mother's day

today was perfect in every way. I had breakfast in bed, homemade presents from the kids, a new laptop (surprise!) and frying pans (not a surprise!) from my husband. I didn't change a single diaper or make any food. I had a long nap in the afternoon, next to my man... which never happens. When I stepped in the kitchen to do dishes after dinner, I was spanked. After dinner, my boys prepared angel food cake with fresh strawberries. I was able to talk to my parents in the MTC and most of my sisters. I feel so grateful to be surrounded by such great women.

After dinner I called my dear friend Bev Olson in Spokane. She is such a great example to me and I always love to hear the advice and support she gives me. I was also able to talk to my single aunt Nancy.. my dad's little sister. She is the world's greatest aunt and even though she never had any children of her own, she is one of the most amazing mothers I know. She assured me that my little girl will love having four older brothers like she did.

Most of all I am grateful for my children and the lessons they teach me on a daily basis. I am grateful they came together, in a 4 pack. They are such good friends with each other. They treat each other kindly and spend 99% of their time laughing and joking with each other. They are such darling, fabulous little men and I am proud to be their mom. My greatest wish for them is to find supportive, loving women to marry. Their dad has spent the last 10 years showing them how to be a great husband and father. I feel truly blessed and hope that every woman in the world can feel as spoiled as I do.

This is on my facebook status, but I want it for the books. Today I was in charge of organizing a little primary program for sacrament meeting. It was pulled together last minute and a bit crazy, but we had a handful of children give one liners over the pulpit about their moms. Ben said, "My mom is happier after she has a nap." I thought about excluding him from the program... but he was just being honest and it is SO TRUE! I am also much happier when I go to bed at a decent hour... good night and sweet dreams!

it's a GIRL !!!

The boys missed a birthday party today so they could be at the ultrasound. Aaron was able to sneak away from work and it was a perfect family outing! I was a bit frustrated during the appointment because everything seemed pretty blurry. With my boys, we could see parts-- and clearly. The tech didn't say anything until the very end because she was waiting to get a good shot. But the baby had her legs crossed most of the time (such a lady) and didn't want to show us anything. Finally at the end, she gave us the "100%- It's A GIRL, go-out-and-buy-pink" announcement. The tech said she knew right away, but with four boys in the room, she wanted to give us proof. I still don't think you can see much, but if three lines means it's not a boy, then I am willing to sign on the dotted line.

Aaron was beaming from ear to ear and made sure to tell me that he's always given me everything I've ever wanted. I am so thrilled and the boys are all pretty excited too. On the way home they could not stop listing girl names. Zack says he really wants Sally. But then suggested a few more: Stinker, Dum-dum, Grandma, Godzilla, Brother... we were all laughing. He also said, "It would be awesome to name her GO AWAY! Then I can say, 'Come here, Go Away' & 'Go Away, come here!'" After ten years and four boys, I can promise you, we have a long list of girl names and don't need any of his suggestions.

I am excited to buy dresses and hair bows... yay for girls & happy mother's day to me!

finding the good

I've had an outpouring of love the last couple of days and just want to say thanks. I like to document life as it happens, but honestly don't mean to whine about my terrible situation or beg for help.. but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the dinners, phone calls, babysitting offers, gift certificates to Taco Bell & kind emails. I have the best friends and I love you all.

The topic of conversation that seems to ring true for everyone is "life has not turned out how we expected." This doesn't mean we're unhappy, just that it can be difficult at times. Parenting is harder that it looks. There are never enough hours in the day to get it ALL done. Money problems never end. Being sick is the pits. Marriage is a lot of hard work... etc. etc. But, it's all part of the good life, isn't it?

I struggle finding a balance between pretending everything is perfect and complaining too much. That's why I finally decided on the blog address fairly happy. I am happy, but not THAT happy... I hate people who are THAT happy.

I think the trick is to not compare your life/situation with others because we never really know what's going on. I came across a great quote the other day from Marvin J. Ashton who said, "If we could look into each other's hearts and understand the unique challenges each of us face, I think we would treat each other much more gently, with more love, patience, tolerance and care."

Sometimes it's hard to talk about our struggles because we are all going through different experiences. It's hard to be vulnerable in a time of need, but that keeps us from connecting and relating to one another. It's also THAT much more important to reach out & give others the benefit of the doubt. My mom used to tell me that everyone had a "secret" and if we only knew what was troubling them, we would never judge them for acting the way they did. That was a hard lecture to hear in Jr. High/High School when I just wanted to complain about everyone else, but it's something that has really stuck with me over the years. As soon as I want to gossip about someone else, I pretend they are having the worst day of their lives.

Anyway, this started out as a simple thank you and has turned into something else. I just wanted to say that I am doing well and I appreciate the love and support I have in my life. I love this blog because it is my outlet- a place I can write down the dirt without feeling judged. It keeps me from complaining to my husband the minute he walks through the door (although I do that too :) Life is hard, but it's so much easier knowing that you're not alone. The more we open up with one another and the more we allow others to open up to us (without judging) the better the world would be.

That's what I've been thinking about lately.

PS. According to Jacques Wiesel, "A survey of one hundred self-made millionaires showed only one common denominator. These highly successful men and women could only see the good in people."

PPS. "Every man I meet is in some way my superior, and I can learn of him." Ralph Waldo Emerson. Love this quote.

PPPS. Simon rubbed an entire cube of butter in his hair today.

some Mondays are better than others

I had yesterday planned out perfectly. School in the morning, lunch date with Aaron, a few chapters of Robin Hood and a nice quiet afternoon nap. It all happened according to plan. Around 3 pm, I started making dinner. Mondays are usually pasta night. I had all the ingredients for spinach lasagna, and enough left over to take to a sick neighbor. The homemade sauce had been simmering in the crock pot all morning and the cheeses were mixed together. Simon woke up from his nap just as I was boiling the noodles. He was super grumpy and wanted my attention, so he pulled a towel off the counter which happened to be the resting place for several glass dishes. They all shattered on the kitchen floor before I could save them. I gave Simon food in his high chair (reward for being such a monster) and began cleaning up the mess. Before I was finished Simon was screaming to get out. He's usually content when there's food in front of him, so I knew something was wrong. He was poopy (probably had been for some time) and his poor little hiney was bright red. I stripped him down and put him in the kitchen sink... he needed a bath and I needed to get the lasagna in the oven so I could take it to my neighbor in time. Because I was stressed, I failed to clear away any objects within the reach of the sink, which included a plant Zack was growing in the window sill. Yep, before I could even finish cleaning up the rest of the glass, Simon had dumped the plant into the sink and was bathing in dirt. I turned on the faucet to rinse him off (and went to move him to the other side) but he thought he was being punished and was getting out of the sink for good. Simon loves playing in the water and wasn't about to be finished just yet. As I went to pick him up, he grabbed the faucet with both hands... and when I tried to yank him off, the faucet came with. Honestly, I don't even know how it happened because neither of us are that strong. All I know is that the sink was spraying cold water all over me and everything else.

I know it sounds funny, but it wasn't. at all. I had a red-bummed baby covered in poop and dirt and broken sink. Dinner (which was supposed to be in the oven by now) was spread out all over the water-soaked counters. I ran Simon upstairs and bathed him quickly in a place that was meant for bathing. I dressed him and told his older brothers that they needed to occupy him until I could get dinner in the oven. I was able to salvage enough food to make two small pans of lasagna, which was more than I could have hoped for. By this time the oven had been heating up the kitchen for over an hour and I was sweating... I knew I needed to do something about the sink, but I just didn't have the gusto. I just put my hands in my face and started sobbing.

The kids, who were playing blocks in the other room heard me crying and came running in to ask what was wrong. I told them it was nothing-- I was just having a bad day. I needed some fresh air, so I grabbed a pan to boil the corn on the cob and headed outside to fill it with water. As I turned on the hose and leaned down with my old, rusty pot, I stared laughing and said to myself, "Whose life is this, anyway?" As a little girl, I dreamed of having a nice house and children of my own, and this was NEVER what I pictured. How did a nice girl like me get stuck with a broken kitchen sink?

When I came inside, I turned on the stove and heard a little 5 year old voice talking on the phone saying something like this: "Mom's having a really bad day and I think you should come home now." I walked into find Zack hanging up the phone with an I-just-saved-the-day look on his face. Daddy arrived home shortly after. I took dinner to the neighbors and he fixed the kitchen sink like a pro with a plumber's crack. When I arrived home, the table was set and dinner was ready. One particular person liked his lasagna and corn more than anyone else at the table.


After dinner we had FHE outdoors at a nearby miniature golf course. This is EXACTLY what I needed. My eyes were still puffy from crying, but everything was right in the world.


If getting out in the beautiful weather with my family didn't make me happy, then finding this homemade card under my pillow did. I am grateful for a husband who comes to my rescue and kids who are willing to "clean my room" when I have a bad day. some Mondays are better than others.

some Sundays are better than others

Yesterday started out rough. Getting four kids ready for church when you aren't feeling well is never fun. Simon emptied an entire bottle of conditioner in the bathtub, which made for a slippery clean up. I threw up before I ate a piece of toast and immediately afterward. After a long Sacrament meeting, most of which I spent out in the foyer, Simon and I left church and went to Taco Bell. (shh! don't tell anyone.) Sometimes when you're feeling sick, the only thing that sounds good is a bean burrito without onions.

After church, Simon was long overdue for a nap. The kids and I were able to play a good game of cards while dinner simmered. Dad arrived home shortly after 3 and we had a nice meal. Too bad Luke couldn't join us because he was SO sick after fasting for 24 hours. Poor kid. I should have taken him to Taco Bell with me and all problems would have been solved.

While Luke slept on the couch, the rest of us played another game of cards. When Luke woke up (and after he ate) we called Grandparents. My parents were set apart last night as full-time missionaries! I wish so badly I could have been there to officially say goodbye. I cried on the phone and my mom reassured me that everything was going to be okay-- like she always has. They entered the MTC this morning and will fly to Chile in two short weeks. crazy!

After our phone calls, I was emotional and wanted to get outside. We backed up our bikes (in both cars) and headed to a nearby elementary school parking lot. Not our typical place for a Sunday bike ride, but it was Zack's first lessons without training wheels and it's hard to concentrate on him, the crazy baby, the hyper dog and the other boys while riding out in the neighborhood. And this way, Sunny could be leash-free and run as fast as her heart desired. Simon doesn't want to ride his trike anymore because he knows it's for babies. He didn't tell me that, but I knew. He absolutely loved riding on Dad's lap, holding on to the handle bars. He felt like such a big boy and would wave his hand while casually saying, "Hey!" as he passed by. Zack did great job without training wheels. He's not a pro yet, but he will be soon.

When it was dark, we packed it all back up and started to head home, when Luke asked if he could drive the car. An empty parking lot is an awesome place for driving lessons. Of course, none of them can reach the gas pedal, but they can all steer, so we spent another hour letting our kids drive around the parking lot. Are we terrible parents? Probably. But it was a lot of fun. Zack hit a curb and Ben drove over a cone, but all in all it was a successful night. Sometimes all you need when you're feeling crummy is to get out as a family. The dog was drooling with her head hanging out the window, the kids were in heaven pretending to be race car drivers and I was happy to be surrounded by such cute little people. When we finally arrived home (way past bedtime) I made everyone pose for a picture. This is one of those nights that could easily be forgotten about unless I document it. We tried to get Sunny in the shot, but she was too busy trying to drink from our broken sprinkler.


I went to sleep with the dishwasher running, the kids sleeping peacefully in their beds, a handsome husband laying next to me and an anti-nausea pill dissolving in my tummy. Some Sundays are better than others.