Wanted: One New Mother

I was sitting at the table today urging my third child to please eat lunch. We were having breakfast burritos because yesterday she wouldn't eat the sandwiches. Last night she blanched at the chicken couscous. All she ever really wants is cereal. I try and tell her that man (or woman) cannot subsist on Honey Bunches of Oats alone. Today this conversation ensued,
"Sadie, just try it"
"I don't like it"
"You like eggs."
"But not in burritos"
"So take them out and eat them separate"
"I don't like eggs today"
"So eat the cheese and the tortilla"
"I'm sick"
"You're not sick"
"I am. I'm going to throw up"
"Just eat it Sadie"
silence
The sisters by this time are gone and I am starting dishes.
"Sadie, you can't get down until you take at least three bites"
"I want a new family"
"Oh, yeah. What kind of family"
"One were the mom won't yell at me"
"I'm not yelling at you Sadie"
"You keep telling me to eat and I don't want to"
"If you had a new family then you couldn't play with your sisters"
"I would take them with me"
"You couldn't see Dad then"
"I would come back at night to see him"
"Then maybe you just need a new mom"
"Yeah, that would work"

Opening: One new mother. To take care of four daughters. Must do laundry, dishes, windows, and vacuuming. Must never have children pick up their own toys or eat anything they do not want to. Position available immediately. Current mother needs a break.

Beautiful Moments

A few days ago we got a call that asked us if we could participate in a program being given for Enrichment. It was about the temple and we would be a family who were waiting on the other side for our temple work to be done. The family who was going to do it had backed out so it was last minute and because of hectic schedules we didn't even look at the script until the day of. Dressed in loaned 1800's Swedish dress we went to the chapel and sat in out assigned seats behind the podium. One by one someone would go up to the podium, explain who they were, give a little history, and ask if someone had their name. Someone in the audience would then stand up to say they had it or else the person had to sit back down to 'wait'. We were the last ones to go up. Ben and I took our children to the podium and I started reading the script about how I was a woman born Sweden in the late 1700's. I described how we washed clothes in the stream twice a year and the cold would freeze the dresses. I talked about my lovely family of children. Then I got to the part where I, my daughter, and my husband had died of cholera leaving our other children behind as orphans. Unable to raise them to adulthood we were together in the spirit world wanting desperately to be a family forever. Ben got up and started asking who had our names. Someone had mine and I kissed my children to go into the audience. Two others also had names for our children and they got to go down and sit in the audience. Eliora (now Olga) got called but no one had her name. Ben turned to Eliora and said that perhaps they would be able to wait together until someone found their names. Eliora replied that Ben had not asked if anyone had his name yet. Someone did and he walked down to join the audience while Eliora was escorted back to her seat behind the podium. It was both sad and touching but what made the moment sweet was when Sadie suddenly realized that Eliora would not be joining us. She started crying almost hysterically and asking for Eliora. With the music, dimmed lights, and everyone in costume she didn't fully understand that it was a play. She was sure Eliora could not go home with us. Luckily it was the end and Eliora was able to rejoin our family shortly. I don't think I was the only one who got teary eyed though. I also think I might set a date to attend the temple.

Guess Who?

I have this amazing friend who happens to have a birthday a week before her husbands which means I always remember both of their birthdays about a day or two after the event. Sigh. It has actually been a resolution in the past to get better about birthdays but I have so far been dismal about it. Because I talk about her all the time though and most who read this blog know her I want to see if you can guess who she is.... on her hubby's birthday maybe I'll post a pic!

Clue #1
She is an amazing seamstress, I'm pretty sure she learned it from her mom.

Clue #2
One of her favorite movies is Dumbo

Clue #3
She loves her washer and dryer

Clue#4
I doubt her house has ever been as messy as mine (she might protest but I still doubt it)

Clue#5
She likes to camp and can even put with Ben's sarcasm while camping!

Clue#6
She is younger than me but much more mature and always says the right things.

Clue#7
She is adventurous and spontaneous (I'm not sure how you can be spontaneous and organized at the same time but she somehow manages it)

Clue#8
She has a budding talent in photography...well, at this point it might be a blooming talent?

Clue#9
She has decided to catch up to me in number of children despite the fact that she started later.

Clue#10
Her favorite thing in the whole world to do is spend time with her family.

Names

If you haven't already seen we are having a little girl join our family in September. Since most of you know that we were trying for a boy I wanted to let everyone know that we are excited about it. When we made the decision to have another little person join our family Ben and I both knew that the gender could go either way. In fact, I think it's a bit of a relief. I would have felt kind of guilty bringing a boy into our sea of pink and I'm not sure I would have known what to do with him.
Our biggest concern at this point is choosing another name. We had a hard time with Abigail (who in fact came home without a name) and could use a few suggestions. I am thinking we need another consonant since three of our girls have names that start with vowels and it has to go with Davis. So Mavis is out. Ben thinks he wants a P.H.D. initial for obvious reasons. Not so sure about that.

A Fifth Basket?

This morning the Easter bunny left a fifth basket. We like the color. We think it suits us.