Quote of the Day

The quote of the day was by Andrew today. I over heard him saying to Peter, "Peter, you're not the king of the house. Dad is. No Mom is. Mom you're the king of the house."

I have high hopes for him. He's going to have life figured out early. Now if I could just get him to put away his shoes...

Every day he gives me flowers

In October, John planted hundreds of daffodil bulbs. He is quite the farmer. He loves planting gardens of all sorts. Flower. Vegetable. Tree.

Now it's March and I get fresh flowers outside and in.

The other day I wondered where Andrew was and what he was up to. And this is a picture I'll remember forever.

















He picks me flowers every day. Thanks to my farmer John who plants them every season.

Hero of the day

What a day!

I was feeling enormously proud of my efforts towards
my motherly duties.
picture of boys taken a year ago

Any mother that wakes up early to bake homemade rolls for a preschool aged son's Snow & Mitten party would be pleased with herself. Especially, after being awake with the other son from midnight until 4am for the past two nights. The chemo has thrown his sleeping routine off a bit. It's okay. At least he's happy when he's up during the night. We've taught him how to run the dvd/vcr and tv. Actually, we didn't teach him. He just picked it up. WOw. That kid is a smart one or it may be a sign of too much movie watching. My father-n-law would say he is mechanical.

Also, the dishwasher unloaded and loaded, and kitchen cleaned up all before the morning mass Exodus to school. A double bonus for the good mommy of the morning award for not raising my voice one time.

Grandpa Doug came over to be with Peter so I could work my day at Andrew's preschool. We picked up his fellow class mate and great friend. We talk about trucks, Dooleys (trucks with two rear tires each side), real boy things all the way to school.

We return home after the crazy, fun time at preschool, exhausted, not Andrew though. Lack of sleep is starting to catch up with me and the return of my low back pain is starting up again thank you to the little school chairs and bending over to help the children with their snowman art project. It's okay though, I have a muscle relaxer that I can take when John gets home, in case it knocks me out.

But first, I had to take Peter on the animal tour of Redlands and Mentone. He was begging to get out to see the pig and the moo, and the alpacas. Pictures of these local residents to come in the future. You must know, the pig is huge. Peter thought it was a horse. Seriously big. This has became an almost daily ritual for Peter these past six months. He loves animals. When he's not feeling well and has cabin fever we go on the tour. Highlight of the day for him.

Then the next highlight of the day. John gets home early from work. He and Andrew head outside to work on the play set {this has been a year long project} I'll spare you the details of the rise and fall and then rise again of the play set. After 15minutes John struts in to tell me the conversation he's been having with Andrew.

Andrew talks non stop. He has a lot to say. And he has a lot of questions to ask. A LOT. In between the hammering. Andrew tells John, "I love building. You're the best dad." My heart really melted and I was happy for that, but..... He didn't even go to work today. He was golfing with work buddies. He's not home 15 minutes and he gets the praises of Andrew. Not easy to get.

The last time I got "mom, you're awesome." was a year ago when I made cookies with m&m's in them. And believe me I've been awesome a few times this past year.

John's turn tonight for the midnight to 4am duty.

A few of my favorite things...

I love Christmas. I love the color red. Thank you, Ma Kempton, for that. This is a little something that Addie made {for somebody for Christmas} with my much loved, button collection. I love it. She sewed on the buttons. Andrew painted the frame that came from a garage sale [of course]. Addie if you read this...I want one just like it.

I love this Santa that Andrew made at preschool. He looks so cheerful displayed in our family room. I love how you can curl construction paper with a pencil. I have to get this down about Andrew's thoughts regarding Santa Claus. He's been thinking hard about him these past few weeks. Andrew thinks that Santa lives by Heavenly Father. Sweet. And the other day I noticed a pile of coins under Andrew's Christmas tree in his room. Is he trying to bribe Santa??? Nope, he just wants to help him out with the cost of his presents

What consideration!

I can't wait for Andrew to open up his present that I just finished making for him tonight. He has been asking for a new quilt for his bed. The one he has on his bed is old. John & I received it from Aunt Gloria 18 yrs ago. It's dark blue on one side and matches his room. But it has a couple of rips. Andrew's really upset about this. So I went to the day after Thanksgiving sale to buy some flannel for his new quilt. I had to act pretty pathetic to get it. Long story. I also bought material for another little boy who needed a blanket, a friend adopted a family for CHRISTmas, and we signed up to help with that one thing. So poor Andrew had to hear all about this other little boy needing a blanket. John tells me of the night time dialogue from Andrew as he's tucking him to bed. "Dad, why doesn't mom just make me a blanket? I know she has the stuff to make it." So John put an extra blanket on him last night. Tonight, I tucked him into bed. "Mom, do you think they make blankets with construction trucks on it? Cause, I would really like that for a blanket. You have some on your ironing board." I told him that material was for a little boy who needed a blanket. He told me that he liked little blankets. Oh, I'm braking his heart making him wait until Christmas morning. I put another blanket on him. I can't wait to see him open that present. That's what Christmas is all about for me...I love it.

Candy can Christmas tree ornament.

I made this for a ornament exchange last week.

I wanted to keep this too.

It's made out of ribbon tied on to a real candy cane.

Only three more things to do and finish before Christmas eve. Yikes.

The panic is beginning...

Some of My Favorite Sayings...

I have to take a minute tonight to write down some of my favorite Andrew questions, answers, chattering, and sayings or else I will forget. Oh, I don't want to ever forget the fun words and phrases that he derives up and that forever runs endlessly out of his five year old mouth.

On Saturday John took Andrew with him to run some errands. When they came back I was making lunch and asked Andrew if he wanted some. He's always hungry. But he didn't want anything to eat. Suspicious. I asked him if they ate out for lunch. He tried really hard to ignore me. Then finally said, "I'm not suppose to tell you. You might get sad."

The other moment that puts a smile on my face every time I think about it happened a few months ago. After we ate the apple cider mini donuts we stopped to look at the hillside of goats on display. Peter's love of animals encourages us to spend time animal watching. Then Addie heard a goat pass gas {I can't bring my self to say or even spell the word far(t)} That felt wrong. She was totally offended. I guess she didn't know that animals do that. She was so grossed out it was funny. Then she made a big deal when she smelt it. Hang in there. I know this is getting disgusting...And this is what makes me laugh. Andrew asked her, "What does it smell like." Who thinks like that??? Boys. Or maybe just Andrew.

There are so many more...look at me forgetting already. So sad.

I'm devoting the title: Some of My Favorite Sayings to Andrew. More to come.

By the way, the picture above is Andrew holding a almost dead lizard. He found it "taking a nap" in a bucket of water in the back yard. He's not dead. He's eyes are closed because he's tired and taking a nap.

It is a boy thing...

After I went to bed I remember something else that I wanted to write about. These past few weeks Andrew has been asking some pretty tough questions about cancer and Peter. The questions sound really easy and simple in context. "Mom, how did Peter get cancer?" Then the next day, "Mom, When will the Peter's cancer be over?" And other questions just like those. Simple yet complicated. These are questions I've asked myself also. The answers aren't there. So I just give simple replies. I try to reassure him that it will all be okay. Peter will be okay. I wonder if he's asking because he is worried that he might get cancer too. When somebody in the family has cancer it's like everybody having it. It's been tough on Andrew. I can't even explain all the different ways. Peter gets a lot of our attention. Andrew has to give in to Peter all the time with his toys or anything. We have a lot of work, and catching up to do when Peter is healed of this.

One thing amazing to me is through this difficult time the children, even Andrew, have never complained about any of it. I want to always remember that not only have they not complained they have excelled in their school work and other responsibilities. I can't even say that for myself. There they go. Teaching me.

I can't wait to give Andrew the answer when he asks, "Is Peter's cancer gone today?"

"Yes. It is."