Handsome Boys!!

Just had to share some school pictures of the 2 most handsome boys I know! (I love the stiff poses and the cheesy grins :) not to mention the ever-present silly bands on Thomas' wrist)

I know, I know! I shouldn't scan pictures from Bell Photography...but they didn't give me a choice if I wanted to have these taken or not and they made my kids cry by sending home packets of pictures I never intended to buy (including their pictures on cool calendars, tags, and bookmarks) (seriously...$37 for the package and $16 per page...you're not that good Bell Photo) so I feel justified in copying the pictures to just show online...I won't print them to hang on my wall or display them in any way...but they were just too cute (albeit stiff and posed) to have thrown in the garbage with no memory of them :) (which is where they will go after my boys return them to their teachers today...I so don't understand that (vent over))

Spring Bling

Inspired by all those crafty blogs out there...I decided to do my own little makeover


I've had this Spring decoration for a couple of years and liked it, but didn't LOVE it. So instead of buying something else, I decided to try and spruce it up a bit.


But since I'm not a pro at this...I forgot to take a pic before I started the process...so the before isn't a true before :)

See...cute...but kinda blah

A little modge podge and a little superfine glitter and "Ta-Da" a new decoration...It's not exactly the colors I wanted, but it was the colors I had...and it still needs a little "sumpin-sumpin" but I'm not sure exactly what (which is why I am not a crafter) but I like it better and it is sparkly...and a girl (in a house full of boys) can never have too much glitter :)

But she can have too much dust...BLAH...if you click on the pic to enlarge it (which I recommend because the glitter is oh so shiner :) you'll see another rookie error...I forgot to dust the top of the armoire before taking pics...but to my defense...this is a really high armoire and I can't see the top of it unless I'm on a stool or reaching up to take a pic. sorry...I'll dust next time :)

Just Boys

I would say that 98% of the time I LOVE being a mom of boys...the only time I don't is when Easter dresses and Christmas dresses hit the stores and it tugs my heart strings a little that I don't get to shop for those, or prom dresses, or wedding dresses...but with boys like these...life is too sweet to be sad about that for more that just a few split seconds!!

I told Michael to show me how excited he was to earn his wolf and arrows...he was very excited :) and loves scouts!!

This is Thomas working on a big pile of homework...he had forgotten his folder at school the day before so he had LOTS to do...you'll notice that he has an icepack on his head...his brain was getting hot :)

Well, there really are no words needed to explain this one...Just to say that this shirt is PERFECT for him :) and yes he is full of that much mischief :)

I love being a mom of boys...especially THESE boys!! They are the BEST!!

Watching Movies...

What is the proper way to watch Secretariat...

Why with binoculars of course



he was also shouting "GO, GO, GO"




and don't try to convice him they're turned the wrong way...he made us all try them and turned them around the "right" way for us :) (I think the first picture I took is the only time I've ever seen him use them the right way



Hey if it's good enough for Penney Chenery its good enough for us :)

(and yes...he did have a diaper on...but that's all...it was one of those days)

my 2011 resolutions (More or Less)

More Fit**
**Less Fat
More scripture/Ensign reading**
**Less wasting time on computer
More Organization**
**Less piles of junk
More Budgeting**
**Less spending haphazzardly (is that a word)
More Dates with Hubby**
**Less being grumpy towards him
More attending the temple**
**Less making excuses
More being on time**
**Less being late :)

oh yeah, and catch up on my blog...more or less :)

Wish me luck :)

It's time!

I think it's time to keep Robert out of the bathroom while I'm putting my makeup on..

...what do you think?

Where's the Line to See Jesus

Maybe a little cheesy...but I liked it...

It's been a long week and this made me laugh...

So, you want children?
Okay, but try this first.

• Go to bed, get all comfy and warm….have the fire alarm go off unpredictably all night. Repeat this every night for at least 17 years.
  
• Take a bucket full of vomit and dump it in the back seat of your car, on your couch, all over your carpets, splash it down the front of your clothes and then put a few drops in the toilette.
  
• Take another bucket of vomit and soak all the bedding, towels, your clothes, your neighbor’s clothes and the cat in it until you have enough laundry to fill the entire house and keep you washing until the the next round of vomit…which will occur right after you make up all the beds with clean sheets
• Okay, now you’re going to need some urine….put it in a spray bottle and have fun.
  
• Grab a couple of puppies, set them loose in your living room…leave the house for a few days. They will simulate what a couple of kids can do to a room in a few minutes.
  
• Take a few of your precious collectibles and smash them to bits.
  
• Stain all your shirts with blood, paint, boogers…whatever is in the fridge.
  
• Cut a tiny hole in your curtains.
  
• Get a permanent marker…get to coloring! Walls, floors, furniture, the entire world is your canvas.
  
• Buy all the Lego’s you can find in the world along with Matchbox cars, Barbie shoes, hair bows, tiny socks, candy wrappers, McDonald’s french fries, Goldfish crackers, Crayons and crushed granola bars: mix up in a tub and freely sprinkle the contents in your vehicle, garage, yard, under your bed, in your bed, under the cushions of your couch and every corner in your house….make sure you stand over floor vents and drop handfuls.
  
• Have a friend hide your shoes, all of them. Wait until you’re ready to go to an important event to try to find them.
  
• Go on a long trip with a very loud and emotional person who will talk and cry and scream for the entire trip except for the quick nap they took right before you had to pull over to get gas…which caused them to wake up and be extremely irritable.
  
• When you stop to eat at a nice restaurant your travel companion tells you they forgot their shoes.
  
• Find a store to buy them some shoes.
  
• They will lose those shoes at some point during the trip and you will buy them three more pairs of shoes that are so ugly and cheap that you’re embarrassed to be with the person.
  
• They never lose the ugly shoes, they wear them everyday much to your dismay.
  
• Have someone call you to tell you they forgot their lunch at least three or four times a week.
  
• Put a sparkly unicorn sticker on the rear of your jeans and wear them in public all day.
  
• Take something sharp and scratch the crap out of your vehicle.
  
• Throw away three billion 5 dollar bills because that is what your children will need for this thing and that event and blah, blah, blah.
  
• Say the following every single day, “Put your shoes away. Pick up your jacket. Eat your dinner. Pick up your toys. Flush the toilette. Be nice to your brother. Stop talking. Listen to me. Be quiet. STOP! NO! We’ll see. Maybe. Go get your shoes. Find your shoes. Where are your shoes. Why? Go ask your father. STOP IT! I said NO! What did Mommy say?” add a please and thank you occasionally until you realize it’s just a waste of your breath.
  
• Load and unload the dishwasher at least three times a day.
  
• Buy enough groceries to last a month, take them home. Invite a teenager to come over and help himself to any food in the house.
  
• Go back to the grocery store…invite teenager….go back to the grocery store…invite teenager….
  
• Yell at a wall that it needs to get its room cleaned, wait for a response. Yell some more. Walk away defeated that the wall will never clean its room.
  Hope that the wall will move out of your house someday and have twenty of their own walls that never do anything you ask them to do.
  
• If you can smile at the end of all of this…go start a family.

(I especially liked the yell at the wall part :)

Random Thoughts

I've been to busy to do the blog post I want to do, so here are a few tidbits to tide you over :)

Last night Thomas was saying his prayers and said "thank you for our house so we don't have to live outside like crazy bugs" (yep tried not to laugh)


Yesterday they were showing a news story about the fires in Herriman...Michael turns to me and says, "Those fires were started by a machine gun?! Well, now I know never to shoot a machine gun, that's dangerous" (I think starting a fire might be the least of the danger!)

My life is good :)

Flashback Friday

Since I've been so bad at the blog this year...I thought I would do a "flashback" on fridays to get me back up to date :) (thanks for letting me seal the idea Carol)

I'll start with

HALLOWEEN 2009

sometimes I go a little over the top with Halloween (or other holidays)...this year was one of those times...

We had eyeball sandwiches and witch blood for breakfast...

Worm burgers, guts, and bat wings for lunch...

and leg bones and mummy pizzas for dinner...


Then there were the costumes...I decided to go for a family theme...the idea seemed simple in my head, but it took HOURS to do. We did look cute though...

We also won the 5th ward costume contest (a WHOLE bag of snickers :) my kids were thrilled...I would have been more thrilled if they hadn't learned this year that snickers were good :)

Here are some individual close ups...
Thomas


Michael


Robert (check out the drool)


And last Dave...I think we wore him out...

...but he really did have a good time (what a good sport)

This year we are possibly going away for Halloween and picking costumes out of the box...I need a year off :)

My joy :)

(can't seem to fix the spacing on this post...but enjoy anyway)

All of my kids bring me joy (most of the time)...but this post is just about Robert...

Now that school is back in session, we get to spend most of the day just the two of us.

We drop his brothers off at the bus, he waves, blows them kisses, then cries when they get on the bus, then cries when we have to leave Sherry's house (where we take the boys to get on the bus)

I'd feel bad but by the time we get home he looks like this...

or is doing things like this...

See..I told you...JOY...in it's purest form!!

I took this video earlier in the summer but it fits perfect here He was pretending to read, then started copying Michael...I love that I got my favorite laugh of his on camera (yes he has many laughs) and he makes us laugh...(the shaking is when I am laughing too hard to control the camera)

I dare you not to laugh while watching this

see...I told you...pure JOY!

two thoughts...

First...I bought this cute sign at Swiss Days...I have a love hate relationship with it :)

I love it because of the three boys, I love it because of the cute stitching (wish I was talented like that) and I love it because I have a soft spot in my heart for the Strippling Warriors (Before I met Dave, I was sure I was going to marry one in the next life....I also still cry every time I hear the Army of Helaman song (sang it at my Granpa's funeral who died while on his mission)

But I hate it becasue I feel a lot of pressure when I look at it...it is MY job to make sure my boys learn all that they nead to learn about the gospel on this earth...YIKES...big job...and pretty sure I'm not doing a very good job right now...

...which brings me to my next thought...I keep feeling like there is a missing link in my life.

I don't really know how to describe it...I know where I am, and where I want to be (as a mom, as a wife, as a person, as a daughter of god) but there seems to be a huge gap between where I am and where I want to be physically, spiritually and in many other aspects...and I'm not sure how close that gap...what is the missing puzzle piece?

How come I know what I need to do but I can't make myself do it? Any suggestions or advice...I'll take all I can get!!!

First day of school 2010

although I have sorely neglected this blog as of late...I can't let this day slip by...

Just look at these handsome boys :)


Thomas...lover of all things orange...is starting first grade and is super excited about it! He said he was most excited to make new friends, and have his own desk. When I asked him what he was most nervous about he said making new friends :)




Michael thinks he is getting too cool to smile for pictures...but he is so handsome it doesn't matter!! He is starting 3rd grade this year...I'm having a hard time accepting that!! He said he was most excited to see all of his old friends, and he wasn't nervous about anything :) (don't know if I believe him...in fact I'm pretty sure I don't....he's a little like me that way and gets nervous about new situations but likes to pretend he isn't)


We loaded up in Aunt Sherry's van/bus and headed off to school...My sweet boys let me take pictures of them at school...I'll take that while it lasts :)




So handsome...I'm excited and nervous for this year (as I am every year) I hope they both have great years!!


When they got home this afternoon they had both had a great day!! (I knew they would)


Thomas said the best part of his day was making a new friend (he can't remember his name) and playing with the big ball.

Michael said the best part was not getting stung by a bee at recess :)


They both said it was SOOOO easy and didn't have to do hardly any work :) I'm sure that will change...but I hope the happy days outnumber the bad ones :)


The first day of school is always a happy/sad day for me...I'm happy because the boys usually have got to the point where all they do is fight and drive each other crazy all day, but I get sad and nervous about them being away from me for so long every day and I worry about what they will encounter each day. (Yes...my eyes were wet for a good part of the morning)


It's scary to send them out into the world...we're going to try to be better this year about saying family prayers each morning so we can send them out with the protection of prayer...they need all they can get!!


Hang in there boys, remember the promises you were made in your blessings, and be strong!! You can do it!! It's going to be a great year!!!

Hey mom

Posted something new for you today :)

Thanks so much for everything you do for me...don't know what I'd do without you~~


Love, Nan :)

Good Things to Come

Saw this today, loved it, maybe you will too!!

There's a new Sheriff in town....(and other cute pictures of Robert)

New Jammies...C.U.T.E.!!!

He and I are both obsessed with Toy Story :)



Found him eating a green pepper like an apple...Did he like it?

I'd say yes :)

Helping mom put laundry in the dryer (he does this a lot)

Having a little fun in the dryer while mommy was folding laundry (notice there is also a ball in there, there was also a spoon) I'll remember to shut the dryer before I leave the room in the future :)

Yep...that look on his face is PURE mischief...through and through!!!

Be still my heart...

I do love a man in uniform :)

Michael was so excited to be able to wear his uniform to school today...he has scouts after school...he gets to salute the flag (yep he was excited)

Someone has got to hurry up and invent that time slowing machine...this boy is growing too fast!!!

Temple Day

Remember that this blog is in a way my journal, and the following experience probably means nothing to anyone but me, but I wanted to write it down so I wouln't forget it...

At the first of the year I set a goal for myself to attend the temple once a month. With Dave when I could and just by myself if I couldn't get there with him. (so far I'm 3 for 4...missed January..I know, I know)

I realized the other day that it was the end of April (how did that happen) and I hadn't been yet. So I made arrrangements for Robert, and decided to go while the boys were in school.

I ended up leaving a little later than planned, so I was in a pinch for time to get home before the boys got home from school, but I still really wanted to go...so thanks to my sister Michele who offered to watch Robert whenever I could get off during the day, I still went.

I listend to some of my favorite church songs on the way down and prayed silently to my Heavenly Father that he would give me some answers to some questions I had, and I that I would feel a special spirit for the sisters I would do work for that day.

I got to the temple, found a great parking space, and while I was walking toward the temple I noticed how absolutely beautiful the flowers looked...the purple and white tulips were so tall and breathtaking. I was so excited for the peace I was going to experience in the temple...so ready to drink up the spirit (I was feeling a little "thirsty")

As I continued walking toward the temple, I turned off my phone and went to get out my recommend...and it wasn't there...I was heartbroken!

I had worked so hard (not really, but it felt like it) to get there that day, and now I couldn't even go. I still wanted to spend some time at the temple, so I first thought of going and sitting somewhere on the grounds, but it was WAY too cold for that, so I turned around to go back to the car, then decided I could go sit in the waiting room just as you go in...maybe that would be enough.

So I walked into the waiting room, picked up a copy of the Ensign and found a comfortable chair in a quiet corner to read...I couldn't even focus enough to read anything...I was overcome by this feeling of sadness watching everyone walk into the temple.

I kept thinking, that I never wanted to be in any kind of position in my life where I couldn't be admitted to the temple. I kept thinking how sad I would be and how much I would hurt inside if I really was left out (not just because I forgot my recommend)

I thought about how sad I would be to be sitting on the sidelines watching all my friends and family walking through the gates of heaven, and not being able to be admitted myself (yes I was feeling very pensive that day)

As I was sitting and thinking and trying to focus on the articles in the Ensign, a thought popped into my head "go ask them if there is anyway they can look up that you have a recommend" I ignored the thought since I was pretty sure this wasn't possible, but the thought kept coming to my mind.

So...I decided to go through my purse and wallet again to check for my recommend, and back out to the car to make sure my temple bag wasn't in there (I had remembered that last month when I went, I put my recommend in my bag, and I hadn't brought it this time because I was going to do inititory)

Then I finally decided to listen to that thought that kept coming to me (something I've been trying to work on lately), after all what's the worse they could tell me. So I got brave and went to ask the men at the desk, sure they would tell me no, they were sorry, but there was no way for them to look up and see if I had a recommend. I asked and he said...step over there (pointing down the hall) and speak with the recorder.

I was a little shocked, so I did what he said. I asked a sweet lady (is being sweet a requirement for working at the temple) at the desk if she was the recorder, she wasn't but asked what I needed and I told her. She handed me a paper to fill out with my name, ward, bishop, stake president, etc. and told me to have a seat and wait.

Well apparently they looked up the bishop's cell phone number and called him and someone at the temple signed a temporary recommend for me and I WAS IN :) I was seriously so happy...felt like winning the lottery!! I was so thankful for my Bishop too...I felt so bad for bothering him, but so happy that he had the power to help me in my time of need (I know, I know, overdramatic, but that's how I felt)

I got to go in and do the work I had hoped to, and qwench my thirst for the spirit. I had to wait awhile to do inititory, which gave me some great time to think and ponder and just be quiet...I didn't have any great revelation or really even get any answers I was looking for...but I got something I wasn't expecting...a little bit of the feeling of what it would feel like to unable to enjoy the blessings that I take so much for granted, and a greater appreciation for the bishops I've had and how they will always be there for us.

It was a good day

A Spring Math Problem

10 Pretty little rows of planted peas
+ 2 boys
+ 1 hose =




-They had been planted for 3 days

-To their credit...the boys didn't know I had planted anything there

-When I pointed the floating seeds out to Michael he said he thought they were Kix

-I did not yell (or scream, or cry)

-There's a special reward in heaven for moms of boys right?! (please don't tell me if there's not...I survive believing this delusion)

for the love of STRAWBERRY JAM!!

This is 5 minutes after we came home from putting his brothers on the school bus...

...and 10 minutes before we had to leave so I could go volunteer at school

Needless to say we were a little late

Heaven help me...here we go!!! (again)

(this is in addition to the fact that he woke me up at 6am by pouring out a whole cup of water left on my nightstand...yes his brothers have been instructed to quit getting him out of bed)

P.S. I mopped the floor and washed the rugs and all the jackets in the house yesterday...good thing I practiced huh!

Budding Artists :)

I've been wanting to hang some artwork on the wall in my bathroom for quite awhile...but I could never decide just want I wanted...so one day I had this idea and thought.."why not"

I bought some 11x14 blank canvases and acrylic paint in the colors I wanted and let Michael and Thomas paint some pictures for me!

The only rules they had were not to mix the colors, and to make something that would look nice and that we all would want to look at

Here are the results...

This one is by Michael. It says "Family Stays Together Forever" I thought I liked it better before he put the word on it, I was wrong!


This is the second picture he painted...it definately makes my "happy" when I see it. Notice his signature in the bottom corner...a true artist!!



This is one of Thomas' paintings..Flowers in a rainstorm. It matches the other flowers we have in the bathroom really well.


This is his other painting. Of course you can tell it's a horse because it says "Nay" just like a horse! And wow...check out that signature at the top...he signed it so carefully and in cursive to boot!! (his signature on the other picture is between the two flowers)


Here's what they look like all together on the wall...

I love them!!!

Such a fun project!!

Not expensive...but PRICELESS!!

April Fool's Day!

I do love April Fool's day...it just usually sneaks up on me...I was taught well by my mom that it is a day for good silly pranks (nothing mean EVER)

But I was ready for it this year!! For about a month I've been planning the trick I was going to do on Dave, it was one my mom pulled on my dad years ago...and the situation was perfect for me to do it.

Dave goes to work early every morning to work out in the company gym. He showers and gets dressed/ready there...so the night before, I snuck his garments out of his gym bag and sewed up the leg and neck holes using white thread so as not to be detected (I just hand sewed big stitches...remember...nothing mean!)



Well, I waited and waited to hear from him...I even tipped him off to the fact that it was April Fools Day before he left home, and I've told him about this prank that my mom pulled on my dad, so I was sure he would know what was going on...

...well it backfired a little...he did have a hard time putting his garments on, but didn't realize what was going on...he just thought he was tired, and pulled extra hard and they went on...then he couldn't figure out what all the extra strings were...It didn't occur to him what had happened till I asked him if he had a hard time getting dressed...then he realized what had happened...not as funny when you have to explain the joke...oh well :)

After feeling a little defeated by this...I called my mom and sisters and got re-excited about the day. Then I was off to the grocery store to prepare for the rest of the day.

The boys loved their lunch!!



Cheetos and Baby carrots (the look on Thomas' face when he opened the bag of cheetos was soooo funny!!! he was totally shocked...but it was o.k. because there were cheetos to be had...I don't want to think about what may have happened if there were only carrots available)

We also had inside out sandwiches...balogna on the outside, bread in the middle...

They were a big hit and I'm sure they'll be requested again!!


Then it was snacktime...

They laughed and laughed at this one...and were a little unsure about it until I showed them their favorite candy (reeses pieces) inside (I may not be able to buy anyone in my house a princess dress...but I'm always guaranteed a laugh at any joke containing boggers or underware)

When Dave came home from work...the boys pretended to be asleep in bed...they were so tricky...totally fooled their dad :)

Then it was time for dinner (thanks mom for the fabulous idea) before they came in the kitchen, I told them that It had been a long day and that I was really tired and didn't want to hear ANY whining about dinner...NONE...they promised and sat up to the table to find this...

one of their favorite dinners...TOTALLY FROZEN!!

They weren't sure what to say or do, they just kept looking at each other then at me, I just kept telling them not to whine and please eat...


Dave joined in on the fun since his plate looked like this

He kept shrugging his shoulders and just put his finger to his lip telling the boys to be quiet...I had even frozen their drinks that they started at lunch...

...they said the dinner prayer and were still not sure what to do until I said "April Fool's" and they all laughed

They loved the fact that we got to eat a hot dessert (chocolate lava cake) while we were waiting for our cold dinner to cook

I then swapped out their frozen drinks for cups of milk...which MAGICALLY changed color when I poured the white milk in the cups...so funny!!

They tricked me while I was standing at the stove cooking dinner...my water turned blue...little stinkers :)

It was a very fun day.

*****

Oh, I have to add one more story here...Dave's boss told him that they were going to be announcing raises, and that they were based on internet usage. Meaning that those who spent more time on the internet were not working as hard as others, thus not deserving as big of a raise...

Dave, somewhat jokingly, asked his boss how much he owed him (it is no secret how much Dave loves the internet)

His boss then told him "April Fool"...maybe you have to know Dave's department to know how funny this was...but we laughed about it for a good long time (and hope the real raises come soon!)