A little bit of sunshine

After a weekend with the flu, today turned out to be a welcomed change. I was finally feeling better today. I realized that a lot of the reason that I have probably been down lately is that I have been sick since January. It has really been hard on me but today was a good day. We were able to get out in the yard and do a little (and by little I mean a miniscule amount)bit of yard work. The kids played for several hours. Even little Nora was able to crawl around in the dirt and grass and ruin yet another pair of pants :). Tonight I took one of the girls I babysit for Ice Cream. She had been such a huge help to me on a particularly hard day that I promised her a special treat. We went to Cold Stone Ice Cream where we spoiled ourselves and talked about everything her little mind could think of. It was a great opportunity to get to know her better away from the hussle and bussle of all the kids. I like to have one on one time with all of them for this reason. Claire and I also had some one on one time which I really really enjoyed. This hardly ever happens but she needs it and I found out I do too. We went to a new book store that opened in town and she got to pick out a princess sticker book. She was so cute. She had a lace hair band stretched around her head like a crown and she was wearing ballet shoes. The lady who owns the bookstore said that Claire reminded her of a character from a book called "Fancy Nancy". So claire has been nicknamed that. She asked me that day as I was getting dressed if she would have "grommits" like me one day. I had no idea what she was talking about but she was pointing to my chest so you can guess what came to mind....I laughed so hard and explained what they were really called etc... Only later did it dawn on us that she was not asking about mommies anatomy, she was asking if she would be able to wear garments one day. So I gave her an anatomy lesson that was totally uneccesary for her age. I was so glad to know that she noticed though and that she wants that for herself. Hopefully her desire to go to the temple will remain with her as she gets older. Another funny thing she said this week...she is always saying she is hungry. She complained about it so much yesterday, even moments after she had finished a meal. I finally said "Claire, your tummy is not hungry, it's upset." Thinking maybe she had a touch of the flu like the rest of us. She replied "It's upset because it's hungry!" I don't know when I have laughed that hard. She is such a funny girl and so full of energy. I hope that I will be able to keep up. So these simple events have brought a little bit of sunshine to the Garff house this week.

Another week...

well, another week has passed in the Garff house and it was a bit of a crazy one. Ivan has been acting out more and more. I hope it's just because he is turning 3 soon. They say terrible two's but I think three is worse. This week has been lonely here in Tooele. There is plenty to keep me busy but not enough to keep my mind busy. I guess I need a good book or something to pull me away from my little world for a while. The weather has been chilly so there is not a lot to do outside. It doesn't seem to stop my kids however, I had to make them come in from playing in the snow. I keep myself and the babies cooped up inside however because they have been sick all spring. By babies I mean Nora and Carter (the little boy I babysit). Lately it has been very hard to be out in Tooele. I miss my family very much. Usually the distance does not bother me but it has been weighing on my mind. I think because it was an exceptionally hard week. It would just be nice to escape to my moms house for a while. I have missed my husband very much this week too. I wish so badly that he could have taken the week off to be at home. I know we are a huge demand on his time and he worries about us a lot when he is at work. I don't feel like I have a lot of friends here right now and so that is frustrating too. I guess I just need a little pick me up. I just have to remember that we are extremely blessed. Or as I like to put it, we are Blessed recipients of goodness. I am so grateful for my husband and my children. Although we have our hands full as a family, we have fun with one another and we love one another and express that love often. I am so grateful for a husband that calls to me from the kitchen just to let me know he loves me. I am grateful that it has rubbed off on me and I do the same with my children. God has truly blessed me in my life. Although I am lonely and a little sad a lot of the time it is not for lack of love from my family. For those of you reading this from afar, i.e. Iowa, I love you and miss you very much.

What's New

It has been an extremely busy month for the garff family. We have had a lot of birthday's to celebrate. Almost everyone on Matt's side of the family was born in april and 3 on my side as well. It makes me wonder exactly what was so special about the 9th month before that. We have been working very hard and things have been stressful but we are happy. Matt tried out for the "Deal or No Deal" game show. He stood in line for 10 hours on a Saturday to participate in the event. He did an awesome job. He was cut after round one but he says he is very glad that he tried out. I was very proud of him because it is something I would never have the guts to do. I have been taking more and more children and sometimes it feels like we are living in a zoo rather than a 2100 sq. foot house. Daycare keeps me very busy and some of it is being done for very little pay because I just feel it is a way that I can give back to others. The main family that I babysit is just awesome and we love having them at our house everyday. Some people criticize me for this choice to do daycare and say that it is taking away from my own family but in my opinion it is an awesome way to teach my children how to perform the act of service and to accept other people into our family. I love the children that I babysit, they add a lot of adventure to our lives. On the days that they don't come my children ask where they are and that is a comfort to me. I like knowing that they are having a good time with these children. Matt's job is going well. He is always looking for something better but I am very grateful that we have the benefits through his job that we do. I don't think we could survive without those. He has been so supportive during the last 4 months while I have been sick and having surgeries. He worries so much about being a wonderful supporter for us even though I always assure him that he is doing a more than wonderful job. I was cleaning the kitchen 2 days ago and it just hit me that we have so much. I think I take it all for granted sometimes. It just amazed me that we have a house and many nice things that we have worked hard for. We have a wonderful family and even though we struggle, we have so much more than many people I know. We have each other. I am so thankful for that. We are "blessed recipients of goodness"

Nora's First Birthday

Nora turned 1 year old on the 16th of April and we were so happy and proud of her! She is doing so well. She is the prettiest little girl and just so full of life. She is ready to walk and often stands on her own but she just hasn't decided to take that step yet. She only has two teeth right now but that hasn't stopped her from eating pretty much everything we eat. She is such a blessing in our lives and we are so proud to have her as a part of our family.

Long Day

So, after a very busy and long day I put the kids in the bath. As always I got Nora out first, diapered her, lotioned her up, combed her hair and put on her pajamas. I left her playing in the living room while I got the other kids out and took them in their room to get ready for bed. While I was helping Claire get dressed I heard Ivan scream "Wook at Nowa!" (look at nora). I knew it couldn't be good. So I ran to see what was happening. Well, apparently Nora was not ready to get out of the bath and apparently she has learned to get back in by herself.

My Job

I love being a stay at home mom and a daycare provider, despite it's many challenges. I realized today though that I have this wonderful little group of people that I am responsible for a lot of the time and what an opportunity that really is. We have a lot of fun together and although I am exhausted by the end of the night, it is quite fulfilling. Here are some of our friends from the dogghouse. There is a picture of Claire and Millie. They have been friends from the start!

Dinner

Tonight Claire had a very new experience. She always asks me if she can help me cook. Usually I say "no" because I am in a hurry to get dinner on the table but tonight I let her help me. We made fried chicken. She could not believe that she was touching a real chicken. As I was explaining to her that you have to kill the chicken to eat it, she got very upset and said "mom! who killed it!?" I told her it was the farmer and she said "that was not nice!" It was very funny. I showed her how to roll the chicken in egg and then flour but told her she could not help put it in the oil or she would get burned. I guess I should have taken my own advice because as I was taking the last piece out of the oil the oil spattered all over my face and arm. It hurt so much! Claire said "mom! be careful you got burned!" Kids can say the darnedest things.