Emmett and I went into Atlanta to visit the zoo.  We had a lot of fun walking around and checking out all of the exhibits.

He wanted to go onto the carousal, and took his time before deciding to ride the Cheetah.  He was so excited to be on it, unfortunately, when the music started the up and down of the carousal freaked him out.  The most mild of all rides and Emmett couldn't handle it.  I took one picture of him before I realized I was torturing him.

Immediately after that, I took him down and we found a stationary chair.  Immediately, he decided that he now loved the carousal.  

He was so pleased, in fact, we went a couple more times.

Emmett loved the zoo.  My favorite part was this cool turtle.  I've never seen a turtle just hangin' out before.  He's so chill.

I love Mommy - Son dates like this.

September hit with a vengeance.  First came Harvey then came Irma.  Hurricanes allow Alaina to do the thing that she was born - Service.  I took the big kids to Atlanta to the LDS storehouse after Hurricane Harvey hit, where we joined about 150 other volunteers to put together food boxes to be distributed to anyone in need.  We worked about 3-4 hours putting together a truckload of boxes.

Here is Alaina with a few of her cute friends.

And Austin who was a good sport although not so enthusiastic as Alaina.

Ethan also went, and worked pretty hard.  I'm quite sure he was more motivated by the cute girls who were there than his intrinsic need to serve.  But we'll take service any way we can get it.

Not more than a week after we made boxes, Irma struck Florida.  We got the lights to flicker and a few trees in the neighborhood went down, but mostly we were spared any serious damage.  The Bishop and a bunch of people from our ward decided to join together with other Latter Day Saint members and help out the people in Florida who were hit the worst.  Alaina was dying to go, so Robert decided to take her down.  The boys didn't have any interest and I thought this would be a neat thing for Alaina to do with her Dad, so I didn't make them go.  

Alaina really wrestled with deciding to leave, however, because they would be gone on my birthday.  I promised her that it didn't matter, but early in the morning, before she left for school, this sweet girl came up to my room with a Birthday breakfast.  She really is the best daughter, ever.

Robert picked her up from school, they packed up and took off.  Alaina wrote it all down in her journal and so I asked her if I could just copy what she wrote.  So, voila!  My first guest writer.  :)

Alaina Jones

A Trip to Florida

15-17 Sept 2017

On Friday, when I was about to enter my last class period of the day, Dad pulled me out of school so that we could get ready for the weekend.  After packing, Dad and I left for a 10-½ hour drive to Florida to help the victims of Hurricane Irma.  We kept bumping into Bishop's family (Bishop Nelson and his daughter Leah) on the drive, ending up at the same gas stations, even though we weren't following them and we left at different times.  During the drive, we listened to the audio book BFG, and I learned how awesome whiz poppers are. :-)  Sadly, we had to leave on Mom's birthday to get there on time, so I feel like we ditched her on her birthday.

Anyway, we got to the stake church center in Fort Meyer Florida at about 2:30 a.m., and I helped Dad set up a blow-up mattress in the back of the van.  Boy, was it humid!  We ended up sleeping with all the side doors open and the trunk open wide, and I still managed to sweat like a dog.  Dad and I also had the pleasure of hearing a generator humming all night long, and let me tell you: it was LOUD.  However, there was a slight breeze throughout the night that really helped out.  Since the electricity was still out, there were tons of tents and cars parked all over the place, and the parking lot was surprisingly crowded.  Just goes to show how far people will go to do service!

At 7 in the morning, we got right back up, and helped unload a humongous truck (an 18-wheeler) full of canned/bagged foods and supplies for locals who could use the extra help.  There were probably about 100 wheelbarrows going back and forth between the church and that truck, with each person doing their share.  The stake center had been completely converted into a redistribution center, with boxes of food, chainsaws, tarps, water, hammers and nails, shovels, rakes, gasoline cans, and a whole lot of baby supplies in every room.  It was amazing.  Then, Dad and I got bright yellow shirts that had Mormon Helping Hands on it (which were awesome).  When the truck was unloaded, we got our assignment and went off to cut trees. 

Our group consisted 14 people from our ward and one guy from the sugar hill ward.   Ironically, the first person our group went to help out wasn't home when we got there, and her neighbor thought we were there to loot the house.  So, of course he did the only logical thing: he came out of his house in his boxers, pretended like he had a gun behind his back, and shouted "Shove off!  We take care of our own here."  Bishop later informed me that his name was Robert.  Oh boy. Despite that minor setback, we went on, merrily chopping down trees and dragging them to the side of the road.  I wanted to use the chainsaw that Dad and Bishop were so happily using, but apparently that is for 18 year-olds and older.  :-(  Ah well. 

Directly afterward, we saw a guy working in his yard named Pedro, so Bishop asked if he knew of anyone in the neighborhood who could use our help cutting down trees.  Pedro was really nice and straightaway took us to two widows who lived next door to him.  One of them was a sweet old lady named Mrs. Brown, and when he told her that we were here to work on her backyard and take down broken trees, she asked "How much?"  Proudly, we replied that it was service, and it wouldn't cost her a dime.  That was when she broke down.  Helping old people makes me feel so good. 

And so we went on until about noon, when every one was too tired to lift another finger.  Brother ­­­­Phett suggested that we go to Racetrack, and once we got there, I got a medium smoothie, which was free for anyone helping out with cleanup on Hurricane Irma.    We were identified as the "yellow-shirts," which I had totally called previously that day! 

At the end of the day, to celebrate our group completing the backyards of 10 different houses, we went out to dinner at the Golden Corral which Brother Phett generously paid for!  One of the waitresses there started talking about how her neighborhood got hit bad by the storm, and Bishop immediately asked if she, herself, was okay.  

"Oh, a couple of real big trees fell over in my backyard, but I got lucky because they didn't hit my house.  I'm gonna have'ta hire someone to remove them"

"Well, can we come over and take care of it for you?"

"Oh no, it would require chainsaws and saws to take those things down."

"Ma'am, that's what we do.  We're here to help"

"Oh no, stop it.  Really? You're joking me. Stop.  Seriously?  No, really."

"Give us your name and address, and we'll be there in the morning to take care of it."

"Oh my gosh.  Wow.  But, I've got to be at work at 11:00pm…I can't believe this is happen'n…"

"Don't worry, we'll be there"

She then broke down and cried, and afterward we all headed back to the church for a good night's sleep.  And a shower.  The temporary shower site (which was freezing) felt really great after a long day's work, after which we dropped off to sleep…

            The next morning, Dad and I woke up around 6 and went to church in our yellow work shirts.  It was actually pretty cool, since church only consisted of an opening prayer, a song, the sacrament, and a five-minute sermon on service, plus another song and the closing prayer.  Then, we were off to work again!  First stop, that waitress's house.  We got there at 8:30, and we finished the job within fifteen minutes flat.  Go Helping Hands! We kept on working, too, until we got to one of our last house: a house that was right across the street from the house we had originally gone too.  While we were working, Robert came out and watched us drag about a million trees to the side of the road, and Bishop walked over to him to provide our services.  When he saw that we weren't here to rob anyone, he actually let us do his backyard as well, and he worked alongside us too!  He even provided ice water, which tasted awesome.  Afterwards, around noon, we had to go home.  Finally, Dad and I started the long journey back, taking 10 ½ hours to reach our one and only home.  (Dad let me watch Studio C the whole way back, which was awesome!)  

            Service is a really scrumdiddlyumptious* thing to do.  "Only a life lived in service is a life worth living."  There's also Mosiah 2: 17: "when you are in the service of your fellow beings, you are only in the service of your God."  Well, I believe it!  Man, going down to Florida was one of the best things in my life.  I only wish that the rest of my family were able to come.  And that I could have used a chainsaw. J  I hope to do more of it in the future!

*If you don't know what scrumdiddlyumptious means, read the BFG

Thank you Alaina!  She said it much better than I could have.  A couple of weeks later, Robert took Alaina, Ethan and Austin to help cut down trees from people's homes here in GA.  It does my heart good to see them reaching out and helping people around them.  We were all sad for the damage that these last few storms have caused, but it is nice to see how people can band together and helping people in need. 

Emmett's first day at pre-school.  He was so excited to finally be like the big kids and go to school.  I have him in a little joy school with 5 other women.  He goes to a different house each week (including ours) for 2 1/2 hours both Tuesday and Thursday.  It is pretty low-key, which is perfect for me.

During my first lesson for Emmett's Joy school, we were learning all about the letter D.  I had seven little, shining 4 year olds looking up at me when I asked them what words start with a D.  The kids shouted things like, "Dog. Dad. Dirty".  I added a few more with, "Dandelion and Delightful."  Things were going well.  Then Emmett snuck up besides me and hoarsely whispered.  "D is for Dead." Before I could pick up my jaw, he had slunk back down into his seat.  Total Stranger Things moment.  💀

Emmett has never been a good sleeper.  His first 6 months of life were spent sleeping in my arms since he struggled with such terrible reflux.   Since then he's had many, many nights awake with growing pains, tummy aches, stuffy head.  You name it, he's had it.  So, the other night, when Emmett woke up crying, I wasn't surprised.  I went into his room and instead of his normal litany of woes, he cried, " I have a problem.  I keep getting distracted!  I had a scary dream.  Did you see that dream popping out of my body?"  I tried to calm him down and when we finally laid back down he looked t me and said, "This room is creeping me out!"  Some things I'll never be able to fix.

One evening, during dinner, the little boys decided to name their future children.  Jason predictably went with the names, "Flower", "Rainbow" and "Lover."  Yes.  He's a full-blown hippy in a little boy's body.  Emmett decided  he would name his future lucky children, "Allison", "Fast Motion", "Slow Motion" and "Normal Motion."  Just so we understood the meaning of his chosen names, Emmett acted out each one of them.   Well.  Except Allison.  Allison gets to meander/walk/run in any motion she wants to.

I was trying to get Emmett into the shower with me.  To encourage him to hurry, I tried to prompt him with questions.  "Did you take off your shoes?"  "Did you take off your shirt?"  Emmett doesn't particularly love it when I get bossy, so he returned the favor.  "Mom, did you take off your pants?" And because he's three, he also asked, "Did you take off your boob holder?" Here hee.  Boob holder.  I still think that's funny.

Jason wrote this very sweet note to me.  For those not fluent in toddlereese, it says, "I love you MOM.  U R Budfrl (beautiful).  U R D Bist Mom.  (you are the best mom.)  I love you."  This kid is always expressing his love, one way or the other.  He's such a sweet boy.

During a recent prayer given by Jason, he asked God to "Bless Emmett to feel better because I love him so much.  I'm thankful for the sunshine, so that we can have sunsets."  Seriously.  This kid.

Emmett was walking into the room and almost tripped...but somehow saved himself.  He was so pleased that he didn't fall that he yelled, "That was In. Cred. Able!"

Sometimes, despite what the child says, Sweet Emmett has to take a nap.

Emmett is always full of quirky comments and fabulous vocabulary that always makes me smile.  What I asked him if he wanted a cookie, he shouted, "Sure, Indeed!"

Em - Mom can I please marry you when I'm a dad?
Me - yes!
Em - Thank you.  You're the Best!  But how do boys marry girls?
Me - They go to the temple.
Em - How old do you go to the temple?
Me - Maybe 25.
Em - (exasperated!) But I'm 3!!!  I will be 3 forever!.  I just want to marry you right now!
Me - What about dad?
Em - (shakes his head at my silliness)  Mom!  I can't be married to two people!

Robert came home from work the other day and immediately 'assumed the position' on the floor and fell asleep.  Emmett was desperate for his attention.  He laid down next to him and talked to him.  He played with Robs earlobes.  He laid on his chest.  He poked in his ears.  When nothing woke the living dead, sweet Emmett scooted in close to his Daddy and went to sleep.  Those two are never more than a few inches away from each other at all times.

It stinks not owning a bath.  Usually I could stick the boys in the bath and take a shower and knock of two things at once.  Since our showers are so large, I can't just reach in and help the boys shower, I have to stand in the corner of the shower and help them while I get soaked.  Since I'm already getting wet, I usually opt for the taking the shower together option, especially when I just have Emmett.   This time, I was already in the shower and Emmett was rolling on the floor, apparently devastated with the thought of having to get up and get undressed to come in the shower.  He groaned and moaned that he needed help.  That he couldn't possible take of his own clothes.  I was not moved.  Instead I told him that he was a big boy and he could do it himself.  He cried, "No Mama!  I'm little.   I can't do it.  I'm so little.  I need someone to take care of me."  Then he looked right at me and held my gaze while he commanded, "And that would be you."  Job description noted.

Emmett was helping me clean by trying to vacuum up bugs.  He never seemed to be able to catch any.  Thinking this through, he said, "Maybe they are getting away from me.  Maybe they have echolocation."  Echolocation?  I tested him to see what that meant, and guess what.  My little 3 year old knew what he was talking about.  Smarty pants.

Emmett was roaming the kitchen from underneath a cardboard box.  When he hit the fridge he picked up the box and angrily said, "Seriously?!  The Fridge?!"  Then he mused, "The fridge is hard.  That means it's electrical."

Even on time-out, and crying, I find this child irresistible.

I was on the phone, trying to write at text to someone.  It was one of those text where I had to think and give dates and times to someone.  Those text take a bit of focus for me, especially if I have a child incessantly whining in my ear. Which I did.  Emmett was repeating the same phrase over and over again.  "I don't want to play with brother!"  I kept trying to placate him with other ideas as I typed like, "Then don't.  Go play on your own.  Go look at a book. etc."  Before I know it, the whining has moved from my ear to a squiggling child on my lap.  Challenge accepted.  I was determined to finish one thing that day...and it was going to be that stupid text!  Emmett was relentless.  Finally in exasperation he groans, "I'm sacrificed!"  That got my attention.  I asked.  "What did you say?"   He sighs, " I'm sacrificed!  I don't want to play with brother."  I can't help myself.  I'm engaged.  "Son.  I don't think that word means what you think it means.  It means that you are giving something up."  He nods,  "I know.  I'm giving up that I don't want play with brother!" Hmm.  Not bad.  I put the phone down. "I think that the word you are looking for is conflicted.  That means you want something and you don't.  Like you want to play but you don't want to play with brother."  Emmett then actually says, "GROAN!!!!!!  MOM!   I'm sacrificed!"  I then have to stop myself from continuing to push my point on proper word choice, because, oh yeah, I'm talking to a 3 year old!!


I was running late to get Jason to school.  I may or may not have been rounding my corners a little too sharply.  What I will tell you is that Emmett groaned, "You are ruining my balance!"  A few minutes later, when I was slowing down, he told me to speed back up.  Back seat driver.  I told him I had to stop for the stop sign and he said, "Stop signs don't exist."  Deep.  But not going to keep me from stopping, kid.

We started noticing that Jason, who always has insisted on sleeping with his teddy bear, had suddenly started laying on top of the bear before he'd go to sleep.  It looks so uncomfortable.  I asked him why he didn't just hold his bear in his arms instead.  He answered, " I did that before, but at the night he just popped out of my arms and went away!"  So his new strategy is to keep him from leaving by sheer force.  Smart.

Emmett has decided that he wants to go rock climbing with the big kids.  I told him that I didn't think they'd let little in.  Emmett huffed, "I'm not little.  I'm 1-2-3 BIG.  They have rock climbing for 3 people!"  Probably.  But I'm certainly not going to pay for a 3-person to go!  Enough with these after school activities for the kids!  They are bleeding us dry!