Church!!

(For those not familiar with classes and terms in The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints, here is a little note so you "get" this post! :) Our church meetings last three hours. One hour is for classes for the men and women separately. Relief Society is the class for just women and Priesthood Meeting is for the men. Sometimes, the two meet together to have a class as one. The Chapel is one big room, usually for the third hour of church when ALL the members (men, women, children...EVERYONE) come together for a meeting. On the week when Relief Society and Priesthood meet together, they sometimes meet in the Chapel because it is big enough for everyone. Sun Beams is the class for the three year olds that takes place at the same time as Relief Society and Priesthood Meeting.)

I am the Relief Society Chorister in church. I have only been in this calling for three weeks. Last week, Taiger had a rough morning so rather than going to Sun Beams, he came with me to Relief Society, where he stood quietly by my side as I led the music. Today, Relief Society was combined with Priesthood Meeting. We all met in the Chapel. Taiger insisted on coming with me to class (no fight there, I love to hold him in church! And I don't mind if he comes with me, except that he usually loves Sun Beams and I didn't want him to miss it!) Anyway, he promised to stand quietly by me while I led the one song we had today. When it was time to go up and lead, he spit out his binkie (wow!) and grabbed his hymn book. He followed me quietly to the front. As the music began, he asked me to help him find his page. I panicked, telling him I couldn't because the music was starting (panicked only because I thought a tantrum would ensue). He quietly and calmly sat down, found his page, then stood quietly beside me. With one arm he held his hymn book (like me, but I was amazed he could do it...the books are pretty heavy, not to mention awkward to hold one-handed) and with his free hand he led the music!!!!! I was amazed! No tantrum! No hanging on me! Not to mention, I am sure he was planning all this and that is why he really wanted to come with me to my class.

Of course, everyone just thought he was so cute up there, all the old ladies were ga gaing over him. After church one woman told me how precious it was to see him standing by Mommy leading the music so nicely.

Okay, so we were sitting towards the front of the Chapel for this class because I didn't want to walk clear from the back when it came time to lead the music (more time to fall, or something!). During class, Taiger wanted to go out and get a drink. He has never done this alone at church, and I was worried he would get lost. But I didn't want to get up and walk out, since we were in the front. I sent him alone with much trepidation, but he did fine and came right back! He asked to go out again, and since he had done so well the first time, and had even been reverent, I said he could. He walked away and about four seconds later (long enough he was not near me) he began whistling as he walked. YES. WHISTLING. It echoed through the chapel, and I could do nothing but sit there, hide my face and laugh silently. I noticed the Bishop, sitting in front, was doing the same...hiding his smile and laughing. It was slightly embarrassing, really, but also something that a Mom must take in stride. He had his little hands folded and was thinking he was just being so good and reverent, totally oblivious to his surroundings. Although I hope that NEVER happens again, it was such an oh-so-cute moment! One of those sweet stories I am sure I will remember forever.

Cute Taiger

Taiger's latest in cuteness:
"Mommy, I can believe I love you."

"Mommy, I like yours kisses. Kisses are warm." (Followed by him leaning clear up and planting a good one on me!)

Another big word tumbled from his lips tonight:
"Mommy, I want to go to Disneyland and ride on those rides, like Peter Pan. I like those characters."
"Characters?"
"Yes, like Peter Pan and Captain Hook..."
Who taught him that word...Characters...?!

PROTECT YOUR COMPUTER WITH AVAST!!!! Or Something else you KNOW is good

My computer got SEVEN viruses and had rogue spyware!!!!! I had someone watching my email for a while there. Freaked me way out! Anyway, I just wanted to post it here because if you get a strange looking email that has my address, DO NOT OPEN IT!!!!!! These hackers could send a virus to everyone on my email list from MY email! I am so so so so so sorry if anyone has gotten a virus from me. The guy who fixed my computer for me put the free program, "Avast!" on and it is WONDERFUL! (BTW, he isn't just "some" guy...he works for my Dad and his company protecting their computers from the most dangerous hackers...). So, PLEASE download AVAST if you don't have spyware/virus protection. I had purchased protection software from Best Buy...lot of good it did me! This one is FREE and is really good. If you don't have a program, just download this one for free. Protect your computer! It's not worth the heartache of having viruses and spies on your computer. Avast checks websites AS THEY LOAD so if they are not safe, it will stop it from even loading. Cool, huh?!

Okay, that is enough of my ranting and preaching. :D

Did you know Taiger is THREE??

Tonight, I was getting Taiger down for bed. We were sitting on his bed talking and we started playing a rhyming game. He would say a word and then I would say a word that rhymed with it, and then he would, and so on. Then, I would come up with the first word. We went back and forth. Taiger LOVES rhyming!!!! Well, I was saying single syllable words to rhyme, like "hat" (sat, mat, cat...), "no", "see", etc. After a couple of rounds, I sensed something was boring him. I never imagined it was the "short" words until it was his turn to say the first word and he said, "Emergancy Turn"!!

A FUNNY story and China plans!!

Today, Taiger was throwing his toys...one of his habits I have tried so hard to break!! Anyway, I told him not to throw them and so did NaiNai, so when he tossed one again I had him stand in time out. OH, does he ever HATE time out!!!!!!! He wailed and was so upset! I didn't make him stand there the usual three mins...maybe 30 seconds (AM I A BAD MOM!?!?!?!?!) When I told him he could come out of time out and give hugs, he came and threw himself in my arms and said, "That's NOT a great idea!"

Taiger LOVES "small" spaces. He loves to bury his face in my neck to sleep, or hide under a blanket, etc. Today, he was SO tired and we went and lay down on the bed to take a nap. He made me cover his entire body under TWO blankets!! When I could tell he had fallen asleep I peeked under and he was curled up so cute with his hands in a little ball by his face. He is so snuggly and cute! Taiger loves to cuddle and snuggle. He is so sweet.

Taiger and I are sick AGAIN! I can't believe it! Jeremy is sick, too. Ryan is FINALLY starting to act better. We got sick and once we started to feel better Ryan caught it. Now that he is just starting to feel better he passed it back to us!!!!!

Taiger and I have decided to go to China. We will leave this summer. I can't wait! Taiger is SOOOO excited, too!!!!!!

I am going to spend a lot of time reaching out to the homeless and orphaned this time. I always wanted to go help, but didn't know what I would do to help! Katie inspired me, totally!!!!!! (If you don't know Katie's story, PLEASE read her blog kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com. Start at the first and read all of her entries if you really want a good read. You will feel so inspired and uplifted!!!!!) I want to set up some kind of food aid program, somewhat like hers. She sponsors kids for school and provides those kids with food. I want to first feed them, and then see about school. I am not sure if attending school is an option for many of the children, but we will see. God has a plan for Taiger and me. We will serve as He wishes and follow His guidance to know how to help. I THINK I will have a certain time each day when those who need it can come to my home and have a meal and sit in my house and get warm. I want to have a kind of "Dinner and Rice Bag" program, where they can come and eat dinner and get warm with a rice bag (those are those fabric sacks sewn with rice in them. You microwave them and they heat up). I don't want to send the rice bags with them for fear they may be stolen for the rice inside. So, they can come and eat and get warm. I have a feeling I will not be able to take back the rice bag and kick everyone out, so I am sure I will have many visitors sleeping in my home! I wouldn't have it any other way, really. :D I was thinking of doing a family food sponsorship program, too. Some families have shelter and maybe even work (farming, for instance) but still cannot make ends meet so they beg on the street. I want to provide them with food. I would like to distribute food to those in the countryside who may need some extra help, especially in the winter when work is slow (especially for farmers, but also for migrant workers). I think I will try and grow a few veggies at my house to have on hand to add nutrients without adding a huge cost (I won't have tons of money). I think I will grow tomatoes, zucchini and beans. It's not a lot, but it will help feed people who truly need it.

Anyway, I will be teaching school and also taking care of Taiger, so I am just praying and having FAITH that God will give me the strength to do everything, and give me enough hours in a day to accomplish it all.

I WANT TO HAVE BLACK SKIN!!

Taiger has done a few funny things this week that I will probably end up posting about. But here is ONE.
Taiger, as he sat on his bed rubbing his hand: "My skin is so smooth!"
Mommy: "Yes, it is!"
Taiger: "Do you want black skin like mine?"

SO CUTE!

(Taiger has been told many times by many different people how smooth his skin is. The adults usually then turn to eachother and comment on the glorious texture of "black" skin. Taiger is NEVER "part" of these conversations and I never imagined he was even listening...I should know my son better than that!)

A LONG and funny story!

Taiger LOVES to cook!!!!! He really might like to be a chef when he grows up, that's how much he loves to cook. Well, he doesn't like to make things with me...NOT AT ALL! He likes, instead, to get the measuring cup, spoons, spatulas, mixing bowls, and whatever other kitchen utensils he may need. He then starts by filling the measuring cup with water from the bathroom sink. He then collects whatever "ingredients" he needs and ads them to the water (sugar, candy, candy WRAPPERS, cookies...as a side note, it is really yucky to clean up). Recently, he has realized that most of the things NaiNai bakes that are really good (cookies, brownies, etc.) include two eggs. Taiger now thinks he must add eggs to his concoctions. The first time he did this, I found him with CANDY, CHOCOLATE eggs, trying to crack those and add them to his recipe. SO CUTE! The next day, NaiNai and Bampa were tending him and told him NOT to get in to the eggs. They went to do other things in other rooms for just two seconds and when they came back he had broken two eggs into his measuring cup. He had cracked the whites and yolks into the cup and put the empty shells neatly back in the egg carton. Not a drop was spilled! Anyway, he got "in trouble" (my Grandma and Grandpa? HA! I am sure it was really brutal!) and told not to do it again without help.

Tonight, we were all watching 24 when Taiger decided to "bake". He wanted, of course, to add eggs, and I told him no, and so did NaiNai. Anyway, he left the room and I was sure I heard the hitting of an egg on the side of the plastic bowl...an unmistakable sound. A second later, we heard something fall. We thought it was a bar stool, so Jeremy ran to check on him with me close behind. He was fine, but screamed that I not look in the kitchen. Jeremy assured him I would not be mad that the bar stool fell over, but I knew there was more to it than that!! He kept holding up his hand and shouting, "Don't see! Don't see!!!!" He became upset, so worried he was that I would look around the corner into the kitchen, even though I was standing still, just watching him getting so upset. "Don't see, Mommy!" He shouted over and over. Finally adding, "Don't see the egg! Don't see the egg!" When I went to look around the corner, he shouted it again, as if he hadn't just tattled on himself and I KNEW there was an egg out. The whole thing was so funny to watch I had to hide my face and laugh before i could punish him for not minding. It was hilarious!!!! Anyway, I told him he was in trouble and he broke down like he thought I may put him in the dungeon with a crust of bread. I put him in time-out for three minuets, and he wailed like it was the end of the world. Anyone who thinks you have to spank, hit, beat or even just try and scare kids to teach them to mind should really try time-out! It is amazingly effective! He was so scared of time-out (which is standing facing a wall, with his palms against the wall. I put my hand on his back softly as I explain why he is in trouble and tell him that he needs to stand in time-out. I think it is really, really important to touch children when they are being disciplined. Anyway, then, he usually walks himself to time-out and puts his hands on the wall. I tell him to stay there for three minuets...when he was two, it was two minuets, when he was one, it was one minuet. He cannot talk to Mommy while in time out and I don't talk to him. It is a time when he is to be thinking about what he did and why he is in trouble. If he moves out of time-out, or of he takes his hands off the wall, the time starts over. When his time is up, I have him say sorry to me and anyone else involved and then we give hugs and I tell him I love him.)!

Anyway, that is my funny story...albeit very long. Just seeing him saying, "Don't see the egg! Don't see the egg!" was priceless!

I AM BACK!!!!!!

I am back in the land of the living!!!!! I feel like i have been in space for a week. I can't believe how SICK I was!!!!!!!! I am just glad it is over!!!!!! Taiger didn't stay sick for as long as I...I was SO glad he didn't go through all I did!! And thank heaven for my family who helped with him! Also, sweet Jeremy came over almost every day and took care of ALL of us (EVERYONE in the house got sick!!!!! Lucky me, I just got it for longer), going to the grocery store and getting us movies so we could lay in bed and veg rather than lay in bed and focus on how SICK we all were!! He was a HERO!

Now, poor Ryan is sick today! OH NO! I worry he caught what we all had. Bryttan is sick again as well...she never gets a break!