Potty Training

Okay, well, 2 days of potty training, and the fun has worn off. Ginny was enjoying the extra attention at first--potty training the doll, reading the potty book, and watching the potty movie together. NOt to mention potty treats for trying, but I'm washing an awful lot of underwear, and although she did manage to actually go on the potty once, I don't think she really gets it yet. I'm giving up...at least for today. Maybe I'll feel like trying again tomorrow, or maybe I"ll just try again a month from now. She likes to wear big girl panties, but doesn't seem to care very much about keeping them dry. Sigh...I just keep thinking, this is my last kid to potty train....patience, patience, patience.

Happy Birthday Max!

Max turns 8 today! Today after school, we are taking him and two friends to Chuck E Cheese to celebrate. I don't usually go places like that for birthdays, but since he really only has these two friends, I thought it wouldn't be two expensive, and also much easier than throwing a party at home. He's really excited. We had a small family celebration last night and let him open one of his presents and the cards from his grandparents. The present he opened was a set of scriptures from Tutu and Papasan. It is a really nice quad--Max appreciated the gold leafed edges and the marker tabs. I think Emily was a little jealous. He also scored $14 cash from Grandma Gladys and Grandpa Steve. He was really excited. We had popcorn and soda and watched a movie together. I think he had a good time. Max was especially excited to have the soda (caffeine free diet Pepsi).

Yesterday at church, when I led the closing hymn, Sam followed me up on the stand, which was okay until he started pulling on my sweater, and when I picked him up he tried to climb on the organ while he was trying to get me to tie his shoe. AAAHHHHH! Needless to say, I was mortified, but I guess the ward got their entertainment for the day.

Also yesterday at church I took Ginny into the bathroom to change a stinky diaper, and a friend walked in the bathroom. She greeted Ginny saying, "Hi Ginny how are you today?" Ginny promptly responded, "I pooped in my diaper!" Time to potty train! I'm working on that this week--not today since there is so much going on, but tomorrow definitely. Wish me luck!

Lessons from a coke can

A few weeks ago, Max brought home a can of coca cola from school that someone had brought as a birthday treat. He knew he shouldn't drink it, as evidenced by the fact that he didn't drink it at school like the rest of the kids, but brought it home. He asked me if he could drink it. I asked him what he had learned about the word of wisdom and what heavenly Father wanted him to do, and he replied that he knew he shouldn't drink it. So he put the coke can in his room. A few minutes later he came and asked me again if he should drink it. Then he asked Trevor the same thing. I think he probably re-decided the question 10 times, but as long as he was looking at the coke can, he was still tempted. So finally, we talked to him about just removing the temptation so he wouldn't worry about it anymore. I promised him a can of rootbeer in trade and he finally worked up the courage to dump the coke down the sink. After that--no problem, of course. So how does this apply to me?

well, I've been really stressed about money this week. Just seeing how hard it is to pay our bills, etc. and then I get to thinking that I need to go back to work after all. My mind starts racing and I think over and over again about how we need the money, but what will we be giving up as a family? Will we really get ahead, or will we just decide that now we can afford more lessons for kids, etc. and get ourselves into a crazy schedule, etc. again. But we really need the money...you see the problem? Well, last night we were discussing the issue, and Trevor said the store needs more salespeople, so maybe I could do that. Well, this actually seems like a reasonable idea. He also suggests that he could work more in the evenings at a second job or something. But I don't really want that, either, because after a long day with the kids, the last thing I want is an evening without any support either. So after thinking this all over and over and over, I mentioned it to a friend this morning on the phone, and she shared with me that in her family, she had finally found peace on the same issue by deciding the question once and for all, and then trusting that answer. She stays home, knowing it is better for her family, but also knowing they will struggle financially. So, the question is...by questioning our previous answers to prayers on this subject, am I just continuing to stare at the coke can? Or, is it legitimate to re-visit the subject because we truly do have a financial need? Probably both--depending on your point of view. I think my family, especially my dad, would just tell me to go ahead and teach again or take the job...because it's true that in a practical sense, you just have to make enough money to live on. But, the whisperings of the spirit have been telling me to just trust that it will work out, and stay at home to teach and nurture the kids, and help make a Christ-centered home, instead of a stressed-out, too busy home. And the testimonies of several of my friends reinforce those feelings. So what to do? I want to trust...but how do I dump out the proverbial coke can? Especially wanting to be financially responsible...

Well, those are my musings this morning. More questions than answers, probably.

Pics of Trevor's trip to New Orleans

I haven't written much recently because I feel like we've just been plowing along doing the same old thing. I did get my taxes done this week. (Whew! Major Relief!) We're getting a refund, so that will be nice. I went to the doctor this morning to have a mole biopsied and get my cholesterol checked. Meanwhile, I found out that I have gained yet another 2 pounds, and that while I have been trying to be good about exercise and eating! AAAAAHHHHH! So frustrating! Maybe I should just give up! I've gained so much weight this winter...all of my pants are tight, but I refuse to buy new pants.
Trevor had a really good experience with the Elders quorum in New Orleans. They stayed in the stake center and spent one day putting up dry wall in a members' home and the second day doing demolition with FEMA. I'll post a few pictures, but he says you can hardly even tell from the pictures how bad the devastation was. He had a great time getting to know the other guys, and also felt good about being able to help some people. I think he hopes to go again sometime.

Good for you, Max!

After a little talk with Max on Sunday evening, he made a very good decision to share the DVD player he won with the Knotts family, who had invited us to the Upward basketball program in the the first place. He walked over to give it to them with Trevor, and came back saying he had a really good feeling inside. I think it was hard for him to do it, but he knew it would be a nice thing to do. Good for you, Max!

I was given a second calling this past Sunday to lead the music in sacrament meeting and be the ward music chairman. I guess that means we'll have to be on time to church! Trevor has a CTR 7 primary class to teach. I substituted for him this week since he was out of town--and discovered he is really going to have his hands full! Those kids have plenty of energy...

Luck o' the Irish

Well, after my depressing rant of yesterday morning, we had some good luck this evening. We went to the closing meeting for the upwards basketball program that the kids participated in, and they had a lot of door prizes. Well, it turns out that Emily won a combination DVD/VCR and Max won a 24" television with a DVD player. We haven't had that kind of luck in years. I almost felt guilty about having both of them win such big prizes. I mentioned to Max that maybe we could give the DVD player to someone else, but he didn't think that was such a good idea. Anyway, we actually did need a new TV and DVD player sometime in the near future because ours are slowly breaking down, so this was an unexpected blessing. It was fun for the kids. They had a great experience with upward basketball. It has been fun to see the kids work hard and do well at their games. Max isn't scared of anything--he just gets in there and tries hard every game. He has scored several points at each of his games and has improved in ball handling over the course of the season. Emily has been a joy to watch this season. She has suddenly come alive, and really contributed to her team. She has worked hard and been not only a great defensive player, but also a leading scorer on the team. I think she averaged about 16 points the last few games. She just needed a little confidence, and off she went! She's been great in assists and rebounds, too. What a long way she has come from the 2nd grader who cried as she ran up and down the court! I'm proud of both of them for working so hard.
So it appears the March luck o' the Irish is sometimes good for the Danes as well!

Insurance etc.

We're trying to figure out what to do about our health insurance. It turns out that our fears were confirmed, and Mozingo does not subsidize coverage for myself and the kids, which means that our total health coverage bill is over $700 per month. That really cuts into our paycheck, and makes it so that we are actually taking home quite a bit less than we had in Illinois, and with a higher mortgage and the loss of my income...well anyway, we've got to make some changes. I'm looking into other insurance options to see if we can save some money that way. Trevor loves his job, but he is looking into some other job options because we just aren't making it.
We are supposed to get a raise sometime this month, and maybe that will help, but I doubt it will be enough. I've contacted some band directors about taking students, but no results yet. The music classes with Eureka Parks won't start until this summer. Honestly, we're struggling. It makes me question what we thought were pretty clear answers to our prayers about the decison to come here. We felt so good about it, but now things are worse than they were in Illinois. I just don't know what to do. There are so many things we like about living here--and it's nice that Trevor does enjoy his job, but it's just so hard to make ends meet. We asked Mozingo when we were hired about whether health insurance was covered for the family, and they said yes, but apparently there was some misunderstanding -- we understood from their response that family coverage was also subsidized. Trevor is supposed to have an evaluation with them soon, and I guess he can ask them about it then, but I don't think that will change much about the insurance. A raise will help, but I think we need a BIG raise, and I don't think that will be coming for awhile. I think we are just destined to be poor.
The worst part is that I thought I had felt a really strong spiritual confirmation this past month that I should stay home with the kids, and not go back to working as much as I was before. But now I"m questioning that, too. I just don't know what the Lord wants us to do. We need to make enough money to cover our cost of living and pay our debts--and the prophet keeps saying we need to get out of debt. How can we do that while still keeping the commandment for mothers to stay at home and nurture their children? But yet, when I was working before, we were really still just keeping out heads above water--not really able to make many extra debt payments or save very much. It's all so frustrating!
Well, I"m going to the temple tonight--and I'll pray about it there.
Trevor is going out of town this weekend and next weekend. This weekend there is a civil war ball in Chicago, and next weekend he is going with the elders quorum to help rebuild members' homes in New Orleans after the devastation of the hurricane. It's a good service project, and it will be nice for him to go with the other elders.
I don't ever like having him gone on the weekends but I'm glad he can do this. The civil war band is another story...
I guess I've done enough venting for the day. Maybe if I get my tears out of the way in the morning, I can have smiles for the kids for the rest of the day.

Who is that masked man?

Sam was dressed in costume this morning. He stopped to look in the mirror, and told me in a stunned voice, "Mommy! That mirror thinks I am batman!" He removed the mask, looked in the the mirror again, and said (very relieved) "Whew! Now the mirror thinks I'm Sam again."