Yes please...

At Thanksgiving, my grandpa always said he was a yes man.  He wanted to try every kind of pie.  I feel like I'm living as a yes please person lately.  I want a piece of everything.  I love being a part of my family and all the fun activities, and I want to be a part of everyone else's too.

One piece of pie:  Sammy came to us this morning "ready for church".  He'd gotten his own shoes and socks on... one bright white sock and one Toy Story Bullseye sock with his nice black pants and black Sunday shoes.  I didn't even cringe.  He did it himself and I was proud of that.  Let him wear it to church!  He did it himself.  Great Job Sam!

Another piece:  Today we got to go to our nephew, Taylor's, baby blessing.  He is the sweetest little cabbage patch guy ever.  Complete with dimple.  The blessing was so well thought out by his dad and I was so happy to be there for their family today.

Yet another:  Ada had a break through.  She has emotional break downs... for one, she's a girl... and she's 5.  I think I'm probably a little harder on her than I should be though.  My oldest and the most like me in looks and personality.  She has been volunteering to help her siblings with things and acting like the amazing older sister that she is... and.... the when I got after her the other day for fighting with me she didn't break down and make a scene.  She went upstairs to the bathroom, locked herself in, cried, and bemoaned her station in life in true 5 year old fashion.  I remember doing the same thing at her age, and I do think it's healthy to know how to cry.  I'm so proud of her for actually removing herself from the situation so that she could deal with her feelings on her own before we talked together.  (I overheard what she was saying in the bathroom though and I had to laugh. "I'm not a baby!  I know things just like an adult."  When I was 4, I told my mom, "You don't have to tell me anything, I know everything."  Sound familiar?)

And another:  Pips turned 1 this week.  I've been so happy to be able to borrow that baby from time to time.  I think it's been good for me while I am waiting for another of my own, and it helps Evelyn not be the spoiled youngest baby that I want to treat her as.  She's a fun little bugger that talks, walks and eats like a champ.  She loves Evelyn and calls her 'baby' and hyperventilates as soon as she sees that Evelyn's awake/ready to play. We got to got to the party.  The kids loved Vicki's yard and being able to play with new friends and not so new friends.  Pip's dad graduated this week too so I don't know how much I'll actually watch her in the future, but I've sure enjoyed it.  She calls me Mama cause that's what the women that take care of you are called, right?  Sam picked out a baby doll for her at the store and it was her favorite gift.  She carried it around and gave it to each of the women there to rock and love before handing it back to her.

And yet another:  My brother.  What can I say about Seth?  Wonderful, patient, loving, lovable Seth.  He had his birthday and I can definitely say that I've enjoyed all of his 30 years with him.  He's been my friend through every stage of life no matter what I looked like, what I was studying, who I was friends with... My kids LOVE their Uncle Seth and beat him to death every time they see him.  Evelyn drops everything to run and hug him big. She tries to make him laugh and he is the only person besides mom and dad that she'll cry over leaving the house.  Love you bud.

And just one last one:  We started our new round of fencing lessons.  It's interested teaching kids fencing.  They love the idea of it, struggle with the discipline of it, and thoroughly love hitting each other with swords. I LOVE having Ada and Sam in my class.  Ada has decided that she is the class clown though and goofs off more than I'd like, but she still says she likes coming so we'll work on the whole listening thing as we go.  We didn't get to visit Jer's sister in Wyoming this last week because of fencing starting, but I'm glad that we'll get in another set before the crazy family reunions/camping trips/swimming lessons/craziness of summer happens.