Grandma Grace Wilson

The Wilson's:

Funerals make me cry b/c of all the people that you see cry! Your nose starts to tickle, you feel your throat get tighter, and your eyes start to tear up the minute you see someone else grieving. It is hard to see grown men break down into tears when they talk about their loved ones. How grateful I am RIGHT NOW that I am not burying any of my babies, that my husband is alive and well, and that I am not feeling that black pit of sadness from any of my immediate family members.

Jared's Grandma died on August 15th, 2009 at the lovely age of 92. She raised 10 kids. Lived in a shack with no electricity, running water, plumbing or heating. How did she do it? I feel so spoiled thinking about all the things I enjoy as a stay at home mother of just 3. What a privilege it is to scrub my toilets, stock up my cold fridge after a crazy Wal Mart trip, take a lukewarm shower, and turn on a nightlight for my boys. How does anyone raise 10 kids??? She had courage and guts b/c her husband died when she still had 3 at home, over 40 years ago.

We spent the weekend in Show-Low and Eagar, AZ. Funerals are a time when families can get together and really reminisce about childhood memories and things that bring you close. Jared did a great job reading Grace's life history and being a pallbearer. I didn't know a lot of the relatives, but anyone could feel the great love that this Wilson family has for one another. A lot of them are not members of our church, and I am just so grateful for the knowledge that we have of life after death. It hurts, but it doesn't feel permanent. There is hope that we will be together again.

I only knew Grandma Wilson in short spurts. I wish I could've spent more time with her (isn't it always like that?) She was one to always have bright red lipstick on, her red hair done up on top of her head, and a fiesty "do it yourself" attitude that I am sure she gained by raising her children alone. Onry is another word that described her.

In Globe, AZ is one of Jared's favorite Mexican Restaurants. Funny enough, it is called, "Burger House." They are always packed with people in the tiny joint, and closed on Sundays...so, it's been a few years since we have made it when passing through. Jared came here with his dad during sports tournaments. Super cheesy quesadillas and they even put butter on their chips!We did a tiny bit of fishing on Show Low lake as well. We got rained out, but the boys still had a great time in the cooler weather. It was especially fun have all 5 of us share a room, where Isaac took full advantage of me being next to him for nighttime snacks.


The best part of the trip is that we got to have Jared "home" with us for 5 days straight!

All about Me

We sat down for FHE last week and did "All About Me" for Jared and the boys. Wesley's kindergarten teacher sent it home with him for homework, so I was inspired to have the whole family do it. No one asked me the same fun questions, but I guess that is just what happens when you are the mom, right? No one takes your pictures ( you are always snapping them), you are behind the video camera, and it's up to me to keep track of all our "family life" info.

Here are some of the questions:

Wesley, Age 5Favorite food: ravioli
Favorite color: purple and blue
Favorite movie: wolverine, x-men, Treasure Planet (and Scooby Doo)
Favorite game: Hide'n'go Seek, tag, "Base" (alguien te busca, te corres, llegues al sofa y eso es base)
Favorite toy: swords, and Venom
When do you feel happiest: If you buy us a toy, or let us watch a movie, or you let me eat a candy
When do you feel most sad: When you spank me, or mom spanks me, or when Austin scratches me almost to my heart, starting with my head.
When do you feel scared: When I am at the store alone b/c someone left me and a bad person comes and takes me and kills me (quite the imagination!)
What don't you like: When I am the only one behaving well, being the example at school on the green light and always doing what I am supposed to do.
What do you do well: I run fast and I am strong. I can lift up a big rock.
What can you do by yourself: Wipe my own botom, I am helping Austin learn to wipe his bottom
What are you getting better at doing: "Snapping" and whistling
How do you help out at home: I help dad pick off dead skin (his sunburns) and also with the plates. I help when you call me and when you need help.
What would you do if you were a teacher: I would go to school and show everyone what they need to learn.
What do you want to be when you grown up:Go on a rollercoaster, like the star one (Disnelyand) or play some game where you spin and get hit, almost like little fires, but they don't burn you.


Austin, Age 3Favorite food: eggs with bread (huevos con pan)
Favorite color: green, like Laffy Tacky (taffy)
Favorite movie: Muffits (muppets) in Space (he happened to watch it the night before. I would vote that his favorite is Brier Rabbit or Karate Dog)
Favorite game:Wrestling with papa, and winning like Venom does
Favorite toy: Venom (or Hulk, Spiderman, Iron Man, or his sticky bug from the "treasure box")
When do you feel happiest: when I get surprises, like Rock Man o algo
When do you feel most sad: when you don't let me wrestle
When do you feel scared: when a bad man gets me and I run fast like a cheetah (wow!)
What don't you like: to sleep (so true!)
What do you do well: Me veo "hansome" (I am handsome)
What can you do by yourself: Blow up balloons (case se acaba mi aire)
What are you getting better at doing: Taking a shower (me bano). I let him do it alone with Wes.
How do you help out at home: When dad cuts down trees, that are old, I put them where we go camping (in our backyard)
What would you do if you were a teacher: I would look at things and I would also work
What do you want to be when you grown up: I want to work with my hands

Jared, Age 29Favorite food: Quesadillas
Favorite color: Black
Favorite movie: I don't watch t.v, x-men trilogy I could watch over again
Favorite game: Catch
Favorite toy: my wife
When do you feel happiest: Good work week + long weekend
When do you feel most sad: On Tuesdays when I go back to work and leave my family
When do you feel scared: When Austin says, 'No quiero que te vayas.' Sometimes I get scared on the airplaine and I think, "This could be the big one and I might crash."
What don't you like: To argue with wife
What do you like: Drink liquados, sleep in, hang out with wife
What do you do well: I am very loyal, "I am the nicest guy ever."
What can you do by yourself: Speak Spanish, I am a perfectionist
What are you getting better at doing: I can get along; laundry, grocery shopping, making bed, excercise, dinner, etc.
How do you help out at home: pay all of the bills, wipe off counters, wrestle with kids
What would you do if you were a teacher: make my classes fun and engaging
What do you want to be when you grown up: own my own business again so I can be at home with my wife and coach my kids in sports.


Adrienne, Age 30Favorite food: cobb salads (but I do love fudge bars, red vines, Lorna Doones and Pringles)
Favorite color: Orange or red
Favorite movie: Romantic comedy, drama...Sandra Bullock and Will Smith are great to watch
Favorite game: Aerobic classes
Favorite toy: Internet
When do you feel happiest: Eating dinner as a family,watching Jared wrestle with the boys, or nuring Isaac
When do you feel most sad: taking Jared to the airport
When do you feel scared: Nighttime of course! Every night alone in my house!
What don't you like: a messy kitchen, hairy legs, or overly-tired children
What do you do well: cook, multi-task, write, teach
What can you do by yourself: run a household
What are you getting better at doing: being more patient at bedtime with my boys, and have more self control with my snacking
How do you help out at home: drive kids around, cook, love, assist, remind, clean, coach
What would you do if you were a teacher: individually help out each student
What do you want to be when you grown up: I just want to be together as a family every night!

mugshots

Here are my boys' mugshots. The boys kept wanting to smile for the camera, so it is funny to see them being so "serious." Isaac especially has a scowl that I love.

We are making preparations to go and visit my mom in South America (Argentina) later this year if everything goes as planned.

I think my boys look so cute! Passports will hopefully arrive by October.

More details soon to come!

School update

Wesley has two weeks down into kindergarten and the transition has been great. It helps carpooling with his buddies Mason and Chloe Ashton. Each morning they get dropped off here at the house and that is motivation for both Wesley and Austin to get ready so that they can play before leaving for school. This morning Wesley surprised me: at 6:45am he walked into my room dressed, with his bed made, and ready for breakfast! What a surprise! Shirt tucked in, belt put on, and he even had on an undershirt. What a big boy! If only it was that easy every day!

Wesley did the funniest thing at school yesterday. I asked him how lunch went (since he doesn't give me many more details beyond food, a few interactions with friends and some songs). He told me that he didn't eat any of the lunch I had packed. What? He then told me that when the man came by with tickets, he raised his hand. If you raised you hand, you got a ticket for "hot lunch." Wesley told me that he at first was joking, but then decided to get one anyway. So, he just left his "cold lunch" in the bin, and went ahead with the "hot lunch." I asked him what he ate. He then told me he got a burrito, broccoli, an apple and chocolate milk. What a big boy! I would've loved to have seen him in that lunch line with his little tray, feeling so grown up as he decided what to eat and then walking over to sit down at a table. I told him that it's O.K. if he wants hot lunch, but that he has to tell me so that we can pay for it. He told me, "you don't have to pay mom, you just raise your hand at get a ticket." My sweet boy is learning things all on his own!

We have also had some innocent conversations about kids that are overweight, as well as those that say the Lord's name in vain. I want him to be non-judgemental, but also respectful for what we teach here at home. He's such a good boy and I sure do miss him here at home. I love his sweaty kisses when he gets home, and he is always so anxious to run over and love on Isaac. Austin is also lost without his older brother around to entertain him. He follows me around the house with never ending questions, asking for attention and wondering when Wesley will come home. I am practicing lots of patience with my sweet 3-year-old and love how well they play together when they are reunited every afternoon.


Austin has started up preschool too. It is only 2x's a week for a few hours, but enough to give me some time to run errands with just one boy. His first day, he was all smiles on his way to the house, excited about his new Nikes and Spiderman "packpack."

But, as Jared and I started to leave, the separation tears started to flow. I took a few pictures, and that made things even worse. Jared talked with him for a bit and things smoothed over really quick. We even took a "posed" picture of a mean face from Jared (just like the original one that we took with Wesley last week) for fun. Austin really enjoys preschool now, even though I have no idea what they even do in there! All I care about is that he socializes, feels important, grown up, and learns a few letters along the way. He will have two full years before Kindergarten.Jared let Austin drive home with the steering wheel as we entered our neighborhood. Austin was thrilled! I think the scenery tells you a lot about how far out in the desert we really do live. Just look at how Austin is literally turning the corner, and how nervous Jared looks as he helps out.

My boys also are continuing their superhero phase. Everyday, Austin and Wesley change who they are. Between Wolverine, Iceman, Human Torch, Abomination, Hulk Smash, Superman and Muscle Man...I have a hard time keeping them all straight as they switch them up every 5 minutes.

They are posing as Wolverine, with pencils for claws.



They also love flexing muscles and eating popsicles with their buddies Tallin and Colt Hall.


Isaac is also sitting up on his own now, at almost 7 months old. Right alongside his brothers, he loves to watch movies! Poor baby is also feverish, slobbery, full of boogers and irritable as he starts the long process of cutting teeth.

Bedtime blues

I don't know how I will do this on my own all school year...

Wesley came home once again grumpy b/c he has not gotten enough sleep the last few days. All he wants to do when he gets home is watch movies, play video games, computer games, etc. You get the point. I allow it for a while, but then we need to move on with our night! We have yet to find that balance of work and play, and boy does he show it with his grouchiness!

At 5:15pm, I put dinner on. Isaac is on his second dinner. Ideally, I would love to read some scriptures around the dinner table, but at this point, I am just trying to keep my boys from arguing with each other, goofing around, and actually EATING their food. Isaac gets cheerios stuffed down his mouth with his sippy cup as well.

5:45pm, struggle and warn Wesley to get in the shower. I help him get it started. He can do most of it on his own, but if I don't stay on him, he will just stand and let the hot water run out. He is just like me...I love a hot shower!

6:00pm, struggle and warn Austin to finish his food! Stop picking at it with your fingers, and pick up the spoon that has yogurt on it off of the floor.

6:05pm Wesley hops out, all steamy and hot. Austin and Isaac then get a turn in the bathtub. Austin is whining for the cup that I use to rinse of Isaac. Isaac is flapping around and thrusting his hips around in the water. He also want to roll over and drown!

6:10pm Get Isaac out and into PJ's. Austin comes out naked looking for me.

6:15pm. Wesley's turn to practice his reading. How does any parent do this every night while still entertaining the other kids? Austin is on my lap, covering up the pages and laughing. Wesley is frustrated b/c he can't concentrate. I send Austin to go get his own book, get dressed and help Isaac from crying. Isaac continues to roll around (he is exhausted at this point), and moan. I try to focus with Wesley and somehow we squeak out 15 min. of reading. Thank goodness he doesn't have homework at this point!

6:30pm. Austin then wants his turn to read. Threaten and encourage Wesley to go brush his teeth. Plop Isaac up on my lap while trying to read to Austin and avoid getting pages ripped by my babies chubby fingers. Isaac is still crying. Austin is asking SOOO many questions and I am still trying to "translate" Monster's Inc. into Spanish. Not an easy task. I begin to lose my patience...

6:35pm. Wesley's turn for a book. Austin refuses to brush his teeth. I start to pick up the wet towels, bounce Isaac and help Austin with his teeth.

6:38pm. Begin to read to Wesley. Start to nurse Isaac. Boys begin to play with Isaac's head...Don't touch him!!! Read the book two times through.

6:40pm. Lights out. Skipped prayers tonight. Ran out of patience and had an exhausted baby on one hip. Tell boys to stop talking or they will not get any homemade popsicles tomorrow (every night my nightly threats change, but the popsicles seem to work well for now).

6:45pm Finish nursing Isaac. Enjoy one last cuddle into those big brown eyes and long lashes.

6:50 pm More empty threats at my boys...breathe Adrienne...finish cleaning up the kitchen and wonder when the motivation will come to clean my floors?

7:20pm. Kids are still awake! Are you for real? Talk very firmly for Austin to stop standing on his bed and for Wesley to go to sleep. No more laughing boys!

How does any one person tackle all of the reading, homework, bathing, dinner, bedtime stories and tantrums? Plus get the kids to bed ON TIME b/c they have to get up at 6:45am? I am learning as I go, but I sure hope it gets easier as they get older!!! Breathe Adrienne....breathe...

The big 3--0

You know you are old when....you leave out the door and forget to put on your shoes! This is how my 3-0 birthday started out...taking Wesley to school in socks.

Fortunately, I was able to find some flip flops at Wal-Greens for 1.07 (on sale!) April Ashton caught me in the moment and snapped a quick picture. She told me, "you know your schedule is too full if you run out the door, forgetting to put on shoes!" I was busy loading up the kids with water bottles, backpacks, the baby, baby bag, breakfast, gym wristbands, children, and keys that I just spaced it!

Isaac, Nikki Thrower and I then got a well needed pedicure. Isaac wasn't too fond of the idea, so he hung out on my lap...but, that massage and those sparkly nails sure do make me happy!



My girls Leslie Boley and April Ashton took me out for a surprise b-day dinner. I do love surprises! I was especially grateful to have them around since Jared was out of town working. They got super creative with the "blindfold." They got into a 24 hour kit for bandages and gauze pads. I am sure I looked like I had just had some plastic surgery to all of the on lookers.

I picked out my meal by a pointing on a menu method. It was a quaint little outdoor music restaurant that they took me to, "Salty Senorita." We don't drink, but the atmosphere was hip and we had fun.
They then surprised me by taking me to a comedy club where I was put on the spotlight! I kept my eyes closed up until we got to the stage and I was very surprised by it all. Way to go girls!

Cheesecake Factory is always a girls best friend. My favorite part is the "whoopin' cream." We then headed back to Salty Senoritas for some fun music, dancing, opening gag gifts and chatting. The men only wished that my girls were single b/c they kept looking and wanting to flirt. I really enjoyed getting out of my normal comfort zone to listen to fun music and to feel like "Adrienne."



This year must be the year for gag gifts:
Grandma Undies, Grandma Thong, Gray Hair dye kit, a bag of marbles "b/c you lose your marbles at age 30," a b-day card about texting/blogging/car pooling, a R.I.P. sign over my door, anti-age wrinkle eye cream, and plenty of junk food (pringles, laffy taffy, red vines, cookies, etc).


Jared and I celebrated my birthday with the Ashton's a few days later at the "Melting Pot." What a great atmosphere at an expensive price! We are glad we experienced the fondue fun with the cheeses, chocolates, lobster, veggies, "search and rescue" spoon and salads. It takes about 2 hours for the entire process to be over. Lots of dipping, double dipping, cooking raw meats, drizzling cheeses onto your plate and licking your skewer from drops of chocolate. It's always fun to put on "sexy jeans," wedges, jewlery, and make up to go on a date with your hubby. One time was enough for us, but it was a great one!

Kindergarten

Paradise Education Center, Surprise, AZ.

My little boy is all grown up! With two days down of Kindergarten, I am still in shock that this is all happening. Am I ready for such a commitment to school? Just the thought of becoming a chauffeur is a bit daunting. That crazy parking lot had better calm down, b/c it's bad enough unloading with two kids in 115 degree heat, before adding a 15 min wait in line to even park!

We got Wes all dressed up in his uniform and headed out to school as a family. Because we had been in Cali the previous week, I missed out on the "meet the teacher" night. Not only did I not know what time school started, I didn't know who the teacher was, where her classroom was, or where to park! Boy did I feel incompetent. I also hadn't made bread that week, so my boy had to eat a protein bar for his lunch. Only for my first child in school would I take a picture of his lunch box. I am so silly!

Eventually we wandered to the right building and found the classroom. It was very chaotic with parents snapping pictures, backpacks being thrown around and announcements being made above the chatter. I was hoping in my heart for some grand "ceremony" to enter kindergarten. Perhaps the teacher would read us all a story and let us have a tearful good-bye, or a moment of silence so we could take one last picture of our baby entering the big kid world. NOPE. NADA.

We entered the madness alongside everyone else and did our best to figure out what to do. We found Wesley's desk, marked his attendance, found the lunchbox basket, and I figured the lady up front was most likely the teacher. We had been prepping Wesley for this day and he was excited. He has been to two years of preschool, and goes to Sunday School every week. So, this wouldn't be too big of a challenge...or so we thought.

There were so many little kids crying, that by the time it was our turn to leave, Wesley's little lip started to quiver, he quickly put up his hand over his face and started to cry! Break your heart! I wanted to cry along with him! Jared, being the great papa he is, sat down with him and talked with him about how it was O.K. to cry, how he also cried when he first went to school, and how he will do great b/c he has been to preschool before, etc. Wesley calmed down, we gave him a kiss, and off we went.

My baby is all grown up now. There is no going back. Here come the next 13+ years of education with no stops. Because I am a teacher, I have always enjoyed the first day of school. There is such an excitement in the air as new students enter in with their new shoes, new backpacks, new attitudes and new smiles. The expectations as a teacher are to create the rules together, gain respect for one another, and establish a safe environment for learning. Now that I am a parent of a student, I have a whole new perspective on the school years. Now I am worried about his lunch, getting to school on time, homework, grades, friends and uniforms! I think I would be much more understanding of a new student and a concerned parent, now that I am one myself.

It is now out of my hands. All I can do is hope that what we have been doing in our home will make up for any shortfalls that come at school. There will be many people along the way to mold my boy into a man, and although it is a bit scary to think about it, I just need to be strong.

Today after school, Wesley asked me why school was so much longer than his previous school (which ended at noon). He asked, "when I am older, will school be longer too?" (Like the older you get, the longer the school days are, etc). Yesterday he got home doing karate kicks and begging to go swimming. Today he was a tired mess who just bickered with Austin. He also told me how he didn't like the homemade bread I made him for lunch. Seriously? I was embracing myself for him to tell me how he wanted white bread like all the other kids. He then told me that some girl next to him said that she didn't like the way his PB & J sandwich smelled (she is allergic to peanuts). So, already he is insecure with even his lunch! He also was sad b/c he doesn't have any friends yet. How do you explain to a little one how friendships take time to cultivate? He has been used to the play dates I set up for him, and now he has to learn to make friends on his own. My heart strings are already being tugged b/c I want him to be happy and have friends, not feel alone and scared.

I also need to find some happy balance between after school activities, tv, homework, snack time and dinner time. AAAHHH! I am so new at this! I know Kindergarten is not a HUGE deal, but this is the beginning of the end of toddlerhood. Now comes responsibility, questions, curiosity and discipline...not to mention working on his reading and getting him to bed promptly at 7pm.

The Star Spangled Banner with Austin as we entered the classroom.
Wesley signs into the attendance with his dog bone. Check out Isaac's double chin!
We found his chair!
A quick hug good-bye to mom...

Then the tears begin...at first we don't know if he is crying or just feeling nervous...

I take a picture and this is the face Jared gave me... we laugh about it afterwards. He doesn't want Wesley to be embarrassed by any photos!

Wipe those tears big boy. I start to cry alongside him. I love you Wesley! You will be O.K!

His first day of school lunch box. Trying my best to make it well balanced. I later learned that there was no need for hand sanitizer. Well, better to be safe than sorry with those germs!