Ensign

I got my Ensign (ok so the link is for February, but I got March) in the mail today, and was pretty excited. I also got a letter from Family Fun telling me that if I wanted to renew my subscription I could do it for just 10 dollars. (I didn't re-new it this year to save money. I decided that it was a want and not a need.) I sighed and put the letter aside to think about it some before I throw it away. I sat and thought about how I used to devour my Family Fun as soon as it came in the mail. I love all the different craft ideas and recipes and so on. And then I thought how sad it is that I don't show the same enthusiasm in the Ensign. I always enjoy reading it and I usually get it read cover to cover, but not always.

Also today I was finding some fun ideas to do for Activity Days, and I came across a "Friend" Bowl. The girls will read a Friend Magazine from cover to cover one month, and then the leaders (who also read the Friend cover to cover) will ask questions about it. Could be a lot of fun and it will motivate the girls to read it.

Then I was thinking, it's really too bad that my sisters don't live closer so that I could get together with them and have an Ensign Bowl. So Mom, Alice, Rachel, Kylie, Julie, just know that when I move closer, Family Dinner will also include a rousing game of Ensign Bowl. I personally

am looking forward to this.

Other things that have been going on around here- not much really. I am concerned that even though William is done with his anti-biotic, that he still has an ear infection. But he is sleeping a ton better and is finally starting to take a regular morning and afternoon nap. He also loves to follow is big brother around. Sometimes he gets a little upset when he is halfway down the hall, then Orion turns around to go back into the family room, so he turns around and is almost to the family room when Orion again returns to his room. It's a vicious cycle. Orion has started asking "why"& "but why", which is getting old quick. And he's only been doing it a couple of days. I don't mind so much when I have a good answer but when he asks why there is electricity in the outlet, I have no idea. He also has quite the imagination. "The big purple dinosaur in the window" is apparently very scary.

Bad Mom of the Year Award

goes to me. Sad, I know, but probably true. Here's why:

1. After two weeks of William not sleeping well, and pulling at his ears and being cranky, I finally took him to the doctor. He has a double ear infection. He has been on the anti-biotics now for 4 days, and he is still pulling on his ears. But he is sleeping MUCH better. He only woke up three times last night, and slept in his crib the whole night.

2. I put William down for a nap yesterday. He usually will cry for about 7-10 minutes before deciding that I am not going to come rescue him, and he should just give up and go to sleep. Well, yesterday he cried for almost 20 minutes before settling down. I felt awful when I went to go check on him an hour later, and his legs were stuck in between the crib slats. I had to work pretty hard to get his one leg out . . . But not before I grabbed the camera.

3. Orion has had an ice cream cone for breakfast twice this week. If he goes poo on the toilet, he gets an ice cream cone. Well, when he gets up and that is the first thing he does, and then is so excited that he did that and that he gets an ice cream cone. . . . I just can't tell him no.

In other news, we finally got a new vacuum. I have been waiting, and deliberating and researching for a while now. But when our old one finally quit picking anything up, I decided it was time. So yesterday, I broke down and bought an Oreck. It is a very low end one, but it works wonderfully, and Orion LOVES using the small hand held one to help. Although I am still tempted to return it and get a cheaper one. Also, my gross toe, is doing great! It blistered up and then popped on Sunday. While draining it, a couple of lumps came out. (Yes, very disgusting I know.) But, the swelling is gone and the soreness is gone. It is still a little red, but I am hoping that that will go away with a little more time. And lastly- I am loving William being able to crawl. He loves to go down to Orions room and play in there. The only bad thing is when he comes out, and Orion is then sad because he wants William in there to play with.

Gross Toes

Ok- so this isn't really something that I am dying to post about-but I am going to do it anyway. Mostly because my toe is killing me. About a week ago I noticed that my big toe was a little sore right under the toe nail bed and to the side. Well- as the days went on- it has just gotten more and more sore, and puffy and swollen. It hurts to walk, wear shoes or even just move my foot. So now we come to the reason I am blogging about my gross toe. Should I go to the doctor? I don't remember dropping anything on it, and it isn't the whole toe, just that one little spot. But it HURTS!!! (Even just sitting here I can feel it throbbing) Please- share your knowledge on how to fix it.

Also- aren't my boys just cute!!!!!!

I Wonder

I have been up for the last couple of nights walking William so that he will sleep. After he has been asleep for a little bit (20 minutes) I very carefully sit down in the rocker, and he wakes up. I stand again and continue the walking/bouncing. After he is asleep again, and stays asleep for a good 45 minutes, I very carefully sit in bed and lean against the wall. I can get away with this for about 15-20 minutes before he is awake again. It is making for some really long nights and some long tired days. But last night as I was walking him, trying to keep him quiet, I started thinking about the pioneer mothers, and what they did. Were they so bone tired at the end of the day from pulling and pushing and walking that they slept through the crying? Or did they too walk their babies night after night trying to keep them quiet so that others could sleep soundly? Or did Heavenly Father know of their need to sleep and comforted those babies so that their mothers could get the rest that they needed?

Life here has been pretty boring the last week. Orion had his 3 year check up. I think he enjoyed going to the doctors office and for once- he was the center of attention. He is also doing GREAT at potty training. On average he has about one accident a day. Sometimes it is two and some days- the is accident free. WOOHOO!!!!

William is officially crawling. sometimes. He is really slow at doing it the "right" way, so he still prefers to drop to his tummy and throw his arms forward to get to where he wants to be.

We all still have colds here, so I am staying home again from church with the little ones. I think I will put on some General Conference talks and do some puzzles with Orion. Not as good as getting to take the Sacrament, but it will have to do.