October 31, 2008

Halloween Hiccup

Some of you out there are relaxing after a night of trick-or-treating, or, if you have no kids, relaxing from the workout you received from getting up a hundred times to answer the door to hand out candy to all the little people who had come knocking on your door. While others, such as myself (or, in this case, my husband) is fighting with that overly stubborn child who refuses to go to bed.
As kids drool multi-colored saliva from the broad spectrum of colorful candy that they ate, parents are sighing relief that the night is over, and groaning at the thought of the inevitable fight that will occur tomorrow morning when the kiddos want to eat candy for breakfast... which is exactly what I am doing. I mean the groaning part, not the eating part. Well, I take that back, I probably will have some chocolate for breakfast. I can't help it, its a weakness. 
Still, you can't deny kids sure love this crazy night and it is a lot of fun to watch these little monkeys have so much.
But, our Halloween didn't turn out quite as expected. The original plan, was to go Trick-or-Treating around Luke's work place, then eat dinner, and go out again with our neighbors around the neighborhood. 
The first part went just fine. The kids walked around to all the cubicles collecting their prizes. It was funny to watch Savannah, take her time to pick out which piece of candy she wanted, and in the time it took her to get one piece, Joseph and Jacob had already escaped with one or two handfuls. By the time we were done, Joseph had twice as much candy as the others. I was feeling kind of bad for Savannah yet I knew the score would even out once I ate all the chocolate out of Joseph's bucket.
What? I never said I was ashamed of taking candy from a baby.  =)
But after we were done, our plans went awry. I have no clue, what or why, but the screaming, fighting, and crying started and did not stop for the rest of the night! And believe me, I am NOT exaggerating. So, we decided to pass up on the Trick-or-Treating around the neighborhood until Savannah's little friend came knocking, anxious to know if we were ready to go.
In the end, we let Savannah go out with her friend (with parents of course) while Luke and I stayed home and faced the weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. Not quite how I pictured the evening going.
When Savannah returned she had a full bucket and was happy as a clam. So, here I sit, typing away on the computer while Luke is in the kid's room, trying to get the boys to go to sleep.

Okay, I got a little side-tracked. Its probably been about 15 minutes since I finished writing the above. In that time the house has fallen into complete silence and Luke has not yet emerged from the kid's room. Which can only mean one thing, he fell asleep in there too.

October 29, 2008

I need Superpowers

When I was a kid... okay, maybe as a teenager too... alright fine! Right up until I had kids, I use to picture myself as the coolest mom in the world. You know, the kind that would never get angry, spend all day playing with them, and somehow manage to keep the house clean and cook great meals?
I also thought I would be the perfect wife. Never really get upset at her husband, no matter what he did, and would be so great that her husband would just worship the ground she walked on.
Well, this blog is a testament to how I am none of the above.
Why is it you can recover just fine from a night hanging out with friends as a teenager, yet, if you are up for just a couple hours with kids in the middle of the night the next day you're a zombie? I mean, come on! Shouldn't moms be entitled to superpowers or something?
By the time I get the kids dressed and fed in the morning I'm ready to go back to bed!
And meals, hahahaha! No seriously, what are those? Will someone please tell me why we can't just live on frozen pizza?
Wait, wait, you mean I'm actually suppose to be able to see my carpet?
Iron clothes? Oh, an iron... yes, I recall using those once!
You mean emptying the vacuum bag once a week isn't normal?
And I suppose you're going to tell me that clothes without snot is the norm as well?
Okay, I would make a crack or two at showers and make-up, but I confess, without a hot shower and a little powder on my nose, you would never see a smile on this face. Those are essential to my personal sanity.
The other day I was talking to a couple friends and they were telling stories about how their husbands would pour a cup of cold water on them as soon as they were done showering. I'm sorry, but if Luke ever did that, I would kill him. No really, R.I.P! Don't mess with my hot showers... seriously.
So, I'm not the person I thought I would turn out to be. But one look at my little family, and I just love the way things are. Well, minus the dirty dishes, and the stinky diapers. And maybe the stretch marks.


Two of my kids with a little gangster eating pretzels in the hallway.

I wonder why tortillas are so fascinating to kids?

Trunk - or -Treat

I confess, Halloween in NOT my favorite holiday. Granted, I love the candy part, but I just don't do blood, guts, and gore. I don't do horror. In fact, I have never seen a horror film and I certainly never plan do. When I was about eight years old, someone took us to see "Ernest Scared Stupid". Am I dating myself by saying we say it in the theatre? I'm pretty sure its suppose to be a comedy, since that's what the "Ernest" movies are suppose to be. But its about this troll that hides under kids beds and such and turns them into little wooden dolls for his collection. Let's just say I never saw the end. I was so scared I left the movie and for weeks I slept completely encased in my blanket, making sure no parts were sticking out so the troll wouldn't get me. I was probably a bit younger than that when my oldest brother brought home "Arachnophobia", telling us he heard it was a comedy. Ha! Again, paranoia for weeks! 
I know, I know, those aren't even horror films, but like I said, I just don't do that. Suspenseful thrillers, yes, horror, no.
So, when it comes to Halloween, I'm all about making it "cute". Every single Halloween decoration I own, which isn't much, is "cute". I even indoctrinated my kids so whenever they see something scary or gory for Halloween they always say, "Eeww! Yucky!"
Anyway, they had a good time at the trunk-or-Treat last night. They are still playing with all the toys they got from the games. Joseph and Jacob have had several tackling matches over bouncy balls and Savannah about suffers a heart attack every time someone touches her things. 
Well, what can you do?

Savannah has been asking for over a month now to be a witch for Halloween. I'm not sure where the obsession came from, but, here she is! She wanted to be a "pretty witch". 


Our lion and our caterpillar. The costumes were given to me by my best friend Sarah.
 

So, when does the trick-or-treating start?


Yah yah, I know. Not much of a costume. Well, what do you expect from a pregnant woman? You can't go wrong with pajamas, pigtails, and freckles!
Oh, by the way, this is the Honda Pilot we got a few months ago.


Our trunk wasn't that great either, especially with the stroller still in it! But hey, I'm sure all the kids cared about anyway was the candy! 
I love this shirt. It was my dads. He gave it to me probably because I always loved wearing his shirts as a little girl. I even swam in them since I felt naked in a swimsuit!


Joseph showing off his... well, I think its suppose to be a candy corn painted on his face.


Waiting in line for the Fishing Pond.


Jacob, of course is eating... popcorn!



October 27, 2008

Timing is Everything

(Disclaimer: the following post contains a lot of Mormon lingo. So if you don't understand a word of it, be sure to check out Mormon.org)

Our lives are run by the clock. Appointments, school, work, activities, the start and end of a day, are all measured by that big and little hand. Once you become a parent however, your life is dictated by another method commonly known as children.
Feedings, naps, bedtime, meals... these become the new time dictators. Everything from play group to doctor's appointments are scheduled around the kid's schedule. 
So, when I called the Primary President to talk about the Trunk or Treat primary party we're doing tomorrow night, I took into account that her kids take their naps at about 12:30pm and since she is pregnant with her fifth child, she takes a nap at the same time they do. 
So, I placed my phone call at noon. I was standing at the kitchen counter and while the phone was ringing, I grabbed a handful of Kix cereal that was sitting in front of me and without thinking, I popped it into my mouth just as K--- answered the phone. Oops. 
She picks up the phone huffing and puffing while I'm trying to discreetly chew my extremely crunchy cereal without being too rude.
She's starts off by apologizing for the screaming going on in the background. No biggie. We start talking about the activity. I have to interrupt first as Jacob unloads a container of wipes into my lap. Suddenly, I hear a slight chuckle on the other end of the line as a whole new slew of crying starts up and K--- says to me, "Kyle thinks he's going to die." Then I hear, "Is the sword stuck in your pants?" More crying. "Well, do you want it in or out?" Suddenly, I burst out, "Yucky Jacob! Yucky!" K--- inquires as to what is going on and I have to tell her that Jacob is eating Savannah's molding clay.
We finish up our conversation and K--- says she should go finish getting lunch ready for her kids. But, we kept chatting a bit more and K--- asks me, "So, did Savannah enjoy being in the Primary Program yesterday?" Before I could answer, sudden screaming and crying breaks out anew and she says to one of her kids, "Oh I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Well, I better go! Okay, bye!"
As I hung up, I suddenly felt really guilty for calling her at noon when things were so crazy. I should have known it would be like that! Lunch before naps is just the way it works! I should have called her an hour or two earlier! Timing! Timing is everything!
I always feel so guilty when people call me and half the phone conversation is just me breaking up fights and halting disaster in its tracks. 
I think most of the time, people are quite understanding and patient. But I know that it can be hard and upsetting for some moms to have their schedules interrupted. Me personally, I could care less! Unless, its nap time. I don't mean before or after, I mean right during naps. I have a motto, "Whosoever doth wake up the nappers, shall die!" Okay not really, but its sure does feel that way sometimes. 
Today, while the boys were talking there naps, the doorbell rang. I was ready to pounce on whoever it was that rang the bell. I have a sign that says, "Nap time, please do not ring doorbell" which I had not put up over the button yet. Luckily, it did not wake up the boys. I opened the door and there were the two missionaries standing in front of me. They explained that they were just going door to door looking for someone to teach. By the way they were talking to me, I was guessing they knew we were LDS yet seemed uncertain of our activity level. This became apparent when one of the Elders asks, "So, do you go to church very often? I mean, do you go weekly, like, every Sunday? Because, I don't recognize you." 
I suppressed my urge to laugh and pat the poor boy on his little 19-year old shoulders and explain that everything was going to be okay. I forgave him right then and there for ringing my doorbell during nap time.
Instead, I explained that I was in the Primary Presidency, which is why they probably don't see me around much, and my husband is a ward missionary, so yes, we go to church every Sunday. I just got the, "Ooh, okay." Gotta love the missionaries.
Perhaps I have nap issues I need to work on. If so, I probably inherited it from my dad. Growing up, when dad was asleep, you did not dare to disturb him unless you wanted to play games with your life! Okay, not really, but he was never happy about the interruption. 
Am I the only one with issues? 


October 25, 2008

January Poster

I did it! Yea, go me! I finally started on the 2009 Primary Posters. Actually, I should be saying, eek! With less than 10 weeks before the new year I still have 11 drawings left. I'm not so sure I'll be able to get them all done in time! Procrastination, bad! Very bad indeed!

Cornmaze!

It seemed like everyone was posting pictures of their kids at pumpkin patches so, I figured I ought to find one around here and take my kids too! 
The kids had fun looking at all the pumpkins and going through the mini corn maze they had set up. Although, I think the kids liked the puppies that were there the best. The batteries kept dying on me so I didn't get any pictures of one of the puppies grabbing hold of Jacob's sleeve and dragging him around. Oh, it was SO funny!

True to Joseph form, he spent a lot of his time just digging in the dirt.

Poor Jacob kept tripping over the dead pumpkin vines and stems.

Savannah wanted little pumpkins so she could carry them herself.

Trying out their skills in the maze.
What a little Diva!
The kids all got free suckers, which they kept dropping in the sawdust on the floor in the barn. Jacob got a mouthful once or twice.

October 23, 2008

Kids are so Subtle

* Since we don't smoke, we obviously teach our children that smoking is not good for you. We have had many discussions about this since in the four-plex community that we live in, there are smokers all around us.
The other day, while the kids were playing outside, Savannah was riding her bike up and down the sidewalk. In front of the four-plex next to us, a lady was out leaning against her car, having a smoke. Savannah suddenly stops her bike about halfway between the two buildings, which was about halfway between myself and this lady, and turns her head back towards me and at the top of her lungs yells, "Mommy! This lady over here is smoking! It's yucky!" 
Smooth Savannah, very smooth.

*During a rather quiet moment in church, Joseph, in a not so quiet voice announces, "Mommy, I poopy!" To which Jacob echoes, "Poopy? Poopy?"

*When we first moved here, we had to go to the post office to pick up our mail keys. On the way out, we came to the door about the same time as a young man who is covered, and I mean covered in tattoos and piercings. He holds the door open for us but Savannah stops right in front of him and just stares. After a moment I try and get her to keep moving but as I do she says, "Mommy, what's that in his nose? And in his eye like this?" And she starts poking her eye as if to demonstrate where his eyebrow piercing is. The guy's expression did not change one bit. Just stood there, unflinching until I was able to drag Savannah away. It was just slightly awkward.

*While at Walmart, Jacob was getting rather cranky and fussy. A lady, trying to be nice, stops to talk to him and make him smile. Jacob's reaction was anything but. He looks at her and yells, "No! Ehhh!" And turns a very pouty face away and folds his arms, peeking up at her from his downcast face. The woman found that highly amusing.

*As the water was being past in Sacrament meeting, I am holding Jacob in one arm. As Luke holds the water for me, Jacob grabs a cup from the tray. Naturally, I hold my hand under it to catch any water that might spill. Well, before he got it to his mouth he had indeed spilled about half the cup. Jacob stops, looks at my hand that is holding the water, then back at his cup. Having made up his mind, he quickly pours the rest of his water into my hand as well. I heard quite a few giggles coming from behind us. 

*At the grocery store, we passed an older man with a big white beard. Savannah, getting all excited, points at him and shouts, "Look mom, Santa!"

October 21, 2008

Sleep- Its a Beautiful Thing

I cannot remember the last time I had a really, really good night's sleep up until last night. For some reason, I slept like a rock! No tossing and turning, no crying kids, no elbows in the face, not even my dreams woke me up! Although for some reason, I remember them very clearly. (Let's just say it involved Luke and I hiding from bad guys, me trying to squeeze into a wedding dress while pregnant, even though I was married, and then running from bad guys again on snowmobiles. Very strange) I don't recall stirring until Luke got up to get ready for work.
I really felt great this morning despite the still scratchy throat and slight headache. 
I tackled the kids, danced around with them, (okay, try not to create to vivid an image of a big pregnant lady dancing around) and I was ready to make chocolate chip cookies by 9:30am! Don't worry, I was a good mommy and waited until noon. 
You know, when I die, this is what my kids are going to remember me for, making chocolate chip cookies and only sometimes actually baking them.


As the day got crazy and things were flying around the house: food, crayons, shoes, toys, diapers, bodies... none of it really got to me. Okay, I admit, when Jacob threw his food all over the floor again at dinner, I wasn't laughing, but all in all, I had fun today just being a mom. 
Wow, sleep really does have magical powers. 

Okay, so Luke cornered me and tickled me (I hate being tickled) trying to get me to promise not to write this next little story but hey, I just can't resist, I have to do it!
So, the old Buick that Luke's parents have been letting us use only has one set of keys, just one. From the moment we got that car, Luke has been bugging me, no, pestering me, reminding me over and over again never to lock the keys in the car. Make sure and check to see that you have them, there's only one set of keys, don't lose them... blah blah blah!
Well, I get a call from my dear hubby after work today. He's going on and on about how I would not believe what he had done, he can't believe he did it, it was so unlike him... blah blah blah.
Now, I'm thinking he must have spent a large amount of money or something. Then he says, "I locked the keys in the car". I couldn't help it, I just busted out laughing! I was laughing so hard that all the kids who were sitting with me but had no clue why I was laughing, started laughing too! Oh, it was great. Luke got a ride home from someone at work. It was classic. 
Moral of the story, be sure to take your own advice. LOL! Love you honey!

October 20, 2008

Bedtime!

Gotta' wonder who's putting who to bed! I get to sit on the couch and watch daddy get beat up, its great. I wonder how he'll do with four?  


Horsey!

I know, no posts for almost a week. I was going to over the weekend but caught a rather nasty cold.
Saturday, we made a spur of the moment trip down to Grandma's house since the guys had rented some horses to go round up the cattle. Luke had gone in the night before but the kids and I went in Saturday morning. I just couldn't pass up the chance for the kids to get a ride, even though I wanted to stay in bed all day, especially since Jacob LOVES "horseys".


There was a lot of passing up and down, up and down as the kids all took turns.

Joseph was upset every time his turn was over so Grandpa had to give him a little ride on the four-wheeler.
 
Yes, even I had a go at it. I haven't been on a horse in over 12 years. Luke kept calling me a city girl since I was riding with my flip-flops on.

It was rather bouncy. By the time I was done I had a huge cramp in my stomach. I think I got too many bubbles in my amniotic fluid. But it was still fun.

October 14, 2008

Soap and Holes

"Mommy?" Joseph comes walking down the hallway towards me.

"Mom?" I could tell something was wrong with him, but he was so calm.

He stops in front of me, tears flowing from his eyes, but he's not crying. He's grinding his teeth and acting like its hard for him to swallow. I start to feel worried.

"What is it Joseph, what wrong?"

"Mommy, my mouth hurts." That's all he would say.

Knowing that he and Savannah had just been playing in the bathroom, suspicion starts to set in. I notice the little green flecks by his mouth.

"Joseph, did you eat some soap?" He shakes his head and keeps repeating that his mouth hurts. I ask him over and over again if he ate soap and still he denied it. Finally, after asking Savannah, she gets this huge smile on her face and says, "Yea, he ate the soap!"

I check his breath... oh ya, very soapy. I make him open his mouth and I see the green embedded in his teeth. Well, time to go brush and get a drink! As we go into the bathroom to get his toothbrush I see this!

I felt sorry for the little guy but it was kind of funny to see this little bite taken out of the bar of soap.

Here's Joseph after we got him all fixed up. He's trying to show me his mouth but I wanted to get that little tear still by his eye. It was just so cute!

~~~~~~~

It always fun to watch these little people discover things. Especially when its their eyes, ears, cheeks, things like that. But I have to say, I'm not too fond of them discovering the nose.

Once they figure out that they have a nose, they start to investigate.

Once they find that the nose contains holes, is undergoes massive research. Food, utensils, toys, and fingers, all seem to find their way into that research at some point. Jacob, decided to try double duty tonight, strictly research you understand.


October 12, 2008

Wide Load Belly Picture


With 3.5 months left (yes, the baby WILL come one week early, I've already told her so) I'm starting to wonder if I can possibly get any bigger. (sigh) I know the answer to that question already so you don't need to tell me yes. At my doctor's appointment this week, which is my 24 week check up, I was suppose to measure 24 cm. Nope, I measured 26. Even the doctor exclaimed, "whoa!" as he measured me. 
Stepping on the scale was rather upsetting. I briefly thought about divulging how much weight I've gained but decided to maintain some dignity. Still, I've gained a lot! Not that all the chocolate and big yummy sugar cookies with that yummy frosting from the bakery at the grocery store had anything to do with that. (cough cough) Did I just admit that?
Anyway.... 
I feel like I'm nine months pregnant. The pressure and the back pain, how uncomfortable and big I feel. Truly, women amaze me when they say they love being pregnant, or even that they don't mind it! A lady in my ward said that to me the other day, that she loved it. I sort of just stared at her in disbelief. 
I will say that I am excited for a baby and for another girl. I was looking at all the cute baby girls clothes and I just couldn't help but get excited! 
Still, I think I'll vote for a stork next time. Where did that stork idea come from anyway?

What do you do all day?

I know many of you have read this story before, but I still think its a classic, truly great. This is just to bring a smile to you ladies out there and if any guys happen to read this, well, just tuck it away for future reference.

A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still In their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard. The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog. 
Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall. In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a
 cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing. In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door. 
He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened. He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls. 
As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pajamas,
 reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, "What happened here today?" She again smiled and answered, "You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world I do all
 day?" "Yes," was his incredulous reply. She answered, "Well, today I didn't do it."

October 11, 2008

How Quickly Big Seems Small

Not that this has anything to do with the point of this post but, I just have to say, its been snowing all afternoon and evening. That icky sticky stuff is only fit for Heffalumps and Wozzels!
Anyway....
We were so excited about moving to an apartment twice the size of the one we had in Provo. You know, moving up in world, graduating from a two bedroom apartment to one with three bedrooms. But, its funny how the bigger the kids get, the bigger the stuff gets. 
It was a little tight, having the three kids in one room but it has worked out just fine. But we finally moved Joseph out of his crib and into a bed. Yup, the once tight room now consists of no space except for the walkways to the closet and between Jacob's crib and the other beds. All their toys are in the one closet, which also holds all their shirts, sweaters, church clothes, etc. Their pants share a small piece of furniture we bought while in Provo.
Now, as the fourth little monkey is on her way, I am making space on our room for her. Why is it space seems to get filled up so fast? Its not like we're packrats or anything. Sheesh! 


The kids sure broke in the new bed quickly. It took us a while to settle them down enough to go to bed. It was just too cool having two mattresses in there!

And the little man. The other two wouldn't let me take their pictures, they were too busy playing. Jacob is always a good sport when it comes to getting a little attention.  =)
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