Happy Anniversary

WOW!!! How the last 5 years have flown by. Joey and I dated for a year before we got married and that time seemed to creep by so slowly. Then we get married and every year goes faster and faster. Joey is a very loving and patient husband. He loves me and puts up with my opinionation and part perfectionistic ways.
If you ask Joey he would say I am the best mother, but I think he is the best parent. Our children love and adore him. If Joe is sad he can cheer him up and if Sophie is being naughty he knows how to get her to behave. Our children are night owls because I can't bear to not let them see their daddy and have his most optimistic attitude in their lives every day.
I love you, Joey and Happy Anniversary.

Part 3: Tribute to Mother's Week, Grandma Nelson

My mom's mom is my much loved Grandma Nelson. She is one of the sweetest woman in the world. She has gone through a lot in her life and yet keeps going forward. Like Mema Di Regolo, I don't see her very often. Growing up one of the main family vacations was going up to Afton, Wyoming to visit her and Grandpa. My grandma use to crochet the most beautiful doilies but the Christmas after Joey and I got married she suffered a stroke which took her crocheting abilities away. I was lucky enough to receive 3 doilies from her for my wedding and I treasure these, I don't think that Joey knows how precious they are to me, anyways. I think she has felt lost without the full function of her body, but she still tries hard. I love her. She has the warmest eyes you have ever seen, and the most giving heart. She would do anything she could for anyone. She is strong willed and has taught me the meaning of commitment. So Happy Mother's Day Grandma, I love you and thanks for the awesome example.

Part 2: Tribute to Mother's Week, Mema Di Regolo

If I am going to write about each of the Mother's in my life I will have to do more than one post a day all week.
Joey has two Grandma's they both go by Mema and both are wonderful. I am going to tell you a little bit about Mema Di Regolo tonight. When I met her I instantly adored her. She is one of those people who you meet and you want to know better. We share a few common interests. She is one of the best cooks I have ever eaten from. I have thought she should go on Hell's Kitchen for a few reasons:
1. She can cook like a pro.
2. She could hold her own against him. I don't think anyone could scare her.
3. How cool would that be, a 70 something woman winning a restaurant that she has no need for.
We also share the love of gardening. I don't think my neighbors would agree that I like to garden, I just don't have a lot of opportunity for that kind of wonderful adventure. Mema has lemon bushes and orange trees, and she goes to the farmer's market every week so that she can get fresh produce and try out the new kinds of fruit the farmers are experimenting with. She also (I know this is selfish) but she calls my phone to talk to me over calling Joey, and I love it. I am not in competition with Joey and honestly until just this last Sunday I thought that she called him too. This aspect of her calling me helps me to realize that she likes me too, and I don't know about anyone else but as a daughter-in-law I want my husbands family to love me like one of their own, and with Mema I feel that way. I think that Mema is great and I can't wait to see her again and get to know her more. So Mema if you read this I love you and Happy Mother's Day.

Part 1: Tribute to Mother's Week, Grandma Bennett

This week I am going to write a little about the different mother's in my life.
My grandma Bennett, is my dad's mom and one very special woman to me. From the third grade to the tenth we lived 2 doors and across the street from her. I would go early to church every week so that I could get the honored seat next to her. I adored her. I would try to sit like she sat, sing how she sang and I even wanted to dress like her. She has good taste but as a child you should probably dress like a child not an adult. Anyways, I love her so much. I don't go and see her as much as I should but I think about her every day. I had a pet name from her, or so I thought all growing up. Some may be offended by it but she called me 'little shit'. I loved it. I see nothing wrong only affection from this term coming out of my grandma's mouth. My grandma Bennett works hard everyday. She worked on her father's farm growing up and now she helps my grandpa with he and my uncles farm. Mostly sorting fruit and going to the market without ever complaining. I hope to be like her in so many ways. I know she reads this and I just want her to know that I love her, and I feel so lucky that she surprised us with a lovely visit yesterday. How lucky were we? I love you Grandma and Happy Mother's Day.

Polygamist

So this morning I asked Sophie as I was doing her hair. "Sophie are you a polygamist?" She quickly responded, "Yep". I asked her this because when bangs are growing out I tend to put them into twists, which remind me of polygamist woman's hair style. I do this even to my own hair. It just seems better to me than a bobby pin. So here are some pictures of Sophie with her polygamist hair style. I think she is darling, but if you think I disgrace her with the hair style let me know so I can try a new style next time. :)

I usually don't do this...

How darling, they match.

Sophie and her much loved Aunt Nannie. Playing outside on the swing set. Sophie was so excited.

Gus sleeping next to Joe. How cute, Joe doesn't quite know what to think.

Apricot Tree

So last year we planted 8 fruit trees and our goats ate them all, so we planted 3 more up front and well, they got to them to but it looks like they may have survived. We enjoy our goats except for their lack of tree hugging abilities.
This morning when I opened the front blinds I saw 'Popcorn popping on the' on the street trees. I am not quite sure the variety of tree but I realized where the all to famous children's song came from. I love this time of year, not to hot, and not to cold. I love it when it is 70 to 80 degrees outside and the sky is clear blue. There is always so much beauty to be found in the world and I tend to forget alot. I am a home body and am nervous that with Joe being sick and my germaphobia getting worse all the time that soon I will forget to go outside altogether. Thank goodness that Sophie want to go out, and Joey insists we do things outside as a family.

Forgot to finish with my pictures

I think that Sophie has gotten the hang of opening presents.

Lately...

Here are some new pictures.




So Sunday we finally celebrated Joe's birthday. I decided to do two combined birthday parties. One for the Bennett side on this last Sunday, and one for the Ashby/DiRegolo side on Sophie's birthday next Monday. I figured that way my mom could be at one and Joey's sisters could be at the other. It seems like with Spring Break someone is always out of town. I can't wait for Joe to be healthy so we can go on vacation and not worry about if there is a hospital close by.

Pictures from the hospital on Joe's Birthday

Joe was in such a good mood in the hospital, once he woke up. He is so cute that I thought I would show off some of his pictures.

Home...and a Quote

First of all while at the cafeteria in the hospital I met a mom who had a 20 month old who sat still the whole time during lunch. I was so impressed that I asked her if she ate meals at the table. This question was with some inspiration from my mom. The mom said that she makes it a point to have all the meals at the table with all other distractions turned off. I think I am going to try this, because Sophie will not sit still for anything. So maybe if she learns to sit still during meal time she will sit still during church when we go back as a family next year.
Now for an interesting quote that goes along with my 'Scrooge' blog entry. It is from Well, DUH! Our Stupid World, and Welcome to it, by Bob Fenster pgs. 256, 266.


33. What is the dumbest holiday?
In the spirit of Christmas, we go to overcrowded sores whose merchandising would have appalled Christ. We waste precious resources wrapping presents so the wrapping can be torn off and thrown away. We spend too much money for things we don't need and wonder why the holiday leaves us feeling empty.
On Easter and Halloween, we overdose our children with candy, knowing that within the hour we'll be yelling at them to stop tossing baby brother up against the wall to see if he sticks.
On Groundhog Day, we celebrate the ability of a rodent to predict the weather.
But clearly the favorite holiday of idiotologists everywhere is April Fools' Day, when we celebrate the fact that we are stupid enough to hold a celebration of how dumb we are.

I agree with the concept not necessarily the wording but I enjoyed the quote and thought I would share.

Update...

Joe is doing a little bit better. He no longer is hypothermic or feverish. He is doing something unfamiliar to us now. He quits breathing for a couple seconds when he wakes up and so his oxygen levels go into the 80's, apparently this is not good. So when I left tonight they had a oxygen funnel next to his head so he could turn his head an breath in the oxygen if he wanted, he was trying to eat it, it was so cute.
I just called mom for an update, I can't stay overnight because I breastfeed Gus and he isn't allowed to stay overnight. Joe is keeping his feeds down and sleeping well. His room is called "the cave" this is the perfect description, it is so dark and has zero windows looking out the only window is in the door so no natural light comes in. It is perfect, because Joe can sleep without the sun telling him what time of day it is. Anyway, I am tired and I don't feel like I am making any sense. I will post tomorrow night when I get back from the hospital. Thanks everyone for your prayers and support. I love you all.

Naptime...

Sophie is being so good about not crying at bedtime so to compensate for her goodness I have not been having her take unnecessary naps, since these include crying and more crying when she wakes up. Last night around 7 o'clock she was tuckered and fell asleep on the floor in the front room. I was hoping that since it was her idea she would wake up nice, but no, she was crankier than ever. Maybe next week I will start with naps again.

Blessings of the Holiday

At Christmas time Joe had a chemo treatment and as a blessing of Christmas he was not sick from that treatment. Now for Easter we are having yet another Holiday Miracle. He is so chipper and still eating and playing with toys I am so grateful. I don't know why he is doing so much better, but I am so grateful that he is being blessed to feel good. I am also grateful for all the prayer that have been offered on behalf of Joe. I am grateful for Christ's atonement for all of our sins. I love the reason for the season, I do celebrate Easter because how could I not celebrate the reason that my family will be together forever. I hope this year that I can be a better wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend to others. I am grateful for the Savior and his self sacrifice to die for our sins, and to be resurrected so that we to may be resurrected someday.

Here's to AWESOME daddies...

So it has been forever since I went to any store I wanted and spent long hours shopping. Since it was to cold to play outside this morning I decided that it was time to go get some not so, but seem to be essentials. Sophie didn't know what to think and Gus just slept the whole time.
Joe is at chemotherapy today and since Gus is so young he isn't supposed to go to the ICS unit at Primary Children's Hospital. My sweet husband traded days off so that he could go and spend some one on one time with Joe in the hospital. I really appreciate how good he is with the kids. I know that Joe will have as great of time as is possible when his dad is around. Joey is always so cute and fun with the kids. The children have learn how to play hard from their dad. I sure Love Joey.

Finally...

Joe is sort of low on red blood counts (thus why he is so pale) but he looks so relaxed I had to show him.

Gus loves to sleep on his stomach.

Joe and Sophie never liked to sleep on theirs so I had to take a bunch of pictures.

So I finished the Twilight series today. I feel free from the book now. I don't know what it was but I had to finish, like it held some stupid power over me. I enjoyed the book and I now plan to finish reading Believing Christ. I am hoping to get really into it this time. I have valued what I have read of it so far, but I have a hard time reading things without a definite story line. Anyways.
So a few blogs back I wrote about how Joey seems to always get the better chore when two things need done at once, well as luck would have it I won this time. The options were a blow out or unclogging the toilet. I washed the baby with the blow out and Joey unclogged a very stubborn toilet. I feel pretty lucky about my choice tonight.

To funny...I posted twice tonight

A French doctor says 'Medicine in my country is so advanced that we can
take a kidney out of one man, put it in another, and have him looking for
work in six weeks.'

A German doctor says 'That is nothing; we can take a lung out of one
person, put it in another, and have him looking for work in four weeks.

The Russian doctor says 'In my country, medicine is so advanced that we
can take half a heart out of one person, put it in another, and have them
both looking for work in two weeks.'

An American doctor, not to be outdone, says 'You guys are way behind. We
recently took a man with no brains out of Illinois , put him in the White
House, and now half the country is looking for work.'

Conference

These are Gus's 1 month old pictures. I think he is so cute. The outfit is 3 to 6 months and he already fits. My how he has grown.










I loved Conference, at least what I could hear and pay attention to. I am telling you I don't know how single parents get anything done. Joey works through Saturday Conference and this is no different than any other time, except for the fact that I have 3 kids now. Joe sat on the couch and was pretty good until he decided that he needed to be held like Gus. Gus decided to wake up to the world today and Sophie well, she is Sophie and decided that all the toys were to be thrown on the floor in front of the television. She is so funny. I was embarrassed after the fact, but Joe's feeding supplies came from the home health and the delivery guy was nice and didn't look to disgusted when he dropped off the stuff. I realized right after he left that Tornado Sophie had ripped through the room.
I am excited for the Ensign to come out so that I can catch up on everything I missed. I think the Lord understands parents of young children and gives us a little bit of a break as long as we are just trying.
Have a great rest of the week end.

Scrooge???

I am a total Scrooge when it comes to the unessential holidays. I don't like how people pinched in school for St Patrick's day, or the tricks on April Fool's. So my poor husband doesn't get to have a wife who tricks or pinches. Anyways.
Sophie did the cutest thing. While I was showering I heard the diaper garbage lids close and wondered what she threw away then she lifts the toilet lid and I peek out and see her dump her potty into the toilet. I was so proud. She went without being told and was so cute about her accomplishment, she pulled the shower curtain open and started clapping and cheering. I am so tickled.

Twilight Fever

I am a goof. I seem to be being taught a bunch of lesson on understanding lately. It seems like when I criticize or don't understand something that people do, I end up doing it.
I have neglected house and home since Thursday when I discovered that Twilight and the series is pretty addictive. I just finished the second book. And would be reading the third if I had it. I really have enjoyed it. I figured I needed something better to do than watch so much TV while nursing Gus. He seems to think he needs to eat every two hours, which is so different than Joe and Sophie who ate every 4 hours. So I get into a chapter and can't put it down and before I know it, it is time to feed Gus again. OH WELL.

Which do you want to do?

My big question to Joey with the kids is "Which do you want to do?" This typically ends up with me doing the yucky job. Not because Joey is mean because he isn't, he is just to lucky. A couple years ago is when it started. About the time Sophie was born and I realized that I can only take care of one child's situation at a time. The first time should have taught me a lesson but no. Joey chose to bath clean up Sophie after a meal and I got Joe duty. Duty only because he ended up with a huge dootie all over the high chair.
Anyways, last night Gus was fussy, again, so I poked at Joey and said do you want to get up now with Gus and sleep in and I won't bother you or do you want to get up with Joe in the morning. He chose Gus. I then dutifully got up with Joe earlier than he has gotten up in weeks and got ready for the day. Well, after all three kids are awake and Joey is keeping me to me promise, I get the kids ready, Joe has a blood draw and then the lesson to be learned. Joe throws up on the floor. I therefore must clean up the mess because I got to sleep for 3 very wonderful straight hours. I think from now on I will tell Joey which option to pick, but I would probably end up with a worse outcome, due to be selfish. I think Joey has the best of luck to get out of so many of the things you would hate doing if you weren't the parent. As the parent you don't care how much poop or vomit you clean up. You feel worse for the child and that they don't feel good. I am grateful to be a mommy.

Pasta Sauce

Since becoming an Italian (big laugh)I have decided I need to learn how to cook homemade marina sauce. I never go from a recipe book due to the fact that I am overwhelmed when I look at a huge list of ingredients. So I have made it a point to watch cooking shows and try to remember the basics cooking. Joey is so sweet, he never says anything bad about my cooking, but I know that sometimes it is yucky. So I am attempting pasta right now and I am just waiting for the sauce to thicken up, and my noodles to cook. If someone has a great recipe that doesn't call for a huge list let me know. Anyways, thanks for reading and have a fabulous Sunday.
I should mention that Sophie is a very picky eater but she loves the spaghetti. The pictures above are of her mischievous the other night. The chocolate is from eating cookies that my friend brought over after Gus was born. The other is from Sophie deciding she wanted to glue the dogs to her. She poured a whole container of glue on the kitchen floor, herself, and Mardy the dog. She should have been punished but it was so cute we laughed and took a picture.

Life is Great.

These pictures are just cute they have nothing to do with my post.




I have loved this beautiful weather. For the last two days the kids and I have gone outside and played on the playground that Make-a-Wish donated to us. We had wanted to get a playground and probably would have had to wait until next year to get one. But last Thanksgiving we were blessed to get a playground. Joe giggles and giggles and Sophie begs for the wee. I plan to plant grass under it this summer. Then the kids can play and I can garden.
While I am thinking about it. I wanted to say this. I try to find good in all people. Somewhere in every person is good, we are all children of a very loving Heavenly Father and so therefore, there is good in all. We are here on this Earth after all. Last night President Obama (whom I have heard a lot of negative and not as much positive) was on Jay Leno, I enjoyed listening to him. I think he has a lot to offer. I found his personality on the show to be delightful. I am going to try to find it on youtube so I can hear it when I am not so tired. Then on the news tonight it was saying how Michelle Obama is going to plant a garden. Eleanor Roosevelt was the last to have a garden at the White house. I love to garden although I have a hard time getting around to it, but I really admire people who get out there and get dirty outside. I guess that is from having parents who always worked so hard outside. I also really admire this in my mother-in-law. She has a beautiful yard and in the summer you will almost always find her outside in the evenings working in the yard.

Goats

We tried to get rid of our goats for a year. No luck. Then we tried to breed them. No luck. So what happens we have a baby and the goats decide that now is the time. We came home from my mom's house to find a goat kid.
How lucky.

So I promised pictures in my last blog about our celebration disaster day. Here they are: