Life Experiences

I found a check list of life experiences and was glad to see that I can now check off wisdom teeth from that list! I had them taken out last Thursday and things went good. I was truly blessed how smoothly the procedure went. They didn't have to go into the sinus cavity like they thought they would. This weekend was a little crazy with family things but I was able to attend and be involved in it all, granted a little swollen, bruise and high on Advil.

I just finished reading, The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. Makes you think about what is most important in life, definitely a good read....


(Click to enlarge)

Elder Schvaneveldt

We had a fun weekend with Dale and sure are going to miss him. He leaves for the MTC tomorrow morning!

Pillow Talk

Tonight was a hard night. Mitch had to work late and the kids were crazy and driving me crazy! Cameron threw a tantrum of enormous portions, something I haven't seen in quite some time. So by the time it was bedtime I was D-O-N-E with children for the night. Of course there is the multiple potty trips, drinks, and Natalie's throwing all her blankets out of the crib shenanigans before everything finally quiets down each night. On one of my trips up to Natalie's room I heard the kids talking to each other. As I paused to listen to them talk my Grinch sized heart grew (I no longer wanted to beat the tar out of them.) Their conversation was so cute, I was dying.

Cameron: ".....Rosa Parks sat on the front of the bus...."
Julia: "What?"
Cameron: "Rosa Parks sat in the front of the bus, she didn't care what others thought. I think that the bus driver had to call the police or something. She just wanted to ride. I don't know what they did....."

A few minutes later they start having a conversation about wisdom teeth.

Cameron: "Mom is getting her teeth cut out tomorrow. I think she isn't going to feel well. I hope it doesn't bleed. I don't think band-aids will stick in her mouth, I don't know what she is going to do."
Julia: "I think she is going to sleep tomorrow, it is going to hurt her. Dad will be home to take care of us."
Cameron: "I am nervous for her, that isn't good. I think that will hurt. I would be nervous if that happened to me. Mom said dad doesn't need his teeth cut out. I am glad I am a boy and am growing up to be a dad. I am not going to have that done to my teeth. Sorry Julia that is going to be a little nervous and scary, your a girl and are going to be a mom. Your teeth are going to get taken out when you are older."
Julia: "Hmmm.... I don't know about that. I think I will talk to dad about that tomorrow. "

I think for entertainment I might set a recorder in their room every night to hear the thoughts of my 6 and 4 year old. Hours of entertainment..................

Monkey Ears

The other day at church Julia saw a girl with a hairstyle that she just had to have. When describing it to me she said "The girl's hair was monkey ears!" After a better description of what she wanted I realized she wanted pigtail looped braids. Unfortunately for Julia, her mother is not good at hair and Julia's hair is so thin and not long enough to get the look she was hoping for. After the making the "monkey ears" she said it didn't look much like the girl's at church. The next day I tried to variation of the monkey ears that looked a little better. I wish I was a better "girl hair mom".





A few weeks ago we tried curlers the night before church. Natalie left hers in for about 1/2 hour before pulling them out. Julia's hair was curly when she woke up the next morning but by the time 1:00 church rolled around it pretty much looked normal, curly on the bottom straight on the top. They looked cute with them in though. Mitch thought it was "a little much" for him.

Zhu Zhu Pets

The newest additions to the family
"Chunk," "Num, Nums," and "Nugget"

These silly hamster were bought last night at Wal-Mart. They were the hot toy this past Christmas and were near impossible to find and buy. Now Wal-Mart's shelves are full of them. Cameron really wanted to buy one with some Christmas money that he got so I told him that it would be okay. Natalie fell in love with them the minute she saw them. Julia was really interested in some plush horse in a purse item that was extremely expensive so I convinced her that she really wanted a fake hamster too. Knowing not much about them, we bought them and brought them home. There are about 12 warnings on the box to "Keep away from hair" so what happens? Natalie has the hamster for less than 30 seconds before it was completely caught in her hair and she was crying. Fortunately there was no need for a hair cut but a few minutes of panic as we tried to get it out. I think she understands now not to put it by her hair. Thank goodness! It really isn't a toy for a 2 year old so what kind of mom am I? One that wanted to get out of Wal-Mart without a show stopping tantrum at 7:50 pm. After the hair incident I read the rest of the warning labels more seriously. No sleeping with your Zhu, Zhu and not intended for use with live animals." Natalie wanted to do just that...sleep with her hamster. She spent a good 15 minutes after we put her to bed crying "Nugget, NUGGET...." I think you get the picture. The hamsters are pretty cute and "run" all around on the floor. Maybe this might do for a pet for the time being......well Mitch and I can only dream!

PS-

While at Wal-Mart I saw my one and only Barbie I had as a girl, Peaches and Cream Barbie. She is being sold as a collectors doll now. That doesn't make me feel old or anything. :(

Wal-Mart wants $50 for her! When I saw her it felt like a time warp back to my childhood. So weird. She was beautiful and I loved her.

Our Family

By Julia


Natalie, Dad, Julia (dressed like a reindeer), Cameron, and Mom

I love how little girls know how to draw flowers, grass, suns, and rainbows in all of their pictures!

Dinner Issues

We are having some major dinner issues here at the Stuard household. Unless dinner consists of about 6 different options (Spaghetti, Pizza, Fettuccine Chicken, Hamburgers, Tatertot casserole, or Hamburger casserole) I have a mutiny on my hands. I seriously want to cry when thinking about eating all of the above dinner items. I have had them so much it makes me not hungry. I am not a good cook mainly because of my patience level for cooking, having ingredients stocked in the kitchen, and the clean up make me not want to do it! But something has got to change.....

Tonight I was making a delicious (catch my tone) rice a roni chicken dish when Cameron came into the kitchen and said, "I am so hunger my tummy is starving and this kitchen smells dreadful!" Where does he come up with this stuff? I need some new ideas!