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!

happy birthday Aaron...

My nephew Aaron is 11 today! Happy birthday handsome boy! Aaron is the youngest of my brother's 4 boys. He is such a tender kid. As you can tell from the first picture (taken by my brother Joel by the way...most of these are), he is a momma's boy, through and through. Thelma adores him and he adores her. They have a very dear, sweet relationship. They are truly connected. She worries about him, she protects him, and he lets her.

Aaron is a bit of a daredevil. That may be due to his having 3 older brothers who are daredevils too. The kid keeps up with them, but in doing that, breaks A LOT of bones. I'm not even sure how many he has broken, but I heard that the last time he left the hospital with his parents, they walked past a vending machine and he asked if he could get something next time he broke a bone. :) Lots of worry for his poor parents.

Aaron is a happy, playful boy. He reminds me a bit of my Lizzy. You will see him playing by himself a lot. He doesn't necessarily need other people to make him happy. I think that is such a good trait for kids to have. He is intense about football. He plays, but more impressive, he knows EVERYTHING about BYU football and the NFL. Players, stats, old scores. He reads book after book and memorizes what he sees. Ask him a question...he'll know the answer...I promise. :)

Aaron loves to fish, just like his big brother Matthew. And he's persistent. Persistent and patient. My mom says that when they were visiting last summer, the boys fished every day. Aaron never caught a thing...until the last cast of the last day. Never whined or complained, just kept at it. Don't you love that?

He takes after his mom and dad and is quite musical. He plays the violin, but more importantly, the trombone. His daddy plays the trombone, and what little boy doesn't want to be just like his dad. It is so great that they share this passion. I think it actualy inspired my brother to dust off his old trombone and get to playing again. Aaron has actually had a solo in his band concert!

Aaron seems wise beyond his years. He is quiet, contemplative, and tender. We love him so much. Happy Birthday Aaron!