Developmental Age

It's 2 am, but i just had to take a min to share what happened today.

I took the kids to the Dr.  Alex and Liza had well child checks.   As I left the Dr handed me papers about each child.  (no big surprise, been getting those since week 1 right?) 

So at the top It says:  Elizabeth Wall

Physical Development:

-is energetic and spirited

-is usually awkward

-strives to be physically fit

-is fascinated with how the body works

-enjoys bathroom humor

Emotional Development

-Goes back and forth between being a dependent child and independent pre-teen

-becoming more and more self-conscious

Social Development

-wants approval for being "good"

-becoming preoccupied with opposite sex

-relates to peer group intensely and abides by group decisions

-confides in "best friend" constantly

-can be fickle

Alexander Wall

Physical Development

-favors competitive games

-has better hand eye coordination

Emotional Development

-getting better at putting negative feelings into words

-blames others for his own mistakes

Social Development

-has a best friend of the same sex

-seeks approval of peers as well as adults

-takes it upon himself to enforce rules

-tattles on other children who are misbehaving

-tends to be quite critical

Mental Development

-wants to be first, best, perfect and correct in everything

-is greatly concerned with right and wrong

Now both of them had other things listed, but I was struck by how many of their personality traits at this time are Developmental!   I guess I studied Child Development, but I payed such close attention to the under 5 yr olds that I forgot that the trend continues.  I guess I am somewhat relieved to discover that they are just acting like typical kids.  That maybe, just maybe Liza wont make farting noises in her armpit on a date when she is 17, and that someday Alex will be able to apologize to his wife when he is wrong, and openly admit that he has made a mistake.   Sometimes I get caught up in trying to figure out how to teach them to become the best people that they can be, and i forget that sometimes they are just acting like every other kid their age.    So there you go.   I just thought it was interesting.  And also a good way to journal their personalities at this time since I only pulled out the features listed that applied to each of them. 

Christmas 2008

We had the pleasure have having my dad with us again this Christmas.  It's fun to have a Grandparent around to help keep things fresh.  We had him wrapping and wrapping many a night, and shopping and babysitting.  Poor Grandpa, but I think he had fun anyway.

This year we all got stripy pj's.  I thought they looked fun... but not as Christmasy as I usually do.  I think next year we'll go back to Christmasy.
The kids always love to have matching clothes.  It is a very fun tradition.  That and the Christmas Dresses, I love to match them up.  BTW, no pictures of the Christmas outfits yet because Tori some how lost her little cardigan that matches the dresses, so I didn't want to take pictures with out it.  As soon as I find it, I'll take pictures.

Everyone got everything they wanted AND more for Christmas.  They must have been very good this year.  
Here is Alex getting his Bakagon holder.  His Christmas this year was all about Bakagon and Spy gear.  Thank you to Grandmas and Grandpas and Aunties and Cousins.  All the kids Loved all their gifts!!!
Liza was THRILLED with her Christmas!  She got a new IPOD!  She is so thrilled to have one that plays games and movies.  She is already, (3 days after Christmas) grounded from her Ipod, for playing games in bed instead of listening to "sleepy music".  *stinker*  She also got a lot of earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and clothes.  She was extremely excited with her High school Musical Dolls, I must admit, they are very cool.
As you can see, Tori was quite happy with her Puppy.  It grows and knows your name.  Her puppy's name is Snowflake.  She got a TON of craft stuff.  Tori loves to paint, and glue and color.  She has been crafting up a storm, but I am sure she will do more when the big kids go back to school, and she no longer has Liza here to dream up "games" to play.  She also got the Bye Bye Chou Chou, which she loves too.
Katie was TRILLED with her Dora house.  She has played with it almost non stop since Christmas.   As she goes to bed at night she reassures herself that she will be able to play with the Dora house in the morning when she wakes up.    Her catch phrase this Christmas was "Anoder Present!!! FOR MEEEEEE???"  She was SO incredibly cute.   What on earth do you do when you don't have a little wee one like that to keep things fresh?  Oh we just loved watching her!  She got a TON of Dora stuff, and princess stuff.  She also got Tinker-bell stuff, a cute Tink Doll and a water baby.
As you can see in this last Photo, we have Cyrus (Jeri's Dog) here with us for Christmas again this year.  And Chinook wanted to get in on the festivities but was scooted out of the room by Brent.  As you can see by the look on his face, he is getting scolded by Brent who is sitting camera right.  :-) LOL, poor dog.

I was absolutely spoiled  I shouldn't receive gifts for like 3 years!!  I got everything for my camera that I have been drooling over.  I am excited to learn about these new toys and get good with them.  Opening up some new doors.  Then come spring, I'll be back out side.  It was a great Christmas.  

We feasted, and were so excited to sit down and eat that we didn't even take a picture!  Brent made a full batch of Frog Eye Salad and the kids don't like it.  I think that it's pretty good, as does my dad, but Brent LOVES the stuff.  So he ate frog eye salad for DAYS trying to finish it up before it went bad.  He is almost done.  Too funny.  (he was sick yesterday... maybe that is why, maybe it wasn't a bug at all)

We spent the day hanging around and trying to catch up with lost sleep from the night before.  I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas.  Thank you to all who sent gifts and Christmas cards. We feel so loved and blessed!

"Behold Your Little Ones"

When I was in college, we were assigned to read a book called "Behold Your Little Ones".  I thoroughly  enjoyed it, and have many times had the desire to read it again.  I thought of this book again this past sunday as I listened to the Christmas Program in Sacrament meeting.  It seems that this was the message that I was supposed to receive this past few weeks.  It began a few weeks ago when I was in primary to help Tori with something she was doing,  and I found Alex sitting on Bro. M's lap.  Not in trouble, no, curled up lovingly, being swayed back and forth.  My first thought was "what in the world is he holding and rocking a 7 yr old boy for?!?!"  then as I watched (unseen by Alex), I see a tender moment that made me so sad that I don't 'behold' him enough.  I am so eager to have my kids grow to a point that they don't need me, that I forget that they are just little.  The next thing that has gotten me thinking is, my family has been quickly getting closer and closer to another sweet brother in  our ward.  Bro.B.   Bro. B is an older gentle man, who truly 'beholds the little ones'.  As I have watched him the past few sundays delight in sitting with other peoples children, I learned a lot about being grateful for what I have.  This past sunday, he was sitting with out any little ones, and he looked almost lonesome.  I suggested Tori go over to color with him.  Oh how his face lit up as she timidly joined him on his row.  Here is another person beholding one of my children.  A piece of me feels guilty, but mostly I feel a resolve.  I was listening to the parenting program that I love to listen to when I randomly selected the track where he talks about cherishing your children.  He recalls that he knew that he was not cherished as a child.  I know that I don't cherish my children like I should, again, some guilt, but mostly resolve.  As I sat and listened to all the Christmas songs, the words to "Mary Did You Know" kept coming to my mind, I thought about the fact that Mary knew that her son was the Savior, and how, if I  knew that about one of my children would that change how I treated them?  Sadly, the answer is yes.  It shouldn't be though.  Every child should be raised with that kind of love and respect.  Then last night Brent was on call in L&D, and he sadly had to deliver a 20 weeker.  :-(  When he told me about it, I cried... how horrible, 2 days before Christmas too!  And somehow, I had four healthy pregnancies that ended in 4 healthy babies.  Those 4 babies remain healthy and happy.  Why do I forget to cherish that?  And so, right at the top of the new years resolutions list is "Behold My Little Ones."  I am going to try so hard, to enjoy them, and to remember how blessed I am to have been given the privilege to raise these children of God.  They are each as important to Him as Christ is, as they are His Children too.  Each of them has their own individual potential and my job is to lovingly help them to reach that potential.  

Christmas Concerts, lights and fun!

Liza has had a few concerts this year. She had a Chorus concert, that I didn't get any video of, but I did get video of the Band Concerts. Liza really enjoys playing the flute, she fights me to practice, but I think that is just her trying to be independent. (there will be none of that!) :-)

Unfortunately there were No Christmas songs played by Lizas group. :-( So sad that we can't even play a tune that may be religious. Her Chorus group sang a few songs from other countries and one even in another language! But no Christmas. :-(

Either way... the performances were nice, and she did a great job!



Sorry they are such little blips, I didn't bring back up card or memory, so I was worried about how much I was using. :-)



Liza and her Church pals (activity girls) went to an assisted living home and sang a few songs. It is always touching to see the faces of those who are patients there. One lady was trying to sing along. So sweet. They were delighted to have the girls there. I am glad that the church provides my children with service opportunities, an essential part of life.

Grandpa got here on Tuesday night... well wednesday morning at 2 am.  Yup, snow in Chicago had him delayed for about 4 hours.  What fun!     Anyway we've had a blast playing with Grandpa.  Going shopping, riding the merry go round at the mall.  Now this next week, the little girls have to share grandpa.  The big kids are excited about spending some time with him.

We also went to see the lights again!  The kids love to unbuckle their seat belts and climb all over the car and look at this outstanding light display!  
Alex really loves the puzzle that they do every year.  They hide letters out in the lights, and you're supposed to find them, write them down, then unscramble them and enter your answer in a drawing.

This is by far Alex's favorite part.

Katie REALLY enjoyed the lights this year!  She kept calling out everything she saw.  She loved that some of the figures waved at her.  (she got to sit on the drivers lap, so that was exciting too)   I really love this display.  Wouldn't miss it!  Even if my printer was out of ink and we had to pay full price.  :-)  

The plans are brewing for next week, all the stuff we want to do with Grandpa! 

Dancing elves

    Click here to create your own video

Therapy (warning, winey post)

Over the years I have developed several forms of Therapy.  

There is my favorite, and my "drug of choice"  Retail Therapy: At this time of year, this is not much of an option...  who goes out and buys themselves stuff  10 days before Christmas?  As for my go to substitute for buying for myself, this is not the best time of year to be spending money on "household items" either.

I would say that my second favorite form of Therapy would be Gal Time:  At this time of year.... not plentiful.  With all the hustle and bustle of the season, folks going out of town, folks coming into town, there is not a whole lot of gal time to be had.  

When budget restricted and alone, I tend to turn to Chocolate as my third option:  Oh, this time of year offers a spread of treats beyond belief, and also the excuse that "the diet begins in January."  However, my Chocolate/ treats don't seem to be helping much.... and so the search continues,

So here I am reading blogs and writing a blog.... seeking therapy through my glowing box.  Hoping to be sucked away from life's troubles, and into a world of bliss.  (I'll tell you if I find bliss in the glowing box, but I am not hopeful)

If none of that works, I will be forced to try another twilight fix.  Either another viewing of the movie, or hours sucked into the book.  With the busy season at hand, I doubt that I will take the time to read the book again, so call me if you want to join me at the show.  :-)

I used to run to the gym every time I needed a lift... maybe I should do that again... right now, I feel like my kids are tired of the gym and to ask them to go any day that I am not working, makes me feel like I am pushing my luck.  I know however that when we move, we are ALL going to miss this gym, in all it's beauty, and I will regret not spending more time there.  I also feel like my water classes are getting boring.. I need to jazz things up a bit, but when I do, these poor students look like a bunch of Birds going all the wrong way. :-)

When all my ideas seem to fail,  I end up a blubbering mess at 2 am.  Which is not Brents favorite time of day.  I think that sometimes I spend the day seeking seeking seeking something.... and when nothing works, and I give up finding something at 2 am, thats what happens.

What am I seeking therapy for?  What is it that I am running from?  Oh, worries, and fears mostly.  The whole moving thing... I've adjusted rather well, and quickly I think, to the idea that we will likely land somewhere small, when I will need to find  a new way to fly.  But for years and years, seriously.. like 8 years!  I have been looking forward to the days when we would be done being the peon, and begin making money, and working 'normal' work hours.    We found out LONG ago that our pay in the army would be significantly less then a civilian Dr. and we've dealt with that lost dream.  But I never imagined that the hours wouldn't get better.  Every time life turns over, and we begin a new chapter of this medical tour, I get told that things are going to get better, and every time, it gets worse.   All through residency I've been told that the hours get better the longer you're there.  That by his 4th year, it should be better... not so.... not yet.  So I was looking to after graduation, when we would be working with for the army, as I hear stories of Dr's for the Army wrapping up the work day at 3 pm.  I was sure that we would be a "normal" family soon.  That my husband would come home after a 8-9 hour work day and help out, that I could count on him for dinner, and FHE.  That my kids would know more of who he is, and would feel more connected to him.  

Upon some research of the places that the army is looking to send us, we have found that at a lot of them Brent would be the ONLY ANESTHESIOLOGIST !!!  Oh yes, the only... in a hospital where they deliver babies.  Oh yes, that means call...  oh, no not every so often... every single day?!?!?!  What the heck??!?!   We haven't found someone to confirm our fears, but how else do they run a hospital with only one Anesthesiologist?  Why oh why can't we have a 'normal' go of things... just for a while?  not forever, but just for a while.

And so I seek on...  seeking strength to do ANOTHER 4 years on my own.  Another 4 years with an exhausted husband and absent father.  I thought it was over.. that is the hard part.  I thought it was a light at the end of my tunnel.  Once AGAIN, it's not the end of the tunnel, it's another frigging on coming train!

What to wear.. what to wear

Tori got dressed this morning in pj pants and this princess shirt.  I mentioned later that she had preschool today.  "you're not going to wear PJ pants to school are you?"  Oh, no, she wanted to change, so she came down in this Zebra skirt with no tights.  "You're going to be too cold on the playground with out tights Tori."  "I don't care."  "I'm not taking you to school w/o tights"  

This is what she came down in:
Tori wins.  I will take her in this.....  I think it shows her independence... and that is fine with me.

However, since I had the camera out and the light in my house was finally good, I took this one too.  Even in a zebra skirt and stripy tights, she is a beautiful subject.  :-)

Updating the walls

For 2 years now, I have proudly displayed my girlfriend Jeris' art work on my walls. She took pictures of my children and my whole family 2 years ago, and they are so beautiful, I couldn't bare to take them down. After much encouragement from she and fellow photographers, I have finally updated my walls with my own work. Well, mostly my own work.



It is fun to see them in frames.  Nothing like taking a picture of pictures.  Unfortunatly my favorite picture of all time, the one I had printed 20X30, is not my work, but the baby in it is.  My cousin Kevin took that one. I have had a good mail week, as i got my package with all the pictures, and my miche purse finally came today too!  What a fun week. 

YoYo

I somewhat expected the Army to be stupid about all this moving business,  but as always they've out done themselves.  In Brents meeting with them today they retracted their comment that we would not be sent to one of the small hospitals in some po-dunk town.  They are now almost guaranteeing that we WILL be assigned to a small hospital!  That means that all 3 of our top picks are OUT!  No Tacoma, No DC, and No San Antonio.  My worst nightmare would be being sent to El Passo, or Georgia.  (Just for the record so you can all cry with me when I get sent there!)  I can't even imagine being sent to some little tiny town and then have Brent over seas.  Anyone who knows me even a tiny bit knows that I am a "goer" I will DIE if left somewhere where there is no where to go.  Next year I will have 3 kids in school, I can't just pick up and go home while he is called up (like I wish I could).  ARG.  It is so hard for me to have faith in times like this.  I want so badly to be in control.  Another of my personality traits: Controlling.  I just wish that the army could at least give us a straight story.  You know.... I didn't expect a verdict today, or even so much as a narrow down (although i hoped for that),  but I wasn't prepared for a full sweep of all our choices (to be told "NO") and a flop in what kind of place we thought we were headed for.  The commander (or whatever he is) gave Brent a reason for no Tacoma, and did leave a little hope there... of well... if...., but we got an absolute No on DC.  Looks like we are almost defiantly leaving.  :-(  How am I going to do this deployment with out you all?... aw, now I'm going to bawl.   :-( I was so holding on to that hope.  Crap, it's so real all of a sudden.  Thanks to Jeri for my back ground music right now, as I type, playing in the back ground, (slightly softer then the sound of arguing children) "God Will Take Care Of You" Plumb.

Be not dismayed what e'er be tide
God will take care of you
Beneath His wings of love abide
God will take care of you

God will take care of you
Through every day, o'er all the way
*He will care for you*
God will take care of you

Through days of toil when heart doth fail
God will take care of you
When dangers fierce your path assail
Find More lyrics at www.sweetslyrics.com
God will take care of you

God will take care of you
Through every day, o'er all the way
He will care for you
God will take care of you

God will take care of you
Through every day, o'er all the way
He will care for you
God will take care of you

:-(

Waiting

So most of our Med school pals are getting jobs now.... or have them already, they're packing their homes, and getting ready to begin their lives in the real world.  We, on the other hand will remain in limbo till the army sees fit to tell us what we are to do.  Don't get me wrong, I have yet to regret our decision to go with the military for Med School, but it is a little unnerving to not know.  Brent does however have a meeting with the Army on Friday, some friends of ours had their choices narrowed to 2 spots after they had this meeting last year.  So here's to hoping that we too will be able to research only a few options and have a feel for where we will be.   If they're not sending us out west, I want to know now, so that I can deal with it now, and get excited about somewhere else.  Wish us luck, and keep us in your prayers.  I know that we will land where the Lord wants us, it would just be nice if he wanted the same place as I do.  :-)  I miss being able to visit family on long weekends.  I'll keep you posted if we hear anything on Friday.  (crossing fingers)

So..... Where'd I go?

My Niece Amber.... isn't she a doll?!?!

Well, we lost our cable for 8 days.   8 days, before this, i would have thought, "aw, that's nothing", now I think "8 DAYS!!!!!  WHY ON EARTH!?!?!"  Our cable not only runs the TV, but the internet and the phone!!  My life lines.  The only thing that pulled me through was a wonderful couple of visitors.  During our 8 day famine my Sister in Law Andrea (aka Drea) (Brents baby sis) and her baby Amber came to visit for a week.  We had a lovely time despite the fact that a crazy 24 hour stomach bug ran through our whole family.  Amber went down first... poor soul, never had the pukes before, then suffered a wicked diaper rash ;-(.  Then Drea followed shortly after, falling ill on the night of the Twilight release, and missing the show :-(  Boo again.  Tori and Alex were the next day.... then Katie, then Liza.  Come Sunday (when i was supposed to speak in church) i got up early to go over my talk, one last time, sat at the computer and fought off the nausea for about 20 minutes, then lost it.  Needless to say, I didn't deliver my talk.  Brent teased that he wanted to sit in the congregation  and watch me try not to toss my cookies.  Brent managed to hide from it for a week, but it caught up with him on Thanksgiving day.  Poor guy... almost chucked his frog eye salad.  

Enough puke talk though, cuz we did have a good time, Drea and I.  We talked and talked and talked.  We got to have some nice remembering moments, laughing at the Jr. Highschool girl I first met.  Talking about mom, and all the things we love and miss about her.  Laughing as we remembered the way she said things, esp the boys names when they were being scolded.  :-)  HEHE.  We also listened to Twilight book on tape, which was fun too.  Drea had not read them yet, so it was fun to take her on her virgin tour to meet Edward.  MMMM.  Although she missed the midnight showing, she was feeling up to going the next day... so we went.  (which worked out great for me, cuz then I got to see it again!!  Hooray!)  

Unfortunately, the only time I got out a camera was while they were in the tub!!!  What is up with that??  No pics of me and my sis.  No clothed shots of my cute niece.  I don't know what came over me!  I am so sad at the missed opportunity.  It was so nice to see them, and to know my baby Amber a wee bit better.  She is such a happy baby.  She loves to play peek a boo, but she must be the one peeking.  Her Grandma would have loved to see those pudgy little hands over her eyes, sandwiching her little button nose, and to hear her say "pek buooo" SO CUTE!   I loved her blown kisses and her sweet snuggles.  She is such a lovey girl!  She would point to her nose with the utmost confidence and say "NO" (for nose).  SO CUTE.  Oh I am so glad that I got the opportunity to see her, and for just a moment know a little of what it must feel like for Grandparents who live far from their grand babies and want so desperately to see these babies grow up.  I think I will put all my money into a huge piece of land and I will build 5 lovely houses.  Then they will want to stay right?!?!  Boo, I hope my kids don't have to move away from me, I want those grand kids close. 

Sorry, little tangent.  Anyway, we had a lovely time even though we were w/o technology for a while.  Comcast (our cable carrier) however didn't have a good week because this one client kept complaining and complaining, calling multiple times a day.  Moaning about reimbursements, deadlines, phone lines and cell phone bills!  Sorry for them, they should have fixed it faster!  

Thanksgiving was shared with the Tidwells and Hansens.  We had enough food to feed the Canadian Military in it's entirety!  :-)  Two Turkeys (Lincoln had to do two incase his smoked Turkey didn't work... which it did and was delish)  a ham, best yams you ever had (thanks AmyJo), rolls, frog eye salad (brents Fave), potatoes, dressing, mango/curry carrots, green salad, and 3 deserts cranberry bread, Carmel Apple Cheesecake, and Nanimo Bars. MMMM  I was so good.  Too much food though, entirely too much.  We had a delicious dinner tonight though where I used the turkey, so well worth it.  Thank you Friends for another memorable holiday!