When did the Circus get here?

I've a hypothesis. Table manners should not be taught at dinner. Between, the attention span of the natives at that hour and all the excitement from the day, it's near impossible to expect much. Let me paint a picture.

(Ladies and Gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. The details will not be withheld from the innocent.)

So, tonight, I made spaghetti, because my kids love spaghetti and I really wanted them to have a "good nutritious meal" to help them grow "strong and healthy". After carefully setting the table, pouring the correct amount of milk in each cup as to minimize the mess of a possible accident and cutting my children's spaghetti into bite size pieces so we don't have sauce flipping all over their beautiful, angelic faces, I called them in. And that's where it all began.

(Mind you, throughout this story, my youngest girl, age 11 months, is in her highchair either banging the tray or making various yelps for attention and/or food, AND my husband is missing tonight. So I am the lonely defense man.)
Natalie comes in and sits at the table and says, "I don't like Lasagna. I can't eat the weird stuff." I calmly explain that it's spaghetti and that there is no "weird stuff" in it. She is less sure and uses her fingers to comb through the noodles and sauce to find ever piece that slightly resembles a different texture or shade.
Meanwhile, Nicholas is making loops around the house, decked out in full Super-man gear. I call him once, twice, three times, and then say, "Nicholas! Please come for dinner before I get upset." He marches over and says, "I'm Clark Kent," and makes two more laps before approaching the table and saying, "I wanted to sit by the baby." I explain that I need to sit by the baby to feed the baby. This discussion goes on for longer than needed and I finally surrender and say, "OK! You can sit by her." Natalie says our blessing on the food and after blessing each member of our family at least 3 times, she continues to bless her cousin and the prophet. After the blessing, the children continue their game of superheroes at the table and I have to remind them that they are at the table for a purpose. Suddenly, Natalie shouts, "I need to go to the bathroom!" Nicholas says, "Me too!" and they both run to the same bathroom. I suggest that Natalie uses the one in the hall which she agrees to. But, before she leaves, she runs down the list of what I need to do to her meal and her table setting to make it presentable before she gets back. (I have to remind her that she needs to go to the bathroom.) Remember the baby throughout all of this, adding a lovely soundtrack to the scene.

While I shovel in a few bites of dinner myself, and feed the baby, Nicholas calls from one bathroom saying he missed the mark. I run in to assist. Meanwhile, the phone rings. Do I run to get it? Are you kidding me??!! That's what an answering machine was invented for. My daughter hollers from the hall saying to come quick. I run over there to see what mess she's made. She points to the toilet paper which has a small black fuss on it and she says, "This toilet paper is bad." I flick off the fuss and assure her it will suffice. I run back to my son and help him "finish the job," and say, "Wash your hands, please." As I run across the room I yell, "With soap!" Natalie is needing help as well, and I assist. After they are both washing their hands, I literally sit at the table by myself for 7 minutes listening to the sound of running water. Instead of stopping them, I decide to finish my dinner and feeding the baby. After I do this, I call them back in. Upon arriving at the table, Nicholas makes a mound out of his spaghetti and Natalie pokes finger holes into her bread. They want food coloring to dye their applesauce, which I say, "Not tonight," and my children put on their pouting faces for a few moments until Natalie starts to slurp up her milk. Nicholas wedges his spoon into his mouth in such a way that his applesauce squirts out the other side of his cheek and ....on and on and on.

And yet, if you looked at their plates, you would swear they hadn't touch them. Oh, wait! Maybe they didn't touch them!

And this is why, in my opinion, dinner manners should be taught at the breakfast table.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all those good Father's out there! I know it's not Father's Day, but I wanted to post about Father's today due to my scripture study this morning. I was reading in 1 Nephi as Lehi speaks to his sons, and then I also read the article in February's Ensign entitled, "Becoming an Influential Father."

As I studied those two writings, I had my eyes opened as to what a big job being a Dad is and how much of an influence a Father has in his children's lives. I always knew that, but I guess I never really dwelt on it because, well, I'm not a Dad. Think about it for a minute. A Dad works all day long, not necessarily only at his job. Maybe he also attends college classes or teaches seminary (like my man) or maybe he volunteers somewhere, or whatever....and then, when his work day is over, he comes home and he's expected to be fresh for the wife and children. I know at our home, when Dad comes home, it's a bit of fresh air and the kids immediately run to him because they are tired of Mom. (Or maybe afraid, but that's beside the point.) And they want him to play with them and talk with them and do whatever it may be with him. And he does it. That's amazing!

In the Ensign, it talked about how a Father has to be creative has to how to fit in quality time with his kids. Boy, does he!! I feel like I spend quality time with my kids because, well, I'm a stay at home mom. But I can't imagine trying to find time for each of my children AFTER a long day at work. Not to mention the wife! I am a very possessive wife when it comes to my husband's time. I want every moment he gives me. And let me tell you, he still finds time for ME! After all that! I honestly don't know how my husband fits all he does into his days. But I'm grateful.

I didn't mean for this to turn into another "brag on my husband" post. He's the only husband I have, so I have to draw from my experience. :-) ha ha But, I am very much in awe of righteous men. I know that they work hard for their families and I am so grateful for them. What a blessing to have the priesthood of God leading and guiding us on the earth, right in our very homes. It's incredible.

So, in the words of Father Lehi "Arise from the dust, my sons, and be men, and be determined in one mind and in one heart, united in all things. Awake my sons, put on the armor of righteousness. Arise from the dust." I'm glad so many men have stepped up to the plate.

My Husband's Car

I did it. I gave my husband a car. For those of you that know my husband, you'll know how much he loves cars, and how much he wants a car, (not just any car) and how much receiving a car would mean to him. Today was his birthday, and so because I love him so much, and because he really is the best man in the whole world, I decided I would give him a car.





Turned out real good. Don't you think?





Happy Birthday Love!

I am a Wife

I happened upon an "Oprah" show last night, and I can't stop thinking about it. The show was all about marriage and family, and the comment was made that in this day, "everyone wants to be married, but no one wants to be the wife." In other words, everyone wants to be married, but no one wants to be the one to stay at home, take care of home "stuff", raise the kids etc.

So...here goes my soap box speech. (This is a warning, by the way, for people that may not want to hear about the joys of WIFE HOOD. Please feel free to stop reading now. For the rest of you....)

The above comment not only "hurt" but it made me very sad to think how so many women are missing the picture. Being a wife isn't demeaning, it exalting. Women are missing out on perhaps the most honorable, the most feminine, the most wonderful position there is in the world for a woman!! Just the other day, I asked my husband, "Do you ever wish our positions were switched? That you could stay home with the kids and I would go to work?" (I have to be honest that I was worried about his answer, because personally, I think I have the easier and more fun job. Not to say that it doesn't have it's difficult days at times.) But, he said, "NO!! I am so glad you stay home and take care of all you do." I smiled.

So, I proudly say, "I WANT the wife job!" I want it with all my heart. I LOVE being taken care of by "my man." I love tending to the homestead. I love beautifying the home and our land. I love teaching my children about the world and about their Heavenly Father. I love seeing them learn from their mistakes and their triumphs. I love decorating the home. I love organizing our family calendar. I love serving a hot meal to my beautiful family, even if half of them complain about what I've made. I love reading stories, singing songs, watching my kids discover bubble bath. I love getting dressed up to look nice for my husband, I love watching my husband bring home the pay check. I love sneaking into my kids rooms while their sleeping and watching them sleep. I love being able to cry on my husband's shoulder. I love wearing an apron. I love having flour all over my hands from making homemade bread. I love getting my hands dirty from planting flowers. I love being the hostess of my home, and making appetizers and yummy food when my husband has a football party. I love knowing how to nurse my family back to health, complete with homemade chicken noodle soup. I love kissing my husband when he comes home from work and being able to say, "Welcome home."

Call me Mary Tyler Moore, or Lucille Ball or whomever...but I LOVE that image, and I love being a wife. And once again, a huge thank you to my husband who allows me to hold that position. I love you Kyle. Thank you for letting me be "the wife."