Childhood Milestones

Kaitlin stayed home sick today and made one of the milestones of childhood. She learned to snap her fingers. This has been the year for whistling, snapping fingers and tying shoes. Wow! It is fun to see. She walked around or sat trying to do this all day. I wonder what made her decide to just try it today.

She really was sick earlier until I gave her medicine. She was lying around and wanting to be held. If you know Kaitlin, this isn't her. She usually can't hold still long enough for a hug, hardly. Children are amazing, though, one dose of cold medicine and POW!, she's all over the place.

Kids say the cutest things

Today I was at a friends house and Carmen came up and said, "I hurt my back." I said, "Oh, no." She said, "Can you kiss it better." I said yes and picked her up and kissed her back about three times. She said, "It better now, thank you, mommy." SOOOO cute. Then she ran off to play. Beckie said she was so adorable and it kept getting cuter by the minute.

One time a my sister Pix told me that her daughter used to call fingers, "thingers". She never worried because this was the only word she used differently. Then one day she was reading and said, "Mom, do you know they spell thingers - fingers?" Pix said, "Isn't that interesting?" and never corrected her. I think that's funny. Kaitlin had a similar experience because she called towels -- tabbels for a long time. I thought it was cute. One day she was reading (she reads well for a Kindergartener) and read the word towels twice, the second time very slowly. She has been saying it correctly ever since. Mom (me) is actually somewhat sad about that. It means she is growing up. Oh, well.

Full weekend

We had a wonderfully full weekend. We had Archie's sister Alix and our neighbors (Kelly and Sam and their children, Jacob, Logan-friend of Kaitlin- and Aiden) over for dinner and games on Saturday night. Also, on Sunday evening we watched Beckie's youngest three while she went to a Young Women's Fireside (church function for 12 year olds) with her oldest. Archie had fun making a video of "magic" with them while they were gone. They all had fun, I believe. I also talked to my sister Pixie on the phone and my parents. Like I said, FULL weekend.

Musings

Well, today I started this blog and now I keep thinking about what I left out. I said I was spiritual but I am also a scientist at heart. One other thing...I collect pens, especially nice ones. Maybe I'll take a picture of my most interesting ones, like the one with a llama on it made from leather and from Peru. Most of them are just ones that I like the feel of them when I write with them. That was my biggest reason not to start this blog. I wanted to continue writing in my journal with my pens.

Now, more about my family. Archie is smart and reasonable (in a spat) and a constant gatherer of information. He reads constantly, mostly about society, politics, science, etc., etc., etc. You get the picture--about everything.

Kaitlin is miss expression. She is a prolific artist and very social. She says she is shy when she meets new people. Ha! That's a good one. She is constantly creating--writing stories, drawing, making up games, etc. Lately, she has a webkinz and it is like family. So, is her "Mimzy"--her rabbit stuffed animal she adopted after seeing the movie "The Last Mimzy." I am not sure why she identified with this movie so much. She reads very well and is a smart, beautiful little girl. I am NOT biased. Hehe.

Carmen is two. That explains a lot. She is an explorer and into everything and short tempered and cute and cuddly and sweet. All the "above". Her latest things to say are "Can you help us mommy?" (she means "me" not "us") and "okay mommy, let's do it!" in her cute little voice.

Introduction of Rayette

I am the wife of Archie and the mother of two beautiful girls, Kaitlin and Carmen. They are my life. I am a "stay-at-home-mom" - NOT a housewife because I am a great mom and wife but a terrible "HOUSEWIFE". I am not great at the whole "house" thing. I can't decorate my house well. I can't seem to keep it as uncluttered as others seem to be able to do (I am clean but have problems with papers!). I cannot "handle papers once" as I have heard a couple of friends say. I seem to handle them about three times before they are thrown out, recycled or filed. However, as strange as this may seem. I am finally okay with this. I was into outdoor things growing up and never got the hang of being at home much. I was a rock climber, horse rider, volleyball player, book reader, backpacker (the more remote the woods, the better). I loved the outdoors, whether with friends or by myself. I am deeply spiritual and found myself feeling close to God outside. I lived all over the USA growing up and loved Seattle a LOT. I loved it because it was like living outdoors and because there were so many things to do outside that were "me". I live in Nebraska now and the weather is very trying because I cannot go outside as much (too cold in the winter and too hot in the middle of summer).

I just finished going through cancer and a few years ago had to go through something much worse--my daughter having retinoblastoma (cancer of the eye) at the age of 3. This was the most trying period of my life. I was confused and angry but trying to be a good mom. I still worry about Kaitlin a lot. I am a true worrier (inherited honestly from my mom). I now feel more blessed, though, than I have been for a long time and am more at peace with myself and my life and my GOD.

The former statement is because at the beginning of this year, I thought I had cancer again (thanks to a medical professional mistake) and it was a horrible and wonderful experience. Horrible because I started thinking about how my family would be without me (if the higher intensity chemo didn't work)-having a 6 year old and a 2 year old and leaving them to my husband. It was wonderful because I had some great spiritual moments and learned a lot about Heavenly Father and Jesus and my relationship with them. If the cancer had been back so soon, it would not have been good.

Well, that's pretty much me right now. I am now trying to get my life back in order and trying to find ways to contribute to society as well as help other people now that I do not need to be the recipient of so much service myself.