachers were laughing at me.  Mostly because just ONE MINUTE before I was jumping up and down telling them how excited I was to have him in preschool!  All I can say is that the whole situation is surreal to me even now.  For two days a week, I don't have any kids at home.  What to do with myself?  ANYTHING I want:)

My Son!

Last week the Relief Society was asked to help a member box up her stuff for her upcoming move out of state.  We knew she desperately needed the help because she is blind.  We had set up for two nights starting at 7:00 and ending when everyone needed to go home.  I could do it the first night, but not the second because of Scouts and Activity Day Girls.  So, I got a bunch of boxes and headed over.  I was planning on only  being there for a minute or two and then going home to drop the kids off when Randy got home.  Caden helped me carry the boxes in, something I thought would get a comment from him, this place was DIS.GUS.TING.  The smell assaulted you before you even made it to the front door.  Closed front door!  Caden, however, didn't say a word.  I told them I was going to take the kids home and would be right back.  There was only one girl there to help so far, with one more confirmed.  Randy wasn't too happy with me going.  I knew there were cats and that I was probably going to get sick with allergies, but I also knew I was needed.  As I was telling Randy that I thought I would be blessed for my service, Caden said, "You just have to have Faith, Dad!"  There was no more talk of me not helping after that.  I rushed out to the car, only to be followed by Caden.  I looked over at him, truly wondering what he was doing, and asked, "What are you doing?"  He looked at me as if I was the weird one and said, "Helping that girl.  She needs my help."  The short drive over proved to be harder for me than I thought- tears were trying to spill over.  As we walked into that house full of garbage, my ELEVEN year old son rolled up his sleeves and did anything that was asked of him.  We filled three large garbage cans with garbage- barely making a dent in her kitchen, we were cleaning up used blood strips for her diabetes, 5 large cups full of grease placed throughout the house, cat feces all over the house, with two dogs barking at us the WHOLE time.  Not once did I hear anything from him.  Not once did he say a single word.  He was polite, respectful, and so helpful.  My son chose to come back and help in deplorable circumstances.  The other girl that was there with us has a miracle baby girl, now 7.  She wasn't supposed to have any kids and got lucky with her sweet Sophia.  As we were leaving she said, "Please save your Caden for my Sophia!"  This woman thought my son was the perfect husband for her miracle.  I couldn't agree more!  He has such a heart of gold.  Such a Faith that we will be blessed.  Such Faith in our Heavenly Fathers love for us.  He is serving such a wonderful mission already!

First weeks of School

The first weeks of school are so HARD in our house.  I'm not sure if this is how it is in every house, but with the new teachers, new classes, and new friends come exhaustion when they get home.  They're starving, they're hot, and they're cranky.  I come right out and tell them (instead of turning the clocks ahead like we do other times) that they are going to bed early for the first two weeks of school.  There's never a complaint, because of said exhaustion, so it works out nice for everyone.  However, Shelby might need a few extra days of early retirement.  Today she came home crying her eyes out.  Keilie said it was because Shelby had told her Bella had run away.  Since Bella hasn't escaped for a few weeks, I couldn't understand her emotions.  Shelby then replied, in her most pathetic sad voice, "Unh- uh, I'm crying because Bella killed a bunny!"   May ladies and gentlemen!!!  Early bedtime tonight FOR.SURE!!!  Man, she doesn't even have hormones yet.  Yikes!

Pumpkin

I LOVE this time of year!!!  I love the cooling weather, the need for a light jacket in the morning, the changing leaves, and the colors of Autumn.  I LOVE it all.  It's always about this time that I crave pumpkin goodies, so, when I came across this little gem, I knew I would make it.  I just didn't realize I'd eat the whole loaf myself!  Not because the kids' didn't like it!  Simply because I didn't share.  Enjoy pumpkins with me!

Crock pot Pumpkin Bread

1/2 Cup Oil
1/2 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup brow sugar
2 eggs (beaten)
1 can pumpkin
1 1/2 Cup flour
1/4 t. salt
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
1 t. baking soda

Blend the oil and both sugars into a large bowl.  Then, stir in the beaten eggs and canned pumpkin.  Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.  Pour batter into a greased bread pan.  Add two cups of water to the bottom of your crock pot.  Place bread pan in center of crock pot.  Cover the top of the crock pot with either-ten paper towels.  This is to trap the condensation and keep the bread from becoming mushy.  Place the crock pot lid on top of the crock pot (I tried to make sure the paper towels were trapped around the lid so they didn't slip) and bake on high for 2.5-3 hours.

For Good!

My best friend is moving!  I've known for just under a month now that they are moving down to Utah.  There have been many tears shed for the upcoming departure.  A song.  A picture.  An activity.  A memory.  It doesn't take much for me to remember all that we've done together.  I met Kimberly a year after she moved into the 4th ward.  I didn't realize this little fact until last month!  I didn't know we could have been friends for another year!!!  We went down to Fort Collins with 3 other gals for a girls' weekend before babies were born, because babies were born, and as a last goodbye to summer.  We went to dinner, a show, played games that night and just sat around talking till all hours of the night in our hotel room.  She told me her engagement story (my favorite story to hear!) and we were instant friends.  She later told me how incredibly shy she is and how she was worried that she'd talked too much that night.  Not the case!!!  I was surprised to hear she is shy because I can't tell, we're just that close.  Now, 5 years later, I don't know how I'm going to live without her close to me.  I had friends growing up, but none that were this close.  I call her with good news, bad news, silly news, fun ideas, rash ideas, WICKED news, craft ideas, and just to get her opinion.  Sometimes I even call just to hear her voice because it's been more than two days since we've talked on the phone.  Sometimes texting isn't enough.  We like so many of the same things, same colors, same games, same vehicles, same clothes, same hair styles, ANYTHING!  My life is changing so fast with her leaving.  I feel like she's being ripped from me.  Since our families live in Utah, I know I'll see her often, but somehow, it's just not enough!  We've seen WICKED twice together.  Driven hundreds of miles to see it even.  Her favorite song is Defying Gravity, mine is For Good.  Mostly because it's about us.  My best friend that has change me for good. 

"I've heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason, bringing something we must learn.

And we are lead to those who help us most to grow if we let them, and we help them in return.

Well I don't know if I believe that's true. 

But I know I'm who I am today, because I knew you.

Who can say if I've been changed for the better.

But, because I knew you, I have been changed for good."

"It well may be that we will never meet again in this lifetime, so let me say before we part.

 So much of me is made from what I learned from you, you'll be with me like a handprint on my heart.

And now whatever way our stories end I know you have re-written mine by being my friend."

"Who can say if I've been changed for the better, but because I knew you, I have been changed

For Good!"

Kimberly, I know you're not dying, that we'll see each other again, but I want you to know how much I LOVE you!  You are more than a best friend, you are my sister.  I know that we were friends in heaven that promised to find each other here on earth to make it a better experience.  You bring me joy!  Find a HUGE house down there in Utah so I can come and stay with ya:)  With a front porch and all!