A lesson on genetics

I feel the need to brag on Ellie a bit.  A week ago, Tom got a call from the principal at Ellie's school.  She started out the conversation saying, "I have Ellie her in my office and there is something she needs to tell you."  Her tone implied that Ellie was in big trouble, but when Ellie got on the phone, she said, "I was the only one in both classes that got 100 on the Science benchmark!  And I got a 100 on the Math benchmark, too!"  Apparently, Ellie's teacher took her to tell the principal her good news and the principal wanted to call home, but Ellie came up with the great idea of pretending she was in trouble.  When I heard the story, I asked Ellie why they called her dad and not me and she was all, "Because Dad teaches math so that is obviously where I got it from."  I beg your pardon?  As the one who carried her for 9 months, gave birth, and currently provides 75% of her care, I feel like all achievements should be attributed to me.

Mouse Killer

So, we have mice in our walls.  At first I thought they were squirrels because they were so loud and our squirrel population is thriving, but then I saw the biggest mouse in the world drinking out of Kali's water bowl on the back deck.

Then his equally large partner came and joined him.  I thought they were rats they were so big, but Tom used to have to experiment on rats in his doctorate program so he is an expert and quickly corrected me.  They are actually really cute and I wouldn't mind them if they just stayed under the back deck, but I can't have mice in my walls.  A few days later we saw them with their two babies eating out of Kali's food bowl.  Tom told me to order a humane trap off Amazon so we could catch and release them.  Instead, I went to Walmart and bought a 4-pack of the old snappy kind.  Tom was pretty mad about it and told me that this was all on me.  No big deal, I got this.  I caught the two babies within 15 minutes.  I put on some gloves and threw the babies, traps and all, into a trash bag.  Honestly, I felt terrible about it.  Did I mention how cute they were?  I think the traps are too small for the parents because this morning one trap was missing and the other was still untouched.  Tom was quick to inform me that the missing one was probably attached to a dying mouse in our walls while his partner mourned the loss of her children and spouse.  I think he is acting pretty high and mighty for someone who used to EXPERIMENT ON ANIMALS!

12 years and going strong

Tom and I have been married for 12 years today! This past year was the Year of Sam. It is always a little challenging adjusting to a new little person in the household, but I never really worry about Tom and me because he is my guy. I have loved him since the tender age of 15, I love him still, and I always will.

Mother's Day

I tried to get pictures of the kids on Mother's Day.  Ellie and Jack were dressed for church and were looking cute.  I was leaving Sam home with Tom so I could actually enjoy church for a change so he was wearing nothing but a diaper.  Sam was tired and fussy and not cooperating.  Then, Tom yelled at Jack to look at the camera and so Jack went into full-on pout mode.  I almost love the bad pictures better than the good ones because they give a more accurate picture of the morning.  This seems deceiving:

Why, yes, my children ARE perfect!

This is more honest:

But, despite the photo fiasco, the day was really quite nice. Tom took the kids to the park for 2 hours while I took a nice long nap. That's my idea of the perfect gift.

Alligators, leaks, and baptisms

Last Saturday, I woke up on the wrong side of the bed.  I don’t know why, everything pointed toward a great day.  My oldest sister was in town visiting, we were going to Brazos Bend for the day, and Ellie was getting baptized that evening.  But I was cranky.  The kids spent the hour car drive to Brazos fighting, I got lost, and then was stuck behind the longest train in the world.  By the time I arrived, I was wishing I had stayed home.  But as soon as we started walking, the kids perked up and I was able to enjoy the beautiful day and all the alligator sightings.  Ellie was keeping count and she counted a total of 26 alligators.  She was also counting birds and turtles, but soon gave up and just focused on the gators.

See the alligator swimming his way?

When we got back from Brazos, we had a short time to get ready for the baptism.  I was talking on the phone when I heard the sound of water hitting the floor.  I walked over to the living room and saw water pouring out of the ceiling!  It has created a hole above the fireplace and was also coming out of the air vent above our TV!  I started yelling about water and Tom ran upstairs to tell Ellie to turn off the shower.  She had forgotten to close the shower curtain so maybe that is why, but we haven’t attempted to use that shower since.  I didn’t have time to worry about it, so I just mopped up the area and we left for the baptism.

 

Initially, I was pretty stressed, but as soon as they started playing the opening song, I was reminded of the importance of the occasion.  Ellie was so nervous about being baptized that she just burrowed into me as we listened to the first talk on baptism.  My dad baptized her, just as he had baptized me 27 years before. 

After the baptism, he gave the same talk he has given at all the other grandkids’ baptisms.  He has it down to an art by now and he also gives the grandchild a Liahona he has carved out of wood.  It is pretty neat.  It was really late and dark by the time we were done, so I didn’t get any after-pictures except for a quick shot of Ellie in front of the church. 

 I know it was a really special day for her and I am glad that it is something the made the choice on her own to do.

First Haircut

Before

During

After