Contributing

I think only the stay at home mom with plenty of money to spend couldn't understand how happy I am that I can contribute to our family's finances. Lately I've taken up a couple of odd jobs that allow me to stay at home with the kids and I'm so excited to help out financially. I ABHOR DEBT! And knowing that I can contribute to the demise of ours lifts my spirits incredibly!

One of my "jobs" is to take care of an adorable little girl, Bella. She's the daughter of Sean's co-worker. Since her mom went back to work with Sean for the beginning of the school year Bella has joined our household. She really is so sweet and kind and my girls absolutely adore her! Alex has been at his kindergarten prep classes so he hasn't been able to spend a lot of time with her, but what time he has he's enjoyed. When school starts I'll only have her about 2-3 hours a day (1 hour before school, 1-2 after school).

My other "job" is putting together other people's photo albums. They send me their pictures and I put them into a book using a professional program with so many sweet perks! I absolutely love it! But I also understand now why the roofer's house leaks and the housecleaner's home is always messy: Since I've been working on other people's albums I've been terrible at keeping up to date on my own, as well as keeping my blog up to date and full of pictures. Oh, well. I have so much fun doing it! And it's so awesome that people are willing to share with me their special life moments.

Heavenly Father has blessed us so much. He knows that with Sean going back to school not only will this extra income help us financially, but it will also be something to keep me busy - to fill the void while he attends his classes and does homework. I feel so blessed and loved! He surely knows and meets our needs.

My Latest Project

This is the baby quilt I made for Traesa Cox, a good friend, and piano teacher to my kids, who is having her first girl, yet third child, mid-September. We're so excited for her! Yea!

It took me about 6 months, because I didn't work on it faithfully until I got her baby shower announcement (Sorry Traesa!), and because I did it completely by hand (my sewing machine is collecting dust in our garage since I don't know how to use it properly). hee hee hee

I was so pleased at how it turned out and so was Sean. He wants me to make him one now - his size and preferably not pink. :)

Alex's Prayers

So in our family we all know that Alex will have THE longest prayers each night. He prays for everything (and usually with his eyes open so he can look around and make sure he doesn't forget anything). Usually towards the end of his prayers he'll say, "And please bless we'll sweep the floors and mop the floors and do the dishes and do the laundry, and get all of our chores done that we need to get done.....In Jesus Name, Amen." (It's a wonder he hasn't lost faith yet, seeing as I'm REALLY bad at getting those things done!)

The other day we were reading in Helaman about how the Nephites were becoming more wicked than the Lamanites. We had a family discussion about this- about how the wicked were becoming more righteous than the Nephites.

So Alex's prayer that night included, "And please bless the wicked people to be more righteous."

What faith! I almost cried right there (isn't hard, these days, to set me off!). I was so impressed that he had absorbed that principle. What an eye opener for me and I can say it increased my testimony to the fact that the wicked really can have a change of heart, and it will most likely be through this next generation's spirit and work that it is done. I feel so blessed to have such choice spirits in my home.

Pali

On July 24th and 25th I was honored to be a part of a long, dear friend's wedding(s) up in Washington. We'd known each other since 4th grade and through all these years we've kept in touch and stayed close friends. Rupali Giri becamse Rupali Giri Mahli. Hah! What fun!


Me and Pali at her wedding reception. She had two weddings: a Sikh wedding and a Hindu wedding, followed by a fabulous reception on Saturday night.

Our OLD school friends gathered after the Hindu ceremony: (back) me, Justin, Brandon (behind Kyle), Dan, JR (married to Elena); (middle) Omar, Sara, Kyle (Sara's husband), Kari, Chanthay, Anna; (bottom) Satinder-Paul, Pali, Elena

At the Kirkland Waterfront: Omar, Me, Kari, Dan, Elena

Bridesmaids with the Bride in the bridal waiting room at the Sikh Temple: (back) Me, Chanthay, Anna; (front) Kari, Pali, Elena

After the Sikh Ceremony inside the temple: Kari, Chanthay, Me, Anna, and Elena with Satinder-Paul and Pali

We had THE most wonderful time together this weekend. The only thing that could have made it any better were if Sean could have come, but alas, he stayed home with the kids that whole week. I am so grateful to such a husband that supports me in supporting such a dear friend. I truly had a great time reminiscing with them and spending time with my family because HE stayed home so willingly with the kids.
Another shout-out to Melissa and Shauna for helping with the kids that week. You, too, helped me greatly to enjoy my trip. Thank you so much!
And thanks to Grandma Monroe, too, for taking care of all the grandkids on my last vacation day. I know they had a blast with you!
One more shout-out to Leslie (who, Grandma says, was extra helpful, in spite of her gimpy foot. Hope you're continuing to recover!), and Grandpa (who also helped with the kids on that last Monday).
What would I do without such great friends and family?!

Happy Birthday Becky!

Today Becky is 9! Can Anyone believe it? I sure can't believe that time has gone by so quickly. Not too long ago, it seems, she was watching the Stadium of Fire fireworks with daddy from the window in our hospital room. They had a great view.
Sean and I knew we had our hands full when she started walking and talking at 9 months- which had progressed to full-on sentences by a year.
She's our little artist, always drawing pictures, writing books, and producing "plays" for her siblings to perform. She loves her Achievement Girls nights (and is so bummed that it's over for the summer), piano lessons, and swimming. She even ventured into Cheerleading and has found something else she can enjoy. He favorite sports are swimming, golf, and ice skating.
Becky loves everything pink, pink and pink. Oh, and also things that sparkle. Becky loves to dress up and is looking forward to going to a school without uniforms next year. She's always asking me which jewelry she should wear - which definitely makes her a Gammie's girl.
Becky has a little phobia performing in front of people, and she absolutely hates her freckles, which makes her so much like her mom (I love hers, but I hated mine when I was little). The dark hair she was born with has come back, replacing the short-lived blonde. Her eyes are brown and she's lost almost all of her baby teeth already - at one point she seemed to lose one a week!
Becky is the best helper to her mom. She loves to take care of her younger siblings, especially when they were babies. She can't wait to babysit, and I have to admit that I'm looking forward to that, too!
For her birthday this year she wanted to get a "big" present instead of having a party (I admit, I bribe my kids! They can choose between a party and a present that would cost about the same as a party - last year she got an IPod). This year she wanted her very own American Girl Doll. She'd been getting the magazines for a while and gave it a lot of thought. She decided her first doll would be Molly. We took her to downtown LA (the 35 miles took almost 2 hours!) to the Grove Mall where the American Girl Store was and when we walked in I had a flashback of getting my own AG doll (Kirsten, when I was about her age). We were in the store for about 45 minutes, long enough to visit the "homes" of all the girls to make sure she knew exactly which doll she was going to get, the doll's pj's and bathing suit. It was heaven for her! Sean, Alex and James were so patient as we looked at all the beautiful doll clothes and accessories.
When we were done there we got back in the car and drove the 1/2 hour back to our neighborhood. We stopped by Toys R Us so she could spend some of her birthday money on a Barbie and Barbie Horse, then to Target where she spent the rest of her birthday money on a new outfit. For dinner we joined Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Leslie, Uncle Ian, Aunt Melissa, cousins Korben and Karsen, and Great-Aunt Cindy and counsin Robyn at Mi Casa, then went back to Grandma's house to play and chat with family.
Ahhh, but the birthday hadn't even really started yet! Today we went to the flag raising at church, then off to Build a Bear at Downtown Disney to get her kitty fixed and get Patriotic Puppy, which we named Uncle Sam. We ate Jamba Juice, walked around, and explored the hotels.
When we got home Sean set up the slip-n-slide for the kids to play on and the kids half-wore themselves out for over an hour. Each person in our family gets to choose a meal to eat out on their birthday, and where they want to go. Becky chose Chuck E. Cheese's for dinner, so we're hoping they finish wearing themselves out there before we go to Grandma's for fireworks.

I love Becky so much! She is special in so many ways, but most importantly to me because she was my first baby. When she was born I became a mom. I will be forever grateful that she chose to come to our family and share her special talents with us. Our family wouldn't be the same without her smiling face and bright countenance shining in our home.
Happy Birthday, honey!

Nursery!

James had his first trip to Nursery on Father's day. We are so excited! And by "we" I mean Sean and I. James wasn't thrilled, and even less so when I had to leave for 10 minutes to help set up the Father's Day brunch. Oh, well. The first step is always the hardest, right?

Tar Pits

We took our annual summer trip to the La Brea Tar Pits (Brea means "tar" in Spanish, so we really went to "The The Tar Tar Pits" HAH!). James wasn't pleased and he
made a big fuss when we took him close to the "stuffed" animals, so we had to take creative shots.
Of course we had to take our annual shot of the kids in front of this bear poster. In the background is a fake saber tooth cat attacking a bear. ~ Jane, Becky, Alex, James ~








Since he didn't hold still I had to hold him for another picture - Jane happily agreed to snap this photo. ~ Me, James, Becky ~















Behind us this time is a Saber Tooth Cat family. He was only happy when he didn't see the fake animals.

We all had a great time and really enjoyed ourselves. It was our first "school's out, summer fun" activity. Definitely not to be the last!

Family Games

Sean got a new DS game for Father's Day and decided to try it out. This was a cute shot of all the kids trying to squeeze in and see what he was playing.

Fathers Day pictures

This is the picture we took for Father's Day for Sean's dad (Grandpa). All the grandkids were so great as Melissa and I tried to come up with a pose that would work for all of them (James excluded - he's such a punk!). We framed it and gave it to Kevin on Sunday. He's always stealing Lis' pictures, so we thought he should get his own to take to work. They are all so cute! (James included).

*I made this card using my incredibly awesome photo program. I love that thing!

"The Girl in a Whirl" By Dr. Sue (aka Vickie Gunther of Redlands, CA)

(My mom sent me the following poem. I love it!)

Look at me! Look at me! Look at me now!

You could do what I do if you only knew how.

I study the scriptures one hour each day;

I bake, I upholster, I scrub and I pray.

I always keep all the commandments completely;

I speak to my little ones gently and sweetly.

I help in their classroom! I sew all they wear!

I drive them to practice! I cut all their hair!

I memorize the names of the General Authorities,

I focus on things to be done by priorities.

I play the piano! I bless with my talents!

My toilets all sparkle! My check books all balance!

Each week each child gets a one-on-one date;

I attend all my meetings (on time! never late!)

I'm taking a class on the teachings of Paul,

But that is not all! Oh, no, That is not all.

I track my bad habits' till each is abolished;

Our T-shirts are ironed! my toe nails are polished!

Our family home evenings are always delightful;

The lessons I give are both fun and insightful.

I do genealogy faithfully, too. It's easy to do all the things I have to do!

I rise each day early, refreshed and awake;

I know all the names of each youth in the stake!

I read to my children! I help all my neighbors!

I bless the community, too with my labors.

I exercise and I cook menus gourmet;

My visiting teaching is done the first day!

(I also go do it for someone who missed hers.

It's the least I can do for my cherished ward Sisters.)

I chart resolutions and check off each goal;

I seek each "lost lamb" on my Primary roll.

I can home-grown produce each summer and fall.

But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all.

I write in my journal! I sing in the choir!

Each day, I write "thank yous" to those I admire.

My sons were all Eagles when they were fourteen!

My kids got straight A's! and their bedrooms are clean.

I have a home business to help make some money;

I always look beautifully groomed for my honey.

I go to the temple at least once a week;

I change the car's tires! I fix the sink's leak!

I grind my own wheat and bake all our bread;

I have all our meals planned out six months ahead.

I make sure I rotate our two-year supply;

My shopping for Christmas is done in July!

These things are not hard; 'tis good if you do them;

You can if you try! Just set goals and pursue them!

It's easy to do all the things that I do!

If you plan and work smart, you can do them all, too!

"It's easy!" she said and then she dropped dead.

Mother's Day

I was so loved this past weekend! Sean took me out to a movie on Friday night (Wolverine), I got to sleep in as much as I wanted on Saturday (I think I got up sometime around noon? I was REALLY into a good book!), then we went to Seal Beach and ate at Ruby's on the pier with the kids. Afterwards we ran a couple of errands, ate ice cream for dinner, popcorn for dessert, watched Cinderella with the kids, then Sean let me skip watching a movie with him so I could read the rest of the night and could finish that book.

Sunday Sean had no meetings, so I got breakfast in bed (pancakes, eggs, and juice) and then got to stay lazy while he got the kids breakfast and ready for church. All I had to do was make sure I got up with enough time to get ready for church. We even got there about 1/2 hour early!
During third hour we had a fabulous brunch provided by the bishopric. Muffins, fruit, juice/milk... it was all delicious!

After church we got to go home together (Brother Vaili was doing tithing) and I got to have some quiet time in my room while Sean helped the kids write in the cards for his mom and sister.
We then went over to his parents' house for dinner (ribs, fruit, salad, etc) to celebrate Mother's Day, Leslie's birthday, and Lis' birthday.

The whole weekend was relaxing and fun. Sean didn't rush me at all, even though we got into the theater mid-previews (he loves the previews), and even though we didn't get to Ruby's for lunch until about 2pm.

I had asked for no presents, so he stuck to that rule and wrote me a lovely note to read during my yummy breakfast instead. I love Sean and my children: Becky, Jane, Alex and James. I felt truly loved and I feel so grateful to have them all in my life. The best part of the weekend, though, had to be the part where I changed nary a diaper. Thanks, deary!

James, James....

I would like to take this moment to note that I never had to go to the emergency room in my life....until I met Sean (literally, it was the day after).

That said, let me regale you with yet another ER trip we had yesterday:

James was playing with the kids in the hallway while I was straightening up our room and Sean was trying to get the virus off of my computer. All of a sudden we hear screaming. I rush into the hallway to see James standing next to his bedroom door.

His closed bedroom door.

His closed bedroom door with his finger stuck (hinge side).

I quickly opened the door, swept him into our room and whispered words of comfort while I tried to get a look at his hand.

His pinkie finger was completely flat. About as flat as a piece of paper folded four times.

I yelled for Sean and we both went into panic mode, quickly followed by first aid mode. We got him ice, wrapped it in a kitchen towel, held his hand above his head, and hustled the kids into the car for (yet another) ER trip.

We were in and out of the ER relatively quickly, considering it is an ER in So Cal (just above 2 1/2 hours), but it seemed forever while we waited for nurses, then the doc, then the radiologist (x-rays), then the doc again (no, it wasn't broken), then the nurse (please sign these papers), then the doc again (going to put in two stitches, be back soon), followed by the doc and nurse again to sew and glue the finger shut, followed by more paperwork and signing.

I'm not sure if it was James' screaming that moved them along so quickly, while others sat in the waiting room, or if it was just the grace and mercy of our Heavenly Father. In either case, I'm extremely grateful!

He is now on a very strong antibiotic and tylenol. What a trooper, though. He's pretty much back to his normal happy self (though he still favors his right hand) and is grabbing things and bracing his fall with his left hand as though there weren't a bandage covering a nasty looking pinkie.

BTW: Please, tell me - anyone! - how to keep a band aid on a 16month old's pinkie finger!

I took pictures, but I don't think I'll post. They are pretty gruesome.

Tuesday: Ok, I should make note: after several attempts we thought we finally had a great bandage - antibiotic cream, band aid, gauze and tape. We wrapped it around his pinkie, over to and around his thumb, circled the wrist, then back to the thumb. It stayed pretty well until he got tired of it being there and tore it off! (Actually, he bit it off....)

Our Dr. appointment today went well. Doc said he could have his stitches out on Monday when he goes in for his last immunization. Ohhh, poor James! He screams now when we enter the waiting room at the Dr. office!

Ian, Melissa, Korben and Karsen

Today our "not-just-family-but-also-dear-friends" are being sealed together as a family. Although we wish we could be there to witness this incredible event, we know that no matter who is there they will have a wonderfully spiritual time as a family.
We love you all and we rejoice with the heavens and you on this glorious day!

Thought We'd Done That Already....

Well, say goodbye to my dreams of moving and hello to school loans!

My over-achiever is at it again! Sean has decided to go back to school for his Masters in Math. He has one in Education, but apparently that isn't good enough for him. hee hee hee

He'll be starting at Cal State Long Beach in just a few short months and I'd just like to ask,

"How did we get here? I thought the next school loan we'd have to get would be for Becky."

Seriously, I am very happy for him and I'm glad he is going into this whole-heartedly. He wanted to be able to teach at the college level and in order to do so he has to get a Masters in Math. I know that he'll do great and be very pleased with himself at the end of these next two years, as will I.

I love you, Sean, and (at the moment) completely support this decision!

Of course, when I become overwhelmed with the kids and never see you I reserve the right to retract that comment! :)

Don't worry, I'll reinstate it when I calm down and remember that it's only for two years.

(It is only for two years, right? You aren't going to go get a Doctorate on me now are you?)

Are you going to make us call you "Master-Master Monroe"?

Bubbles bubbles...

James had a great time in the bathtub the other day so I thought I'd snap some pics of him being happy (he'd had a couple rough months with shots, a growth spurt, incoming teeth, double ear infection and a nasty cough/congestion thing going on). He was a bit grumpy for a while and I began to wonder if his true personality was coming out or if it was all due to his...issues. Guess it was a little of both, but he's pretty much our happy boy again. (Sorry about the red-eye. Too tired at the moment to fix it.)