We spent last week in Taylorsville babysitting for my niece and nephews while Aimee and Matt ran away to Cancun. Luckily, they came back-- because I love those kids bunches and bunches but right now I am really enjoying my very simple, very quiet newlywed lifestyle. No one has to practice, or do homework, or make their beds. Including me.
Some of the highs and lows of the week:
High: All the kids dressed up as movie stars for their recital: Hannah Montana, Indiana Jones, Obiwan, and Darth Vader (as a bobble head).
Low:Isaac getting in a car accident while driving Matt and Aimee's van. Luckily, he wasn't hurt-- and he wasn't at fault. We are very, very grateful for that; the damage was a lot worse than this picture really shows.
Also low: Coming home from dealing with the accident to realize that Marcus hadn't come home with the carpool, and finding him sitting on the school lawn, crying.
Hilarious: Caleb praying that "Isaac won't make any more car wrecks until Mommy and Daddy get home."
Ironic: Caleb praying for a vacation to 'come really soon.' (Sorry kid, the vacation came and your parents took it without you!)
Starting to see a trend: Caleb running around in his Indiana Jones costume for three days straight, trying to sing the theme song and chanting 'bumsheila, bumsheila' at random, inappropriate moments. (I hope you're reading this, Nate!)
Sorry this picture is sideways, picasa is giving me fits today, and I've been putting off this post too long to worry about it.
Suspicious: Caleb asking me if there was baby in my tummy, because I was fat! (his words-- I suspect this may have been staged, but still).
(Sidenoe: I totally blame Matt for the hilarious one-liners we got from all four kids, all week long. It is incredibly hard to discipline a child when you can't stop laughing at whatever excuse or argument they're using to get out of trouble.)
Threatening my marriage: Finding myself alone with seven kids, aged 5 months to nine years, as sacrament meeting started when Isaac up and decided to help with the sacrament; watching four boys tumble and make car noises through the whole meeting.
So true: Aubree leaning over to tell me that when Isaac and I have kids we would probably do better if we had them one at a time. (The chances of posterity was hanging by a thread at that point, anyway). Blake (a distant Winder relative, kind of, who lives near Isaac's parents) told me after the meeting that he didn't know what I was going to do when I had my own. (Hey, me neither!)
Fun: Spending so long helping Marcus and Caleb make bubble beards and mohawks that we had to refill the tub to finish the job.
Sweet: Loving Caleb to death every night as I put him to bed and delighting in the love returned.
Very sweet: Catching Isaac cloud-watching with the little boys in the backyard (they were pretending to nap in this picture).
Disclaimer: Aubree and Tyler are awesome, too, but taking pictures is a great way to pass the day with Caleb and Marcus while the big kids are at school. They just didn't have so many opportunities to be in the spotlight.
It was a powerful experience for me as I watched my husband interact with these kids he loves so much. I was kind of amazed by how much I loved them, too, even after an exhausting week of baptism by fire. Being with our nieces and nephews is a big part of why we feel so strongly we should be here, and this week was a perfect example of a good decision in action. I feel so lucky to be a part of Isaac's wonderful family.
One thing I learned: I think that Isaac and I will make an excellent parenting team. I absolutely reveled in the partnership we had as we kept house & family together in Matt & Aimee's absence and I am looking forward to doing it for real. Marriage rocks, even (especially) when it takes a lot of effort.
(Please don't get too excited about what I just wrote. I am not pregnant and its no use asking when I will be. I will be looking forward to parenting for a while longer, I promise.)
Some of the highs and lows of the week:
High: All the kids dressed up as movie stars for their recital: Hannah Montana, Indiana Jones, Obiwan, and Darth Vader (as a bobble head).
Low:Isaac getting in a car accident while driving Matt and Aimee's van. Luckily, he wasn't hurt-- and he wasn't at fault. We are very, very grateful for that; the damage was a lot worse than this picture really shows.
Also low: Coming home from dealing with the accident to realize that Marcus hadn't come home with the carpool, and finding him sitting on the school lawn, crying.
Hilarious: Caleb praying that "Isaac won't make any more car wrecks until Mommy and Daddy get home."
Ironic: Caleb praying for a vacation to 'come really soon.' (Sorry kid, the vacation came and your parents took it without you!)
Starting to see a trend: Caleb running around in his Indiana Jones costume for three days straight, trying to sing the theme song and chanting 'bumsheila, bumsheila' at random, inappropriate moments. (I hope you're reading this, Nate!)
Sorry this picture is sideways, picasa is giving me fits today, and I've been putting off this post too long to worry about it.
Suspicious: Caleb asking me if there was baby in my tummy, because I was fat! (his words-- I suspect this may have been staged, but still).
(Sidenoe: I totally blame Matt for the hilarious one-liners we got from all four kids, all week long. It is incredibly hard to discipline a child when you can't stop laughing at whatever excuse or argument they're using to get out of trouble.)
Threatening my marriage: Finding myself alone with seven kids, aged 5 months to nine years, as sacrament meeting started when Isaac up and decided to help with the sacrament; watching four boys tumble and make car noises through the whole meeting.
So true: Aubree leaning over to tell me that when Isaac and I have kids we would probably do better if we had them one at a time. (The chances of posterity was hanging by a thread at that point, anyway). Blake (a distant Winder relative, kind of, who lives near Isaac's parents) told me after the meeting that he didn't know what I was going to do when I had my own. (Hey, me neither!)
Fun: Spending so long helping Marcus and Caleb make bubble beards and mohawks that we had to refill the tub to finish the job.
Sweet: Loving Caleb to death every night as I put him to bed and delighting in the love returned.
Very sweet: Catching Isaac cloud-watching with the little boys in the backyard (they were pretending to nap in this picture).
Disclaimer: Aubree and Tyler are awesome, too, but taking pictures is a great way to pass the day with Caleb and Marcus while the big kids are at school. They just didn't have so many opportunities to be in the spotlight.It was a powerful experience for me as I watched my husband interact with these kids he loves so much. I was kind of amazed by how much I loved them, too, even after an exhausting week of baptism by fire. Being with our nieces and nephews is a big part of why we feel so strongly we should be here, and this week was a perfect example of a good decision in action. I feel so lucky to be a part of Isaac's wonderful family.
One thing I learned: I think that Isaac and I will make an excellent parenting team. I absolutely reveled in the partnership we had as we kept house & family together in Matt & Aimee's absence and I am looking forward to doing it for real. Marriage rocks, even (especially) when it takes a lot of effort.
(Please don't get too excited about what I just wrote. I am not pregnant and its no use asking when I will be. I will be looking forward to parenting for a while longer, I promise.)
4 comments:
About time you write a post. I loved the pictures and for some reason laughed when I imagined Marcus crying on the school lawn waiting for uncle isaac. Sad but funny to imagine you guys taking care of 4 kids.
We love having you and "pooh bear" here with us now. You were so fun to hang out with at James and Karen's wedding (You too, Clay, Nick, and Stef).
I'm feeding Grace as I read this and know that she is happy to have Uncle Isaac and Aunt Candalyn close by, too. Bumsheila!!!
I would like to clarify that I have never let Caleb watch the Indiana Jones movies. They definitely are not appropriate for a 4 year old. I think "Bumshiela" was something he learned from Nate or Isaac.
I can't even tell you all how AWESOME these guys were tending my kids. We try to be pretty good at sticking to schedules, making everyone do their chores every day, brushing their teeth every stinkin' night, etc. You guys did a great job enforcing all of those things and it was amazing. We are leaving for nine days in February. Can we hire you again?? (Maybe it's too soon to ask!)
Post a Comment