A Child's Prayer

Tonight we are doing better as far as the usual mayheim goes... so I will attempt a new post.



First, a pic of K-dude napping like a little squirell.
We enjoyed last weekend at Grandma and Grandpa's house. While Kwint was at the cabin for LARP, the boys and I hung out with Grandpa and Grandma and had a lot of fun. Kaeleb adores them with all of his heart, and of course I do too. He follows them all over the house, begging Grandma to read to him and Grandpa to play the pirate boat game, and of course, talking nonstop.



We did not so much enjoy the drive up or back.... screaming baby with reflux..... it took a couple extra hours both directions. We shall never forget our visit to the Flying J in Payson at 10 pm trying to soothe Brennan and regain our composure. Kaeleb was the only one who handled the trip well. He tried singing the ABC's very softly to help his brother stop crying. (Noble effort- didn't work.)



Kaeleb has been saying really elaborate and beautiful prayers lately. Today I lost my American Express card and said a prayer that God would help me remember where I put it. I had a thought to look in a certain place and found it. Kaeleb said "Mom, you should tell Heavenly Father thank you. I'll say a prayer for you. Heavenly Father, Thank you for this day, thank you for finding Mama's merkan express card, please help us build a kayak- a real one, not a paper one- and have a lot of fun on the river in it. Bless Papa, Nana, Aunt Melissa, Mary Lynne's baby, and our Spirit. Name-a-Jesus Chwist A-Men!" Ah, the faith of a child... Anybody know how to build a kayak? I don't want to disappoint him. He made me call my mom and ask her how to build one because he was sure she would know how. I told him we don't have enough plastic. He said "We do! And we need 3 holes in it, not one, so Nathan and Mary Lynne can fit in it with me." He thinks that's what we are going to do this weekend with our friends. Get ready, guys.

Brennan has been attacking his toys with vigor and enthusiasm. He is quite a riot. Here's a couple examples. (Yes, Kaeleb is wearing a dinosaur costume in the 1st one- it was a battle not worth picking.)

sidekicks

I have precious little time to update tonight- the kids are super needy right now. I needed to add a "post script" to last week's entry. I said I thought Kegagegah was Kaeleb's sidekick. He informed me this week that they are both superheroes and Brennan and I are the sidekicks.

Happy Valentine's Day

Parenting is exhausting.... does everyone agree? I hope we are not the only ones who are so bleary-eyed and confused that they have hallucinations of alien bugs.

One night this week, I was so very tired that when Kwint tucked me into bed and said our nightly prayer, I fell immediately asleep and began dreaming that I was at the Jamba Juice in Layton. I was so very much enjoying my strawberry smoothie when Kwint said "Gina... Gina... say 'Amen'!" I couldn't figure out what he was talking about.

Around 2 am I awoke to Brennan crying. (He still doesn't sleep throught the night every night, only 3 or 4 times a week.) Usually I try to coax him back to sleep without feeding him, but it doesn't ever work. We have a conversation every time that goes something like this: (I will translate the crying to English, because I know this is what it means.)

Mama: "Why are you awake?" Bren:"I'm hungry Mom."

M: "You can't be hungry." B:"But I am."

M: "You're huge- you don't need to eat." B:"But I'm hungry Mom!"

M: "You're 17 and 1/2 pounds- live off the fat in your cankles!" B: "FEED ME NOW!!!!"

"Fine."

I always change his diaper before feeding him because he falls asleep eating and I don't want to wake him up, because then I will have to bounce him around for another 30 mintues while he fights sleep.

This particular night, as I said, I was deliriously tired. I set him on the floor and proceeded to change him, and as I did, I felt a fluttering on my pant leg. It felt like a spider had crawled up my pants. (What happened next occured in about 2 seconds, but it was all slow motion to me.) I slapped my leg and there appeared a 3 inch in diameter wet spot. Having had a full night's sleep you will all figure out that he peed on me, of course. But at 2 am, being exhausted and in the dark, I thought to myself "What the heck kind of bug would leave a bug splat that big? It must be one of those massive alien bugs from Stargate SG-1!" It was then that I screamed.

I don't scream like most girls, I yell, like Bart Simpson, as my brothers used to tell me. I jumped backwards, flinging my slippers in opposite directions across the room and ripped my pants off, panting in fear, searching for the alien bug. Poor Brennan was scared and crying, utterly confused by my behavior. Kwint came running in, yelling "What happened, what's going on?"

That's when I realized what really happened and I felt like the biggest idiot on the planet.

Anyway... Kaeleb's week was marred by a massive canker sore which caused him to go on a hunger strike. Even at Mikell's birthday party he only ate half a cupcake. He described to me in great detail his imaginary friend, Kegagegah. He has a square body and a round head with green hair. He can do everything Kaeleb can do, and has all the same weapons. I think Kegagegah is the sidekick.

Brennan is now reaching for Mama and Dada, and rolling across the floor to grab anything he wants. He is the happiest little guy- he smiles constantly and is such a joy.

Kwint and I enjoyed our Valentine's day. We did go out, but we also recognized that love is something that should be celebrated every day, and we have reflected on the simple joys of true love. Instead of chocolate and flowers, he bought me an exercise bike. Ah, a man who knows the way to my heart...

C'mon, Mom. It's HUMONGOUS!

We love our boys. I have been thinking a lot about them and their unique qualities, and all the fun we've had watching them grow. I know it's not right to compare our kids, but just this once, I can't help myself- can you tell they are brothers?

Kaeleb age 5 1/2 mo.

Brennan 4 3/4 mo.

Kaeleb 6 mo.

Brennan 4 3/4 mo.

Sometimes I see so much Kaeleb in Bren, but they definitley have their own looks and personalities, too. They have a different head shape and skin tone.

We are in the process of teaching Kaeleb to be a little more independent. He definitely wants to be independent in the choices he makes and can be strong willed, but when it comes to dressing himself, he gets lazy and wants Mama to do it for him. Going potty has been a challenge since the baby was born, because although he has been potty trained for a year, he thinks he can't pull his pants up by himself. He says "I can't get my underpants over the humps of my bum."

We were discussing the matter on Tuesday. I said, "You know Kaeleb, they won't let you go to preschool if you can't go potty all on your own." He said, "Well, I'll just pee my pants then." Getting frustrated, I said, "Then they'll send you home and I will put a diaper on you because you will be a baby, not a big boy." To which he replied, "No you won't, I'm too big for diapers." I said "I have diapers that will fit you just fine." His response-"No, you don't. Look at my butt Mom. It's HUGE." I cracked up laughing and said, "Actually, your bum is quite tiny and very cute." He grabbed his little buttcheek, gave it a squeeze, and said, "Oh, C'mon Mom! It's HUMONGOUS!"

Brennan is funny these days. He has been grabbing things and swinging them around wildly with a look of utter concentration. He's also grabbing onto things and pulling himself toward them. (Like the poles on his floorpad or furniture.) Last night we watched him roll toward and try desperately to grab Kaeleb's sippy cup for about 10 minutes. Bren is packing on the poundage. He weighed in at 17 1/2 pounds this week at the doctor's. I almost fell over. 2 weeks ago he was 16 pds 2 oz. Apparently rice cereal isn't a diet food. His current obsession is rolling around with his legs straight up in the air.

Kwint went snowboarding yesterday with his friend Steve. He had so much fun and came back so happy. They did several runs and then played for along time in the terrain park. (Steve is Kaeleb's buddy Karter's dad, and my friend Shannon's husband.) He put sunblock on his face but not his neck. I found the result quite amusing.

It's finally warming up down here. While the guys were boarding, Shannon and I took the kids to the park, where they very much enjoyed themselves, with only one minor incident when Kaeleb "sprayed" Karter with some imaginary poison of sorts, which resulted in Karter "squashing" Kaeleb's head and "talking like he was mad." Boys are so awesome though, because stuff like that doesn't phase their friendship. They also played at Mikell's house. I have missed playing with my friends while the kids have been sick all winter.

We hope it was a nice week for all of you. I am loving seeing all of your blogs, this is really a nice way to stay in touch.

Tag

Hey Everyone,
I've been tagged twice, so I better get going on it.

The first tag I got is all about my husband...which he may not love to read, because he doesn't adore center of attention as much as his wife does...sorry Babe.

What's his name? Kwinten Michael Kemp

How long have you been together? 8 years including engagement

How long did you date? Uh..... once? (long distance phone love.)
How old is he? 30

Who eats more? Kwint eats twice as much as I do, except when I'm pregnant when I eat nearly as much as he does. He is extremely active and needs lots of fuel.

Who said I love you first? Kwint

Who is smarter? He is, but I have a better memory.

Who does laundry? Me

Who does the dishes? Me... because I want him to have time with the boys and I need a break from them.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Kwint

Who pays the bills? I do.

Who mows the lawn? What lawn?

Who cooks dinner? Me.

Who drives when you are together? Kwint

Who is more stubborn? Depends on the issue.

Who kissed who first? Isn't that something you both do at the same time?

Who asked out who first? Uh... Had we dated it would have been Kwint.

Who proposed? Kwint

Who has more siblings? Same-3

Who wears the pants in the family? We both wear pants. :)

For this one I tag:
Melissa
Rachel
Traci
Staci

Next tag:
10 years ago I was:
Living in an apartment in Auburn, working as a title clerk, taking classes at GRCC and trying to decide if I wanted to go on a mission.

5 things on my 'to do' list today:
1. Go to the bank
2. Buy distilled water for the humidifier
3. laundry
4. read books to the kids and get bad guys with swords
5. Prep my yoga routine for my class tomorrow.

Things I would do if I became a billionaire:
1. Pay off student loans, mortgage, and the Dodge
2. Invest and make more money
3. Send poor kids on missions, to college, and sponsor families in other countries who can't get to the temple

3 of my bad habits:
1. Chronic de-junker... I throw things away and get in trouble later
2. I leave a ball of hair on the shower wall every morning
3. I can't think of another one that I want to admit to. I am leaving out the really bad ones which are far too embarrassing to tell.

5 places I've lived:
1. St. George UT
2. Layton UT
3. New Jersey
4. Pacific WA
5. Weiser ID

5 jobs I've had:
1. MOM
2. Office manager in a dental clinic
3. Receptionist in a doctor's office
4. Title clerk at Puget Sound Auto Auction
5. Latte maker (Funny, right? Never had one.) and waitress at a cafe.

Something most people don't know about me:
My mom had to give me mouth-to-mouth once when I was 2. I still remember the night in the hospital.

I tag:
Hmmm, DeAnne, Andrea, and Kelli (I can't think of too many, I'm new at this.)

Highlights

Dear Family and Friends,
We hope you have had a happy week! Here are soem highlights from ours....

Besides being excited about the progress he is making at TurningLeaf with his clients and programs, Kwint is thrilled to be finding success in the Capoiera arena. He got a new DVD which has refined his technique. AH, the exuberation of flipping, flopping, spinning, and jumping.

All of Gina's hours of intense yoga paid off last night when I became the undefeated champion of "Twister" at the Robinsons. Woo Hoo! I haven't spent that much time upside down in....maybe forever. Since I get booed off the stage in Guitar Hero all the time, it helps to have something I can win.

Kaeleb started a sort of "Joy-school" this week. His 2 best buds and their moms and I are going to take turns doing school. We went to Mikell's house and played Candyland, a jumping game, the ABC's and more. Mikell's mom, Andrea, who is awesome, gave him a "ticket" for being so good. He carried it all over the house for 3 days and had to know where it was at all times. I think it is now lost. We also spent a lot of time this week playing soccer and baseball in the living room, as it is still unusually cold for St. George.


Brennan had a big week. He is rolling front to back and now back to front. He also started rice cereal. The doctor said he was big enough to go for solids, and he is definetley ready. He is a very eager eater....he reminds me of a certain Tyler Jacobs 3 years ago...gaping maw, open wide, ever ready for more as soon as the spoon leaves his mouth. He especially likes to put his hands in his mouth as soon as the food is there, coat his hands with cereal and then suck it off, exclaiming "Mmmmm, Mmmmmm, Mmmmmm!" as he sucks. Next week I think we will try pears.

We hope you were all able to watch President Hinckley's funeral. It was a very touching experience for us. We grew to love him so much, as did all of you, I am sure. It was amazing to reflect on all the things he accomplished during his presidency, and how much the church has grown in many ways. We cried our eyes out at the end, watching the video. None of us will ever be the same again because of President Hinckley. We are all "a little better" and a "little taller". His optimism is what stands out the most to me. I have a little picture of him with a quote that I have carried around with me for 10 years (since the mission- whoa-has it really been that long?) which reads, "Be believing. Be happy. Don't get discouraged. Things will work out." He has uplifted me so many times.

We love you all and if I can get these videos to upload, I hope you enjoy them.

"Dar"

Ah, what a week. Not too unusual, but exhausting nonetheless. Thanks to everyone for your comments! It was so fun to hear from all of you. I hope I can figure out how to do everything. So, I got tagged, but I don't know what that means. I'll get back to you on that.

This week Kaeleb informed us that milk comes from cow boo-boos, because mommies make milk when they have babies and cows have babies. He made the connection all on his own with no prior discussion. He told grandpa that his toy helicopter works because of the "equipment" inside it. He has also been jumping in Brennan's crib at naptime saying "Look Mom! He likes me! I'm making him feel better!"

Brennan has been rolling over, doing reverse crunches (lifting his legs straight up while laying on his back), and practicing words. Last night he said "Dar". We know it means something. I took him in for his 4 month check up on Thursday. The doctor said, "So, tell me what you are feeding this TANK."

Kwint worked really hard all week. He still doesn't have a doorknob on his office door. We went to Layton over the weekend for a LARP event. Kwint rather enjoyed himself at the cabin. All I know is that a sword exploded and when firecasters grabbed the hilt they sensed where they could find the shards which awarded them treasures. They are so creative and it is fun to hear their stories.

Gina has little to tell about the week. Laundry, dishes, diapers.... During voice lessons I realized that Kaeleb has memorized Jaiden's song. He sang every word rather loudly. She was laughing so hard she had to stop singing. My favorite memory of the week is while I was feeding Brennan he reached up and pulled my cheek over to rest on his head. I thought it was involuntary at first, but when I lifted my head he brought it back. Oh, so sweet. I also loved being with DeAnne and her boys on Friday night, and Kwint's parents all weekend.

Love to my family... we are missing our Dad, and thankful for all our memories, glad Mom is such a faithful lady, happy for Alan to be so happy, happy for Angie (the reason Alan is so happy), glad Melissa is recovering, glad Landon is 2 (love the trucks), amazed that Cera is 4 pounds lighter than Bren (one month older), sad we missed out on Guitar Hero with the Robinsons this weekend (Rock On!), had so much fun with Kris and Barbi's fam (glowsticks always make a party), and thankful for the time spent with our Ma and Pa up North. Thanks for the pie!!