Three Years Ago Today. . .

When Joel called me up for the first time to ask me on a date, I had to look him up in the ward directory. I didn't remember who he was, what he looked like, or even that he had already been to my apartment several times.

He certainly knew who I was. He had me pegged since one of the first BYU singles ward prayers as someone he wanted to get to know better. Get to know me better he did--and quickly. He took his three roommates with him to visit my apartment, then quietly and observantly stood against the wall, mute and quite invisible. I was the subject of a study I didn't know I had signed up for.

He and his roommate were in the Sunday School presidency, so when they decided to call me as a gospel doctrine teacher it provided them with the perfect excuse to return late one night and get my phone number. The trouble is, he sent his roommate to do it. The trouble is, this was a friendly roommate. The trouble is, then, that I wasn't sure who was the interested party. All I knew was that a guy had come late at night with a lame excuse to get my phone number, and I didn't see a good reason to say no.

But thank goodness for this roommate, who, after many times of returning with Joel to visit my apartment--armed with excuses such as "We wanted more cookies!"--finally took it upon himself to make sure Joel would do the deed and call me. Dialing my number on his own cell phone, he pressed send and handed it to a nervously wavering Joel, who was sitting on their couch.

I said yes.

Twice, actually, which means that the second time I said it (six weeks later, just before Thanksgiving), it came with a shiny ring and a box full of anticipation. We moved up our marriage date from a time in May that felt eons away and got married just after Christmas.

We have never looked back, and we have never been happier.

Now, in case you aren't nauseated enough, here is our song. We picked it because we had a running joke during our courtship that I could always tell what level of feeling Joel had for me by looking in his eyes (hence the opening line of the song: "look into my eyes, you will see what you mean to me").

Everything I do (I do it for you) by Bryan Adams
(yes, I know this is a cheesy song that probably everyone designated as theirs in the early nineties. But we didn't know each other then, so sue me)



(Ignore the cheesy Robin Hood: Men in Tights clips)

BUT, we actually have another unofficial song. This song, You are the Woman by Firefall, is one Joel would sing along to in the car every time we heard it on the radio. Over the years it has kind of become our song as well. Every time I heard the lyrics, it reminds me of exactly what would be Joel's point of view when we were dating.

In case you're feeling in a musical mood, and because I'm on a roll with the video embedding, here is this one as well:

Where to start?

I know I've already established the fact that I have been a slacker lately, but I am grossly overdue on a few key posts:

Our New York trip

Christmas

Our Anniversary

So, which one should I start with? I know you're all dying to hear everything we ate and saw, the pictures we took, and exactly how many times we breathed in New York, but how about a post about Christmas since it currently seems to be the hot topic? Good? Good. (Although it's not like you really have a choice, but I probably shouldn't point that out.)

CHRISTMAS

. . . was great. I found a fantastic train track set (think Thomas the Tank Engine but without the table) on Craigslist. It came complete with several engines and many (train)cars, little trees, road signs, houses, animals and people to build a little village with. Oh, and lots of bridges. Those are a must. It was a last-minute decision to get this and give it to Everett, but I am glad we did. (Does it count as "going green" when you are buying used items?)

I think Joel was, too. He kept saying "This is awesome, Elise" the entire time we were setting it up Christmas Eve night.

Here he is, proud of his handiwork. For the record, I helped too. And so did my brother. (Mack, are you happy now?) Somehow the picture makes the whole system look smaller than it really was. . .

After Everett saw the train track he didn't really want to open anything else for a while, which is saying something because since we've been getting a lot of packages lately he has really learned to love opening presents.

And. . .

This is Everett with a dual spiral racing track toy for his cars. You can use a lever mechanism to tip both cars onto the track at the same time (complete with sound effects!) or do it manually. This toy, from my parents, was also a huge hit. Good job, you two!

We didn't really get Ashley anything. Maybe this means we are miserly old (young?) scrooges, but since she is too young to really enjoy it we didn't worry about her. We'll get things for her as she needs them, and she is all set for toys.

Let's see, what else? Well, I was pretty proud of our Christmas stockings. I worked long and hard on them, which is something I've been meaning to do since just after our marriage when Joel asked me to make our family stockings. It took me a while to come up with the design concept and find the materials to put them together, but I think they turned out pretty well. I just hope Joel was happy with them. Here's a picture of how they looked:

Pretty neat, huh? I was going for something original. Do you think I was successful?

Ok, ok. Just kidding.

Oh, well, actually I mean I'm kidding about making them. We did use plastic grocery bags (except for Everett, who got a fabric bag--but not stocking-shaped).
Oh, stop. We still had Christmas! And it wasn't because I wanted to be unique, it was because apparently I forgot to put our stockings in the car on the way up to my parent's house, and making an hour round trip to retrieve stockings that no one would really miss didn't sound appealing to me. Oh, stop. I'll get it right next year!

Joel and I got each other our New York trip. That was present enough to last me for a long time. I also told him that I wanted a love letter, and I got it! It's a little difficult sometimes to get these accounting/engineer type people to be mushy, so even though the (long) first paragraph of the letter was talking about how he's writing this letter for me but that he didn't really know why because he sees me and talks to me every day, and that he didn't really have anything else to say, he started to get into it after a while. I'm thinking of making this a tradition. . .reading love letters to each other Christmas Eve night seems like a neat thing to do (that is, unless we are too wiped out from setting up all the kids' toys in a few years).

It was a great Christmas. I enjoyed every minute of it and I enjoyed making some of the presents I gave away. It is fun that we are starting to get into the stage where we set up the Santa toys on Christmas Eve, but I can only say that because we only had to do one this year. We'll see if I change my tune anytime soon.

And, although this post was much too long, I will still have to post about New York and our anniversary. Don't bite all your fingernails off in anticipation, now!

Slacker, Whiny, Rested

This post comes in three parts. Firstly:

I am a slacker. Has anyone noticed the lack of Christmas cards coming their way from our house? I could tell you a huge story about how I mis-addressed every single one of them and somehow they all got lost in the mail. . .but that would be hopelessly untrue. The truth is, I didn't get around to it. After so long I thought to myself, "well, we'll send out a card over email". And then our ward's Christmas party happened. And then came New York. And really, I could have fit it in there somewhere between Everett's daily dose of Bambi or the dinner dishes, but I didn't. So yes, we have a new(ish) baby in the house and now people aren't going to get a card to prove it. Fortunately I have a blog, and I happen to know that I put way too many pictures of the kids on here for anyone's interest, and that most of the people we send Christmas cards to read the blog. So it all works out, right? Excuse me while I go try to erase the word "slacker" that is emblazoned across my forehead.

Secondly:

I feel like my posts have been whiny lately. I hate being whiny. So I'm just not going to do it anymore. The end.

Thirdly:

Not to brag or anything (ok, maybe a little, but all in good sport), but I just got to sleep in as late as I wanted for THREE DAYS STRAIGHT. Hence the trip to New York without the kids. As it is, I feel so well-rested that I could go run a marathon, which is good because I still have some things to finish up before, oh, tomorrow. (See first paragraph.)

Also, I'll post some pictures of our trip to New York in the next couple of days. We didn't take too many pictures; I think it was because Joel and I were lost in each other's eyes the whole time (insert groans). I don't think any of you are interested in seeing Joel's doe-eyed lovey-dovey looks. If some of you are, sorry to disappoint, but I didn't take any pictures of that.


Lastly,

MERRY CHRISTMAS! I hope each of you has a wonderful Holiday season and that you all enjoy these days to the fullest. There is so much to be grateful for; it seems I am feeling this more than I did even during Thanksgiving. Thank you all for your love and support. We love you all!

Beating a Dead Horse

I know I've been over (and over, and over, and over. . .) this recently, but sometimes I am tired of looking so young. AND, sometimes when I am tired of people commenting about it and feeling like they have to let me know what a "big responsibility" motherhood is, I wish I had the perfect zinger. Not something insulting, just a little way of saying, "mind your own business."

One of my very favorite movies is You've Got Mail. I could watch this movie every day. I love the part where Kathleen is talking to Joe about how she can never come up with the perfect comeback. This is how I feel in the kinds of situations I find myself in every day. Usually I don't mind as much because I know that I am a young mom and that I look even younger, and that I am living somewhere where I am a bit of an anomaly. But the other day after I had had a very long day of running errands, getting employees to fix their mistakes on my orders, and dealing with a couple of tired, cranky kids, I was beginning to be very cranky myself.


Cashier at Michaels: You look SOOO young

Me: (groaning inwardly) *laugh* yes, I know

Cashier: What is your age?

Me: (noting that she has an accent and pretending I don't understand) Yes, I am very young.

Cashier: No, how old are you?


Me: I'm 22

Cashier: (motioning to Everett) Oh. And how old is HE?


Me: (sighing inwardly, but smiling) He's just barely two.


Cashier, who raises her eyebrows and says pointedly: (meaningful pause) You know, that is a LOT of responsiblity.



So, what do I say? What would you say if you were particularly grumpy that day and tired of people questioning your life's choices (I am not a perfect mom and I am learning as I go, but I like to think this is at least a little the case no matter how old a person is)? Even now, days later, I can't come up with anything. Usually I just say something like, "Yes, I know. Isn't it wonderful?"

I know I've talked about this ad nauseum, but I just had to get it out there (even again). Some of your comments about saying something, just walking way, and leaving them to their reaction piqued my interest. What would they be? Any ideas?

(For the record, I know I'm making a big deal out of nothing--I promise, this usually isn't the case. I'm really not very sensitive about this. But you know what? Sometimes making a big deal about something is exactly what feels good to do)

I'm not a native Virginian

Today I've been running some last-minute errands and it has been cold(ish), wet, raining, and generally miserable. This is not the day to run errands, and yet it would seem that every possible someone in my town has decided otherwise.

I am obviously not native to this area, because in many ways I find RAIN LESS THAN A WEEK before Christmas to be somewhat depressing. However, our 60 degree day last week was really nice (thank you weather!), and our "low" temperatures of 40 degrees are not unwelcomed, either. It is also nice to not have to worry about ice on the roads yet. With all these trees, ice out here tends to stick around for a very long time.

In other news, tomorrow we are headed to New York City! No, just Joel and me. What are we, nuts? We're leaving the kids at my parents' house. We'll be back in time for Christmas, and we'll certainly be well-rested with no whining--I mean, angelic--wake up calls.

We were hesitant to go since we are preparing for Grad school, but we decided that there might never be another time in our lives when we can drop our kids off with my parents and catch a 20 dollar bus to New York city, all without having to drive, fly, or hassle with city parking. Next year we'll be in Indiana and my parents will be back in Utah, and who knows where we will be after that. If there is ever a time to "seize the day" this is it.

I'm telling you all this so that if any of you decides to come rob us, you can rest assured that it will be a waste of your time. We have nothing of value in our home. Oh, you wanted our 30 year old couch and chairs? Well. . .I suppose. Our old TV and rabbit ears that won't even work in a few months without a converter box? My target brand jewelry? Our toilet plunger?

It's all yours, if you insist. It probably will be a waste of time to expend the energy to haul it all away. And actually, seeing as we're moving several states over in five (gah!) months, you'd probably be doing us a favor.

Everyone have a Merry Christmas, or Happy Holidays, whichever you prefer. We certainly will. Seeing as our hotel room has free internet access, you might even leach a post or two out of me in the interim.

I've got a lot of work to do. . .

A couple of nights ago (for whatever reason--I don't know, so don't bother asking), Joel and I were talking about menopause. I made a comment about how it can drag on and on and it's a pain etc. etc., and he said:

"What, you just dry up and you're done."

Yep, I've got a lot of work to do with this one.

A Picture Says a Thousand Words. . .

So I'll give you a couple:

Congratulations on making it into the Notre Dame MBA program, Joel!

(The program begins in May and lasts one year, so we will be moving to Indiana by then.)
If you want dibs on football tickets, you'd better speak up. Notre Dame/USC is already taken.

Conversational

Nice elderly man in the baby section at Target:
(motions to the kids) Are they yours?

Me: (proudly) Yes

Man: Wow! You look like you're twelve!

Me: (pause) *Laugh* Yes, I know! I look young for my age.

Man: No, really, you look like you're twelve!

Me: Ha ha ha, I get that all the time.

Man: You look so young.(Mutters loudly to self and shakes head: WOW!) (Pause) You're cute, though.

Me: Laughing, smiling, murmuring thanks, and backing away.


Note to self: Next time a member of my ward tells me that when he first saw me he thought I was a child, do not dismiss this assumption.


--------------------------------------------------------------------
This next bit takes place in the UPS store, where I was just given the grand total for a shipment.

Me: (Putting my eyeballs back in my sockets and lifting my jaw off the floor) Really? I thought you quoted XXXXX amount.

Nice older UPS employee: Well, the box costs 15 dollars, and then we have to pack it. . . (editor's note: yadda yadda, and how does this double the already inflated cost?)

Me: That is much more than I was expecting. I think I'll--

UPS man: Are you a member of AAA?

Me: No. . .

other UPS employee: She looks like she's a member of AAA. Doesn't she look like she's a member of AAA? She probably just left her card at home. (Looks at me knowingly) We don't have to scan the card or anything. You look like you're a member of AAA. We'll just put it in for you. I'm sure you'll be a member of AAA eventually.

Me: Uh, thanks (appreciative but knowing it will only take the total down a fraction).

UPS man: Your new total is XXXX

Me: Uh, thanks, but I think I'll just find a way to package it myself.


The UPS man was really nice about it and did not even comment on Everett's erratic behavior through the interaction. This is what I appreciated the most.


Note to self: Never use UPS again. Even though you knew this was going to happen when you went into the store, being proven right was not on your to-do list today.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Me, after lugging a heavy bag, Ashley, and a dramatically collapsing Everett back to the car, sitting Everett down, and taking his car away:
I am not very happy with you, Everett. You ran around the store when I told you not to. You did not stay with me. I told you not to grab things off the shelves and you did it anyway. You did not listen to me when I told you to leave your shoes on your feet. You need to listen to me. When I tell you to use one finger to touch things and not to grab them, you need to listen to me. You cannot grab things off of the shelves. You need to STAY WITH ME when I tell you to stay with me.

Everett: Widens eyes, scrunches mouth, bellows angrily and defiantly: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!


Me: Thinking--huh? How does that reaction make sense? Does this mean I got through to him or does it indicate the complete opposite? (Wondering if I sound like one of the adults in all those Charlie Brown movies.)

Note to self: No longer rely solely on your strategy to talk about appropriate behavior with Everett before going into the store. OR, do not go to the store when he should be having dinner. OR, actually grab that bag of candy from home to bribe him to stay near you with like you meant to. Please. OR, do not rule out the use of straitjackets as child restraints.

I am lucky to have funny friends

I don't know where this came from exactly (except that I found it on a friend's blog--thanks, Natalie!), but it is hilarious. Two churches across the street from each other somewhere were debating on their signs. Take a look, have a laugh, and decide who you think is right :).

(click on the picture to see it larger and read the text)

Taking the plunge. . .

Well, on Saturday I finally did it. I got a haircut. I haven't had once since Ashley was born, which actually isn't all that abnormal for me. I try to make the ones I do have really count, and the last two haircuts I got (from the same person) have been the best haircuts in terms of quality I've ever had.

I had it cut in an A-line style, with the front almost to my shoulders. I still have little swoopy bangs (I'm all into the technical terms here).

It was a bit of an adjustment, and I wasn't sure if I regretted it or not. I cut off a lot of hair (well past my shoulders) and it was quite a change. When Joel met me I had short-ish hair, but I've had it longer for the last couple of years. Once I even asked a hairstylist what cut would make me look older, and she looked at me pointedly and said, "No haircut will make you look older."

So I usually just do what I'm in the mood for, which happened to be shorter this time around. I think it is because my hair was getting so long and I was tired of it, but I am happy with the cut. It was a nice change and it is nice that it doesn't take as long to dry.

Hit me

You know what I really hate?

Mastitis.

(Look it up if you're not squeamish about complaints related to nursing a baby.)

At least its not as bad as being run over by 12 semi trucks.
(maybe just 7.)


We'll survive, but I can't say the same thing about dinner tonight.
I hope you like eggs and toast, honey!

Snow!

We recently had our very first snowfall. It barely counted; there wasn't enough to even begin to cover the ground. But there was a thin dusting on the cars, so when Everett and I ran errands I took the opportunity to show it to him. This was the first experience he really has had with snow, since he has been too young until now to start to understand what it is.

He was fascinated by it. We examined it, talked about how it is cold and white, and I showed him how to make it into a ball. I also explained to him that snow melts when he holds it, and that melting means it turns into water. I'm not sure how much of that he understood, but he acted like he got every word.

We were running errands, so every time we got out of the car he had to get a little handful of snow off the trunk of the car. He would clutch the snow all through the store until it had melted into a little puddle in his palm. He didn't care; this was all part of the experience to him. Then, true to his innate sense, he always knew when we were about to wrap the errand up and leave, so he always requested more snow. This was our pattern: out of the car, snow to hold in the store. Out of the store, snow to hold in the car. His exuberance was infectious and I found myself appreciating the snow more than I ever have.

Also infectious was his eagerness to share his findings with "papa". I explained that Everett could throw the snow at him when we got in the apartment, but he didn't seem to want to let go of his little clump of snow. Once I reminded him that it would melt and turn it into water, though, he was satisfied with keeping it in the freezer so he could look at it again later.

His favorite description: Cold!
But I'm sure that had nothing to do with the fact that he
would hold it in his hands until it melted.

This is my very favorite part of being a mother. I love that I can begin to explain the world to Everett. I am so excited to be getting into this stage; I will be the authority on everything for the next few years until he wisens up. I have been preparing for this for a while--I love to collect kid-friendly informational books, so when my children ask me a question I do not know the answer to, I can help them look it up for themselves. I want my children to be inquisitive, and I want them to question the world. I do not want them to just accept that things just are, I want them to ask the whys and the hows.

I want them to learn from history. I want them to plan for the future. I want them to appreciate living things. I want them to appreciate the world, because it is interesting, but mostly because it is something their Heavenly Father made for them.

Moments like the ones Everett and I had with snow are the most precious to me. I am so grateful for them. They help remind me why I enjoy being a mother. I love seeing a concept click in a child's mind, seeing that light turn on and illuminate their little frame, right down to their fingertips which dance from delight. There is so much I have to look forward to as my kids grow older. I can afford to be a bit idealistic right now since my kids are so young, but I hope that at least some of what I want for them comes to fruition.

Apparently I'm boring

This probably will not come as a surprise to many of you (namely, roommates). I know I'm boring and really, I'm okay with that. I suppose part of being boring is that you are content with being boring.

The reason I know this is because last night after Joel and I watched the recent movie Get Smart, he turned to me and said, "You know this is a good movie when you are laughing this much about it." It's true; I do not laugh very often during movies and TV shows, and if I do it has a lot to do with whether people near me are laughing. Joel laughs often and this is why I love watching movies with him.

The moral of this story is that if you are in the mood for a good comedy, rent Get Smart. Steve Carell does a fantastic job as Maxwell Smart, a well-intentioned but methodically flawed FBI (?) agent. If you are a fan of Anne Hathaway, as I am, you will also enjoy her role in the movie.

This movie was very funny. I laughed many, many times. The comedic timing was usually perfect, and much of the humor was unexpected which made it all the more enjoyable. One part taking place in a fighter jet still makes me chuckle each time I think of it (I won't tell you more in case you haven't seen the movie yet). Really, the only thing that made it funny was that it was so unexpected.

The best part of this movie was that it was clean. There was one passing sexual joke (non-verbal) thrown in and only a couple of swear words. It is sad that I can classify this as "clean" because it would obviously be much better if none of that was in there at all, but I was impressed with how much they didn't put in but easily could have. I always appreciate that.

Overall, the movie was excellent. There were a few predictable parts, but I appreciated the humor. I think this was only enhanced by the fact that we were in the perfect mood to enjoy this type of movie.

So, if you're in the mood to stay in on this cold dreary day, this would be an excellent choice. Just make sure your stomach is properly conditioned for a laugh.

Holiday Treat

I know it kind of goes against the grain to drink something frozen-ish
in the wintertime, but if any of you is a
fan of eggnog (we are), you ought to try this:

Ingredients:

Eggnog
Ice

Directions:

Blend together.
Drink.
Wish you had more.


(P.S. would be even better if your ice was actually frozen milk cubes. . .)

Photography

I recently set out to photograph Ashley so I could have an updated photo of her smiling. My Mother-in-Law also wants one so she can put it in her new Chrismas picture ornaments (don't worry, I'll send them to you today!).

It got me thinking, though. If I were to be a professional photographer (don't worry, I don't have aspirations that high for myself), I think photographing babies would be a lot of fun. You never know if you'll get a full-on grin, or if spit up will come flying at you just as you hit the shutter release. Do digital cameras have shutter releases? I don't know my terminology. For posterity's sake (or for my own amusement), here are some of what I imagine are common baby picture happenings.

The no-show-smile-but-at-least-it's-not-blurry-so-you'll-consider-keeping-it pose.

The Portrait of an Eyelid

The "do you smell something or is that just me?" picture

The deer in the headlights pose.
Endearing, but you weren't trying to get a picture of bambi.

The finally-I-sort-of-caught-a-smile pose.

Wait a second. No, that's the "I'm filling my diaper" pose.

Then you get the dewy innocent looks. . .

. . .which are nice, but you were going for an actual smile.

(but maybe when she is three you will like to look back on these and remember when these looks weren't attached to an "I don't know who drew on the wall with your lipstick, mommy.")

Then, finally, a SMILE that isn't too grimacy or dewy, with just the right amount of laughs.
But, at the risk of becoming overly ambitious, do you dare hope for another one?

Well sure, I guess you do.

Missionary Inspiration

I love reading my sister Amanda's missionary letters. This probably has something to do with the fact that she is my sister. Probably.

But I really love some of the insights she has. I can tell by reading her letters that she is really "on fire" and she is really developing a deeper love not only for the gospel principles, but for living those principles. She said something in her most recent letter that hit me a little harder than the rest, mostly because this is something I am currently trying to work on myself:

I’m learning that when I take an hour in the mornings to feast upon the words of Christ, nothing can go really wrong. Or rather, anything can go wrong, and it doesn’t matter. I dive into my personal study each morning as a beggar at a feast, for the more I understand the feast that is placed before me, the more I long to partake of it.

Do I have an hour every morning? Usually not. But I do have time I can make. I think the last part of what she said is key--that the more she understands, the more she wants to partake of it. I do not always have as much desire as I should to sit and delve into the scriptures. I have been praying for more desire, but the answer really is that simple. It makes me think of John 7:17--"If any man will do his will he shall know of the gospel." It is a nice reminder that the more we do, the more we understand, and the more we desire to do.

(I'm going to put another plug in and recommend that you go here to read more of the letter)

The other day I read what President Hinkley had to say about the book And There Was Light, autobiography of Jacques Lusseyran.



"Recently, a man sent me a book. He is a doctor of philosophy in a great university. He told me that reading that book had become a significant experience in his life. I read it. It is the story of a boy in Paris who, in an accident, was blinded at the age of eight. It is an account of how when darkness surrounded him, there came a new light into his life. When he was 16 or 17, the Germans conquered France and German soldiers marched into Paris. This blind boy, a brilliant student, organized a resistance group. He and his associates ran an operation for getting information and circularizing it with a little newspaper they printed on a duplicator. The effort grew until they were distributing more than 250,000 copies an issue. Then he was betrayed by a member of the group, arrested, and sent to Buchenwald. There in filth and despair he lived with similar victims. He could not see, but there was a light within him that rose above the tragedy of his circumstances. He survived as a leader among those in that foul camp. The little newspaper he started became a great newspaper. I read that book and was lifted and strengthened by the story of that remarkable young man. If you cannot find good heroes and heroines for your children on television, help your children find them in good books."

(you can find the talk in which he discusses the book here.)

I think I am going to check this book out from the library. I would like to read it, especially during this time of year when I like to remember that there is so much in my life I take for granted. If anyone has read it, let me know what you thought of it. If you haven't read it, above is a pretty good recommendation!

Callings

Joel and I just received new callings in the ward. We used to be on the Activities Committee, but now Joel is the Athletic Director (but he is actually still on the committee) and I was called to the primary. Want to guess where?

Well, first let me back up and tell you about a conversation Joel and I had a few weeks ago concerning callings. I basically told Joel that I would be happy to have any calling in the church, but that it would be by far the hardest for me to be happy about accepting a calling in Nursery. Does this surprise anyone? I think it is because I am pretty much in nursery every day of the week, and I really look forward to going to church and being able to sit through a lesson without keeping track of a toddler (It's for two hours a week. Is that too much to ask?).

Can you guess where my calling is now? Yes, that's right, I was called to Nursery. I accepted, of course, but now my biggest job with my calling is figuring out how to be as happy about it as I want to be. I'll get there.

The only real problem with Nursery is that I am in there with Everett, and he is not yet used to me being in there with him and not for him. Yesterday he was incredibly whiny through the whole two hours, and there were a couple of times he was loudly crying a few feet away from me while I was busy tending to the other kids. People tell me that he is so mellow in nursery, and I believe them, but I also know that he is not as mellow around me because I am his mother.

The other issue with Everett is that since he is very shy around other people, I have really been happy that he has done so well in Nursery without me. I have been even happier that he has the experience once a week for two hours to be with people he is not that familiar with, and to learn to play with other children. He really needs that since otherwise he is with me all day, every day. Lately if we go to someone's house he doesn't recognize, he doesn't even want to go in the door. Once I get him in, he doesn't last very long before he decides he has to leave. He has done very well in nursery and I have been glad because I want him to learn to be more independent, especially because he is so shy, and especially by the time he goes to primary.

I have no doubt that Everett will get used to me being in nursery with him, and that I have to tend to the other children as well. I just wonder if he will still be less willing to interact with the other people while I am there. I really hope not. This is something he needs to learn, but I think it might be difficult for him.

I think we will both get used to this new nursery set-up, but I hope it doesn't take as long as I sometimes think it will. I will also have to get used to not looking forward so much to Relief Society every week. So, does anyone have advice? How do I get Everett used to the new situation in nursery? Do I just wait it out? Also, how do you become happier about having a calling you wouldn't have picked for yourself?