Too Much

I literally think about blogging everyday.  I just can't get myself to actually do it.  Nothing too crazy is going on, and nothing that exciting, for that matter.  But it is hectic and busy and chaotic and happy and fun and smiley and I am tired all the time. I'll try to get the rest of 2012 blogged in the next month.  Maybe it'll give me the motivation I need to stay caught up.  In the meantime:

Graham - looking for permanent employment.  His clerkship is up in August, but we could be out sooner.  It depends on what becomes available.

Mitzi - struggling to finish that last class. It's just so damned boring.  And I'm tired of it.  I'm supervising a remodel of our master bathroom and the basement.

Sam - tested in the 99th percentile at his school.  Apparently, he's a genius.  Unfortunately, he lacks the discipline to show it.  Who has discipline at 6?  He is super into vampires, zombies, and skeletons.  Yay for being a boy at 6.  Zompires is his invention and I hear about them at every meal.  He starts baseball this weekend, with Ellen tagging along.

Ellen - I love her, but she is driving me crazy.  She is so fiercely independent and strong willed.  I'm sure that when she reaches her teenage years and boys are trying to make her do things she doesn't want, I'll appreciate this part of her personality.  Right now though?  It's not as fun.  Fortunately for her, she has a way of tilting her head and cracking the perfect smile.  Breaks through any sternness or frustration in an instant.

Anna - Is the cutest thing you've ever seen.  She has a perfectly round head and a great little smile.  She's not really talking yet, but all of my babies are late talkers.  She is super sweet and cuddly and I am fearful for the day that it stops.  She is very mischievous and somehow keeps finding my candy.  I swear I put it away every time.

"I want a penis for Christmas"

That exact phrase came out of Ellen's mouth just after Thanksgiving as we were filling out our Christmas wish lists.

She idolizes Sam and everything he does.  She wants to be just like him.  Having taken baths together, she has noticed the acute differences between his anatomy and hers.  With her perfect 3-year-old logic, she has put together that in order to "boy things", you must have the proper parts, thus her perfectly logical request.  I, of course, refused to put it on the list.  Sorry Ellen, you'll have to stick with the Polly Pockets and cowboy boots you got.

This need to be a boy has also translated into a need for less girly clothes.  It wouldn't bother me, except that  during the summer, she requested lots of skirts that she never ended up wearing and has very few boy-ish clothes because she still loves pink and purple.  There is a battle in our house each morning as we try to get her dressed for the day.  Honestly, sometimes I let her stay in pajamas the whole day through because it's just easier that way.  This morning, Ellen freaked out because "my purple jacket is stupid and puffy" and her pink raincoat has "fuzzy flowers that I don't like" on the inside.  Oh my goodness.  I'm so tired of this battle, so I just gave in. I took her to the store today and we picked out a new jacket from the clearance section of the store - the boy side.  She picked a really cute red jacket and is very happy with it.  Additionally, while we were at Target, we found a couple of zippered pull-overs that were in the exercise clothes section.  Since being "sporty" is being "boyish" she will happily wear them.  Look forward to lots of summer photographs with basketball shorts and hoodies.  You know what, this is okay.  I was a super tomboy as a little girl and I think I had a better childhood for it.

I just wish she would have let me know before I purchased all her winter clothes.

2013

Welcome 2013!

I don't really make resolutions each year, but I have a general goal: "be better".

I want to be a better mom, a better wife, a better friend, daughter, sister.  I would like to be a better Young Women's leader, a better disciple of Christ, and a better citizen.

To have this happen, I'll make micro-goals throughout the year to make myself better.  I'll share my progress through the blog, as I do anyway.

For sure, I need to be a better blogger!  The last few months have slipped by, undocumented, so hopefully I can go back and fill in the gaps.

I welcome the new year and hope that it will be BETTER!  

My Response - Wear Pants to Church Day

In response to: https://www.facebook.com/events/144815455666087/declines/

It is almost 2 am, and as ridiculous as I find this entire “cause”, I find myself without sleep over my reactions and feelings towards this issue.  To allow myself a few hours of peaceful slumber this morning, I feel compelled to at least record my thoughts:

During this latest General Conference, I sustained President Monson as the President and Prophet of this Church.  In addition, I sustained a list of General Authorities as well as Auxiliary leaders.  During no time did I sustain the young women heading the cause labeled “Wear Pants to Church” day.  My first thought and complaint is that these young women and men do not speak for me, nor do they have stewardship over me.  In fact, if they do have stewardship over anyone, it is likely limited to their families and their ward or stake callings.  I am frustrated that these individuals believe that they have  a right to speak for me, or for the female membership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  At no time were they given the authority or privilege to speak for us.

Secondly, this is not how things are done within the organization of the Church.  If you have a strong feeling about a problem you are encountering in your local congregations, there is a hierarchical system in which you can address, starting with your bishop, followed by your stake president, and so on.  Another avenue for recourse is through your ward’s Relief Society presidency, on to the Stake level, and so forth.  Additionally, you are always more than welcome to write a letter directly to the First Presidency of the Church.  If you don’t like the system, tough.  You sustained it during the last conference, you are failing to do so now.

Whether or not you feel it is right to wear pants to church is a personal issue.  Why are we attempting to make this an issue to divide the membership of the church?  If I decide to continue to wear a skirt or a dress this Sunday, will I be on the “other side”?  Will I now be judged for not supporting a cause you have deemed to be righteous?  During your explanation of your cause did you not once mention that this was an inspired movement, or that you were prompted by the  Holy Spirit to move forward with your actions.  What a poorly thought-out “movement”. 

Until further word from the Prophet of God, I will not support any cause that seems to set members apart from each other and create a divide that I do not want between myself and other members of my local congregation.

Election 2012

So, I'm not thrilled. As much as I didn't want this to happen, it did. My prayer is that as a country, we work harder to unite, to be peacemakers, and to cooperate better than we have in the last 4 years. We CAN work together, but often, we choose not to, because of our pride. 

I am still extremely happy and grateful that I had an opportunity today to make my voice heard. I am grateful to live in this country and to enjoy the freedoms that are afforded me.

I am not a Republican, I am not a Democrat.

I'm an American.

Robinsons at 1

As much as my kids look alike as they get older, they are definitely their own little individuals:

I have to say, I think we make ridiculously adorable kids.

Happy 1st Birthday Anna!

For Sam and Ellen's birthdays, I was excited.  I was so happy for them to reach such a fun milestone.  But for some reason, this time, I was so sad.  How could my little baby be ONE already?  I had a hard time getting excited for Halloween because I knew that just days before, my baby would no longer be my baby.

I put on my game face and got excited.  Can you believe how big she has gotten in just a year?!

Some of my favorite things about this little one right now:

• She waves "hi" with both hands every time.
• When she gets really excited, she squishes her face into goblin-mode and starts sniffing over and over again.
• She has thighs bigger than mine.  Okay, that's not true, but they seriously might be bigger than Sam's right now.
• She only has one word, "hi", but she can match the tone and patter of your speech. 
• When Anna wants another bite of food, she goes "mmm, mmm", to the same tune of the "Mine, Mine, Mine" seagulls from Finding Nemo.
• She snuggles.  It's a simple thing, but she is my first snuggler and I absolutely love it.
  
  Happy Birthday Baby Girl!