Misunderstood

The other night my twins were lying the bed squished together being silly. I sat on the edge of the bed and told them that they used to be squished together inside my tummy. I told them that before they became squished they were very, very tiny and they would swim in my tummy. They looked amazed.

The next morning I could hear them chatting in the kitchen. Hallie said, "CJ, we was squished in Momma's tummy."

"Yep," replied CJ, "and we was swimmin' in Momma's tummy."

I came into the room and CJ looked at me with a dazed look.

"Momma. I was in your tummy?"

I told him he was. Then he asked a question I don't think I'll ever forget....

"Momma. You eat me?"

Boondocks

Even though your stomach turns every time your kid puts their fingers in their mouth, or licks a rope for the swing, or sucks on the water fountain, or lies down on the nasty carpet with 10 billion germs in it....Even though you know this place carries enough viruses to make your whole family through up for a month.....sometimes you just gotta do it anyways...and we enjoyed it.... A LOT!

Bama vs. LSU

Craig and I were treated to the perfect weekend down South. My sweet sister, Suzanna, kept our kiddos while Craig and I left on a Wed. night and flew to Alabama. We stayed a couple of days with Mom and Dad, walking in the orchard, visiting our favorite thrift shops, staying up too late and eating way too much. Then we spent a couple of days with Lynn and Mark and their kiddos, showing Craig what REAL football is about. We had a blast at the game eating bbq, people watching and of course watching Bama kick some booty. It was a weekend we'll never forget!

Bama vs. LSU

My sweet Aunt Jane and Uncle Bradley

Stuck in the police van....don't ask.

My sis. Lynn and I at the game

My "little" nephew, Sim.

L-R(Sim, Lynn, Molly, Mark, Seth, Lora, Craig)
Just hanging out.

Lora, Mom, and Lynn.

Me and my daddy.

Sugar coma

Is anyone else feeling disgusting about all the crap they have ingested over the past week with all the Halloween festivities? Candy corn. Twix bars. Cream cheese frosting. You name eat and chances are I've eaten it over the past few days. I should have just saved myself the trouble and applied them all directly to the thighs and buttocks. Why is it that food=fun. If we're eating good food we're having a great time, right? Well today I put all the cookies, treats, junk in big ziplocs and put it in the freezer. (My mother is always in the back of my head telling me "Don't you dare through that away! That is wasteful!") So I just freeze it and forget it.

Funny Story:

Sunday night, after having a dinner of a sugar cookie, Hallie's left over butterfinger and an E.L. Fudge, I hunkered down at my computer in an almost sugar coma. In the background I can hear little 2 1/2 year old Hallie saying, "Dooooon't chuch it! Dooooon't chuch it! It YUUUUUCKY!" To which Gracie responded, "What is it Hallie." Hallie said, "It poop on da flowa. (floor)" I was still kind of zoned out and then it clicks what they are talking about. I run over and sure enough, there is something brown on the carpet. Chocolate, perhaps? I bend down to sniff. NOPE. Hallie was right. So for the next 5 minutes I'm scrubbing with a hot, wet rag and scrubbin bubbles. Again I overhear my two oldest talking about how mom is cleaning up the poop. I hear Lizzie, my 8 year old, say so matter-of-factly..."Yeah I saw that earlier today. Pretty gross, huh?" Boy, did I fail in teaching my children that when they see a brown blob on the carpet that does not look or smell like chocolate, they need to inform their mother. So, apparently 8 years too late, my four children got a lesson on general hygiene from their half-comatose from sugar, Mom.

Two peas in a pod

Time has never gone faster than since the twins were born. They have brought a whole new meaning to "busy" in my life. Now that they are 2 1/2 and beginning to do much more for themselves (get a snack from the pantry, putting on shoes, etc) I'm able to sit back more and see what fun little miracles they are in our family. They make me laugh every day as they chat with each other about Nanny and Papaw, Duke or poops.

I've realized lately how much they've changed me as a mother, too. With my first two I was so worried about doing everything right on time. Bottle gone by 1 year old; Potty trained by 2 years old; Getting rid of the binkie by 2 years old. With the twins and hang on to any and everything that makes life a little simpler and easier. Binkies? Still got 'em. Diapers? Still wearing them. And I don't feel the slightest bit of guilt over either. Sometimes you just do what keeps you and your family sane and don't feel the need to offer apologies. We, women, need to realize that life is just too fast and too short to load ourselves down with guilt for all the petty things in life. Just live. Just enjoy. Just relax.

Fall has arrived

I love this time of year. I'm always reminded of my youth when I walk to the mailbox and feel the light breeze, hear the rustling of the leaves and feel the slight chill in the air. It reminds of school supplies, football games, apple pies and home. I miss home all the time, but especially in the fall. Before the girls started school we had a ritual of going home every October for an entire month while Craig was off hunting. I've missed that trip terribly the past two years. Maybe next year the babies will be big enough that I will attempt to fly with all of them. But for now we'll pass the time with making caramel apples, burning cinnamon candles and cuddling up with my 4 cozy kiddos for movies and hot chocolate. Doesn't get much better than this.

Utah Relay Marathon

Our new neighbor organizes a few runs a year. This year he gave a portion of the proceeds from the Utah Relay Marathon to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. It was a great day. We are so grateful to have such a loyal group of supporters for everything CF related. (We'd be so lonely at these events without you guys!!) Our five man team consisted of Jenny, Brooke, Doug, Dave and Josh who each ran 5.2 miles, together completing a marathon!



There was also a 1 mile fun run that the kids and I did. I was really proud of the girls in their first run. They only had to walk for a couple of minutes out of the mile. Good job, kiddos!!



We raised a total of $1,800 for CF that day. Thanks to everyone that helped out!!

Check out my new site!

My new site is complete. Hallelujah. You can visit is at www.loraelizabethstampedjewelry.com You can also see us on one of my favorite sites for the next few weeks. If you've never been to this site. GO NOW! www.giveawaytoday.com

Lessons in life

Today we got a phone call from the gym the girls take gymnastics from. The lady said that Lizzie was advancing to the next level. Happy. Gracie, however, wasn't quite ready and would need to stay in her current level until she could pass off all the skills. Sad.

When the girls came home from school I told Lizzie the news. She was ecstatic at first, but upon seeing Gracie drop to the floor and sob, her own face fell. She dropped to her knees and hugged her little sis and told her to work hard so they could be together again.

Gracie laid on the floor crying for a while. Nothing we could say or do was helping. She was determined to never go back. We were determined to teach her that we don't just "quit" when we get discouraged. It was so heart-breaking to see her so sad. Having the girls so close has been a blessing in many ways but hard to see the younger compare herself to the older in their school work, activities and whatever else.

How do YOU handle to situation when one sibling achieves and another doesn't and it causes hard feelings? I could use some advice, here.

Funny, funny girls.

Today we were driving down the freeway. Babies were content in the back seat, I was singing along to the music in the front seat and the big girls were talking each other's ears off in the way-back seat. As I turned on the air to cool them off, I overheard their random conversation and turned down my music to eavesdrop a little easier.

Lizzie: "Oooh. That cool air feels so good."

Gracie: "Yeah it does. It is drying my sweaty armpits right up."

Lizzie: "I saw a girl throw-up on the playground today. It looked like peanut butter."

Gracie: "Mmmmm....My armpits smell like hot chicken nuggets."

So happy that those sweaty little girls are mine. Love 'em to pieces.

Life

I can't believe another summer has come and gone. The kids are all a few inches taller and I have a few more gray hairs. I'm always amazed when it hits me....how fleeting childhood is.

Lizzie is now a mature "2nd grader" who keeps giving Gracie pointers on where to go and what to do. My responsible, helpful Lizzie. She amazes me. (Except when she gets a little sassy which she does more lately....I guess that comes with getting older but we're hoping it's a phase that time-outs and chores might help cure.) She is a blessing to us all.

Gracie, an-all-day-going 1st grader. Her first day was so hard. Not for her, but for me. Throughout the day I would think about her and tear up over and over. "What if they forget her enzymes. What if she gets a tummy ache. What if she doesn't eat her lunch...What if...What if?" Seeing her all-consuming smile as she ran through the door that afternoon really helped. She is happy so I will try to be, too.

Still I worry.

So it's me and the twins all day now. Did my big girls get into this many messes?? I can't really remember. All I know is that if I leave the babies out of site for more than 5 minutes, I'm in big trouble! I was on the phone with my sister for 10 minutes a few days ago. In that time they managed to dump a bag of chips and jump up and down in them, shuck a few ears of corn in the corner and leave the mess on the floor and empty an entire container of wipes.

Normal? You tell me. It seems like they've been replaced with "thing 1" and "thing 2."

In all my "spare time" (from napping hours of 1-4pm and evening hours of 9-12) I've decided to start a new business and I'm in LOVE! It began suddenly and I realized how much I loved it and how much my friends and family wanted it and it sort-of evolved into a little business over about 3 weeks time! You can check out my initial website (I will get a real one when I get the moolah) at http://www.loraelizabethstampedjewelry.com/ I will be coming up with new stuff every week or two so check back.

So here's to new beginnings! Back-to-school and mommies letting go....Potty-training and life without binkies.....And hammering away at midnight!

Lora's 5k

I've been running for fun (if you can call brutally punishing yourself by pounding every joint in your body with each step "fun") for a couple of years. This week I decided to sign up and run an official 5K. I did the Draper Days 5K. A few days before the race, Lizzie assured me that "2nd place is 1st LOSER." I assured her right back that I was absolutely fine being a loser.

I had a blast. I was nervous before the race started because I was alone and had no idea what to expect but ended up being pleasantly surprised that the adrenaline made the race so much easier than my usual runs. My husband and 4 kids showed up at the finish line to cheer me on. Happy Day.

A few minutes after finishing we were standing off the side of the finishing area. I was holding CJ and he became whimpery and whiny. I couldn't figure out what was wrong until a volcano of orange juice and donuts came spewing out of his mouth and onto my chest, arms, legs...you name it. Whatever pride from my current accomplishment I was feeling at the time, he brought me right back down to earth to my first and foremost hobby.

Life is good.

Long time no blog

I haven't been a very good blog-owner. I go throughout my days laughing at things the kids say, thinking up great ideas for the future, cleaning up mess after mess after mess or just being lazy and soaking it all in. Not a day goes by that I don't think "I should really write that down on our blog." But I never do. Things happen, words are spoken, and I forget. I'm beginning to realize that this is the way life is. All the adorable things our children do and say that we try to commit to permanent memory slowly fade away with the boxed up bibs and bottles and the tucked away report cards. If I focus on it too much it makes me extremely sad... how fleeting childhood is. But when I realize how "cool" (for lack of a better word) my children are becoming, everything gets better. I enjoy hanging out with my big girls even when bedtime was 2 hours ago! Their sense of humor is refreshing and enlightening. Their vision of the world opens up a new, more vibrant dimension for me. Suddenly sitting on the sidewalk playing with roley-poley's for a half hour becomes fascinating. (You really don't want to see the pile of laundry in my bedroom right now.) But today it doesn't bother me. Today I have enjoyed life and let the details fly out the window. I am blessed.

Deliciousness for Grandpa

I found the most adorable blog today. I've been thinking of all the wonderful gifts I could give our Grandpa's if only that money tree in the back yard would produce...today I found a gift that I think any Grandpa would just love.

This idea is from http://conversationswithacupcake.blogspot.com

Hope you enjoy this idea as much as I did!

Grand Dad's Granola
Looking for a baked good that can be custom-created to your dear old dad's palate, yet still offer a tasty, healthful treat? This granola is quick, simple and supremely fun to play around with. I've offered several flavor options below, but truly the options are endless. Add whatever you think your papa would love, pop it all in a paint tin (those pictured were purchased from Jo-Ann), then pass it all onto him with a kiss and a hug. From your heart to his.
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GLAZE:
1/2 c. pure maple syrup
3/4 c. honey
1 tsp. molasses
1/4 c. granulated splenda or sugar
1/4 c. oil
In a large saucepan, combine above ingredients together and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil for 1 1/2 minutes, then remove from heat.
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ADD:
1 tsp. flavoring
Try vanilla, orange, butter, nut & butter, or cinnamon flavors.
I added almond flavoring and was afraid it would be overpowering.
Indeed, it was delicious.
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1-3 tsp. spices
Cinnamon, Cloves, Lemon or Orange Rind, Allspice, Ginger
Seeing as how my obsession with nutmeg rages on, I dabbed in 1 tsp of nutmeg & a pinch of cinnamon and didn't regret it at all.
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COMBINE:
Pour glaze slowly over a LARGE bowl filled with following mixed ingredients.
(While pouring the glaze, don't forget to stir obsessively to ensure even glazing.)
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13 oz. box of bran flakes or Wheaties
4 c. old-fashioned oats
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2 c. additional dry ingredients
Add in wheat germ or flax, chopped walnuts, pecans, sliced almonds, sunflower seeds or pepitas.
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PLUS:
2 c. additional sweet ingredients (optional)
I've recently rediscovered the joy of chopped dates. In the oven, they melt and combine with the granola to create lovely sweet bunches. Consider adding dried banana's, mangoe's or pineapple. If you would like to add dried cranberries, blueberries, or golden raisins, don't include them in the mix. Just toss them in when the granola is pulled from the oven to keep them from hardening.
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COOK:
Spread coated granola mixture evenly across two cookie sheets. In an oven preheated to 225 degrees for 50 minutes. Stir every 10-15 minutes to make sure granola is evenly cooked. Just before removing from oven, turn heat up to 300 degrees and allow to cook for 5-7 minutes, or until mixture sizzles (but keep your sniffer on. You don't want it to burn). Remove from heat, allow to cool before sealing in bags. Stores up to 2 weeks.
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Happy Birthday, Gracie Girl!

On April 28th,2003 Gracie was born and changed our lives forever. It is amazing how life's little twists and turns can completely turn your "life plan" inside out and make you reach deep inside and search yourself for life's great meaning.

Many of you probably remember the weeks and months that followed Gracie's birth. It was almost three months until she got to come home and it was one of the happiest days of our lives. She has endured more in the past six years than I will probably endure in a lifetime! She teaches me what patience, endurance and joy truly mean. She fills our home with light and has the most contagious laugh you've ever heard.

Cystic Fibrosis is part of our daily routine much like bathing or brushing your teeth. Gracie has two, thirty-minute vest treatments each day as well as two breathing treatments to help thin out the mucous in her lungs. She takes about twenty pills a day. She sometimes asks, "why me" and that's a hard question for a mom to answer. One thing I do tell her is that I'm trying to help find a cure. When I spend hours making phone calls for donations or counting pennies from the local elementary school fundraiser, I'm doing it to help her be healthier and live to be a grandma someday.

If you'd like to help us find a cure, you can make a donation here: http://www.cff.org/Great_Strides/LoraBonham5042
or you can send it to us at 11537 S. Lizzie Cove South Jordan, UT 84095.
(Please make checks to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.)

Every penny helps! Thanks so much for your support!

Good times

Every monday night is family night at our house. We always start the night with a song and a prayer. Usually there is much excitement about who will be "performing" the opening song...And it usually turns out something like this....

Big thirty three!

Happy Birthday Craigy! You are always the one to let the kids stay up late and fall asleep in our bed, make me laugh when I'm crying and keep your cool when everything around you is falling apart. Your positive attitude and encouraging words do more for this family than you'll ever realize. We love you..."all the way to the mountains and back."

Happy Birthday Hallie and CJ!

Two years ago today I gave birth to our twins Hallie and CJ. It has been the fastest two years of my life! It has been filled with sleepless nights, unparalleled joy and tears of happiness, guilt, fear and fatigue.

They were born C-section. Hallie came out first and surprised us with her little cleft-lip. CJ came a few minutes later and had the face of Curious George. I've called him my little monkey since. Hallie weighed 4 lbs 5 oz and CJ was 5 lbs 14 oz. I still don't know how they both fit inside of me but I do remember how abnormally huge my stomach was. Craig just laughed every time he saw my naked body. In retrospect I'm glad I had him to help me see the humor in my hugely disfigured body.

They stayed in the hospital for 2 1/2 weeks after birth and I remember going to bed every night feeling so empty without them. When they finally came home I began to understand what true sleep deprivation was. 3 a.m. feedings were the hardest. I remember looking over at Craig feeding Hallie, his head bobbing up and down, eyes closed... then before I realized it I was doing the same thing! As they grew it became easier but I still remember many mornings going to get them out of their cribs, sitting in the floor and feeding them then falling asleep on their floor while they crawled all over me. I'd give anything for a few more minutes of sleep.

They love each other so much! When Hallie wakes up in the morning she shouts, "CJ! C JAAAAAAAAAAY!" until he sleepily responds, "No, no, no, no." Apparently he loves to sleep like his mom. They laugh at each other and comfort each other when they're sad. And every time I give CJ a snack he reaches out his other hand and says, "Hallie?"

They are my little miracles. (aren't they all?) We wanted them so badly and remembering how hard I prayed and hoped and dreamed about them makes them even more endearing. Happy Birthday to my sweet little double trouble....Hallie and CJ!

A night in the life of Gracie Bonham

Do you ever have moments when your kids do something that make you go "Wow, I am incredibly lucky to be your mom." Last night was one of those for me. Grace had to do an overnight sleep study at Primary Children's Medical Center. She's always been a terrible snorer and extremely restless in her sleep so her ENT wanted to do the study before he would remove her tonsils. He wanted to make sure there isn't anything else going on that we should know about. It took almost an hour and two grown men to get her all glued, taped and wrapped up for the study...Then she was supposed to go to sleep with all that junk on her! After finishing up with all the probes the guys verbally awarded Gracie with the "Bravest patient of the night award." She just giggled.

Throughout the night I could hear kids down the hall screaming "take it off" and didn't doubt that I might be screaming the same thing if I was in their place. I laid awake staring at the ceiling and thinking about that little girl in the bed next to me. She hasn't always taken these things well. There was a time when every doctor's visit included her kicking and screaming and me crying but slowly over the years she's become accustomed to it all; the poking, sticking and taping. She is learning to take it all with grace....I think we picked the right name for her after all.