Father's Day and Family

This Daddy (husband) is the Rainbow in our sky!

After physically and mentally grueling work days (and nights and days), he comes home ready to take on his fathering responsibilities which can range from becoming a human playground the moment he enters the door, to painting little finger nails, to cleaning up after dinner, to being a lawn care specialist, to being a listening

therapist and the list goes on.

He surly deserves much more than handmade fruit loop necklaces and cards, but this sweet offering from the girls was certainly heartfelt.

P.S. - Avery can not keep a secret.

Daddy heard about these little surprises a number of times before the big day in sentences such as " there is a necklace surprise for you under the bed but it is a surprise so we can't tell you," and the like. It was hilarious to listen to.

Brinley worked especially hard on the upside down fruit loop rainbow that hung from the kitchen light fixture under our "You are the Rainbow in our Sky" sign.

Shortly after presenting Daddy with the necklaces the girls kindly pleaded for them back so that they could eat them as you can see from the photo above.

After church we welcomed Kelty and Duane

back to Columbus for a much anticipated visit!

They joined us for our second half of the Daddy day activities which included:

1. Drawing pictures on these paper plates depicting why we love Daddy and then taking turns to explain the pictures.

Duane was able to color on his plate what he is most looking forward to when he is a Daddy since Kelty is pregnant!!!

2. Creating rainbows with multi-colored Twizzlers and marshmellows.

Avery's rainbow was mostly marshmellows.

Brinley made her rainbow colors line up in the proper order without any help...

and Aspen just became one lovely little rainbow.

The girls thoroughly enjoyed having their Aunt and Uncle here.

They wanted to play with them every waking moment.

I suppose that such is the life of being very playful and fun loving people.

During their stay Duane received a phone call notifying him that HE GOT THE JOB!

Not any 'ole job, but an amazing opportunity at the Chicago Board of Trade

(where he worked over the summer last year).

He and Kelty were put up in the Trump Towers a couple of weeks ago while Duane was interviewed by 7 top executives in the company.

The morning after the call Duane was up bright and early due to some job related nerves. Hmmm, perhaps it's the fact that he will be working side by side with others who are twice his age and have 7...SEVEN PH.D.'s (holy hanna I had no idea that was possible).

Well Duane, you are going to blow their socks right off and we are so excited to have you be our new neighbors (5 hours is a lot closer than 24!)

Thanks for coming to see us. We love you!

Waffles & Wisdom

Here is what I have learned since becoming a Mom:

1. The more I learn about raising children the more I realize

I don't know and the more I want to learn.

2. Sleepless nights and teething is much easier for me to handle
than sassy mouths and endless tantrums.

3. Striving to be a "good" parent requires much more then I ever thought it would.

4. I now believe my mothers statement that trying your best as a parent is like
"the refiners fire."

5. In my almost 6 years of motherhood I have still not conquered the ability to remain as patient in difficult parenting situations as I want to or need to be
(even though I believe a periodic freak out may be necessary).

6. Creating a loving household atmosphere which fosters positive daily teaching moments requires much more then good intentions.

(Cody makes the worlds best Belgian waffles)

Here are some fantastic (I highly recommend)
books that have helped us:

(many have asked me for some of my favorite parenting books and here they are. You can find them all for cheap on amazon.com)

The Intentional Family. William J. Doherty, Ph.D.
Parents In A Pressure Cooker. Jane Bluestein, Ph.D.
Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood. Jim & Charles Fay, Ph.D.
Parenting Well in a Media Age. Gloria DeGaetano.
The Six-Point Plan for Raising Happy Healthy Children. John Rosemond.
Parent Power. John Rosemond.

Currently Reading : Managers of their Chores. Steven & Teri Maxwell.
I really LOVE this book so far.

Here is what fills my Mommy soul:

1. Watching Brinley teach Avery how to take over one of her chores, unloading the silverware. This morning she patiently and lovingly walked her little sister through the process step by step sweetly reminding her that "it is very important we complete our responsibilities with a happy attitude Avery," and "I know this seems really hard. It did to me when I was your age too, but soon it will be easy for you and you will like to do it just like I am going to like unloading the dishwasher."

(when Avery came running to me saying that Brinley was holding a bird I casually said "be there in a minute."

It was a shocker. R.I.P., see below)

2. Listening to Avery's breakfast prayer. "...we are thankful for the dead bird in our backyard the one with bugs all over it...and we are also thankful for all of that other stuff out there in the yard. Amen."

3. Watching Aspen learn to mimic her older sisters, sit up, smile, laugh, cry when Avery comes close (ha, ha I know, but it's true) and discover her preferences.

4. Reading with my girls and witnessing Brinley's eagerness to read.
She is now enjoying reading her own scriptures.

5. Laughing every day at funny little moments like this:

(Sometimes when I go to zip this monkey out of her crib after nap time she is standing on her head.)

6. Etc., etc.,etc.

Summer Camp

Last week the girls absolutely savored their morning "summer camp" experience.

Our bishops twin daughters created a fun filled week of activities.

Even though Avery was below the age limit Anna and Erin allowed her

to join in for three of the days...she was beyond thrilled!

Each day had a specific theme.

They included: craft day, cooking day, pet day,

water play day and the last day was a free play day.

The girls are still enjoying bursts of laughter when retelling the story about how the

frog had a potty accident on the floor.

A BIG huge thanks to the Gazdick girls for their

preparation, creativity and patience last week.

And let us not forget to thank their mother, Sanae, who was willing to host this rowdy

crowd and the mess that surly accompanied it.

Thanks Sanae!

Wanna see more cute picture? Go HERE!

7am

Every morning around 7ish am I hear my little Aspen cooing in her nursery

which connects to our room through double doors.

When I appear over her crib she always has a huge grin from ear to ear and begins kicking her club foot brace like crazy. Up and down up and down. Side to side.

After taking off the brace and a quick diaper change we cozy back into my bed for the first nursing session of the day. My favorite one.

After Aspen is finished eating I begin my morning stretches.

One of my goals turned habit has been to stretch every morning.

Aspen typically lays next to me on the bed mesmerized watching my legs move up in the air.

This morning during stretches something new happened.

As I lifted one leg I looked over and noticed Aspen lifting her leg straight

up in the air along with me.

Figuring that this movement was a cute fluke I laid that leg back down...then she did the same with hers. I could not believe it. Could my almost 8 month old baby be mimicking my leg movements? Well, I thought I'd test her out.

Up goes my other leg...so does hers. Amazing!

I grab my calf and pull my leg into my chest, she hits her leg repeatedly and laughs.

I put my leg back on the bed, so does she.

Up and down we go with our legs, just Aspen and me.

I'm absolutely amazed and in love with my morning stretching buddie!

"Oh remember, Oh remember," President Henry B. Erying reminds us.

I have felt the love of my Savior today in the sweet morning moments I shared with Aspen.

Have you felt his love today? Go HERE.

Last Weeks Firsts

Last Monday I taught Power Playt and BeamFit for the FIRST time.

These are two new classes we've added to our summer schedule HERE.

And I Love 'em!

The girls made their first official sock puppets.

Thanks Aunt Jill & Uncle Arian for the great gift!

Cody made these delicious cake doughnuts.

First time success!

First rose bush bloom of the summer.

First attempt at bacon wrapped chicken and veggie kabobs.

Yummy!

First time we "mulched" our yard.

And let me just say dear friends, that once you spend good money on color died wood chip dirt and get excited that it's "guaranteed to keep it's color for 1 whole year,"

YOU are officially an adult. We made the leap. Painful.

Above = before

Below = after

(and I am still recovering from my 2346 mesquite bites I incurred during our late evening planting session)

Our first baby green pepper has sprouted.

Two more appeared in the last couple of days.

First time we planted peas in our garden.

I'll spare the explanation of how I had the girls "help" me stake the poles into

the dirt and affix the pea plants to it. Let me just say oh so helpful.

(and Avery likes to create forceful weapons with a variety of objects, especially long, hard pea poles)

This baby best be getting her first tooth after a full week of screaming.

On a final note, there is one "last" depicted here .

This morning was the last time I will have these three additional cuties at mi casa for our weekly playgroup. Anderson, Bella & Maya were great playgroup friends for Avery this year!

Signing Off

Megann, one of my die-hard clubbies who has been oh so loyal since my beginning of my Ohio clubs, made me this darling card. Let me reassure you all that I am far from

"Super Woman," but oh how I appreciate the sentiment.

In fact I am closing my monthly club doors.

As the seasons of my life change so to must my priorities.

Let me reassure current customers and my thriving downline that I will still be a demonstrator! In fact, the new catalog arrives at the end of this month and you can reserve your copy today! Just shoot me an e-mail leahthestamper@yahoo.com.

Megann also made our family and each of the girls these darling personalized soaps!

Thank you Megann...and thank you for the fitting gift card too, can't wait to use it.

It was a reflective and somewhat somber club this week.

I have really enjoyed creating friendships with my customers,

several who have become good friends and downline members.

A BIG thank you, thank you, thank you to my loyal clubbies!

I am still here for all of your creative needs.



This week we used the "Branch Out" set to create these fun cards.

The card pictured above is actually an envelope card which can hold various items.

(And just in case you are like Cody and "would have no clue what that circle off the tree was," it is a tire swing for pete sakes.)

On the Baja Breeze blue card below we used Stampin' Glitter for a serious sparkle affect, but the sparkles do not show up on the picture.

And last month we made these matching diddies...



and this card!

Now I will hit the "Publish Post" button and do a little dance to celebrate my 300th post and then I will cross my fingers that my love will make it home before my head hits the pillow.

School's OUT

2008-2009

Above: A card and treat to go along with Mr. Landon's teacher gift.

Below: Cards and treats for the office staff.

Brinley wrote her teacher, principle and two Secretaries thoughtful thank you letters.

It was a FANTASTIC year in kindergarten.

Brinley made lots of new friends.

She improved her reading skills and now enjoys reading chapter books.

She wrote "journals" every day which vastly improved her spelling,

penmanship and punctuation.

Mr. Landon is a HUGE buckeye fan! During football season the kids participated in a mini tailgate party every single Friday. Friday's were affectionately known as "Buckeye Friday."

Brinley was given a special responsibility of being one of two "bathroom helpers" throughout the entire year. Anytime a student needed to use to bathroom she would be responsible for taking them there and then back to the classroom.

During both parent teacher conference's we received glowing reports that Brinley had exceptional behavior each day and that she excelled academically.

A Hawaiian Luau was held to celebrate the completion of the school year.

With a DJ, food, playground, outside chalk and games the girls had a blast. I ran around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to keep tabs on Brinley and Avery in a sea of children and parents while Aspen attacked my chest wanting to nurse.

All in all it was a smashing success.

Brinley was too busy playing to eat, that saved me one trip through the mammoth food line attempting to balance Aspen on one side, food plates on the other and keep Avery's fingers out of every single dish on the tables.

Avery thoroughly delights in sugar, here's a peek of what I mean.

To top of a great year Mr. Landon sent Brinley home with the laminated class mission statement that hung in her classroom all year long. She promptly hung it on the wall above her bed and that is where it will stay for some time I'm quite sure.

Signing off to a great year... Now may the Heavens pour out peace upon my hormonal home all summer long.