Pampering

So, after a long week for the first time in my mommy lifetime I'm doing something for myself and I feel really really guilty. My sweet friend gave me a gift certificate a while back for a spa day(she should really be the one going) and I'm getting my first pedicure. I about had a mental break down this week and told Matt I needed a day off from being a mom and without hesitation he said I agree. I asked him if it was selfish...it sure feels selfish. Was it that simple that's all I had to say??? So, I get an hour with no interruptions making my toes and feet look pretty before I deliver because lets face it people I can barely reach my feet to paint me toes as it is. And for those of you who are wondering I'll be 35 weeks on Monday.

Private School

After church today we were sitting down at lunch and Maryn is always trying to wheel and deal her way of getting a "snack" or "dessert" when she has hardly touched her food. She was sitting there bartering her way trying to get a cookie trying to compromise how many bites she had to take and I asked openly not expecting a response why do you always have to debate with me on EVERYTHING! Matt chimed in and said, my little Maryn is going to be a broker. So let's get her into the best private school we can to help her talent. Maryn's face crinkled in disgust and she made a funny gulping noise. I think I knew what she was thinking but just to be sure I told Matt he better explain to Maryn what a private school was. He sat down and asked her what do you think a private school was? Her response, somewhere you have to take off all your clothes and go to school. I had to turn around because I almost spit my food out from trying not to laugh noticeably. Then she said there's no way I want to go there. After Matt and I got our composure we explained to her that there were 2 types of schools one that you pay money to go to and it's not open to everyone and the other a public school where everyone can attend. I think she got it. Oh my little innocent child...if only I could keep her that way forever.

Wish I would've grabbed the camera

Matt told me to grab the camera yesterday when we were going out the door but pregnancy brain took over and I forgot it. Fishing season has come upon our family yet again so we took the girls to a little community pond nestled in Murray and Taylorsville. Very cool park by the way. I think it had four different play toys, volleyball pit, barbecue places, soccer fields and nice baseball field. It even had a fish cleaning station off of the pond that was in the park. Maryn and Matt took off to try to get fish for supper and I followed Macey like a puppy playing on all the toys. I got tired of walking so forced her to go over where Daddy and Maryn was so I could sit and relax. She immediately went for the water. We had her water socks on not out of choice but because we left her little shoes in Boise. It was a good thing we had them on. She would bend over in the water and pick up rocks and throw them where Maryn had her line cast. Maryn kept saying Macey get out of here you're gonna scare the fish away. It was pretty comical. Macey kept creeping deeper and deeper in the water. She lost her balance but I was able to catch her. Yeah...so much for relaxing. So, I was next to her on the bank watching her and she leaned over to pick up a rock and for some reason her head just kept going and she fell all the way in the pond. I picked her up by her onesie and she had this look of shock on her face like Mom why didn't you stop me. I couldn't stop laughing. This kid knows no boundaries. That apart from trying to eat the worms and the power bait Macey is a handful. Matt was able to catch one 12 inch rainbow trout. Maryn was bummed and said that she hated that pond and never wanted to fish there again. I'm looking forward to this summer.

Lots of Thinking

We got back from the funeral last night and it was a good service. The service at the cemetery however was very moving. Three soldiers honored my grandfather for his service in World War II. A soldier on the hill played taps as they wrapped the flag to give to my Uncle. It was just wonderful.

One thing out of the whole day though has struck a chord. During the service Grandpa's loving Bishop gave some last words and showed the character of my Grandpa more than anything. The last day Grandpa was here his Bishop visited him at the hospital. He took his hand and asked, "Bro. Wickard, are you current temple recommend holder" and he replied "yes Bishop". Then he asked if he had kept his covenants he had made in the temple and Grandpa replied Yes I have. His last question to him was do you feel like you've accomplished everything you were set out to do on this earth and his reply was yes I'm ready to go home. He passed a few hours later.

I've had a lot of thoughts go through my head coming home that night. Most that I'll keep to myself but I'll share one thing. Grandpa and Grandma had a lot of things that they had left behind and more than ever the phrase you can't take it with you to the next life rang louder than ever and took on a whole new meaning. But the way you treat people, the way you live your life, the knowledge that you gain and the love you have for one another are eternal. My heart is saddened that I don't think some of my family has come to recognize that yet. Death can either bring out the best or worst in families. Family is the most important thing on this earth and it takes work to build those relationships and to nurture them.

I am thankful for Grandparents that new that and recognized it and cherished their family even though sometimes they didn't get that same respect in return. I sometimes wonder if I'll be able to fulfill all the responsibilities I have on this earth to accomplish. There is a bigger picture out there...sometimes we get so wrapped in problems, anguish, trials that we can't see the wonderful things around us and we take our daily lives for granted. We take the relationships we have for granted. Life is a gift and I hope all of us can use each day to celebrate that. Sometimes we just need to be reminded.

Grandpa Wickard

I knew it wouldn't be long after Grandma passed that Grandpa would follow but I didn't think it would be this fast. Within a matter of a few hours I got the call he was in the hospital and not long after passed away. Grandpa had been on my mind all week and he's finally home with my Grandmother. He missed her terribly and told my Uncle he just wanted to be with his wife again. I feel like in a matter a few months I have lost both my 'parents'. Both of them were such a strong force in my life and miss them so much. A few weeks back I was thinking and realized my Grandpa was a bigger part of my life than I realized. Growing up he was called as a branch president of a special ward in our area which we attended. I was turning eight and had the opportunity to have my Grandpa interview me for baptism. He let me come over and mow his lawn during the summer. He had a specific way of doing it and would outline the lawn for me and I would fill in the rest. He always had a beautiful vegetable and flower garden. He loved making things beautiful. I was amazed at his knowledge of flowers. Grandpa served in the WWII and I was one of the few that he would share stories with me. He showed me his uniform, Nazi coins, old pistols, German camera. He was a very giving man and was always thinking of others. He would silently do acts of service that no one would know about. I would force him to give me hugs and always told him I loved him. His reply would be yep. In the last few months he let me know how much he loved Matt and I. He had these cool multi-color suspenders that I remember from 20 years back that he still wore today. I'm going to miss him. He's reunited with his sweetheart and not restricted anymore from his ailing body.

31 weeks

Yep, we're in the final countdown and time has flown by. Maryn wanted to help share my burden of carrying the baby by making her own tummy. Her legos kept falling out everywhere...thank goodness that doesn't happen with real babies. I think she looks kind of rather cute and lumpy.

Shhhh...don't tell!!

I have a secret that I'm keeping. I bought Girl Scout Cookies. It's for a good cause. But, I felt so guilty when I ran into a friend at the store I confessed and I think she thought I was a lunatic...I made her swear not to tell Matt. She said okay, if I wouldn't tell her husband she was buying the chocolate peanut butter eggs. Deal Lisa!!!

I got caught one year red handed. I hid my box under my car seat and Matt was driving my car with me in tow. He had to slam on the brakes and a box of cookies slid under his feet. All I could do was smile and he asked me if there was something I wanted to tell him. I told him I had no idea how those got there. Here's to hiding a few more boxes another year!

Photos

Here are some photos I got before Matt got home for our dinner on Monday.

April Fools???

This is Mother Nature's cruel April Fools joke...



Yes, this is this morning outside my front door.

The Murdock sledding hill is open and ready for business today!