Why Babies Cry

I walked into the room while Rachel was holding her baby. I heard her say something like, "No, Baby!" I asked Rachel if she was talking to her baby. Rachel looked down at her doll and said to me, "Baby is crying." Then she kissed and hugged her baby.

Never Let The Crowd Slow You Down

Johnny can now read well enough to follow along in the hymn books at church. Today in church, during the songs, Johnny sang one to two words ahead of the rest of the congregations because he can "read faster than everyone else."

Kates punishment (by John)

I told Kate to come over to me and I drew a picture of a book on her hand. I told her it was a book-mark. The next day Kate came and wrote the letters "ing" on my hand and informed me it was a mark "ing". Johnny, not wanting to miss out on the fun drew a line on my hand and informed me that it was a line "ing" (except I don't think he knows the word "lining" and there was no "ing" involved in his,..I'm afraid he just didn't get it which made his pretty funny in its own way).

Washing Machine

My washing machine broke down officially yesterday. Well, at least officially enough that I went and bought a new one. The belt keeps falling off and the drum has begun leaking. But I keep draining the darn thing with our wet vac, tipping it over, putting the belt back on and using it. John helped me a couple times with the process yesterday, so he was VERY happy to take work time off and help me find a new washer. I am getting a front loader this time. I had to use laundry mats the years that we lived in big cities and loved the front loaders (not the laundry mats). One of the biggest problems I had with this last washing machine was it was always getting unbalanced. Front loaders don't have that problem. We got one for $600 at Home Depot. I felt really blessed to find what I wanted for under $800. When I bought my current washing machine 3 1/2 years ago all the front loaders of decent size were at least $1000, and we just couldn't afford that then. So I bought the cheapest large capacity Maytag. This time we surprisingly have the money and front loaders are cheaper. Again I am astonished at how the Lord blesses my family. We just payed off all of our credit card debt with our tax return and I am anxious to make sure that we make it through this next year debt free. When I was draining the washing machine for the second time yesterday I was surprised at how peaceful I felt. Of course I was praying for help to know what to do. When it became clear that I would have to get a new machine I still felt very peaceful and sure that it would be okay financially. We bought the front loader on our Home depot credit card because they give you six months with no interest. After we were home and the kids were in bed I looked a little at our finances and discovered that next month we get an additional paycheck. So we will have the money to pay for the washing machine before we even get the first credit card statement. I know that we could have bought another cheap top loader washing machine, but I wanted a front loader, and I think that Heavenly at times is happy to provide us with our wants as well as our needs. I am very grateful for the careful and thoughtful care of our Heavenly Father.

News

1. Rachel had a birthday yesterday and she is now 2. For the last two months Rachel has been preparing to turn two with a lot of temper tantrums. But she did love her birthday. She got a doodle pro and a bunch of helium balloons that all the older kids won't let her play with. Poor little girl. No wonder she screams so much. We gave her both cake and ice cream to see what she likes better and she only ate the ice cream. Now we know.
2. We legally changed Esther's name to Anya Esther. We had to set up a court date, take off work and see the judge to do this. The lady working for the State Department of Vital Statistics said that this is not inconvenient. I would like to know what is inconvenient for her? The judge had to have us raise our right arms and have us swear that all of the information we gave them was true. Crazy, but I am glad that we did so. I feel much better about the name now. I suppose if I thought we were definitely having another daughter I would have not cared so much. But with six kids, who knows??? We may be done all together.
3. Ruth turned 10 on March 22. She now has to vacuum every night instead of picking up the floors, and she now has to listen to three sessions of general conferences. But she did get all of her own hair things and she likes doing her own hair, and my mom bought her a Nintendo DS. So that I think she finds her growing bigger responsibilities worth it. Next year she gets to become our official baby sitter. I am glad that Ruth was born first. She is an amazing help.
   

April Fools Day

During Family Home Evening John and I both had items of business to present to the family. I went first. I told my family that I was tired of them being sick so much and that I had decided that we needed to improve our health standards. I mentioned that we were going to eat less junk food, but eat a lot more fruits and vegetables. I also said that the kids were going to start taking daily vitamins and that we all needed to get more exercise. John (the father John to be precise) was MAD. I know this seems irrelevant to April Fool's Day, but just keep reading. John's turn for family business was next. He reminded us all that April fools day was the next day and he suggested that we have a little contest to see who could play the best joke that was neither mean nor messy. John told the kids that the winner would get a dollar.

So now to April Fool's Day stuff. I played the first joke with this email to John, and I got him good too.

Dear John,

I looked up some health information and you are right. Vegetables and
fruits aren't necessary for good health as long as you don't eat too
many calories. That is all that matters. So I won't be making us eat a
lot more fruits and vegetables.

I thought you would be happy to know this.

I love You,

Diane

Johnny read what I wrote to Dad and began playing lots of word jokes. He did get me a couple of times. Once he said, "Mom, Adam stole my egg and won't give it back." I said, "Adam, give Johnny his egg back." Johnny laughed and said, "April Fools!!"

Adam tricked Johnny when he said, "Johnny, Rachel took your egg." Johnny got mad and Adam said, "April Fools!!"

Kate put scotch tape all over a dinner plate and wrote: This plate is not drawn on, on the tape. She actually put on two layers of tape so when you peeled off the first layer there was the same sentence underneath and you became uncertain that she had not actually drawn on the plate.

Ruth got Kate a glass of orange juice and told her it was water. Kate was pleased with this joke.

The next morning I told all of the kids that we all won and I still owe them all a dollar. I think that our kids did well at coming up with non-mean, non-destructive April Fool's jokes. I was never sure if John did anything or not. But I can be sure that he will get me back at some point.

A little Song

I sang this to Ruth when I asked her to set the table.
to the tune of: Nephi's Courage

The mother commanded Ruthy to go and get the plates;
Set them on the table before it gets to late.
Johnny and Kate did not want to try.
Ruthy was a good girl this was her reply:
"I will go; I will do
Whatever my mother says. I know if I try and obey
I'll have a happy day.
I will go; I will do
Whatever my Mother says. I know if I try and obey
I'll have a happy day."


Ruth really liked this song, but Kate and Johnny were pretty upset. Johnny asked if I could sing "Kate and Adam instead." I didn't mean to compare them to Laman and Lemeul. I had to inform them that I didn't think they were like Laman and Lemuel. Anyway I was pleased to come up with such easy and rhyming word changes to fit our little "
will you set the table situation." I can't always pop things like that out of my head and have it come out rhyming, never mind making any sense.