my husband...

At the risk of making myself seem extrememly high maintenance, I need to document how dear my husband is. Yesterday was a tired/lazy day for me. I'd like to attribute it all to the fact that I'm 35 weeks pregnant...so I will. Anyhow, the whole day was a reminder of how blessed I am. Blessed that I ever found Dave. I slept until the very last possible second, until I HAD to get up and do kids hair before school. All the while, I can hear him shushing the kids so I can have quiet. He doesn't leave the house without kisses for all and ALMOST always a family prayer. I am so thankful for that.

I needed something at the store for a church activity in the afternoon. I knew that going to the store would entail dressing myself and Molly (total battle of wills...every day), getting her to the car, getting her in and out of the store...all for 3 items. I know, half of you are rolling your eyes right now, but it sounded exhausting to me. SO, I called Dave. He works a few minutes from the store. I asked if he would be willing to meet me there, in the parking lot, and go grab the stuff I needed. He said sure. That's the thing. He never rolls his eyes at me. He never says, "Let me think about it." He never says no. I'm not a slave driver. I'm really not. But I ask him to do too much. Anyhow, yesterday, he knew I was tired, and he knew he could help.

I was at the church for Activity Days when he got home from work. I had nothing planned for dinner. If I don't have a menu typed up, dinner is interesting. I don't get to it. He had dinner mixed and going into the oven by the time I got home. He can take a look around the kitchen, find some hashbrowns, frozen ham from Christmas, bread crumbs, cheese, and put together a fantastic casserole. One that even the kids loved. I'm sure that you are SO sick of hearing me say this, but I was so tired after church. I had stood the whole time, so my lower back was really sore, I was crampy. I couldn't thank him enough for getting this wonderful dinner together, never ONCE asking why I had nothing planned. He just doesn't do that. He doesn't come home and ask where his supper is, why the laundry isn't done, why I haven't showered? There are conventional roles for men and women, but I don't think Dave cares about them.

By 8:30, the kids were headed to bed after watching Idol. They had showered, we had done hair, cleaned up the kitchen and the living room, and now we were waiting for Daddy to get home from his activity at the church. My older 3 will put themselves to bed. Easy breezy. Molly though needs her teeth brushed, potty, rocking and songs. Rocking doesn't go too well for us anymore since I have no lap. I didn't have the energy to lift that child, have a power struggle with her about going to bed. Dave walked in just before 9, changed his clothes, took Molly to the bathroom, rocked her and got her to sleep. Without getting frustrated with me that it wasn't done.

Dave is just a peaceful, selfless person. I'm sure he got a lot of that from his parents and from growing up with 12 siblings. He fell in the middle, and probably learned that arguing and fighting weren't going to get him very far. That, and he loves me. He loves his kids. I think we are what his life is about. Taking care of us. I knew when I met him that he was gentle and kind. A provider. I would watch him with our little handicapped clients and think...I need this person in my life. He was patient with them. Non-confrontational. The picture at the top of this entry says it all about Dave. He is a father...the best father. He's taking care of fiesty little Molly, he's carrying my camera bag so I can run around and snap pictures, he's wearing white with tan so we can all match. I really have been so richly blessed. I love you Davey.

good stuff...

Watermelon. A sure sign that summer is somewhere out there. We saw some yesterday at Macey's. Granted it was 29 cents/lb, but it was watermelon people. I could eat an entire melon every day in the summer. It feels so good to fill my stomach with watery fruit, rather than grilled cheese and chocolate. I definitely prefer seedless, but other than that, no special requests. Though you will NEVER see me putting salt on it like my mom who learned it from her parents. Something about making it sweeter. It's plenty sweet, thank you. :) I can actually remember a time when my grandfather, Grampy, accidentally doused his with pepper at the beachhouse in NJ. He said it was no accident and proceeded to eat the whole plate. Man, he was hilarious. You would just laugh all the time when you were around him. I miss him. Anyhow, so grateful for a bowl full of cold melon just waiting for Molly and I in the kitchen...and a husband who is always willing to cut it up for us.

My twins dressing like twins. I remember before they came, I had 2 ideas in my head...no pink, and no matchy-matchy. Honestly...what was I thinking? I love pink. I love when they match. I was VERY obsessive about the matching...for years. Only in the last 2 or 3 have I let them be individuals, picking their own clothes. A LOT of control given up by yours truly. For the past few weeks though, they have been twins almost daily. Their own idea. Honestly. I didn't say anything. When I ask them why, they just say "We wanted to be twins today." Fine by me. As they get older and change SO much, it gets harder and harder to tell they are sisters, let alone twins. I am so grateful they have (and always will) that connection. I'm a bit jealous actually. They are pals. I have requested that they be in the same class for the 3rd grade. The only reason I question my decision is because everyone else separates their twins. I can't. They don't want me to. They thrive together. Yes, they need to be individuals, but I also don't mind them functioning as a unit. Lizzy and Emily. Emily and Lizzy. It makes me happy.

Lastly...my yard. I would go take a picture for you, but I'm just not in the mood. The grass is green and lush. Dave takes great care of it. Every time I drive down the street and see our lawn, I sigh. I want to feel it on my feet. Sit on it. Eating watermelon, with my matchy-matchy twins. :)

are we there yet?

Can I please be finished with this pregnancy? Please? I still have at least 4 weeks. The doctor told me again today that I am measuring big, but after feeling all over my belly and "measuring" the baby, he says she seems to be right on and I must have extra fluid. Extra fluid next time means that he would be willing to induce me a week early. YAY for that. :)

First of all, let me express how grateful I am that I am actually able to get pregnant, to have babies. I realize there are so many who can't, or who struggle with it. I have been blessed not to have to. That being said though, here is why I am tired. I'M TIRED. Exhausted. I have not been exercising this time around. When I was first pregnant, or thought I may be, I was so, so worried about losing the baby, that I stopped running. Actually, I stopped walking. I stopped everything. I don't think that was smart. I had been doing so great with my running and being fit...for years. I think it would have helped me significantly with this pregnancy. I gasp for air when I walk up the stairs. I even get winded bending over to pick up toys. SO, I point to stuff and have my kids do it. I have a REALLY hard time not bending over to tidy up. It's what I do...all day. It hurts now.

Heartburn is killing me. I ate the most wonderful bruschetta yesterday, but with all those tomatoes, it was like pouring acid straight down my throat. No amount of Pepcid was going to help. SO...I need to limit what I eat and when I eat. Bummer.

I feel like I'm starting to swell. I had a bad day last week. A photoshoot, folding laundry, too much salt for lunch. I was at a meeting later that night at the church. Sitting on those hard folding chairs. I couldn't even cross my legs. I felt like my fingers were puffy. My lips, my nose, my toes. All of it. I was miserable. Haven't had another day like that though. Woohoo.

I can't chase Molly and she knows it. She runs from me everytime I ask her to come. She stills kisses my belly though...every chance she gets. I love it so much.

I am having some hard core contractions. Mostly at night when I'm tring to relax. I know, they're braxton hicks...practice. I don't really care what they are, I don't like them. They hurt. AND...turn away if there are any boys reading this...muscle spasms by my cervix. It feels like there is a knife in there. It really does. Yowzers. Let's hope it's doing something for me...like dialating.

At the end of every day though...pain, swelling, exhaustion aside...I thank the Lord that I am able to do this. That I get another one of these precious little people. To love, teach, cuddle, kiss. They are my life. This baby will be MY LIFE. I feel very blessed.

president?

I got an email from Alex's teacher the other day with this writing assignment attached. I loved it SO much. You'd vote for him, wouldn't you?

I want to be president for a day. Here are my reasons why. First, I have great leadership skills. I mean I have been president of the class for a whole week, so I know how to act. I also have been a team captain for a whole basketball season. Also, I have been a leader for picking up trash for six blocks! (Also, in German my name means a protector and leader of a family.)

Second, I treat people nicely. I always try to help, no matter what the danger. I always give people a second chance. I am also funny, but that’s not the point. I never ever make jokes about others.

Last, I have great qualities. For example: I’m honest, I never lie. I’m smart because I’ve been studying. Also, I’m true.

Here are the reasons that you should let me be president for a day. I have great leadership skills. I treat others nicely, and I have great qualities. I’ve done all these things, so don’t you think you should give me a chance to act as president?

lisa jane...

It's 2 in the afternoon and I am FINALLY sitting down to write my thoughts about my sister Lisa. First of all...happy BIRTHDAY!!! I love you, I love you, I love you. I've been thinking for days about what I wanted to write. How I could explain just how much I love you. We'll see if I can do it. :)

Lisa is my parents oldest...the firstborn in the wilderness, as they like to call her. She is the older sister to 7 siblings, the mom to 4 beautiful children. Obviously I don't have memories of Lisa as a kid, since it wasn't until she was 13 that I was born. I CAN remember thinking she was amazingly beautiful. Her beautiful eyes, her feathery hair, her pretty hands (my dad says she has the most beautiful hands in the world). I start having vivid memories of her once I was a pre-teen. She and her husband Tony have lived all over the place (military), sometimes so far away that we wouldn't get to see them for a long time. I did get to go with my dad to visit them in Maine. That was such a special trip. FREEZING cold, but so special. Once they moved their cute little family back to Delaware, I was in heaven. I was in love with her children, each one...David, Valerie, Christina, and Adam.

I can remember many afternoons and evenings at Fox Hall where they lived. I would babysit, hang out. I don't really know what I was doing over there all the time, but I loved it. As a teenager, I would observe my sister. My sister as a mother of 4. I would watch her do craft projects with her kids. I would watch her love them. Laugh with them. It was then, that I knew the exact type of mother I wanted to be. I wanted to be exactly like Lisa. She was present with her kids, available to them. She loved/loves them immensely. I took it all in when I was around them. All of it. I hope that I emmulate her now, even if just a little.

Oddly enough, with our age difference (she IS quite old), she is one of my very dearest friends. If I'm sad, I can call Lisa. If I need help with a primary lesson. If I am excited. If I'm bored. When we talk, we laugh. Lisa laughs a LOT. It's therapeutic for me to howl with her on the phone. We're obnoxious actually. Very silly, but I love it. She makes me happy. She has dealt with trials in her life in a beautiful, graceful way. When she gives me advice or council, I listen. She loves the Lord and she loves me, and quite often, she can say just the VERY thing that I need to hear.

Lisa and I don't argue. Well, we didn't until a few years ago. We have had a few spats since I've become more fiesty in my old age. What I treasure about our relationship though is forgiveness. She is quick to forgive me, to love me and laugh with me again.

See what I mean...laughing all the time. This is at the Hill Cumorah Pageant with her daughter Christy. Is she a knockout as a Nephite crowd member, or WHAT?

She is my beach buddy...and she loves me so much that she will let it slide that I put this smoking picture of her on here. :) I have so many memories of Lisa at the beach. Some of my sisters like to lay out, soak up rays all day. Not Lisa and not me. We need to be wet, cool, in the water. We have spent hours floating in the water together, laughing, hiding from jellyfish and seagulls, balancing our jiggly bodies on one semi-inflated raft, all while she plugs her left ear (or is it right?) to keep the water out of her busted eardrum. She is a beauty at the beach...especially the hair! I will just leave it at that.

This is Lisa with her 2 girls Val and Christy. She is going to be a grandma soon. August to be exact. Lisa. A grandma. SO wierd to me, but she will be so amazing.

I know...our hair is pretty fantastic in this last one, but I don't care. I love it anyway. Lisa, I just need you to know how much I love you. How much I crave being around you. I can remember Christmases when I was younger, just praying that you and Tony would not have to leave to get the kids home to bed. Games aren't the same without you. Funny conversations aren't the same. I think that I am partly who I am because of you. You are gentle, faithful, loyal, tender, kind. You are like sunshine to people. You make people feel important, like they are the MOST important. You make me feel that way. I love you so much. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

feeling pretty content today...

Wanna know why? First of all, the weather. It is gorgeous. 70 degrees, sunny, heaven...though a little hot without our swamp cooler on. We had a picnic on Monday night. We aren't REAL picnic people, with the basket, the pretty linens, etc. We're the kind that when the 3 year old is having a tantrum at the kitchen table because she wants to eat outside, you tote all your dinner plates out and plop them on a blanket. We had a great time though. The thing is...when we're eating outside, they don't eat. They want to play. Oh well...they were happy. We're getting a new trampoline shipped to us any day now. That makes me happy too. HOURS of fun!

I love sisters loving sisters. Emily and Lizzy (Alex too) take such good care of Molly. They play with her, pamper her, protect her. Yesterday she fell off her little bike. Emily carried her all the way in the house to me...even up the stairs. They are so good to her. It comforts me to know that they will be around when the baby comes, helping to make the transition for Molly easier. Lately they have been swinging with her. Well...twisting the swing then letting go and watching her laugh. I can't get enough of it. :)

Laughing, smiling, happy, healthy kids. What a blessing. A true blessing.

Belly kisses from my baby girl. She knows to be gentle with Mommy's tummy. She kisses it all the time. Actually, it's a tiny little kiss, followed by a tiny little hug. Every single time she does it, I want to melt and freeze time.

We'll see what the rest of the day brings, but for now (9am) I am happy and optomistic. Woohoo.

Elsie girl...

Happy Birthday to my little lovey girl! Elsie Inez Gehring is 4 years old today! She is my sister Laura's first little one. I have loved this little girl since the second I layed eyes on her...actually BEFORE that. :) I was SO excited for Laura and Gunnar to have a baby. I got to go meet her just a few weeks after she was born. It was mostly to take pictures...so my parents sent me. Hey...whatever works. It got me there. :)

Elsie resembles here daddy...a lot. Every once in awhile though, I see a flash of Laura. She is dark and beautiful with curly hair. I am SO jealous of that hair...actually the dark part too. Don't think I'll ever get one of those. We had a connection from the beginning. I liked to just hold her and rock her in those few short days I was in Washington. We didn't get to see eachother again until she was almost 1.

I think she still liked me though. Look...she's laughing at my joke!

*Scrapbook page created by Rachel.

Look at that smile! Her huge brown eyes sparkle when she smiles. :)

This may be my favorite picture of here...ever. I'm not sure why. I think it may just be because I was so freaking in love with her at the beach that year. Laura was trying to sort out what to do with her hair, her natural curls. We tried the ribbon thing and it stuck. I would just stare at her and her cute new do. She didn't like the beach much though. We have so many pictures of people trying to put her feet in the water and she is curling up like a ball, doing everything in her power to keep them from touching!

Elsie has tried her hand at dancing, the violin...she is multi-talented! I would have given anything to see a live dance recital. I've been priveledged enough to have had a few private performances though. The girl can move it.

Elsie LOVES chapstick. That is pretty much all I would send her for a 2 year span. I'm not sure how grateful Laura was, but I know Elsie loved it. She has got regular, hand-me-down from Grandpa or Aunt Amy chapstick, Princess chapstick, Nemo chapstick, even soda flavored...all in case her lips feel a bit chapped. She totes them, along with jewelry, combs, tags...in her purses. She is a BAG lady. I'm sure Laura has gotten rid of quite a few, and she still has tons. Bags full of all sorts of treasures.

Elsie loves to dress-up. I realize that most little girls DO, but Elsie is hard core. ALL day long. Gorgeous get-ups. Tutu's. Necklaces. Leotards. Jelly shoes. I love her so much. Elsie has a VERY strong personality...kindof Molly-like. :) She knows what she wants. I think it will actually serve her quite well as she gets older. She won't settle. She is happy. She is smiley. She is funny. She knows her primary songs. :) I love everything about her. Happy birthday you sweet girl!

not a lot to say...

I realize I haven't updated this thing in over a week. Even I hate going to it every day and seeing the (adorable) Molly in the bunny ears picture. SO, though I don't have much to say, I'll at least say THAT...and add a few pictures. :) Yesterday...our spring began. We had 3 inches of snow last week. On spring break. Didn't love it. This 60 degree weather though...I am in heaven. It seems as though everyone is a little happier, their step is a little lighter. Who isn't happy when they are out of the house, in the sunshine? The pictures up above are of Molly today. After a run to Walmart, we went to the park, then sidewalk-chalked the driveway. It felt SO good. I felt so happy. Can I remind you how much I love sidewalk chalk? A LOT.

We walked to church yesterday...first time in a LONG time. It felt great, but we left a little late = walked fast = crampy belly and sweating all through sacrament meeting. Oh well. After dinner we went for a stroll on the river trail. Actually, we took a few pictures first, then after about 100 yards, my stomach was killing me, so we headed home. Sorry kids. I have been having braxton hicks thingies since I was 16 weeks. Wierd. Hard, crampy, uncomfortable. I guess if that's all I have to complain about...I shouldn't complain, right? Well, that and the heartburn. Oooooo...the burn. Hopefully only about 5 weeks to go until little baby Schofield arrives. Yipee!

happy easter to you...

Have a great day tomorrow everyone...I know we will. :)

completely unrelated...

*photos courtesy of Emily and Lizzy. Not too bad, huh?

So this is me...at 32 weeks. Mostly for posterity's sake and for my friends and family who aren't around and able to enjoy this vision of plumpness. :) I really am feeling quite good, just tired. I'm finding that every other day, I have energy. I exert energy one day, by maybe emptying the dishwasher and running ONE errand, then the next day, I am too tired to get off the bed. I have solved the heartburn issue! Tums are bogus. I have to come right out and say it. They just don't do the trick. One pepcid AC before bed every night sure does though. The doctor told me yesterday that my uterus had suddenly jumped in size...meaning a large but early baby. Wonder if he is right. I'm not sure how I feel about delivering something large. :)

Found this in the girl's room this morning. I love that they are pals. That they are protective of eachother. It brings a lot of joy to a mother to see her children loving one another.

Molly is obsessed with Easter. Actually...the hunt. I got baskets and eggs out last week. We have been hiding and searching for her little plastic eggs over and over and over again. "Decorating" them too...which means filling them with candy. She'll find whatever she can around the house...runts, whoppers, apple jacks, dandelions from the front yard. I love seeing her so thrilled about something. Right now, she is at my side, jumping, and telling me it is time to look! :)

Daddy brushes HER teeth at night, she gets to brush HIS!

And lastly...my little boy. Had another learning experience yesterday. He was running late for art, had forgotten to finish his little assignment, and couldn't find it either. He knew his teacher would be mad, or at least disapointed. We turned the house upside-down looking for it. He was so worried. I was too, but told him he needed to start taking better care of his things. That this was HIS responsibilty, and his mistake. He understood. As he peddled off on his bike, I wanted to run after him. I wanted to tell him to just skip art today, to save him the shame of disappointing his teacher. But, he was still willing to go, so I was willing to let him. We kept looking after he left, and Emily found it. She and Lizzy rode it over to his lesson on their bikes and he was so grateful. Teaching them important lessons SO often entails a little bit of pain. That is so hard for me. SO hard.

Molly's thoughts...

When I get a big head

and a big bum

and big toenails...

then I'll be like a Mom,

huh?

hair...

This pretty, thick, wavy, Lizzy hair is my favorite. This picture is at least 3 years ago, but I love it. Mostly because of the hair. It has it's drawbacks though. Well...one, I guess. Tangles. HELP. We are sure to brush her hair right before she bathes, but when she comes out, it is like her head is covered in little nests. Nests of tangles that cause a LOT of tears. We try to work our way through them. She cries...and eventually I cry. Sometimes I get angry. At the hair, not her, and threaten to cut it. That isn't ususally much help, and actually leads to more tears.

On Sunday, I almost threw in the towel. We worked on that gorgeous hair for 20 minutes. She cried the whole time, but tried so hard to hide it. I thought we had it finished, but as soon as I tried to part it, we had a whole new set of nests to deal with. Here's where I need your help. What shampoo should I use? I think I need to be using conditioner, I just worry she won't be able to rinse it very well, which means I'LL have to. What kind of brush is the best? Lizzy's hair brings me joy. Is that wierd to say? It really does though. I love to stare at her when her hair is all fixed, OR wind blown for that matter, flying all around her face. It's a love/hate relationship though. Help me get rid of the hate part. :)

fear not...

Fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith.

President Thomas S. Monson

won't you come?

My little Molly is mildly obsessed with 2 things right now...dress-ups and her picnic. Dress-ups are a given, but I'm not quite sure where the picnic thing started. She talks about "my" picnic every single day. She lays out the sectioned trays with goodies, for mommy to clean up every afternoon. The top picture is a list of who she wants to invite and what we will eat. Notice though, that Emily and Lizzy taught her how to write her name. :) Yay Molly! A few of the people on the list...Eeyore, Uncle Tony, Minnie Mouse, Bryce, Aunt Lisa, Snow White and Aurora, Santa Claus, President Hinckley, Grandma and Grandpa (both sets)...just to name a few.

If you are lucky enough to be on the list, this is how she will greet you at the door.

And THIS will be your lunch.


Once again...so thankful for good friends today. The kind that can tell by the sound of your voice that you may need a hand.

Didn't get around to posting about Idol this week. Let me just say that I am thrilled that Megan is gone, with all of her wierd moves and bird sounds. She got really bold and obnoxious over the last few weeks. Couldn't believe she had the guts to sing 3 feet from the judges faces. I think people are going to have a hard time beating Adam. Still not in love, but I must admit he is talented. VERY impressed with Kris and Danny once again.

Question. Do your kids use their shirts as napkins? Mine do. It makes me crazy.

David is 25 today...

David Joel Nixdorf. David is my sister Lisa's firstborn. :) I was in LOVE with this baby. I had a picture of him as a newborn that I carried around in my scriptures, and I would stare at it all the time. I clearly remember her saying that he used to look like Yoda. That is NOT a compliment, in case you wondered. I would and still do get defensive of my little David. Yes, he had twice as much skin as he needed, and he was all wrinkly, but I thought he was just perfect. He only got cuter too.

Beautiful, beautiful, happy, little boy. Being held here by Tracy, who was being held together by Aquafresh hairspray! :)

What I remember most about David as a kid was his happy personality. He laughed a lot. I can remember some tantrums too, but mostly laughing and giggling. I can remember several family get togethers where he was dressed as a pirate, a knight, and NO...it wasn't halloween. As a mom, I now realize just how cool my sister Lisa was to allow it. He was SO cute...how could you resist? I also remember him being quite loud. Perfect for the Temple family.

David and My mom came to pick me up from the airport together one year when I came home from college. He was so excited. Look at that happy face...with those GIGANTIC sunglasses!

David has spent the last few years on tours in the middle east for the army. He is actually on his 4th now. 4th. Uuugh. When this one is over though...no more re-enlisting. Wahoo! My kids (aside from Alex as a 3 month old) have never even met David. That makes me sad. It's so wierd. Since we only make it home every other summer, and he is never there when we are, we miss him. My kids pray for him every day though. For his safety. They know the Lord will bless him. In a way, I think that keeps us all connected. When they do finally meet him, they will know who he is, and that their prayers were answered.

David is such a great brother to little Adam (definitely NOT little anymore). Adam thinks the world of him. And I think Dave is cool with it. Not many big brothers want a little boy tagging along, but David has always been good to him. Best buddies. :)

David is determined to go back to school when he gets through with Iraq. Then, he will by and sell properties and become rich. And when he does, maybe he will live in Hawaii and fly the Schofield's there for a visit. :) Love you David!