Callie is 4!

I can't believe my baby girl is 4 years old! Time just flies. She is still just as much of a firecracker as ever, very independent and stubborn. She still LOVES baby dolls and probably has too many! She has even graduated to the occasional dressing up Goofy. Poor dog. Not sure why he puts up with her. Well actually I think I know why. I've caught her more than once sneaking him food under the table. So I guess he's pretty smart to put up with her antics if it gets him some good food.

 

 Happy Birthday Callie!

It's crazy to my how girlie-girl she can be with 2 big brothers always hounding her. But she can also hold her own and play with the boys. She's not my greatest sleeper and still comes into our bed EVERY night. I would like to point out that she strategically comes into our bed on RON'S side of the bed. Poor man is so exhausted from working so hard for us he really doesn't know what hit him until it's 3am and he's sandwiched between 2 girls with only about 1/4 of the bed to himself. Seriously. Between my huge body pillow and big belly and then Callie sleeping practically horizontal he doesn't get much of the bed. And of course she is still just as much of a Daddy's girl as EVER!

Mason's 1st Pinewood Derby

Mason had his first Pinewood Derby this last weekend. Such a fun but also stressful event. Mason was so excited to race his car AKA "Syver" (Silver with out the "L") Not sure where that name came from? Poor Ron had a few technical difficulties with this car. All I have to say is wood glue is some pretty amazing stuff! The actual race day we even had some issues at weigh in and putting the wheels on. I just wanted his car to be able to race. I didn't care about it winning. I just wanted the wheels to stay on and the car to stay in one piece. Pregnancy hormones definitely kicked in as I stressed he wouldn't be able to race. Mason was confident and never even batted an eye, such a cool kid (I'm glad he inherited the "non-stress" attitude gene from Ron).

Miraculously, Mason's car finished and weighed in great! He even won the Pinewood Derby! Crazy! He was so excited and so proud, he didn't even lose one race. I'm thankful that Ron is such a great Dad and cares about his kids and even silly little pinewood Derby events despite his busy work schedule and church calling.

 "Most Aerodynamic Car" Award

 I still can't believe he got 1st place

Middle of the night Math sheet

Noah cracks me up. Last night Ron went in to check on the boys after we put them to bed and he caught Noah by the night light with a pencil and paper in hand doing his Math fact sheet. Earlier that evening he didn't want to go on the Family walk because he was working on his "homework". The same Math fact sheet. He didn't actually have homework yesterday because of his school field trip and Track and Field Day the following morning. So I guess he decided to give himself homework?!?! Silly kid. I don't know why I'm surprised. He's a lot like Ron so why shouldn't he be good and enjoy Math? Mason calls Noah an "early learner" LOL I think it's a very true statement. All my kids have their own strengths and talents. One of Noah's gifts is his quick and alert mind.

This morning he sounded more like a normal child when he informed me that finishing his math fact sheet "earned time" on the Wii. I'm such a mean mom. I don't just let them play video games they have to earn it by practicing the piano, working on math facts, phonograms... etc. We have a whole list of options. (He even graded his own paper. haha)

Grateful Tears

Last Thursday I went to Walmart before work with one goal in mind. I was desperate and needed a body pillow. I have been having issues sleeping at night. Between Sciatic nerve issues and just simply being pregnant, I've never experienced it this bad before. Noah and Callie were good sports at the store as I made a return and then headed for the pillow aisle. I walked up and down that aisle looking for a body pillow. They had King size pillows, decorative pillows, the works but NO body pillow to be seen. I was feeling discouraged and needed to head home to drop my kids off with the sitter and go to work. As I started leaving the store I saw a Walmart employee and asked them if there was any other pillow sections. He started walking me right back where I came from and we bumped into a woman shopping. Hanging out of her cart was a large body pillow!!! I was so excited. I asked her where she got it. She replied with apologetic eyes "Over there, but it was the last one". My heart sank and think she saw the sadness in my eyes as I lead Callie back down the aisle towards the Walmart employee. She yelled after me "Here you take it!". I turned and adamantly refused. I wasn't about to steal a pillow out of her cart. We then proceeded to have the most awkward "polite argument" in public I'm sure that Walmart has ever witnessed.
"No REALLY! You need this more than me!"
"No thank you! That's really sweet but I'm not going to take your pillow"
"No you have kids. I can go to Target today"
"No really it's fine. I'll just stop by Target on my way home from work."
... back and forth...
I think the Walmart employee was chuckling to himself and rolling his eyes at the same time. Finally, She insisted, handed the large pillow to Noah, and started walking off. I thanked her and rushed to the check out. I was walking out of Walmart and just overcome with gratitude for this complete stranger doing such a kind service. Even now journaling this silly experience I'm getting choked up and crying (I blame the raging pregnancy hormones inside me). I actually slept pretty good that night and I think as silly as it sounds that pillow was an answer to my prayers. I really do wish I could find that kind-hearted woman and thank her properly. But for now my heart is just overflowing with gratitude and I'm still thanking my Father in Heaven for her.