Caught him

I didn't even catch it the first time I looked at this picture. It just looked like everyone was standing there.

Then I noticed that Andrew's feet were not touching the floor. I had caught him mid jump.

This is my boy. My excitable, energetic, jumping-up-and-down-because-he-is-so-
excited-to-get-on-the-carousel boy.

And I caught him in action!

Things you may not know just by looking

At our house we eat “camelope”

we put on “sun scream”

and we eat “Rice Kristies”.

We turn the "sprinkles" on to water the lawn

Natalie prays for her "poopy eye to feew betteh"

and Andrew gets "bad at you" if you tell him no.


We love to eat "pocipos" when it's hot

and drink "chommamilk" daily.

One of us goes to the "bafroom"

another reads "Dancy Dancy" books


and another doesn't seem to stop talking but we can't make out a single word yet.

Just some of the reasons I love this stage!

The HOTTEST Reunion Ever

At least that is what I billed it as. We had my family at our house last weekend for the annual Rowberry Reunion and I didn't think there would be any question about the weather here at the end of May. In fact, my brother Jim and his family stayed the whole week and did get to feel the 110 degree weather Monday and Tuesday.

But then the cold front moved in.

And it rained.

And we were supposed to swim all weekend.

Luckily the weather did nothing to ruin the fun weekend. It was so great to have everybody here. Granted, it is pretty busy when you have 17 people at your house (not overwhelming thanks to a mom who if I was preparing food, so was she. If I was cleaning up, so was she. Thanks mom!), but I would do it again it a heartbeat. I just love getting together with my family.

And I think even more, I love watching my kids with their cousins. Andrew was on cloud 9 the entire time. His cousins got tired of him way before he even thought that he might be tired of them. Granted, they all just had a great time playing together, but after a while it seemed that everybody else kind of would need a break...some alone/quiet time. Not Andrew. He would follow one or the other around saying their name over and over and inviting them to play trains with him or jump on the trampoline, or whatever else he thought they might like to do. Part of me felt for the cousin he was pestering, but the other part of me loved to see his enthusiasm for his cousins and I felt bad for him every time his enthusiasm was met with a closed door. Every once in a while he would get it and he would cry because his feelings were hurt. But most of the time he would just move on to somebody else.

Andrew was sitting on my lap today looking at pictures from the reunion on the computer. He said, "I want them all to come back!" "I want Grace, Maffew, Kate, and Gramma and Granpa Rowberry to come back to my house!" He had such a great time. And so did I.

Some of the highlights:Kids making a mess...I mean pizzas. They had a great time. You should have seen the piles of cheese!

Family bingo--we had a bingo card with faces of family members filling the squares. I pulled out facts about family members and we put m&ms on the face that matched the fact. The kids loved seeing their pictures. And loved the m&ms too.

Swimming--as cold and rainy as the weekend was, the kids still got in the pool every day. The hot tub helped, but those kids were still swimming in the cold pool too!

Singing in church together--growing up, we sang quite a bit as a family, but we haven't done much of that as we have gotten older. So, I arranged for us to sing in my ward's Sacrament Meeting. We sang an arrangement of I am a Child of God. The kids sang the first verse and then we all broke into parts and the kids came back in on the third verse. It was so fun to sing together as a family and boy did I love watching my little kids belt out I am a Child of God. Maybe I shouldn't have told Andrew to "sing loudly." For once he followed my directions exactly. Natalie, my little quiet one who never sang in a practice, got up there and belted the words as loud as her little voice would sing.

My dad was so cute with James.

Tie dye--the tie dye process was okay, but the "fun" part was all wearing the tie dyed shirts to the temple. It felt a little odd wearing tie dye to the temple. I was so glad my family got to see the Reflections of Christ exhibit at the visitor's center. It really is so amazing. If you haven't seen it yet, check it out here.


Bowling--we were having a great time when it got even better. Suddenly cosmic bowling kicked on for the last 15 minutes--white lights, disco music, disco balls, dancing.


Games--From silly games to Family Feud to Karaoke to Guitar Hero to Settlers of Catan to Mastermind to croquet.

These girls were so excited to match!

"Helping" to make the pizza dough

Five things to know if you're going to Disneyland

Five things that will make your trip to Disneyland unforgettable:

1. Even if you plan on leaving for Southern California at about 3:30 or 4:00 pm, continue to pack and get things together until about 7:30 or 8:00pm. That way your husband can leave work early for nothing. Plus, it is almost dark by then, you don't have to stop for dinner, the kids sleep for the entire drive, your husband who got home from Europe three days ago sleeps for most of the drive, and you miss all the traffic. It's just you, sunflower seeds, the music of your choice, and about 500 semis on the road. Honestly, I think I saw about 1 other car amidst all the jumbo trucks until we got to Palm Springs area.

Oh, and if it is you and 500 semis on the road, don't flash one of those semis with your brights, even if he totally cuts you off and you have to press hard on your breaks to get down to about 55mph and then sit there for about 10 minutes while he slowly passes the other truck and merges back into the right lane. I kept imagining a scene like in The Birds, with all of the Semis converging on my little Escape as the call goes out 10-4.

Be warned, however, that if you do get to your brother's house at about 2:00am, the door might be locked so you may have to wake up your brother by knocking on the door at 2:00am. And then your two year old who has been asleep the entire ride might not be able to get back to sleep THE ENTIRE NIGHT. So you might not be bright and shiny the next morning as you tackle your first day at Disneyland. In fact, you might feel a little zombie-like.


2. Make sure you find an amazing deal on Craigslist for your tickets. A deal where you are going to be paying 1/2 price for three never-been-used 3-day hopper tickets. Check for feedback and discover that this guy is ligit and that other people have purchased tickets from him and have been very pleased. Bypass all the other deals on Craigslist that pale in comparison. Receive a confirmation that the tickets are held for you (luckily no money paid) and then call the number given you when you get into town so you can arrange the pickup. And get a message that the guy is not going to be returning phone calls for the next 48 hours. Leave 3 messages and 2 emails anyway. Pay full price for your tickets at Disneyland because you can't get a hold of the guy. Receive a message from him later that day saying that his father was in the hospital and so sorry he missed you.

3. The second day you are there, drive the 25 minutes from your brother's house to Disneyland, wait in line to get into the parking lot, unload stuff and kids, and then realize that you left your ticket in your pants from yesterday. Call to see if there is ANY way to get in without your ticket and be told you've got to be kidding. Have husband take baby and drive home to get your ticket. Take other two kids to get on a few rides. Find a tram line (for the stroller car) without anybody in it! Load kids and double stroller on tram, take a deep breath-you are on your way.

Do not panic several seconds later as you hear a very loud scraping, popping noise. And don't panic as the tram starts bouncing all over the place, nor as you watch your little four-year-old across from you nearly get hit with what looks like a metal pole that comes flying into the tram car and hear him crying from fright. Don't worry when the tram finally stops and you look around and see your child and stroller covered in fiberglass splinters and big chunks of the stuff. And it is ok if the fiberglass starts to make your skin feel very uncomfortable.
Do accept the offer to vacuum out your stroller, the saline to wipe down your arms and your childrens' bodies, the "get-to-the-front-of-the-line passes", the offer of free tickets, and the 5 free shirts. Do enjoy the fact that every time you mention "the tram accident" somebody offers you something free ;-) Do call your sister-in-law and tell her what happened and enjoy her response, "I've never heard of the tram crashing!!"

Enjoy walking right on Dumbo and Peter Pan with your special passes when the lines are at least 30 minutes long.And especially enjoy having your son take this picture to show and tell at school and telling all his friends about "the tram accident." It really was unforgettable.

4. Definitely meet up with family. One day meet up with super sister-in-law Chelsee and her three kids. It will make it so much easier for your very frightened 4-year-old to try some of the rides he may not have been willing to try. And the cute cousins can cheer "Go Andrew Go!!" from behind as your little Andrew sits stiffly on Big Thunder Railroad. And the next day meet up with sister-in-law Kathy and her friend Mory. Kathy will dote on your kids and Mory will actually watch your kids as you, husband and Kathy scream yourselves hoarse on Tower of Terror.


5. Enjoy each moment and be flexible. I guess this one is probably just for me. I tend to have an idea about how thinks should go to make it perfect and struggle when things don't go according to plan. So this trip was a big test for me. From the tickets, to the sleepless night, to the longer lines than expected, to the getting to the park later than I would have liked (I was the type that would stand in line for the monorail at 6:00am when I was about 11 and we were at Disneyland with my family--I love to get there EARLY!), the trip did not go at ALL the way I had "planned." But it was so much fun. And I was able to really apply the thought that I was repeating to myself every day: "Fun is what you make it. It doesn't matter what happens or doesn't happen, it is as fun as you think it is." And that was the truth!

Mom, how do you spell....?

I walked into the bathroom to check on the kids, who were taking a mid-day fun bath, and this is what I saw:

It just cracked me up. This kid sees the world in letters these days.

She's my daughter

She looks just like her dad.

But she is my daughter.

We were driving down the road in our hot Escape a few weeks ago. The weather was perfect. Not too hot, not too cold. Natalie reached with her little toes and pushed the window button until her window was as far down as it goes...half-way.

And then she reached as far as she could with her little fingers to feel the wind with her hands. And the whole time she was just grinning ear to ear as the wind blew through her hair. She was giggling and talking about how "windy" it was. Her head leaning back against the plush car seat, the wind blowing against her semi-closed eyes and catching the strands of her hair, blowing them around, her mouth wide open in a huge grin.

So I put my window down too. And turned up the music. Everybody likes "The Wheels on the Bus" right? And then we were both laughing and loving the wind blowing in, and enjoying the smells of fresh grass (yes, you do catch a whiff every once in a while around here), flowers, and air.

It took me back to high school and driving around in my car with the sunroof open, the windows all down, the music loud...and the heater on...at night, in the middle of winter. Granted, it was a California winter, but nights got pretty chilly. I just loved the feeling of the cold wind and the smells that came with it. I loved looking up through the sunroof and seeing the clear night sky and all the stars. In fact, I really thought I couldn't ever drive a car that didn't have a sunroof. But here I am...

It also reminded me of my friends' white, convertible VW bug that we would pile in during the summer, top down and drive to the beach. The wind was stronger in that car, whipping through our hair, so loud that we could hardly even hear each other speak so we listened to the music and took in the beautiful drive over Highway 17. I loved driving around in that car and every time I think of it, I think of all the beautiful sensations, those wonderful friends, and the smell of the ocean.

Andrew does not like the windows down in the car because he thinks it's too windy.

But Natalie does.

She is definitely my daughter.

Chuckling

Things aren't always a bunch of laughs around here if you can believe it. Kids don't move as fast as I want/need them to. Messes are made faster than I can clean them up. Children ignore me as I ask them to please stop, to please do, or "you'd better or else".

But in spite of the kind of day I'm having, there are always countless things that happen that make me chuckle. Even in the middle of ultimate frustration and fatigue, my little kiddos can make me smile and then laugh. And not always intentionally.

So here is a list of some of the things that make me chuckle around here.

1. Backwards underwear
2. Shoes on the wrong feet
3. "I'm big mom" said by Andrew and Natalie. Although the other day Andrew said, "I'm big" and Natalie piped up, "I'm getting 'maller and 'maller."
4. Natalie omitting the first "s" if followed by a consonant. For example: 'nake = snake, 'maller = smaller, 'top=stop, 'mile = smile
5. Natalie's laugh when she really thinks something is funny
6. Andrew's laugh after he says, "How do you spell I?" and I respond "I." He thinks it is the funniest thing ever and asks the question over and over and over.
7. James' laugh when Andrew or Natalie push him in the swing, or smile at him, or try to cover him up with blankets. Sometimes that one turns into a cry or into mom intervening.
8. Andrew cracking up every time Natalie is on a kickboard in the pool and then Natalie joining in.
9. Andrew explaining life to Natalie with his own spin.
10. Natalie walking around in my shoes, Andrew's shoes, dress up shoes, or visitors' shoes.
11. Andrew saying "snement" (cement)
12. The rolls on James's legs.
13. Natalie roaring.
14. Andrew trying to spell every thing like he's in a spelling bee, "g-o, go!"
15. Looking outside and seeing Natalie jumping on the trampoline naked, AGAIN
16. Andrew's shorts lying by the toilet. As soon as he walks in and uses the bathroom his shorts are off for the rest of the day.
17. Natalie saying, "I a pirate" as she covers or closes one eye.
18. Natalie narrating every thing she says and sometimes what others say. She will make a noise, and then say, "Mom, I just said ___, wike dat!" Or she will say, "James said, (make James noise), wike dat!"
19. Overhearing Natalie say, "I wuv you Adew" and Andrew says, "I love you too, Natalie."
20. John swinging the kids around in our Ikea laundry tubes every night after baths.

Fathers and Sons

I'm embarrassed to admit , I wasn't all too keen on the Fathers and Sons camping trip this year. I'm not sure why, but I just had a little attitude about it. Nothing vocal, nothing major, just something inside.

Until I started explaining to Andrew that he was going to be going camping with his dad. Just to make sure because it had been a while, I asked, "You know what camping is?" "Camping is wif a tent!" And he was so excited. He really couldn't talk about anything else. "I'm going to sweep in a tent with daddy!"

Natalie of course wanted to go too. "I go too?" "I sweep in a tent too, mom?" I felt so bad for her when I explained that only Andrew was going with dad, but that we were going to do something REALLY fun at home.

Andrew was sweet and said, "Natalie can come too mom! James can stay with you."

The departure time was pretty much heart wrenching. Not for Andrew, who was grinning from ear to ear sitting in daddy's car waiting to leave. But for Natalie, who was also sitting in daddy's car waiting to leave and who sobbed like I have never seen her sob for a good 20 to 30 minutes after we pulled out of the driveway and left daddy's "filfer" (silver) car behind.

She was devastated. She wanted to go so badly. And I thought, what about Fathers and Daughters?! Or Fathers and Kids?!

I arrived at our girls' night destination and finally got her to calm down a little bit and soon she was smiling, eating pizza, painting her toenails pink, playing with the other kids, and swinging on one of the best tree swings ever. And I realized that I was on "Mothers and Daughters" and that that was just as fun and just as important. The only reason she will feel like she is missing out is if I feel like she is missing out.

And then there was the return from Fathers and Sons. My son came home a very happy boy. He loved every minute of it. And I realized how important that Fathers and Sons experience really is.

John and Andrew came home in time to get Andrew on the soccer field about 10 minutes late for his game (John came running from the car with Andrew in his underwear to where I was on the field with Andrew's uniform waiting) and it was his best game ever. He was actually in there kicking the ball! And I couldn't help but think that the father-son time had been a part of that.

**I would post a picture of Andrew and John at Fathers and Sons or of me and Natalie hanging out with friends that night, but I gave John the camera to take so I didn't have it and he came back without one picture!

And another note--too bad I missed almost all of Andrew's best game ever. I got to the game and realized that I had treats for the game. I ran and got some, but missed the game. I did get to see some of the action before I left. Note to self--write treat assignments on the calendar when you write the game times down.

Mother's Many Hands

Wonderful Mother

God made a wonderful mother,
A mother who never grows old;
He made her smile of the sunshine,
And He moulded her heart of pure gold;
In her eyes He placed bright shining stars,
In her cheeks fair roses you see;
God made a wonderful mother,
And He gave that dear mother to me.
-- Pat O'Rielly

On this special day, I don't really have an adequate way to express all that my mom is and all that she does. Making a list didn't seem adequate. A picture just wouldn't have said it all. So I'm taking a shot with some poetry (at least I think this is poetry). I am not a poet, but Mom, I hope you can feel all I was feeling as I was writing it. I love you.

My Mother's Many Hands

Soft hands stroking my face as I lay in your lap.
Playful hands holding mine jumping on grandpa's trampoline. Pushing me high in the swing and I am hearing your wonderful laughter.
Musical hands directing me and 100 other elementary students singing in the choir. I'm so proud that it's my mom up there leading us with her beautiful voice and making it fun.
Busy hands cleaning the floors, the bathrooms, making another nutritious meal to eat, driving me and the rest of the bunch all over the world.
Faithful hands clasped together as you kneel in prayer. I'm watching from the doorway waiting to talk to you. And I wait and I watch as you commune with God.
Loving hands comforting me when things don't go exactly the way I had hoped and then softly directing me to look in another direction.
Selfless hands rushing to my side for the arrival of a new baby. Caring for me and my precious family. Bathing, cleaning, cooking, never sleeping enough.
Beautiful hands that are just the right size. Matching the beautifully done hair, the beautiful face and always beautifully-put-together clothes. Friends constantly reminding me how beautiful you are.
Curious hands turning page after page as you continue to read and learn and share.
Giving hands hugging your friends, helping those in need, sending a special package.

Watching my own hands stroking the face of my little girl as she lays in my lap, I marvel at your wonderful hands and hope that mine are learning from your example. I love you Mom!!