Sweet, sweet sleep...oh, how I miss you!

So poor Katie has had three ear infections in the last four months. She is currently infection free, but she still has fluid in both ears that won't drain.

So, after a visit with the ENT today, its tubes for my sweet baby.

I know it will be so much better, but I hate the idea of her having surgery.

Of course, I hate being sleep deprived too..so in addition to this being doctor recommended, and really the best thing for her...I also love the idea of her sleeping again...soon!

Insanity 101

I hate the third grade.

I mean, it was okay when I was in third grade, but I hate that Emma and Joe are in third grade.

Okay, I don't hate third grade. But I do hate book reports.

Okay really, I don't hate book reports either, but I do think some things that they ask the kids to do in school are just NUTS!

Emma and Joe have to read one book a month. In addition, they have to do a written book report, consisting of at least 7 paragraphs. They also have to do an oral report on the book AND they have to complete a project, e.g. a diorama, a time line, a poster, which has to have almost as much writing on it as the written book report itself. AND, there can be NO typing, NO photocopies, and every single thing they use has to be hand made except for the paper! (I mean REALLY, they had to make little animals out of clay for their dioramas! NOTHING ready made!)

AND they have to do ALL 3 parts each and every month for the ENTIRE school year.

And let me tell you, when they are done with a book report, I actually feel like the calm, cool whiteness of a rubber-padded room might provide some welcome relief!

So, as if that wasn't bad enough, last night at 8:00 p.m. when I told Emma and Joe to put their homework away so that they could get ready for bed, they said that they couldn't go to bed yet because their book reports were due tomorrow.

WHAT?!?

I thought the book reports were due on Friday (they are usually due on the last day of the month), but no, the kids said with wide eyes, "Didn't we tell you they are due tomorrow?"

"NO!"

So, while we were well on track with about two more hours of work for book reports due on Friday, we were totally unprepared at 8 o'clock at night for book reports due the next day!

So the big debate was, do we let them stay up and finish, or do we make them go to bed, turn their book reports in one day late and thus face a deduction of one full letter grade for their tardiness?

Well, after much wailing and crying (I did eventually calm down), okay really, it was Joe and Emma crying, we let them stay up and finish.

And can I just tell you that only bright spot about the whole thing was watching Troy try to help the kids with their homework and make a valient effort to not lose it. You could hear him muttering, "Remember, they're only 8!"

Really, it still brings a smile to my face.

So here were are today, with two very tired kids sent off to school, book reports in hand.

And one nutty mom sitting here thinking, I have to do this again next month!

Crap.

Kids are SO Wierd!

Let me just say it again...kids are SO wierd.

I mean, they do the craziest things, and it seems totally normal to them.

If you saw a box on your dad's chair, would you sit in it to watch TV? (Besides the fact that I would never fit, I still don't think I would.)

These are the same children that you can spend hundreds of dollars on, buying them the latest toys and gadgets, and what do they choose to play with? The box it came in, the wrapping paper, or the trash.

If you had a choice over toys vs. a pot lid, or a stick, or um, the toilet, what would you choose? My kids...the lid, the stick, or the toilet every time!

I totally blame Troy for this...I mean, this is the same man that watched TV when he was a little kid while standing on his head.

You just know THAT kind of behavior is going to be passed down to your own kids. Crazy, it seems, is so easily inherited.

Oh, no!

Havings twins is a funny thing. There are so many things that they do the same, and some things that they do differently, but it can be such a stark contrast having them do it at the same time.

Well, when you have boy/girl tiwns, there is even more of a contrast, and the inevitable has finally happened.

Emma is now significantly taller than Joe. Oh no!

This has caused Joe a little anxiety so Troy just keeps telling him that he will eventually catch up. (We hope.)

If we were in the funnies...

Really, our life is like one big comic strip...and since I added the little cartoon of myself to the blog, the kids all wanted to see what they would look like if we were cartoon characters...so here's us in the funnies.

Rite of Passage

So Joseph has officially entered the ranks of boyhood...as has his father. They, together, completed their very first pinewood derby car, and raced in a their first pinewood derby.

It was a very interesting endeavor, as neither had ever built a pinewood derby car, and as a mother, it was just one more aspect of scouts that I don't get!

But, I think it was fun for Joe to build something himself, and I think for Troy too, who never did the pinewood derby as a boy. They built a stylish little car and made a presentable showing in their first derby.

Knowing what they know now, and seeing how competitive the other boys and fathers were, all I can say is, look out derby 2009, here come the Beatty boys!

Mid Winter Funk and a Little Gratitude

I have been in a bit of a funk recently.

I think it's the weather. I hate the cold. I hate the rain. I hate the freezing, cold rain. (Insert big sigh here.)

I have been looking for that magic *something* to snap me out of my funk...while I didn't find that, I have found the girl scout cookies, and am currently eating myself back to my old weight. (One more big sigh for good measure.)

Then today, I was reading my sister-in-law's blog, and she as she talked about winter and the hope of spring, and as I read this old post on a scrapbooking website that I like, I realized that there is so much to be be happy about, and that the *something* that I have been looking for is gratitude.

So in honor of my mid-winter funk, a list of things I am grateful for:

• My REALLY great husband. He puts up with a lot, and keeps coming back for more.
• My SUPER kids. They really are good kids...I need to remember that for every broken dish and loud fight, there are siblings whos like each other and lots of love.
• My friends. We have good friends. They make me laugh and smile, and can be counted on the be there when the chips are down. They rock.
• My house. It's nice not to have to stand in the rain.
• My health. It's fun to be thinner. But really, I gotta lay off the girl scout cookies!
• My blog. I know I am obsessed, but when it comes right down to it, I am keeping a record of my family...not the big things, but the little things...the things that when I am old I will have forgotten, and then won't I be so glad that I wrote it down once!
• My extended family. I have a really great family, my own and Troy's. I love that they blog and keep in touch.
• The gospel. I know this should be higher on the list, but it is what it is. And I am thankful that even when I am down, I know that I am not alone.
• And last, but not least: Bread. Bread?! Yes, I took a class last week on how to make bread, and I made my first batch last night. And I am dang proud of it! I am really glad that I have a desire to learn new things, and that I have lots of people to turn to when I have questions.

So that's it for now.

What are you grateful for?

Why Messes Don't Matter

How stinking cute is this?

I love how the kids love each other. I love how they play and interact. I love how Katie busted a gut laughing while in the jumper and Becky couldn't get enough of her!

I love how THIS, makes everything else (like sharpies and crayons) seem unimportant!

Caught Red-Handed

So, the phrase caught red-handed has new meaning for us today.

It's now 10 am (a mere 12 hours since the last incident). The kids are gone to school and I am ready to head out to playgroup.

Becky is still in her pajamas and I have called up her to get ready for the day. But wait...she looks like she wearing lipstick. Oh, that's not lipstick, it's a SHARPIE! Ahhhhhhh!!!

So, stupid questions #2: WHY did you color on your face and hands?

Response: I am supposed to color on paper.

Me: Your hand isn't paper!

Becky: Oh.

Me: Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!

Ask a stupid question...

Question: WHY (insert wide-eyed, slightly crazed look here) did you color on the wall?

Answer: Because I didn't have any paper (insert eye-rolling, DUH here).



Last night, at about 10, WELL after all the children were supposed to be in bed (ASLEEP), I hear a little "scratch, scratch, scratch." Then some more "scratch, scratch, scratch." I can't figure out what it is and go upstairs to investigate...well, you can see for yourself!

Can I just say that I am either learning a little more patience, as this type of thing would have sent me over the edge a few children ago, or I have already gone off the edge and just don't know it yet! (Yeah, yeah.)

Becky has this way of looking at you, with those big eyes that makes it almost (ALMOST) impossible to be mad at her. In fact, last night I got a major case of the giggles as I tried to discipline her. I couldn't do it so I had to call Troy up, who also got the giggles...so between me taking pictures and Troy trying to keep his composure...I don't think Becky really learned her lesson.

BUT, hopefully, some dedicated time with a sponge today will teach her not to take crayons to bed.

Once again, a perfect example of why the family motto is, "This is why we don't have nice things."

Welcome Hadriel Israel

Troy and I had an opportunity to go to a brit milah today. A brit is when a Jewish boy is circumcised and given his name. It is a very important event in a boy's life and signifies his entrance into covenant with God.

It was a very beautiful ceremony, and we feel so priviledged that our friends Moshe and Pamela allowed us to share in their great joy.

The brit is performed on the boy's eighth day and no one is told his name until the ceremony. Moshe and Pamela named their son Hadriel which means to glorify God.

Hadriel is beautiful! As are his brother Avi Shai and his sister Darya.



This has been one the best things about living on the East coast. We have had so many opportunities to meet many people, and we have enjoyed every chance we've had to learn about different cultures and faiths.

Heaven? Not Today

There are many reasons why I am not getting into heaven...the least of which is that I am going to do something I don't usually like to do...complain about my calling.

(Just a little side note to my non-LDS family and friends...I love the Church, I love serving in the Church...I've just had a few bad moments.)

I am currently the stake building scheduler, and let me tell you, it is the MOST thankless calling I have EVER had!

I have never had a calling before where it was okay for people to yell at you, be rude to you, get mad at you, and generally not appreciate your work.

I am mostly a pretty assertive person (no comments from the peanut gallery, please). BUT, when it comes to church things I often bite my tongue when I might otherwise tell you to kiss my butt. I sort of feel like it's my obligation in serving to try and be kind, even when it's hard.

And boy, is it hard sometimes! Honestly, can you imagine yelling at your primary teacher because you didn't like how she taught the class, or getting angry at the Sunday school teacher because you didn't like where you were sitting. Of course not! But then again, people have no problem doing it to me when they don't like how the calendar has been set up, or they cannot get the building when they want it, or they don't like how the rooms have been allocated for people's various activities.

But honestly, people call here and they don't always know who I am or what my circumstances are...but they have no problem being something other than kind...and I have to say that I have learned a lot about people's true character in doing this job...because it isn't how you treat the stake president or the bishop that says anything about who you are...it's how you treat the faceless peon on the phone that really tells me something about you.

I guess I am just feeling frustrated because doing this is service...and even if that service isn't appreciated, it certainly shouldn't be criticized! It is all the more frustrtating for me because I really try to do a good job (and, not to toot my own horn, I think I have!).

But days like today make me want to ask for a raise.

Oh wait, I don't get paid.

Shoot.

Little Miss Katie

I did my little black and white photo session with Katie this morning. I know I still have a long way to go as a photographer, but it is amazing what reading the manual that comes with your camera can do for you! (Yeah, I know, DUH!)

I love taking pictures and having TOO MANY choices rather than just settling for the one that doesn't look so bad.

So here's Little Miss Katie. Since she gets a lot of blog time, I am not going to do a big post about her. Suffice it to say, i'm in love!

Perfection Pending

We had the adult session of stake conference (a large meeting of local congregations) last night and one of the speakers spoke about the scripture in Matthew 5:48 that says "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

I don't know about you, but the thought of being perfect is a little overwhelming...and frankly I think impossible to feel good about. We aren't perfect. No one on Earth today is perfect, and in fact only one perfect person EVER lived on this earth. So why does HE tell us to be perfect?

I have been studying this topic recently and was really impressed with a talk given by the Apostle Russell M. Nelson on what this verse really means. And...the speaker actually referred to that talk in his talk last night!

Elder Nelson says, "In Matt. 5:48, the term perfect was translated from the Greek teleios, which means “complete.” Teleios is an adjective derived from the noun telos, which means “end.” The infinitive form of the verb is teleiono, which means “to reach a distant end, to be fully developed, to consummate, or to finish.” Please note that the word does not imply “freedom from error”; it implies “achieving a distant objective.” In fact, when writers of the Greek New Testament wished to describe perfection of behavior—precision or excellence of human effort—they did not employ a form of teleios; instead, they chose different words."

He goes on to say, "The perfection that the Savior envisions for us is much more than errorless performance. It is the eternal expectation as expressed by the Lord in his great intercessory prayer to his Father—that we might be made perfect and be able to dwell with them in the eternities ahead."

So, we aren't SUPPOSED to be perfect in this life. We can't be.

BUT we are supposed to give our best effort and be the best people that we can be. I think that is pretty doable, in fact, it gives me a lot of hope.

My best is enough...and thank goodness for that.

That is the best part of having a Heavenly Father that loves us...He knows what we are capable of...and He never gives us more than we can bear...and I think often we really have MORE and are capable of more than we are even aware of!