Builders and Destroyers

Devin and I have mused several times about the two types of children we have.  We have a builder and two destroyers.  One is developing into one and seems to be favoring the building traits.  Builders enjoy putting blocks carefully on top of each other as high as they can and a destroyer would rather push it over.  

Here is some examples that Samantha gave us this week.  

Samantha and her friend were playing while I was making pizza and bread sticks.  The phone rang and I left the kitchen to grab the phone.  When I came back, the can of non-stick fat free (ya right) cooking spray was completely empty and all over my kitchen floor, cabinets, and stools.  This took many washing to finally come off everything.  As I slid across the floor I knew all this spray was just oil.  I think if you use enough of it on your pans when you cook-it's got to have some fat content.  I decided I'm not buying it again-well at least for a long time.  Back to the greasing the pans with shortening or oil with a paper towel.

Grandma O helped Conrad build a fort with blankets and chairs yesterday.  He was so excited to hang out in his fort.  He got all tucked in this fort and then Samantha got in for a minute and couldn't stand it anymore she jumped up and pulled down the blankets.  Conrad was beside himself and decided to make a sign that said, DO NOT DISTURB, SAMANTHA. 

This same day I organized all of the children's books in Samantha's room.  I had all the board books on one shelf and the next shelf had the older kids books on it.  I figured because Samantha couldn't reach the second shelf it was safe.  Not a couple hours later, all the books were on her ground, and in Abigail's crib.  

She also has some cute letter on her wall that spell her name and Devin and I can't count how many times we have put those back on her wall.  They are now on her bookshelf-we will wait for a while to retry it.  

Now don't get me wrong, Destroyers aren't bad or malicious.  They have a zest for fun and excitement.  They are just learning how to express it.  There are challenges to both personalities and I'm grateful we get to raise both.  

I could be wrong but I think I was a builder and maybe Devin was a destroyer as a child?  I think I better ask our moms for that info =)  

Wet Day

Today was a full full day for me in more ways then one.  Our primary presidency had this great idea from sugardoodle.net to give our teachers coupons to use during the year.  The coupon is to be used for one Sunday off of teaching so they can attend Sunday School and Relief Society.  A presidency member will teach their class for them.  It has been a huge success so far.  Today was my turn to take a class.  I got to teach CTR 6, which happens to be Conrad's class.  I prepared for the class and was all ready to go and then Sunday morning I had a call from one if the other CTR 6 class teachers (we have three in our ward).  Her and her husband were sick and couldn't come to church.  No problem I said, I'll just put your class with the one I'm teaching.  I made more handouts, no problem right?  Well, we had a great attendance today so I had 13 kids and three of the boys could have easily counted for two kids each because of their activity level.  It was a little crazy but we managed to teach the lesson, and I hope they learned something.  Half way through my lesson one of the girls got my attention and pointed to one another girl across the room and said their was water on the floor.  (The little girl she pointed to had an accident but didn't make a move.)  I quickly changed the subject and no one else noticed and we carried on.  I didn't want to embarrass the girl in front of everyone.  She obviously didn't care to much because she participated throughout the rest of the lesson and even volunteered to lead in follow the leader at the end of class.  She jumped up and down and spinned around; wet and all.  Kids are so resilient!  After class I disinfected the chair and sponged up the carpet.  

After class Devin found me and said we needed to hurry home because our baby was wet.  Not only was she wet but she leaked on to the Bishops wife who so graciously offered to hold her so Devin and I could teach our lessons.   I was so embarrassed and a bit emotional after an exhausting day at church so I bawled all the way home.   It sure was a wet day.

Good News.  My best friend had her first baby!  She just came home with him from the hospital.  She called me today and we talked for over a half an hour.  It was neat to hear her express her love for her baby and husband.  I am so grateful for friends and family whom we can share and grow from. 

This evening I got to hold my infant niece who is just over a week old.  She is darling.  I can't believe all the beautiful dark hair she has.  It's a miracle, life itself is a miracle.  It makes me reflect on my own children and how they use to be that small and close to heaven.  The spirit that those little ones carry just envelopes the room.  No one can deny the Godlike presence and beauty of these children.  I'm so grateful to be a mother.  God trusted me with these beautiful spirits and I hope I can teach them and guide them back to him someday.  

"God gave us families to help us become what he wants us to be, this is how he shares his love, For the family is of God"