4 generations

November activites

Here's a quick update of the things I never recorded in November...

My cousin, Barbara Jo and her three kids visited from Mexico for a few days. I always LOVE to see my cousins! Our girls are about the same age, so they have fun playing together too.

Alan went to a bunch of ASU football games. I didn't get a picture of all the people he went to games with i.e. his brothers, his dad, my dad, etc. It was hard enough getting he and Alexis's husband, B.J. to pose for this one. He also got to take Grace to a game while Mom and the babies were napping.

Alan took the girls fishing a few times right after the baby was born so I could have some peace and quiet. Sadly enough, they never caught anything. Alan was still determined to have his trout dinner, so he bought some at Costco, grilled them up, and we enjoyed a scrumptious meal.

Claire Bear

Happy Thanksgiving

We kicked off the season with a field trip to the "canals" with Mrs. Rita's preschool class. She made all the children matching indian vests and feather headbands which they got to personalize with markers. They learned about the desert, had a fake fire, went into a real tee pee, ate indian corn, had thier faces painted, and lots of other great stuff. Mrs. Rita's the BEST!

On Thanksgiving day, come rain or shine, the Soelbergs play football. This year, it was in the rain. Mae, of course, insisted on wearing her pink polka-dot skirt and flip flops (just like every day) and got a little cold. The blankets just didn't do it for her, so she got cozy in the towel. Luckily Grandma was there to snuggle her.

We ate Thanksgiving dinner at my family's house with the Tillemans and Grandma Walker. Ryan and Karen were here, so the whole Sandstrom clan was together.

Grace and Mae singing Joyschool Thanksgiving songs for everyone. "Gobble, Gobble, Gobble Gobble, Gobble."

Good Morning

This is exactly what I woke up to a few days ago. I didn't even have to position anyone. Being a mom is the BEST!

Grandmama

You can't judge a book by it's cover. The way my mom looks, does not accurately reflect the way she feels. We are learning that it is a long road to full recovery after brain surgery. After the surgery, my mom's head hurt really bad. She kept saying it felt like someone stuck a knife in her head and my dad kept reminding her that they did! Then her face went paralyzed again so she went back to the hospital to see what was going on. The doctors told her it was her brain having little seizures from the trauma to the brain during surgery. They put her on seizure medication that makes her very drowsy, which means she can't drive. She has to be on this medication for three months! It's hard to see my mom in bed all the time. It's just not like her. If she does much at all her left arm goes numb and her head starts to hurt.

I wish I was in more of a state to help and be with her, but we're quite the chaotic crowd over there. My mom would never say it, but I think we're a little overstimulating! Alan has been so nice to take Grace and Mae whenever he can so I can take the baby over to my mom's house. The only time she gets to hold Claire is when I take her over there. Last night Alan took Grace and Mae to his grandparent's house to watch the BYU game and then to our ward building to clean the church. I took Claire over to my mom's and we laid on her bed and watched episodes of Bewitched and ate ice cream. It was a great night. I hope she gets better soon. We miss her coming over to our house!

Amazing Grace

A few weeks ago, Grace told us that it was her goal to stop sucking her thumb at bedtime. A few nights later, she came out of her bedroom, handed her blanket to Alan, and said "Here Dad, this blanket makes me want to suck my thumb, so I shouldn't have it anymore." This is the blanket I have been dreading to take away because she has slept with it since birth. She had this whole routine. She used to weave her fingers through the crocheted edges, stick her favorite part of the blanket in the white of her left eye and suck her thumb. I thought it would be quite a task to take this security blanket away from her. Thanks for making parenting so easy, Grace! Do you think I should just wait and see if that happens with Mae's pacifier? :)

I also need to write down a few things she has said in the past that I don't want to forget...

Tonight, Alan showed Grace what ear plugs were. So, she stuck the orange foam things in her ears. A few minutes later she took them out and explained to me that with ear plugs in, she wouldn't be able to hear the Still Small Voice if it was trying to speak to her.

A few months ago Grace wasn't being obedient so I started singing "When my mother calls me, quickly I'll obey." To my disappointment, the song did nothing for her behavior. A few hours later I learned why... She was humming the song and then asked, "Mom, what does Alobey mean?"

Over the summer, Alan and I took Grace and Mae to see "Kung Fu Panda." We all thought it was hilarious and then made a theme night out of it and ate at Panda Express. Anyhoo... the next day Grace got irritated with Mae and full on punched her. As Alan and I were trying to discipline Grace, she defended herself by saying "Ugh, Mae just made me so mad, I Kung Fu Panda'd her." She didn't get much of a punishment, just a bunch of laughter.

I also have to brag about my little four year old for a minute. She has just picked up reading. I can't even take credit for it. She really just loves to learn and asks me to teach her things all the time. She ALWAYS begs me to teach her new songs on the piano. I helped her learn a few songs and then I would play the teachers duet part with her. A few days ago, Grace was insistent on me teaching her the duet part. I told her it was kind of hard, but she was relentless. I taught it to her and a few hours later she was playing her part and the duet part at the same time - both hands. I think she might pass up my piano skills in no time.

Bringing Home Baby - Happy Halloween - Happy Birthday, Mae - Carrie Underwood Concert

Here is what has been happening around here the last week and a half...

Alan and the girls came to pick me up from the hospital on Thursday, October 30th. It really hit me that we had three children when we were all loading into the car. I LOVE seeing all three of their car seats lined up in the back seat. I just can't believe they are all ours! When we pulled up to our house, Grace said "Claire, we're home. You're going to love this place." I got a little teary eyed at that point.

Grace can't get enough of Claire. She doesn't want to go anywhere because she wants to hold her all day long. I also can't believe what a good helper a four year old can be!


I have caught Mae on several occasions reading Claire the "New Baby" book that we read in preparation to Claire being born. She also brings Claire little toys and lays them next to her in her cradle. Her favorite toy to bring her is a miniature trick-or-treat pumpkin. She didn't want her to feel left out on Halloween.




The next day was Halloween. That day pretty much wiped me out. Mae was SUPER emotional and could not decide on a costume. She finally decided to wear normal clothes, but her cat nose and whiskers were already painted on. WHATEVER!!! That night we went to Alan's parents house for Halloween soup with all the cousins and Grandma and Grandpa Ray. Then Alan took the girls to a neighborhood carnival and I went to visit my mom.

My mom bought a little pumpkin costume for Claire before she was born. When she took it up to the register, the lady helping her said "Oh, you have a tiny dog?" My mom was caught off guard and explained that she thought it was for a new born baby. Well, we tried it on both of them:) Neither one liked it very much.



When Alan and the girls got to my parent's house later that night, Grace ran into my mom's room and said "Grandmama, are you okay? We've been praying for you so much." Mae ran into the room and said "Grandmama, are you okay? Did they cut off your head?" I hadn't even told them what happened. I just told them Grandmama was sick. Mae must have heard me talking to people. It was pretty hilarious.

Mae turned 3 years old on Sunday, Nov. 2. Thanks to Alan, my dad, my mother-in-law, my sister-in-law, Shelle, and my friend, Julie, she had a great birthday! We went over to my parents' house in the morning for lots of presents. That night we went to Soelberg's house for dinner and cake. The next day, my sister-in-law did a party for Mae during joy school at her house. Then a few days later, my friend, Julie, came over with presents and a Snow White cake she had made. Thanks everyone! Happy Birthday, Mae!!!



On Wednesday, November 5, Alan went on a business trip to Syracuse, New York. He was gone until Saturday. I actually held up pretty well, but we were more than excited for him to come home! I was so grateful for all the help from family and friends and my mom's cleaning ladies:)

On Friday, November 7, my family had tickets to the Carrie Underwood concert. I was not going to miss it! I got a babysitter for Grace and Mae and took Claire with a hat and cotton balls for her ears. She slept through the entire concert. It was such a fun night. I really needed that night out. Carrie is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks Mom and Dad!

My Day Old Child

I love this poem...

My Day Old Child

My day old child in my arms with my lips against her ear

I whispered strongly "How I wish, I wish that you could hear,

"I've a hundred wonderful things to say (A tiny cough and nod)

Hurry, hurry, hurry and grow so I can tell you about God.

"My day old baby's mouth was still and my words only tickled her ear,

but a kind of light passed through her eyes, and I saw this thought appear,

"How I wish I had a voice and words, I've a hundred things to say,

Before I forget, I'd tell you of God, I left Him yesterday."

Author: Carol Lynn Pearson