Taking Pleasure in the Small Things

May was sick yesterday and had to stay home from church. I am sick today and had to stay home from my busy life.

It's been wonderful!

• I skipped an hour with Heidi the Trainer and went back to sleep for a couple hours.
• May and I lounged in bed watching David and Goliath - a Liken movie that if you don't own, it's a MUST.
• Kitty brought me water bottles all day - and an Oreo from her Lunchable.
• I sent out a text to a group of girls and everyone got back to me right away.
• May and I read a President Monson story that had us laughing out loud for a long time!
• I ordered pizza for dinner (i.e. no cooking).
• I finished a book I've been nursing forever!
• Baden is now playing in the bathtub, talking to me under water and asking me to figure out what he's saying. Earlier I got to watch him fill his mouth with water and spit a water fountain.
• Mr. Chinn just called and is on his way home.
• And as I write, the girls are dancing and singing in the family room.

That's One Way to Kill a Spider

Kitty stumbled upon a wolf spider in the house the other day. [pictures not included. you're welcome.] She was pretty freaked out and ran off to my room to wait it out, while May May kept repeating, "Don't kill him, mommy. Don't kill him." So I grabbed Kitty's mini-broom, opened the back door, put the hairy spider in position and...SWEEP!

Ooops, he hit the rather tall threshold...

Like 15 times!

I couldn't get him over the darn thing! I just kept sweeping him back about a foot from the door and then whacking him like a golf ball. And "Shmack!" Right into the door jam again. The first few times he was knocked silly. Somewhere along the way he expired.

At least we didn't have to smell Raid for the rest of the day.

I'm Expecting. My Tight Pants Told Me So.

While waiting for each of our children to be "ours" ;-) I've added a pound or two. With May May I earned 20 of them. With Baden it was 15. I think a lot of those pounds were from the actual baby, but the rest of it was Taco Bell Burrito Supremes and Baskin Robins chocolate milkshakes.

Yes, at the same meal. Yes, almost every day.

Adoption is no exception. With Kat I gained 5 pounds. During this waiting period, I ate Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream A LOT. I would wait until the kids were asleep and Bill and I were done chatting. Then it was just me, a spoon, and the carton. Good times.

And this time around?? I'm back at Baskin Robins - and the Must Have is:

Banana Royal.

1 scoop mint chocolate chip, 1 scoop chocolate chip, 1 banana, hot fudge, caramel, whipped cream. It's yummy goodness.

The only problem is that I can't get my taste buds and my stomach to coordinate. My stomach is done WAY before my mouth. It's uncomfortable.

And yet I persist.

Thus the 5 pounds I've already put on.

It's worth it. Besides, weight gain is a natural part of expecting...

xo

I Think She Likes The Pretty

Ever wonder what your 4 year old is thinking? Here's what Kitty told her teacher...

1. I think my dad is 42 years old
2. I think my mom is 6 years old (love is blind)
3. I think my mom's favorite food is noodles (she's SO right!)
4. My mom looks like my hair
5. My dad looks like a handsome boy
6. I look just like Cinderella
7. My mom is pretty because she gets dressed in a dress
8. My dad is handsome because he goes to church (she must mean his suit. i agree!)
9. I like when my family and I play sorry
10. I wish my mom and dad could paint my nails
11. I love my family very much because they look pretty

A Day in the Life of ME

Randomly chosen day: Tuesday, March 30, 2010

We had our normal morning routine until 7:30 when I sent Baden off to school on his bike. This is a first for him. He rode around the corner picked up a friend, and they biked to school together. He loved it! Me, not so much. I'm a bundle of nerves. It'd be great if the school would send up a smoke signal when he gets there. Is that asking too much??

7:50 - May caught the bus. Mr. Chinn dropped Kitty off at school and headed to work.

9:00 - At Jens to Visit Teach. Unfortunately, I brought the April Ensign. Ugh. I stayed for an hour, which is perfectly acceptable because she's a bestie and it was just the two of us anyway. Then the RS Presidency showed up for their monthly meeting, and I stayed a few minutes to chat with them.

[Forgot to take picture with Jen & Co. Grrr.]

10:30 - Went grocery shopping and happened to run into a couple friends. I snapped this picture of Jennifer who looks good with no make up, work out clothes, and a pony tail. (She was Miss Utah; she can't help it)

12:00 - Lunch Time. Thai chicken with noodles and bell peppers.
12:30 - Unpacked my shipment from mini Boden. Super cute clothes, it was a thrill!! Tried to track down Baden's pinewood derby car, and finally got the badges onto his blasted scout shirt.
2:00 - Picked up Kat from school.

3:00 - Walked down our street, around the corner, and down that street till I ran into Baden on his bike. Ahhhh, big sigh of relief. Saw my friend, Kristy, who was doing the same thing because she knew I was terrified. We chatted and our boys decided to play over at our house.
4:00 - May May brought a friend home as well.
So poor Kitty was the only one to actually do chores. She had to put all the TP away in the bathrooms.5:00 - Off to scouts. Baden is here showing off his fine badges.
5:30 - Kitty asked if she could have a snack. I found her aproned and making her own sandwich (double fiber bread, mustard, ranch dressing, turkey, cheese).

6:00 - Back at scouts...

6:30 - Dinner. No pictures cuz it's leftovers (!).

7:30 - Finally some homework...
8:00 - Nite Nite, Kitty.

9:00 - Baden's Bedtime story. Chapter 18.

9:45 - May's reading. I'm blogging. Mr. Chinn is still working...

There's a Method to my Madness

The Chinn's had a sloooow start this morning. Which led to Baden missing the bus. Which led to me helping him get comfy on the couch and go back to sleep for a few minutes. And then a few more minutes.

Until he was late for school.

He was exceptionally tired this morning, and I just couldn't help letting him rest. And he's awfully cute when he's sleeping.

You should have seen Mr. Chinn though. His face read, "my wife is nuts." In his world, one is not late to school. School is sacred.

Mr. Chinn has an interesting motto: "If your head hurts at school, it's gonna hurt at home too, so you might as well be at school."

In my world, a morning power nap for my child [with untreated sleep apnea] makes perfect sense. Growing up, my mom-the-hippie (we had beads hanging in the doorway, no lie) would have let me sleep for hours and skip school. One time when I was in 4th grade my brother was staying home from school, for a very good reason I'm sure, so my mom let me stay home as well. This might, however, explain why grown-up Amy can't help May May with her 5th grade math. But I digress.

I'm pretty hung up on a lot of things, so I'm grateful for the part of me that is a free spirit. I don't care that Kat still sucks her thumb. If she wanted a pacifier I'd give it to her! I'm not concerned with my kids giving up their sippy cup or their special blanket. It doesn't bother me if your 3 year old wears a diaper and drinks from a bottle. I just can't get worked up over those kind of things.

I need and appreciate the balance Mr. Chinn brings to my life. I hope I help him fly. And I thank him for his tether.

xoxo

Gaining Insight

A few weeks ago I was out to lunch with a couple friends, Rebecca and Jen. Rebecca told us that she had asked her children an important question. I couldn't wait to ask my littles the same and hear what they would say. I want to keep their answers to myself, but I'll share the question:

"What is one thing I do, that tells you or makes you feel like I love you?"

Their responses were unique to each child and hearing what they had to say was special. I absolutely recommend asking your littles the same question. You'll loooove hearing their answers and feel empowered knowing how (at any given moment) to inject a little love into each of their hearts.

On the flip side of love here's a different question: May May and I were driving in the Nav when she said, "I'm so grateful that you're my mom. Ya wanna know why? Cuz [so-and-so's] mom FREAKED OUT when she got an 80 on her math test! I mean you would never get mad at me over an 80."

"Huh. So what kind of things do I get mad at??"

(Bracing myself for the answer...)

"Talking to you when you're 'done,' and not cleaning up right." ["Done" means that I've signed off for the night and it's way after the kids bedtime. I want to defend myself here, but I'll let it go.]

Later I asked Baden the same question. His answer: "When we talk back to you and when we're not looking at you and you think we're not listening, but we are."

And here's Kitty's answer: "When I tell a lie. And when I kiss Powers."

Time for reflection: Sounds like I'm staying on message with Baden and Kitty (The Kissing Bandit), but ouch, no likey May May's answers. I've got some work to do....

Thursday Three

1. In Sharing Time (think Sunday School) on Sunday I taught the kids about resurrection. At home the rest of the afternoon Kat kept throwing herself down and then springing back up saying, "I'm dead - I'm ALIIIIVVE!! I'm dead - I'm ALIIIVVE!! I'm dead - I'm ALIIIVVE!!!"

2. In February Kat went on a date with Daddy to the Father/Daughter dance.
3. I found these towels on my bathroom floor all folded and stacked up. I asked Kat why they were there. She said because she couldn't reach to put them back (in the cabinet). So I followed up with, "why were they OUT of the cabinet?? (young lady!)"

"Cuz I wuz playin' hopscotch."

Heart Melting...

Celebrations

Bill Chinn Graduates - Again!May 16th was a great day for the Chinn's. Granny and Grandpa were visiting - always a treat!
Bill graduated from SMU with an Executive MBA

He also won the EMBA Program's Leadership Award!

AND, his Business Plan won first place in the program's Entrepreneurial Project. There were 60 Business Plans proposed. #1, that's my husband!

He set a great example to our children about the importance of education. Thank you, Sweetie.

It was ALSO Kitty's Birthday! She turned 4 and was thrilled to sit in the number 4 seat at the graduation ceremony.

Hello Kitty Jammies, Lippies, and Presents...

Big Brother Buggin'

But he's SO cute!

Chinn Family Funnies

Me: "Why did you throw your chocolate milk on the floor?"
Kitty: "Cuz I wuz done with it."

Me: "I'm sorry sweetie, but John and Kate [Plus 8] are getting a divorce."
May: "They are?!! Who will get the dogs?!!"

Overheard

"I like their lippies." -Kat watching the Golden Globes

"I heard that movie was inappropriate." -May
"Yeah, I want to see it!" -Baden

Foreshadowing Our Future

Feel free to giggle...

Wordless Wednesday

Election Day

My Country, 'Tis of Thee

My country,' tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims' pride,
From every mountainside let freedom ring!

My native country, thee,
Land of the noble free, thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture thrills, like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees sweet freedom's song;
Let mortal tongues awake;
Let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong.

Our fathers' God, to thee,
Author of liberty, to thee we sing;
Long may our land be bright
With freedom's holy light;
Protect us by thy might, great God, our King.

*My initial thoughts on President Elect Obama - Congratulations to him and his supporters. As an American Patriot I hope that he is a successful President. I'm ecstatic that an African American has been elected by the popular vote. What an historic time in American History! I love my country and am, as always, proud to be an American. Wow, an African American First Family. What an amazing country we call Home!

Good Mom Points

"I want to see Hello Kitty animals." -Kat on her way to the zoo.

I always feel like a Good Mom when I take my kids to the zoo. This time I kept Kat home from preschool and we took our own field trip. I think that gives me extra points. I brought a lunch too (more points cuz she's #3 and I don't have a brain anymore). However, it wasn't the healthiest lunch (Lunchable), so minus points. I did buy her the Popsicle of her choice even though it would be messy - and this mommy gets extra points for that cuz I have "Messy OCD." No sunhat, minus. No sunscreen, double minus.

If I go on, I'm not sure I will come out ahead.

I'll just remember the wonderful day we had with nice friends. And the beautiful feeling I get when I spend time with the precious little girl the Lord has blessed me with.

*If you would like to earn points of your own (bragging rights, really) you can answer this animal question: Why are flamingos pink?? In a couple days, check back in "comments" to see if you can brag or not.

My Crazy Life

Why do people look forward to the end of Summer Vacation?? For three months we traveled, slept in, and hung around the pool. It was bliss. Why would I want that to stop?? Now though, I've just returned from my 9th school related meeting. (!) I've made umpteen trips to Target, signed any number of permission slips/logs/sign-up sheets, printed 4 different photographs to send to school - including 2 in brand new frames from Bed Bath and Beyond that I had to buy yesterday. I can't wait to go through Monday folders and see what's in store for me next week! And then, of course, there are after school activities, homework, and the never ending plea, "I'm the only one in class who - fill in the blank." I could go on, but why, why the second torture??

So with my To Do List growing faster than I can cross things off (and I'm one of those Love-To-Cross-It-Off people!) it's crucial that I find the humor in things. So I thought I'd share some Chinn Funnies and hope you'll share some of yours too. Here goes:

• I was wearing socks around the house the other day and Kat said she wanted some too. So she put on the most frilly socks she could find. Within the first 30 minutes she slipped and fell on the hardwood floor twice hurting her bum. She was frustrated after the second time, so I explained that her socks were slippery and then I put on a pair with the no skid stuff on the bottom. A little while later I went to throw something away and I saw her frilly socks in the trash. I totally thought it was funny that she threw them away!
• The kids ate toaster waffles for breakfast one morning. We always eat at the table. Well, May and Baden were done and packing up to catch the bus when I see Kat (who loves to walk them to the bus stop) standing by the backdoor holding her plate of waffles in one hand and fork lifting for a bite in the other. Me: "Kat darling, we eat at the table. What are you thinking?" (Rhetorical Question.) Kat, with big innocent eyes and sweet girly voice, "I thinking I eat it at the bus." She got me with the "I thinking," and if she's going to be that cute then she can do whatever she wants!
• May: "Will you babysit Bitty Baby for me?" Baden: "Can she watch tv?"
• Kat is the queen of "why???????" So I thought I'd mess with her when she said, "I made a big mess." Naturally I responded, "Why?" She came back with, "Never mind, Mom. K? Never mind."
• I was reading in my room one evening when Baden walked in and said, "Yeah Mom?" I just looked at him. "Mom, did you want me?" "No Sweetie. I didn't call you." He sighed and walked out. From the other room I heard, "MAAAAYY!" And then the sound of hysterical laughter coming from my oldest. I laughed, too.
• May was having trouble falling asleep the other night, so Bill suggested she do something boring like count sheep. She said that it's not boring when she counts sheep because her sheep wear silly hats and different clothes. (Huh. Who does that??)
• While I read the scriptures to the kids this morning Baden was lying down with a blanket pulled over his head. I was reading a story about a group of people that were able to choose their own judges and how they rejoiced because of the liberty they had been granted. To make sure Baden was awake I asked him what example he could give me of voting in our lives. May of course is bursting to say the (Presidential) answer, when Baden throws the blanket off and yells, "American Idol!!" May and I cracked up!
• Last one. May, Baden, and Kat have all had the same preschool teacher, Ms. Laura. When I picked Kat up the other day she told me that Kat couldn't wear jewelry or headbands to school anymore because they're too distracting. That made sense. I know how my little girl is. After our talk she said, "Wow Amy, you're a lot easier to talk to with your third child!" Okay.

Well, that's a bit of the silliness from my crazy life. What's going on in yours??

Luvs!

Wordless Wednesday

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice...

That's What Little Girls Are Made Of.

Happy Birthday, Emma!

It Really Happened -

The kids went back to school. Getting up was as bad as I thought it would be, but the rest of it was fine. We fell right back into our morning routine and everyone seemed happy with it. May and Baden wanted to ride the bus to school, so I didn't drive them (walk them in, say good-bye, big hugs and kisses, waves from the door...). May was concerned that I would be disappointed, but I'm handling it just fine! :-/ I got a few really great pictures while we waited for the bus, but I just noticed that our street sign was also in the pictures. So now I have one . . .



And the one of me putting Baden to work before going to school - not quite like morning chores on a farm, but at least we're trying!



Kitty was NOT happy that she didn't climb on the bus behind the kids!





Finally I got her talking about the black fingernail polish that she convinced Gabby to bring over and apply. She perked right up. The girl is a fiend for fingernail polish!