I do have other children...

Contrary to how it looks on this blog...

I do indeed have other children.

Here's a bit of what they are up to.
DanDan is my music man. I don't think he could possibly go a whole day without making noise. But, it's good noise (most of the time). He plays the piano for pleasure, not just practice. That makes me happy. I love that he loves it. He also plays the bass in orchestra, and the bass guitar in Jazz Band. But, he also owns a ukulele, and electric guitar and a banjo. A lot of times, I think he plays without realizing he is playing.

He starts 8th grade tomorrow. He is super tall. He is a good boy and I'm proud to be his mom.

Sam
Sam is my sensitive one. He loves babies and toddlers (but doesn't want to admit it, cause that's not cool). He loves to give me hugs--oftentimes running at me and almost knocking me over, because he got the big genes, too. When I come home from being out of town, Sam is always the one who needs the most hugs, always the one to keep coming back for more. He won't go to sleep without his nightly hug and kisses (I can't kiss him, but he has to give me three kisses--one cheek, then the other, then the first one again). When he gets in trouble (which is often), he takes it hard. But somehow, he gets over it, and goes right back to what got him in trouble to start with.

He starts 3rd grade tomorrow. He is also a good boy, although sometimes, it's buried deep down. I'm happy I'm his mom, and I hope I don't screw him up too bad.

Julia
Julia is... Well, I'm not sure what she is yet. She loves TV. And I canceled the cable a few weeks ago. So, after watching infomercials for a couple of days and trying to get Dad to buy this "really cool mop", I think she finally gave up. And got the dollhouse out. She plays contentedly most of the day. She is very imaginative. She also loves dogs--at least the stuffed kind. She has many. And as long as she can put a leash on something and drag it around the house, she is happy. She also likes to collect things. Her room is full of "stuff". I don't know how Olivia is going to fit back in it when she comes home. She also likes to wear the same clothes every day. Even if they are dirty (especially if they are dirty, I think). I hope her teachers don't think too poorly of me. She does have other, clean clothes, I promise.

She will be in 2nd grade tomorrow (hopefully in clean clothes). She is toothless. She misses her sister terribly. She is my baby, and I'm so glad I have her.

What I miss about my girl...

My dear Olivia has been gone for two weeks now. Today was a tough one for her, and she called home in tears. Needless to say, it was super hard to not be able to fix it for her.

I cried.

She cried some more.

Now, I'm crying again. Stupid "leaking". (Had to be in YW on Sunday to get that one. Love you, Mary Ann!)

So, we talked about how Heavenly Father knows her, and can comfort her because I can't be there to give her a big hug. We talked about how exciting what she is doing is. We talked about what a mean mom I am (just ask Sam or Julia). We talked about practice. We talked about this weekend when I'll be there to hold her as long as she wants.

She promised to call me later, and then she went to say a prayer, dry her tears and eat dinner.

I went to my computer and sent her as many emails as I could think of.

She called later to report that Heavenly Father answered her prayers. She got a letter in the mail from a dear lady in the Ward. She had asked Heavenly Father to help her feel better, not as homesick. And then she went to dinner and got that letter. She said that she knew that she was loved, and that Heavenly Father would watch over her. I know that, too.

I miss having her sweet example here. She is the one who reads her scriptures without being reminded. The one who wants to go to church in a far away place, by herself, and then bears her testimony in front of a bunch of strangers. The one with the faith that when she asks, she will receive. She is such a good example to me. I miss her. I love her.