Kids Art, Baby Bedding, Nursery Decor

Here's a new website to check out. Lots of cute baby decor. Here's a message from the designer...

"Hey Guys! My new website is finally done and live. I have all my art for kids listed on there as well as other items for kids and babies from other companies and artists. Take a look and let me know what you think. I search the internet for unique and cute stuff for kids and I’m adding products daily.

I am trying to get the word out so if you blog please consider adding a link to my site…if that's okay, can you list the site name as "Kids Art, Baby Bedding, Nursery Decor" and then link it to www.LondonBridgeChildren.com. I'm trying to get linked to as many blogs as I can. If you have any friends that blog let them know that if they will add my link to their blog then I will send them a free 8x10" art print from my website (and they can pass that offer on to their friends…you can just forward this to them). Just have them email me if they are interested. And, of course I want you to pick out an 8x10" art print for helping me out…thank you so much!"

Lori

loribergstrom11@yahoo.com

Our guest Sarah

When Brandon got home this afternoon, we discovered that our Laura had replaced herself with a guest by the name of Sarah. She had been invited by Cole and Laura and would be staying the night. She stayed in character most of the evening. Here are some things about Sarah....

her family begs her to dress immodestly, which is why she was at our dinner table still wearing her swimsuit.

Her family only eats dinner in the living room while watching tv(which happens here only occastionally, we're so unfortunate).

You don't have to wait for dessert at her house.

They do have salad and other things for dinner.

For Family Home Evening they have prayer and then sing a song

Back to the Laura's family...we had lemon poppyseed muffins for dessert and Cole asked for seconds and I told him to split it with Laura/Sarah.

An hour later Laura was back with our family and we were glad because we missed her. She walks over to the muffins and asks for another and I asked if Cole didn't share a second one with her?

Very Seriously the response was,

No, that was Sarah.

Wydahotana

That's what Brandon's coworkers call where he's from, cause it's somewhere out there amongst those western states. We had a good time, experiences all kinds of weather. LOTS of pics, the task seems daunting to blog about it all....I'm going to give it a shot! Well mostly pics with a few comments where necessary. Here goes!


First stop SLC, UT

Susan picked us up then we headed to Temple Square and met up with our wonderful babysitter Miss Kristine, who's hanging out there for the summer and two missionaries who served in Tally but are home now, James Costello and Brady Nielsen. They were fun to hang with, the kids enjoyed their youthful energy...



We had a picnic lunch that Susan made for us, yummy. Then we headed to the north visitor's center and saw cool paintings and the Christus, then watched a video that moved you to different rooms that were decorated for different stages in life, it was about families being together forever (very well done).




We went back to temple sqaure the next day, Joseph Smith memorial building, conference center and headed north to Ogden to have lunch with Brandon's Aunt Barbara. We made it to Pocatello in time to eat at Tastee Treet...yummy.

It was good to see everyone again.

and due to picture editing issues we'll add more later :)

Pansy

I realized in the middle of the funeral that I was still wearing my leather work gloves. I considered taking them off out of respect, but decided to leave them on: the cat and I had a working relationship anyway.

You don't have to go all the way to Idaho to find a farm like the one I grew up on--that's part of what I like about Tallahassee. It wasn't a real farm by farm standards, but it was a farm by city standards. We had cattle and hogs and sometimes chickens, a horse for a short while, sheep one summer, and always cats and dogs. People from town, either out of laziness or some misguided sense of what it is to be humane, dropped off domesticated animals "in the country" (we were only five minutes from the edge of town) when they were finished with them.

We had a complex relationship with our animals. Some people, then and now, shout objections to raising animals for slaughter. On our place at least, the animals were treated well, even through their final moments. No human being ate dinner until the animals were fed and otherwise cared for. Our entire schedules were built around the animals' needs. We fed the babies with bottles when necessary, took animals of all sizes to the vet, administered medicines, delivered babies. I was always pleased at how a days-old calf, with its legs folded under itself, fit perfectly across my chest, head resting in the cradle created by my bicep and deltoid, butt hanging over the same place on the other arm.

At the same time, no animal was ever allowed in the house. No matter how cold. Animals are smart, and, more important, built tough. They found shelter from wind and rain and snow and worse, and they were just fine. The house was for the people and the people alone.

Eventually, they all came to the same end. Even as a child I understood this. Every beast--whether loved or hated or simply tended, pet or pest or product--came to the same end. Sparky the little mutt was hit by a car and got a burial service--the first of many. The wild dogs that chased the cattle were shot. Pigs and chickens were slaughtered at home; the cattle usually were trucked elsewhere. One calf literally died in my arms as I was trying to get him to the vet. I watched a cow slaughtered and carved up, plucked many a still-twitching headless chicken, and assisted in converting many a hog to ham. And yes, sometimes we put down animals in poor health, including our horse. I hunted deer and game birds. I hauled dead animals to the landfill. None of it really bothered me--it was just the way it was.

Tiger the family cat broke all those rules. I didn't want a cat. I don't really even like cats. But his owner promised that he was a good hunter, and I had a mole problem. Similarly, I had a family problem: Jennifer and the kids all wanted him. Tiger came home with us.

How it irked me, having an ANIMAL in the HOUSE! On the couch, on the bed, coming in, going out, coming in again. But I came to appreciate that Tiger wasn't just any cat. He had no disillusions about owning the place, no feline sense of entitlement, no haughty attitude. He didn't even insist on being underfoot until you gave him what he was after. He just wanted a soft place to rest and some food that he didn't have to chase. And that cat brought me at least a mole a week.

I knew he was sick when he rubbed up against my shins, looking for attention. He hadn't even begun losing weight yet, but he'd never acted like that. By that point I loved him too, and was actually glad for the chance to rub and scratch him. Two weeks later I was digging a hole in the back yard, my leather gloves saving my once-tough hands from blisters--I've become a genuine pansy. Choking out for my children an explanation of sickness and death, I found that everything I learned on the farm seemed just as distant as Idaho herself.

Jennifer and the kids seem just fine now, and I'm glad for them. We don't have to buy cat food, and the mole population hasn't recovered yet. I just wish I could quit expecting Tiger to dart past me every morning when I open the door to leave for work.

Laura's Heart

she's a pretty tough cookie, give her a job to do and if she's interested in getting it done, it will get done, no matter the obstacle. She gives me a run for my money at least once a day. She knows what she wants.

She's not much of a people person. For the most part she'd be happy in a room by herself.

She has a tender heart. Ever since she was way little she would pay attention to the expression on people's face in books we would read and ask if they were sad, or point out the emotion and then ask why, with real concern. If her siblings are having a hard time (and she isn't having a hard time herself) she tries to help them out somehow.

Today she and I were headed to Walmart and I saw ahead of us a hitchhiker at the on ramp of I-10 and we had a red light. I could tell she was going to ask.

Is he waiting for the bus?

No. (then I tried to give the six yr old version of what he was doing)

He doesn't have a car?

He doesn't have a place to live?

I said most likely not.

What does he do if it rains (cause it was about to)

Get wet.

After some thought

well I hope he has an umbrella and some food

It may be hard to get it through just reading about it, but the concern and thoughtfulness in her voice were heavenly.

I am so amazed by her. I think I've put on here before a quote I found, from a mother describing her daughter, who had passed away. It perfectly describes her for me.....so here it is again......

" she was like a gale force hurricane wind ripping through your life and other times she was a gentle delicate breeze on your cheek"

I hope I am showing her how much I admire, adore and appreciate who she is. She has a strong will, and independent spirit, a decisive mind and she has a tender heart.

My Hannah Sings

all. the. time.

Well, mostly when we're in the van and she's bored, or in a store. It happens so much in the grocery store and walmart that I don't realize she's doing it and approach people (who have been listening to it for two or more aisles) and they're smiling at me and it takes a minute to realize they're appreciating her singing. It is sweet.

My first two kids were not like this so it's also kind of odd. But I love it and really really hope she's developing those vocal chords so that she can sing in a way that I've always wished I could. No pressure though. I've only thought about voice lessons, I haven't even looked into it yet.....but I will.

Her favorites are Love is Spoken Here, If the Savior stood beside me, Happy Birthday Anya (her cousin), a mixture of the first two and she has some originals she's working on.

I love her and the fact that she loves music and singing.

I have hopes of getting it on film and putting here in the future. Stay tuned!

Mother's Day

Yesterday Brandon and the kids brought me tulips (my favorite!) and two bags of powdered donuts, Brandon said they had a hard time distinguishing between the things they wanted and what I might want, so I guess they found a happy medium. Do you know those sweet kids helped me open both bags of those donuts when they gave them to me? ...

I'm tearing up.

I got to take a nap and then Laura and I went short/skirt shopping for her. We could of done better there, but then we ran by Wendy's for her and she took me to Osaka for Mother's day (Brandon is not fond of the place, so we don't go there and I usually love it although trying to eat healthier makes all that oil less appealing). Laura said she enjoyed eating with me, but not watching the guys cook.

This morning Brandon and the kids made me breakfast for a queen and everyone ate on the bed with me, sort of, it was fun. Then the kids brought me the crafts they made while Brandon made breakfast.

Hannah did some cutting and was so proud...

and Laura made me some 'heads', this is my favorite b/c of the button on it

My son.......

He brings me coupons that he made...all on his own, a free hug, a free kiss, 20 minutes of just you and me time (one of my faves). Then I come to 'some money', and he's there holding a hand full of dimes, my jaw drops. Cole's love affair with money is well I'm speechless, it's huge. So I looked at him and said Cole you're giving me money? For real? He smiled big and said yes.

I teared up.

I moved on to other coupons and was still stumped about the money so I asked Cole are you really giving me your money? He said no, Laura gave me some of her money so I could give it to you (Laura is much like her mother and cares very little about money until it poofs into something worthwhile :) ). Life began to make more sense again, everything was as it should be... sort of.

I said Cole why didn't you give me your money...Cole says, because I'm saving it and didn't want to waste it, besides I think it's all in savings.

There was probably a teaching moment here, but I didn't take it.

Another coupon was "anything built out of legos". Cole kept asking what I wanted built, "mom, don't you want to turn in one of your coupons? What do you want built?"

I told him I didn't know yet and finally after church he said mom have you decided and I said well, I was thinking of an ice cream cone (go figure). He said, oh so casually and sincerely....oh I was thinking of a temple...we're going with Cole's suggestion, I'm left wondering who is raising this kid....oh yeah, Brandon.

Sacrament meeting.......

Today I'm sure I asked the kids to be reverent during sacrament. As some point I may have noticed Cole being very quiet, not really doing anything. I thought something may have been wrong with him, but figured I'd let it stew silently until after Sacrament meeting, no sense in rocking the boat. By the end of the meeting Laura has ended up in Brandon's lap on the stand and I have to go out with Hannah to potty. So Cole was left to fend for himself.

Cut to the parking lot and I notice a friend of mine who we usually end up sitting behind in Sacrament meeting is leaving and stops her vehicle just behind ours and is coming to talk to me. She says I don't know what you are doing in raising the kids but you're a great mom (okay who doesn't want to hear this stuff on Mother's day, but I'm puzzled still, oh yeah and did I mention Brandon's raising them/me). She explains they were sitting there singing the closing hymn and she looked back and there's Cole sitting by himself with his little hymnal singing the closing song. She gave us kudos and I thought how nice for Cole and me that there wasn't a different ending to that story.

So on the way home I'm telling everyone what Sister Torgesen told me, to give Cole full benefit. And he says, yeah I made a promise to myself that for Mother's day I would be good during Sacramnet meeting and listen and sing all the songs. ............................... he continued, yeah, Hannah pulled out some books that I really wanted to read, but I remember I promised myself so I didn't read them.

I tear up every time I think of it.

I really appreciate that he thought enough to make this commitment for me. The best part is that he made a promise to himself and even when it came down to being difficult he kept the promise. I am still in awe. I realize it's not the end all be all and we hope that all children learn this self mastery, but the kid's eight and I can't say that I keep many promises I make to myself. Could a mother ask for a better gift on mother's day? I couldn't. Thank you Cole.

Laura looked kind of forlorn (I love when she gives these looks, hard to describe but so precious) after Cole told us this and I was praising him, so I told her...when you're eight you can give that to me for mother's day too.

So this afternoon we went to mom's and got to spend good time with her while Frank and Brandon took the kids for a hike.

Then we came home and I got to spend time with my hubby.

It was a great mother's day.

No tears, just smiles, I have a great life!