Jackson

Jackson has always struggled with having "fits" over seemingly little things (his tag itching him, his shoelaces not being tied so that the bunny ears are exactly the same size, his shirts or pants being too tight or too loose, homework, messing up on an art project, waking up in the morning when he's tired, showering, etc).  For a while I felt like they were becoming less frequent but since December they have become more frequent, more severe, and less bearable.  He will cry, roll on the floor, kick his legs, and refuse to go to his room so I end up dragging him up all 20 stairs (with my dang boot on mind you!) and putting him in his room.  He was having two to three fits a day!  I decided I could no longer deal with it so I came up with a plan...called Jackson's Fit Chart, very creative I know.  I told him that for every day he does not have a fit he will get a star.  For every day he does have a fit he will get one taken away.  Once he has five stars he gets a special night with mommy or daddy (he chose daddy, not surprising).  He was really excited about it and I had high hopes and well...

 

 

 

He's been fit free for four straight days!  Today is day five and he had a great morning so as long as he does well this afternoon him and daddy are going to have a special night (7-11 for slurpees and then playing board games together is what he chose) tonight (I know it's a school night but Parker and I have plans both Friday and Saturday night this weekend).  It's been interesting to watch him over the past few days.  There have been many times where he has wanted to throw a fit but hasn't.  The first day he was cutting out a snowflake and it didn't turn out, he was very very frustrated and I looked at him and said "Jaaaackson" and he said, "I know mommy I know I won't throw a fit."  He was able to control himself which was wonderful to see.  That has happened every day.  I am SO proud of him and, when not throwing fits, Jackson is SUCH a joy to be around.  He has been such a happy boy and the dynamic in our house has improved drastically, I have more patience and am more pleasant because I'm not dealing with his fits.  I hope that he continues his good behavior.  We will do a couple more rounds of the five star motivation then we might bump it up to eight or ten.  Here's to hoping the good behavior continues!!

 

I thought this was a cute picture of Jack and Brody...

Basketball

Jackson and Josh have been playing basketball for about a month now.  This is their second year playing but their first year in this age group.  They are the Warriors, which was the same team name they had last year, and they think that's pretty cool.  They have nine players on their team and their coach is Coach Dominic.  Unfortunately they have lost all three of their games so far, which has been hard since they were undefeated in baseball and football...but I guess it's good for them to lose right?  They have fun and they are improving.  Josh is really aggressive and plays hard defense.  Jackson is the tallest on the team (however all the other teams have at least four players significantly taller than Jackson) so he gets a lot of playing time trying to defend the tall kids.  They are so fun to watch. 

 

My camera sucks at getting action shots so here are the only non blurry ones I have... 

 

I'll try taking some more throughout the next few games and see if I can get them in action  :)

Josh

The past couple months I feel like Josh has, in so many ways, matured a couple of years!  His behavior, his sensitivity, his obedience, his skills, everything about him just seems so advanced for a six year old.  Josh has been my angel lately and I don't know what I would do without him.  He is such a big help around the house...he sees what needs to be done and just does it!  That's more than I can say about his daddy!  Like I will be making dinner and I'll tell the kids "15 minutes until dinner" and Josh will just automatically start cleaning up the house, knowing that that's what I always ask them to do before dinner (because then it's bedtime).  He does it on his own, not asking for help or praise.  He does it exactly the way I would do it too which I also love.  He is SO cute with Tyce and knows how to deal with a three year old, he is well versed in using reverse psychology to encourage him to get dressed, brush his teeth, eat his dinner, clean up, etc.  On Saturday mornings when Parker and I want to sleep in, Josh gets up and gets everyone breakfast...he even knows how to make microwave oatmeal!  He is so patient with Jackson and his many fits (more on that later).  He is so tough and forgiving when Jackson takes their wrestling too far.  At nights he just goes upstairs, showers himself, puts lotion on his face, gives me his towel to hang up, then goes and reads his book..all without me asking!  Same with homework, I never have to ask him to do it or help him with it...he just sits down, does it, then puts it back in his backpack.  In thinking about the past week, I could count on one hand the number of times Josh was even slightly disobedient or grumpy.  With Parker gone I feel like Josh has really stepped up and I am extremely grateful for that blessing.  If you know Josh at all you know that he is not necessarily my "affectionate child."  Jackson and Tyce are both more physically affectionate.  However, I have noticed that Josh is very physically affectionate with me.  He is constantly giving me hugs and kisses and asking to cuddle with me on the couch.  I feel like Josh and I have a very special relationship and for that I am so grateful. 

 

Because of Josh's exceptional behavior he has received two special nights.  For his first special night Joshy got to stay awake after his brothers went to bed and watch football with daddy...he thought he was pretty cool and I thought he was pretty cute...

 

 

 

For his second special night I took him out to ice cream!  Jack and Tyce don't like ice cream and Josh and I LOVE ice cream so it was the perfect thing for us to do together... 

 

I had grand plans of sitting at Sweet Frog and talking to him about school, friends, sports, etc.  Well...he had other plans.  Plans of eating in silence.  I noticed he has a personality much like his dad and he was perfectly comfortable sitting there in silence.  It was an interesting realization to see how different he is from me, Jackson, and Tyce...who are all VERY talkative.  There are times when Josh opens up and talks to me about things in his life and I know I need to make sure and listen when he does.  But I am going to let him do it on his own time and not force it on him. 

This post does not mean Josh is my favorite child, it just means that he is at a very enjoyable stage.  I remember a couple years ago when I called Jackson "mommy's little angel" and I worried Josh and I would never bond.  I'm sure there will be ups and downs with each child as they grow up...I am just enjoying this up with my sweet Josh.  MOMMY LOVES YOU JOSH!!!  KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!

One more thing...last night Parker and I were playing games with our friends Troy and Denise and the boys were all supposed to be in bed.  I heard footsteps upstairs so I went up there and caught Josh in the hallway.  I yelled at him asking what the heck he was doing and asked what he was hiding behind his back.  He pulls this out...

 

And tells me he just wanted to put this under my pillow.  Oh my so sweet!  I felt SO bad! 

Time

I've been a mom for 6.5 years and I have to say...this is my favorite time.  I am not a big fan of the baby stage (especially with twins and/or moving across the country with a 1  month old Tyce).  Age 2 was really hard as well, my boys were into everything.  When the twins turned 4 I noticed my life got much easier and more fun.  Now that Tyce is 3 and the twins are 6...I am loving our family dynamics.  With the kids being a little older and more on their own, Parker and I have more time together (as much as possible given his job).  The twins are at such a fun age.  They are in between the little kid and the big kid and I love it because you get the best of both worlds.  Tyce is a really fun 3 year old and is definitely the humor in our family.  He says the cutest things and I love his 3 year old antics.  We are getting to the point where we can go out all day without worrying about naps, snacks, diapers, strollers, etc.  I know this would make a lot of moms sad, but not me.  We can all go out to dinner and the kids feed themselves and behave!  We can play family games and the twins can be on their own.  We can watch movies that Parker and I are interested in as well as the twins.  I can talk to the twins about more grown up things and feelings.  I guess what I'm trying to say is...this is the life.  Something happened today that made me realize how lucky I am to be in this time.

 

Jackson made a Do Not Enter sign and put it up on his bedroom door...

 

Why was this significant?  It gave me a small taste of what my future may hold...a teenage boy who does not want his mom to "enter" whether it be his room, his life, his feelings, etc.  This was funny because after I told Jackson that if I could not enter I could not do his laundry, bring his breakfast in bed on his special days, make his bed, tuck him in, cuddle him, and read to him on his bed he added a "except mommy, daddy, Tyce, and Brody" clause to the Do Not Enter stipulation.  It was so easy to "get back in."  I also think this picture is funny because he's in his undies and doesn't care if mommy sees him like that.  I love his innocence.  I love that I can fix most of my boys' problems with a kiss, a cookie, a distraction, a hug, or a short conversation.  How am I going to cope when their problems become so much more significant, real, private, and much more difficult to fix?  What am I going to do when/if they don't even WANT to talk to me about their problems?  That makes my heart ache to just think about.  Parker and I have high hopes that our parenting style will result in open communication with our kids, even as they get older, but in the end...each kid is different and we can only do so much.   

So I am trying to enjoy this time as much as I can.  I want to soak up the fun family games nights, the constant hugs and kisses, the cute I Love You cards, the way Tyce says "flowlers" for flowers, the constant wanting to be with me and talk to me, and the innocence that my precious boys radiate.  I love that at this age they WANT to be with Parker and I.  They listen to us and value our opinions.  They, for the most part, obey us.  I also want them to know, since I print out my blog and will give them each copies of each year when they're old enough to appreciate it, how much their mommy loves them.  I don't know what the future holds for our family and how the dynamic will change, but I do know that I will always love them and will always strive to make sure they know that.  I know I will enjoy other ages as well but, really, I don't know if it gets better than this for me.  I love you Jackson, Josh, and Tyce...please don't ever grow up. But, if you must, please always know that I am here. 

Brody

Yes, we're alive over here in the Morrill household.  I've been extremely sick and haven't had the energy or desire to blog.  Also, there's been nothing to blog about because all I've done is lay around the house for 10 days!  Thankfully Parker stepped up and helped a ton with the house and the kids.  I am finally starting to feel better, not 100%, but better.  Since we've done nothing of note the past week I decided it'd be a good time to blog about our wonderful family kitty, Brody! 

 

Parker (who "doesn't like cats") spent 3 days at the humane society before picking Brody, and surprising me our first Christmas together with him.  We fell in love with him immediately.  Anyone who knows him loves him, even if they're not "a cat person."  In many ways he's more like a dog than a cat.  He is NOT skiddish, he is very friendly and social.  He loves kids and sits there patiently as kids "pet" him, lay on him, ride him, pinch him, etc.  He always wants to be where the action is.  He loves car rides and doesn't need to be in a cat carrier or anything, which is good considering he's accompanied Parker in UHAULS going from Oregon to Utah, Utah to Oregon, Oregon to Utah, Utah to Virginia, Virginia to Utah, then back to Virginia!  He can balance on his back feet really good, jump super high, and can open doors with handles.  He is very smart.  He is also extremely loving and cuddly.  Here are some pics of him...

 

 

Him and Josh have always been close, Brody sleeps with him most nights...

 

Cuddling with Parker...

 Sleeping with Joshy under the covers...

 This is his new favorite spot on our new couch...

Haha, he was in trouble for sneaking some turkey off Tyce's plate so he jumped on top of the kitchen cabinets...

 Can you spot the kitty?  He loves to sleep in our hall closet (making a mess of all the towels)...

A couple months ago poor Brody came home with a huge gash on the side of his face, we don't know what happened but we took him to the emergency vet clinic and they fixed him up.  When the vet came to talk to me she went on and on about what an amazing cat he is.  "He is amazing mam, he doesn't bite, wiggle, growl, or anything he just sits there while we work on him!" 

 Sleeping with Josh again, can you tell he likes to be as CLOSE as possible??

Another interesting thing about Brody is he will only drink from sink faucets.  He actually is quite picky and only likes drinking out of PARKER'S sink faucet.  He lets the water trickle down his paw then licks it off his paw.  So weird!  Sometimes in the middle of the night he'll wake up poor Josh so Josh will go turn the water on for him, haha then Josh goes back to bed and I wake up to the sound of the water dripping out of the faucet!  The worst part is that after he's done drinking he will shake his wet paw and get water all over the mirror! 

Brody is such a special kitty and has been an important part of our family for the past 9 years.  Lately he has been having accidents outside of his litter box.  We've taken him to the vet and there is nothing wrong, medically, with him.  We're hoping it does not continue because if it does we will have to put him down.  WE LOVE YOU BRODY!!!

The twins have their second basketball game (no I didn't get pics at the first game, it was all I could do to get there!) on Saturday so I'll take some pics and post them soon.  :)

My Calling

About 18 months ago I was released from my church calling as Miamaid Advisor (teaching the 14-15 year old girls) and called as the Stake Young Women Secretary.  I was very sad to be leaving our ward's young women's program, we have excellent leaders and amazingly strong girls.  However, I was looking forward to a new adventure as I had never had a stake calling before.  It was a tough adjustment at first, the other three ladies had all been in the previous presidency and knew so much more than me.  Also, since I only moved here three years ago I really didn't know many people outside of my own ward.  My responsibilities include note taking at all meetings, lots and lots of emails, assist in the youth dances each month, assist and attend girl's camp and youth conference, attend all ward conferences, new beginnings, and young women in excellence programs, trainings, and a variety of other things. 

 

These are the wonderful ladies I am privileged to work with (we are at the youth New Years Eve dance).  Next to me is Mary Kay (1st counselor), a pediatric nurse who also lives on and runs a full working farm...she has a personality similar to mine and we get along great.  Lisa (President), the blonde, is called "Sister Barbie" by many of the youth...and it's obvious why, she's beautiful!  But, more than that, she is such a strong leader and has such a strong testimony and love for the gospel and for the youth of our stake.  On the end is Becky.  It took me a longer time to get to know Becky, once I did I really liked and admired her.  Becky is a worker, she is smart, and she is a thinker.  She is also a good listener.  I feel so lucky to get to serve with each of them.  My calling is, at times, draining and exhausting and time consuming but (as frequently happens with the Lord) the blessings that come from my service far outweigh the struggles. 

 

 

My New Addition

I have had terrible pain in my heels for about 9 months now.  I finally went to see a podiatrist and found out I have plantar fasciitis (Plantar fasciitis is a painful inflammatory process of the plantar fascia, the connective tissue on the sole (bottom surface) of the foot. It is often caused by overuse of the plantar fascia or arch tendon of the foot. It is a very common condition and can be difficult to treat if not looked after properly.)  After trying a brace, stretches, shots, orthotics, steroids, and other things...the doctor put me in this beauty...

 

I have to wear this for 6 to 8 weeks and am also going to start physical therapy.  The unfortunate thing is I also have it in my other foot as well so once this foot heals (IF this foot heals) I get to wear the boot on the other foot!  I have been wearing it for almost a month and have gotten pretty used to it.  Stairs are very difficult, especially when carrying groceries or kids.  I have learned to drive pretty well with it, braking with my left foot.  I have been less than fashionable this winter as I can only wear certain shoes and pants with it.  The biggest challenge for me has been giving up running.  I haven't run since November and I hate it.  I am gaining weight and I am losing all I worked for.  The only thing I can do at the gym is my body pump class (just no lunges) and the stationary bike.  I HATE biking!  I am less motivated to go to the gym now that I can't run but I know SOME exercise is better than none. 

The reason I blog about this is because for 29 years I have taken for granted basic things like walking, running, and being physical. Being on my feet is so painful.  Parker and I spent three hours Christmas shopping for the boys and I was in such pain I considered climbing in the shopping cart.  Basic things like standing in the kitchen cooking dinner are unbearable.  I have high hopes that this treatment will work and I will, someday soon, be pain free and able to resume my normal life.  In the meantime...I am trying to be positive...

Visit from Jo!

Saturday afternoon my high school best friend, Johanne, came to visit!  Her and her new husband, Tom, spent Christmas in New York then decided to head down to DC for a quick trip.  I was so excited to see her, it's been so long and her and I have endless things to talk about and laugh about.  Unfortunately, she got super sick and couldn't do much but it was still so good to see her and meet her husband. 

 

They got Tyce that adorable hat he's wearing...

 

 They got Jackson this super cute poster for his room...

 Here's Josh's...

 They really liked Tom and probably wore him out with all the playing they did!

It was so nice having Jo in my house, I was sad to see her go but am grateful for our friendship that, regardless of time apart, always picks up where we left off.  LOVE YOU JO!!!